Pete M

Any XJ or MJ in a junkyard will be able to supply you with visors. Probably best to grab a whole bunch if you want to try re-skinning them again. :D Jeep on! --Pete

Depending on what precisely you are looking to swap over, it ranges from "a whole heck of a lotta work" to "even more". BUT it has been done before. I would recommend swapping practically the entire Jeep over. Everything in the engine compartment and everything inside the dash. Trying to mix and match componants and make it all work together will probably take way more time. Get yourself a factory shop manual for both years, then buy a digital camera if you don't have one already and take pictures of everything before you remove it and take notes along the way. I used a spreadsheet in eXcel to keep track of my MJ buildup (TJ trans/t-case, Ford axles) and it was a great help. Questions like this get asked a lot and whether or not you should do it depends on what youre looking for. Are you looking for a project? Or are you just looking to own a 4wd? Jeep on! --Pete

car-part.com is usually pretty good with their info and the 4.56 isn't an option until 87. If anyone needs it, the part number for the 2.5L AW-4 torque converter housing is 8350-3706 from my 87-90 parts manual. Jeep on! --Pete

I have found no evidence of MJs ever coming from the factory with 3.73s. That seems to be an XJ thing. And yes, there was no 4.56 in 86. Nor is it a hard and fast rule that 2.5L + auto = 4.56, there are so few of them that we simply don't know. But as far as we can tell, 4.56 was only found behind the 2.5L/auto and no other drivetrain combo. Jeep on! --Pete

You may not need overdrive as much as you may think. 2.5L/autos came with 4.56 gears. If your 2.5L manual has 4.10s, then, uh, well you can do the math, my head hurts. Jeep on! --Pete

No big secrets here. I used car-part.com Jeep on! --Pete

Today I spent all of $50 and got a complete dual exhaust (not a true dual though, post-muffler), a complete drivers door (it's toast, but I need the crank mechanism and glass and it was easier to just cut the door off), a great tilt steering column, a spare computer, 2 taillights, and a bunch of other odds and ends. :D I also found a j-yard selling an external slave AX-15 for $200 which isn't really all that much more than fixing the leaky internal slave on my 200k+ trans. Same yard has a couple 242s also. It's a bit of a drive from my house though, so we'll see. My new MJ is a little bit closer to becoming a daily driver. :D Jeep on! --Pete P.S. ComancheDude, check your messages!!

Same here. This will be my daily driver and the 242 is a fine choice for that. Jeep on! --Pete

It's still to be proven that the t-case isn't trashed, and if it's bad, I may just replace the trans/t-case as a unit and if I do that it'll be with an external slave. Or maybe I can go with an np-242 instead. Hmmm.... Or more likely I'll just pull the trans off and fix whatever's leaking. But there's no fun in dreaming about *that*. :D Jeep on! --Pete

Funny you should mention that. You've got mail! Jeep on! --Pete

I wasn't entirely satisfied with the Mythbusters' expirements (they left waaay too many variables unaccounted for). Check out: http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp ... le_id=1455 http://community.discovery.com/groupee/ ... 948218/p/1 Jeep on! --Pete

try car-part.com for junkyard searches. Jeep on! --Pete

The 999 doesn't have overdrive. Jeep on! --Pete

1990 4x4, 206k mile 4.0L, AX-15, shortbed, all the factory "armor", new gas tank, plenty of issues. Drivers seat is broken, window doesn't crank all the way down and then you have to help it back up, no headliner, hood pull broken, all the usual oil leaks, all the usual half-assed rust repairs, very little floor left on drivers side, 4wd shifter linkage doesn't work well (hopefully due to the flex in what's left of the floor), shocks are toast, wiper bushings are toast and the intermittant settings don't work at all, hole in clutch line, it appears that the previous clutch master cylinder leaked on the fuse box, brake lights come on with the headlights, part-time light has a mind of its own, uh, I think that's all I've found so far. I think I did pretty good for $300. :D He's going to be sitting for a while until I can save up some cash and fix the clutch line, but eventually I'm looking for a new daily driver out of this. Someday I'm thinking that I will swap in my Dana 44 with 3.55s, add a matching XJ front from the junkyard, then a 3" lift and some 31s. The 235/65s are just too small for me, but I want to do gears first. Jeep on! --Pete P.S. It looks even cuter when you see it next to my 88. :D

