87Warrior

Last September (of 2013), I replaced the thermostat when I installed a new radiator. The thermostat was a MotoRad unit I bought from the parts store. Typically I would have gone to the dealer, but I was pressed for time and I had learned MotoRad had started providing Mopar with thermostats. Well, it lasted 1 year 2 months. This weekend I braved the crowds and went to Menards on Black Friday. While I was successful at buying a few new tools, I noticed the temperature gauge in the truck never moved, the truck was down on power and my heat quit working. Replaced the thermostat with a genuine Mopar unit. Hopefully the Mopar variety of the MotoRad thermostats is just as good as the previous generation Mopar thermostats. Old vs. New

It's the same Chinese ARB knock off that started showing up after ARB had the Safari Snorkel built over (up?) there. The reviews are generally good with the plastic being high quality but the paper template isn't exact and the hose that connects the airbox to the snorkel is poor fitting but can be replaced by a hose from the hardware store. I put one on my wish list.

Fresh Colorado Red.

For a reference, here is my truck with about 3" of lift and 265/75/15's. I opted for the 75 as the tire was dimensionally narrower (by a little) according to Cooper. The AT3's ride nice and the 2.5 with 4.10's spin down the road without problem. My experience with them on a 2500 Duramax proves satisfactory in snow, even though they don't have the "mountain snow" rating. I've only been able to use them in the small 3/4" of snow we got 2 weeks ago with the MJ. Seemed to work great.

Did you buy the NOS TBI from Motor Man? If so, I will pick one up. I hope your TBI and MPI intake works out. I've been following your build. From my reading, it seems the throttle bodies tend to ice up without the heated intake. I hope you prove that wrong, because I'd like to do the same with a MPI intake I have.

EBay has the square pads. I believe BDS also sells them. I used some GM pads from eBay when I added a MJ main AAL. Luckily I had a few good used MJ pads from another pack to replace to worn out pads.

Make sure you study up on the proper transmission fluid to use in your AX5. Most gear oils on the market are not safe for yellow metals (brass syncros) and will destroy the transmission. I have never found a suitable gear oil on the shelf at the parts store for the AX5 or AX15. Thus, I have followed Chrysler's and other's recommendation and use a quality synthetic motor oil in the transmission. Mobil 1 for me, even in my rusty 176k mile '86. Welcome to the club.

Slimjater, are your shorts still clean? If so, there is absolutely no way this is DW. Replace your Ujoints with Spicer parts. Ujoints can feel fine in your hand but be worn enough to cause a vibration like described.

The few TBSS guys I know start having transmission issues once they start driving it beyond going to and from the Walmart.

Wow! Nice truck with a phenomenal resume that continues to grow. If I had too much cash burning a hole in my pocket, I'd absolutely love to own this truck. Also.....300hp out of the 2.5!!!!!

MJ specific floor pans do not exist, regardless of what the manufacture claims. They are all XJ pans.

My 03 TJ Rubi has a Rebuilt Kansas Title. I bought it in 03 from an IAAI auction in MI. At least here in KS, the rebuilt title is treated the same as a clean title. No special provisions, taxes, or insurance cost.

Nice work on the Dakota seat. Thank you for sharing how you actually went about the brackets. Did you reuse the MJ seat belt buckles or did you use the built in Dakota buckles? Some of the top of the line Dakotas had a flip up console lid (might have included cup holders?). If you ever find one, the center seat/console should bolt right in.

I tried the facebook hosting once. They did an update a few days later wrecking my links. I haven't tried it again in 4 years. Photobucket has been good to me since 2003.

Alan - Sounds like we need to meet up and wheel sometime.

I chased down several trucks in a similar fashion when I was looking and was let down countless times.... Now I have strangers stopping by my house to ask me if I want to buy their MJ. Oh how the tables turned. I have learned if the craigslist find is newly posted and is what you want, GO! It won't last, regardless of what the seller says.

Are you looking for the bracket that bolts to the motor or the bracket that bolts to the frame? I had planned on visiting my parts collection tomorrow and can see what 2.5 brackets I have laying around.

Nice truck!

Congrats!

The truck has been a pleasure to drive this last month. With the fresh suspension, balanced tires and an alignment I imagine this is how somebody driving a brand new MJ would have felt. What does EVERY MJ interior lack? Light. I located a lighted rearview mirror I bought for my 92 three years ago while organizing my parts stash in the garage. Mounted the windshield button and wired it up to come on with the B-pillar lights. Since I had ZERO issues with the truck over the last month I felt it was time for another road trip. My destination, Kansas City, to help a buddy apply Raptor liner to the interior of his XJ. The morning was brisk but clear. As I loaded up the truck with gear, it heated up and defrosted. An hour into the trip I lost heat. The fan was blowing cool air and the vent selector was working just fine. When I pulled off at a Rest Area I suspected the heater bypass valve failed. Sure enough, even with good vacuum the valve wouldn't hold its position. I suspect the vacuum diaphragm gave out. I finished my trip with no heat and was ever grateful for the sun warming the cab. I immediately did the bypass elimination when I returned home. I am not happy with the non molded heater hoses, but they work. Noticed my high pressure power steering hose is leaking, so I need to buy one of those! I only averaged 15mpg at 75-80mph with a 30-40mph cross wind.

I am 20 minutes away. What do you need help with? I know my way around an MJ :thumbsup:

I like it. Any reason you didn't tie it into the intake tube right there? I assume you have a filter in the cowl.

I've done it. Two IPF housings and a VVME H4 HID kit. The bulbs are actually 4200K since I dislike blue lights. These are nice and white with a good beam pattern. Here is a poor quality photo I snapped while welcoming the new day cruising down the highway:

I know Moog sells a lower joint with a fitting. Only catch, the fitting would be ripped off by the axle shaft if left in place. I suspect you could install a fitting designed for a needle adapter since they are low profile.

Get Spicer ball joints. Relatively inexpensive and they are what came on your truck originally. You will need a Ball Joint press. My Harbor Freight press has done ball joints on 4 Jeeps and a 2500 Silverado...and is ready for more. I did 2 Jeeps with the standard cups that come with the press and 2 with the pricey Jeep cups. The Jeep specific cups made the job much easier. Have a quality 12 point 13mm socket on hand for the Unit Bearing bolts. Heat and a BFH will make the process easier and quicker. I found these videos helpful