Mark Serva

I've got an '86 so with about an 18" rod and a flashlight I can pop the hood in about 30 seconds. I think the later Jeeps with double hood latches are pretty difficult. Could you have left ajar and not thought about it? An "eye for eye leaves everyone blind" I think is Ghandi. Of course cowboys can be wise too:-) "Tit for tat leaves everybody flat" KInd of a Ghandi paraphrase too. Anyway, I feel your pain. Can't imagine people watching and laughing thereby taunting you to revenge. Hence, if they think they are so clever I wouldn't bother with run of the mill revenge. Be clever. Not that I'm for such things mind you. Frankly, I can't imagine any adult doing such damage just for fun. I suspect you have a Hatfield vs. McCoy thing going on there. Sometimes best to move out of hell and come back for the occassional visit just to keep the fires burning. Good luck and sorry to hear about such things.

P.S. Sorry to read that you've had to abandon the project. So close yet so far. Wish I had the dinero to come down there and pick that up from you. Anyway, welcome back to the good ole' USofA.

Thanks for not flaming me on the idea. Since the Jeep already has Chevy power it doesn't seem blasphemous. Am figuring, since the engine compartment can accommodate length better than width, that I might move everything forward and put pusher fans on the the front of the radiator. Also, since I,m okay with scooping the hood if need be, I could mount the engine a couple of inches higher for header clearance. Frankly, even tho only 2wd my biggest worry is the oil pan. Not allot of stock shapes available. Also, the diesels stock exhaust is an odd, wrap over the trans odd thing. Doubt there is much I could do worse than that as diesels tend to be pretty forgiving on the exhaust side design wise. I had other diesels and intake/exhaust modifications for normally aspirated engines have had no measurable effect. Suspect turbos need allot more design. Thanks again, Mark

I tried to post this earlier yet crashed my computer. If it shows up twice please forgive. I got a similar valve off ebay and it was for a 2500/3500 Ram Diesel mid 90's vintage and up. So, Dodge must still be making some of these and there are more current part numbers. I just don't know how to find. Also, tried to get some of the above parts at my ACE Hardware. However, being in-town they have more things like fans and bbq sets than real parts. Kind of a girlie ACE Hardware. Anyway, I ordered from JEGS a carb linkage and a ball set to fit. It's just about 7in socket to socket but NOT adjustable more than about half an inch. So far so good yet I am in the middle of a brake job anyway so haven't gotter done yet to roadtest. This was pretty easy yet light duty. First road debris and it will be gone. Will put the above parts on my shopping list for when I find a real hardware store out in the boonies. Getting harder and harder to find.

I don't have enough HP to pull anything more than a scooter or a mower out of the muck. Also, am a 2wd long bed so need some real weight in the back to get any traction. Am planning on mounting a front tow bar with pinned mounting plates that come stock with the universal towbar. I think the tow bar mounts, cast iron of some sort, look pretty stout. Of course I know my bumper would pull right off. Trying to find a guy who makes those 1/4" or more steel plates that mount to the frame with about 5 bolts designed for welded on bumpers. Then bend them, drill some holes and mount the mounts. Contacted a couple of the guys on eBay who sell the plates. Told them of my plan and both said they never heard of such and idea. With about 2.5million TJ/MJs out there that's kind of hard to believe. Have seen too many behind big RVs on the highway. Anyway, looked around in a bunch of other threads with a bunch of obvious keyword and could not find anybody selling pre bent (to fit stock bumper) reinforcers. Any ideas? Thanks!!!

I don't mean to knock your efforts yet I wonder why, if it's registered as the older vehicle, you just can't keep it up to date of manufacture for emissions. I'm no expert yet from what I can see from the science of combustion most of the crap the Feds have required is something of a shell game for turning different measured hydrocarbons into unmeasured ones. Yet I do think the evap system is really important as unburned hydrocarbons are the worst. Most of my oldies pullute more just sitting around evaporating than the new ones do running. Just curious. Happy motoring.

About how long did it take you to remove that dash? Of course, I like the room so much I hate putting them back in. Especially as the wiring on my old jeep is so simple I really only need the speedo (speecing cameras as aweful here), fuel guage and my auxiliary guages. Looks like the steering column support would easily mount everything I need. Thanks!

Thanks for all the pics. They are so much better than too few words. I have an 86 Comanche with the lackluster 2.8 and a Chrysler Auto. Also, I have a Olds V6 Diesel, mated 700r4 and transfer case that was originally destined for an S-10. Anyway, I wish to put it all in my Comanche with the minimum of fabrication. Mostly concerned about the exhaust manifolds clearing the frame. Also, as it's 2wd I don't need to hook up the Transfer case. Would rather use the parts I have than go back out seeking similar. Any suggestions other than "don't do it" would be really appreciated. P.S. I like diesels and running all the alternative fuel I can.

Am hoping to hold onto the rear brake valve in my MJ. They still use them in everything from Sprinter vans to Toyotas so I think it's still sound to have good brakes, especially under a load. And, I believe, Dodge still stocks the part via late model big Rams like the 3500 Diesels. Hence, I suspect there are more around than we think. However, I haven't been able to track down a part number as the old AMC numbers tend to be a dead end. Happy motoring.