:D Jeep on! --Pete

Fixed it. I can't see passwords and I reset the password to "ttruckinon" so you can sign in and change it back. Jeep on! --Pete

Seems like you've got a Dakota there. :wink: Jeep on! --Pete

Depends on precisely how you build the stroker doesn't it? One could spend a whole heck of a lot on *any* engine build-up. This is my plan: I have a ~$100 4.0L block and a $75 '76 258 block. Now I need to get the machining done and buy part of a rebuild kit, then some Mustang injectors from the junkyard, the MAP sensor magic, *maybe* a cam, and then some odds and ends (the timing chain is still original so that has to go, but the rest of the accessories that are on my 88 are pretty new and my alternator cost me a small fortune so I'd very much like to keep it). For a Chevy 4.3 (the way I would have to do it): A decent and complete 4.3L block from the junkyard (including harness and all the accessories) or a donor rig + AA motor mounts + AA bellhousing adapter + exhaust + wiring that bad-boy up (my truck is on a no-carb diet) + I haven't a clue what to do about the A/C (yes, that is important to me) + cooling system stuff = well, the parts from AdvanceAdapters alone should exceed what I plan to sink into my stroker. Now, there are plenty of other details depending on what condition the truck is in now, but those are the big ones that I would have to worry about. I need a new engine, and if I'm going to rebuild one, it doesn't cost much more to build the stroker. In my opinion, the true beauty of the stroker concept is that it all bolts back into my truck. :D Of course, when H.O. parts are used or when building for maximum HP, it can get complicated. All I want is an engine with the balls to pull my too-heavy truck uphill on the freeway without slowing down. :D Jeep on! --Pete

What about a 30x9.5"? Jeep on! --Pete

I certainly wouldn't buy it sight unseen. It could be fine, but if the engine or front axle were impacted, that *could* spell disaster for other parts in the drivetrain. Jeep on! --Pete

How bad was the front end hit?

I agree. If it was 4wd, then that's something, but you can get a rebuilt non-H.O. block for less than that and then NOT have to completely gut your MJ. Jeep on! --Pete

There's no doubt that Rustys has had some quality issues in the past, but they are cheaper than other manufacturers so you can think of it as getting something for your money with the more expensive companys like Rubicon Express. Some of the stories I've heard about Rustys' products have involved rigs with more lift than the bars were designed for, and I remember one XJ owner that had issues with the front arms after running them hard for like a year. Rustys is what Rustys is, products that are usually cheaper than the rest of the market. Buy accordingly. I have Rustys' front 3" coils (180#) and track bar bracket (but not the bar) and aside from the rust (although *everything* rusts on my truck so it's not like you'll even notice the coils) I very much like what I've got. Admittedly, I do keep an eye on the bracket. :roll: Jeep on! --Pete

Oh, I forgot one more thing. While I was down in Florida over Christmas break I stopped by a junkyard and snagged a completely rust free set of MJ leaf springs! They won't be on the truck for quite some time (it's friggin' COLD outside up here in Michigan), but I'll be ready if my rusty ones decide to crack again on me (again). :D Jeep on! --Pete

Mine is my rocker guards. I'd do that mod to *any* MJ, even a 2wd. With a long wheelbase such as ours, the rockers are especially vulnerable and, once damaged, hard to fix (especially up here in the rust-belt). The piece of mind knowing that evil rocks and roots can't touch my truck is worth all the effort. :D Some of you that were at the Pow-Wow saw how little fear I have of damaging the sides. 8) Jeep on! --Pete