FrankTheDog

If you want cost effective buy a rotted out XJ and swap the wiring and drivetrain over. They're out there. I've been DDing a 96 for the last 1.5 years that I bought for $100. All I've done to it was put tires on it and a radiator I had laying around and a new water pump. 40,000 miles so far. That's not a bad return on my investment.

Should be a T18A with the granny gear. I had one that looked identical to that. Traded it for a MJ 44 and a tailgate. I needed them. I didn't need the T18.

Look on craigslist for wrangler spare tires. I put together 6 unused tires and two rims over a month and a half for $250. 4 of the tires must of had covers on them because there was no weathering.

It's not an inline, it's a VM Motori V6. Just google banks 3.0 turbo diesel.

Driveshafts will be different between 4cyl and 6 cyl. 6 cyl auto drivetrain is longer You'll need the wiring from the 88 6 cyl truck to put it into the 87. Motor mounts from the 88 also. Radiator and radiator support from the 88. Fuel pump from the 88, I believe TBI and MPI have different fuel pressure. There may be more.

Chevy drop shackles too. Add spacers up front if needed.

Chain slipping, in 2wd it's not driving the chain to the front drive shaft so no banging.

The truck is a couple hundred yard walk threw 2.5' of snow, maybe this weekend I can get out to it.

I could check the condition of the set I have.

I checked their web site and they only list the fork for the buick engined J20's and post 1980. Same with crown.

2wd XJ's and MJ's made after February of 1992 will have the 4wd style outer knuckles. The spindle type knuckles use pre 1990 style brakes. But, won't post 1990 style knuckles bolt up to a pre 1990 Dana 30 inner C? Going to have to buy calipers and rotors anyways just replace both sides. It is nice driving with the 2wd front end, lighter steering and smaller turning radius.

Those parts should be available new. Try crown automotive. If they don't have it, they probably can point you in the right direction. Probably available at napa too.

It's a cast iron grenade. It's plenty heavy.

Heavy shift knobs put strain on your shift forks and accelerates wear on them and your syncros. So does riding around with your hand on the shifter. Go with a lighter knob. Just saw you want to put it on an auto. Bad idea for the same reason, it'll wear out your column linkage. To much weight.

Why would you use a cooler on a manual transmission?

A Cherokee will have all the tools you need. The jack handle fits in the tube.

What is "Spinal Tap" Alex?

You can throw a 258/4.2 distributor on the 4.0 and I'm thinking make an adapter plate for a Rochester 2 Jet or weber carb on the intake. Run a GM one wire alternator and you would have an engine with very few wires.

The ad says long bed. FWIW I have a 87 short bed 2.5 ax5 2wd that has those mirrors and it has a 4.10 geared Dana 35. No evidence of a tow hitch or wiring.

T-18's in jeeps are 1 to 1 in fourth gear. No overdrive. I've had several and still have two.

Yeah, I know they're stock mirrors. I have an MJ with a set. That doesn't keep them from being ugly. Lol

At this point you'll only find them in old trucks.

Nice truck except for those horrible mirrors.

I'm looking for XJ springs for my 92 XJ. My 92 MJ I put Rustys 3.5 XJ spring with the eyes cut off between my overload and main leaves with Chevy drop shackles. Most of the lift I got over stock 2wd springs came from the shackles. 3" overall lift. They're nearly equal to a metric ton spring though. The cc784's would work good in that too.

Says those front springs were optional on 86-91 XJ's. Just wondering what the part numbers were for the matching rear springs. Probably end up going with a set of Old Man Emu 2.5" springs in the rear.