Automan2164

Sat down to fix it right today: One piece lugnuts, and 10 new studs for the front (other 5 were already in). Part number for those interested. Pulling them through. I had to commit a bit of hackery because the backing plate was getting in the way of taking out/putting in the studs, so I used the back of my sledge to slightly crease the inner bottom to squeeze them through. I just didn't feel like pulling the hubs for some studs. While I was at it, I picked these up from Pat when I picked up the truck from his dad's place. Phil was telling me I needed shocks, and Pat just happened to have some around. Sold. PN. Old and nasty. New and smooth. I didn't grab any pics of the lug nuts on, but I think you get the idea. I am just glad to be rid of those stupid 2 piece nuts. Up here in the midrust, the caps always come off, and leave you with different sizes, or twist, and I end up hammering a socket on. I've even had one where it snapped off the nut part, and left the cone seat broken off with no way to grab it in a deep recessed pocket in a factory alloy... Talk about pissed. Rob :cheers:

Nothing wrong with that! :yes: Except for the blinking ghosts. :fs1: Rob

Just the three of us? Rob

Good to hear you are in good shape, and it sounds like the MJ fared pretty well. A brush guard has saved a few of my vehicles from heavy damage. Small investment that pays off in a pinch. Rob

We must have the same decorator, because I like your style. Rob :cheers:

Been a little bit since I posted on here... Have an update. I've been sort of plagued with a nagging vibration that acted like a u-joint. It started somewhat after I got it back from Phil, and I had removed the rear shaft to tow it up to his place. I didn't mark the joint, so I figured that when they put it back in, it might have just not been back in the exact place that I had taken it out of. That, and the trans/engine mounts are less than stellar, so I just figured that I might be getting some vibes from that. The vibe would show up about 55, and feel like an out of balance shaft. As you were coming to a stop, it would shake like a dry joint. Simple enough, I'll just change it when I get a chance this week. Been getting worse, might as well. Today I took it out to go get some fuel, and see what kind of mileage I've been getting just be bopping around town. Last tank was 25ish, and that was with leaked fuel, and the pump issues. On the way up (I cross into WI to get fuel, $0.30 cheaper a gal) I noticed that the death wobble was coming back... I slowed down a bit from 55, and I was good. I hit a bump, and heard something pop in the front end, thought it was weird because I had gone through it and there should be nothing loose. Then it death wobbled something awful. I slowed down to 35, but was lucky to be entering town, so I had to do 30 anyway. The ride felt a little extra grumbly, and I now had a brake squeak on the drivers front. Tap on the brakes would shut it up. Oh well, another little thing to look at. Got my fuel, and started to leave the station. I could hear a tap, tap, tap coming from the drivers front. Now I am curious. Pulled out, and right back into a parking lot. When I got out, I noticed the hubcap was cocked. Pulled the cap: I had snapped a stud. Not only that, but all of them were loose. I pulled out the tools, and gave them a crank. I also checked the other side. All was good. Once I got down the road, it was smooth as butter again. Looks like I found my vibe. Soooo... Looks like this week, I am going to replace all the studs on the drivers side, and I will most likely do the other side too, as well as lube and clean the front brakes. But on the bright side, I am getting 28.3 MPG... IN TOWN!!! I keep thinking that the fuel gauge is broken because it just doesn't move like it should based on my other MJ's/XJ's I've had. I had about a half tank on 360 miles, and only put in about 12 gallons. By my estimations, this thing would get around 700 miles to a tank. Awesome! I can't wait to do a road trip and see what kind of miles I get out of it! Rob :cheers:

If you are thinking of passing on it, how about passing on some contact info for a fellow local? I would love to at least look at it. Rob :wavey:

CW just basically moved his flares up into the stratosphere to rid the rust, but the diamond plate helped a bit.

:rotf: We be an odd team. Rob :cheers:

Them be TJ flares in the link... I have yet to see JK flares on an MJ/XJ... Rob

Yep, but I am partial to the checkered goodness that show up in early MJ interiors. Rob

Black interior, IMHO, is the coolest thing since liquid nitrogen. I am sure glundbad won't mind me digging for a pic of his interior: Droolsville man, droolsville. =Rob :drool: :drool:

I would try to find a set of solid lugs instead of the factory capped versions. You should be able to pick some up at your local auto parts stores. Upgrade instead of replace. Rob

X2 Rob

Got back to the light issue today. Sat down with a handful of fuses, and started the diagnostics. Going to have to use your imagination, I didn't take any pics... Sorry. :( First I just turned on the running lights to see if they would pop. Sure enough, they did. Next step was to isolate the issue. I know there are some problems with the turn signal/running lamp sockets, so I went right to there. Took off the bezels, and checked the sockets. All seemed good. Next step was the friggen running lights. I had a suspicion that 5 more filaments on the system might be overloading it, so I pulled the inline fuse I found that runs up to them. Waited a bit, then I got a pop. Only one thing left to isolate was the tails. I popped them out, and disconnected the rear harness behind the drivers tail. No pops. Left it on while I wrapped up some loose ends to make sure, and they stayed on the whole time. Looks like I found my problem area. I started by pulling all the bulbs and checking to make sure that I had no continuity to ground with the bulbs out. That checked out. Perplexed by this point, I looked at the sockets. A few of them had gouges in the inside from previous owners putting the bulbs in wrong... The bulbs may look like a 2 position, but they can only go in one way. I thought I remembered feeling some goofiness putting a few of them in, so I rechecked. Sure enough, I had ended up following the grooves set by the owners before me. The tail lamp circuit was powering the brighter, more amperage brake filament, and that was the problem. I put all the bulbs in right, and everything is whole once again. Needless to say, check the simple stuff first. :idea: dvmFmlN0_TQ Rob

How is JB doing Don? Rob

God give me strength. I got the brakes buttoned up, the shifter knob locked into the perfect angle, and drove it into work today. Felt much better. I wasn't slamming gears because of some $#!&ty shift knob, just smooth running, cruising effortlessly. Got home tonight, told Angela to get her stuff together and we would go for a Friday night joyride. Nope. Got out of the driveway and blew the parking light fuse. Changed it, blew it again. WHY MUST YOU FIGHT ME AT EVERY TURN!? SO FRUSTRATING. Rob :headpop: :wall:

Head over to the dealer for a new knob. Surprisingly, they still have new ones available. Just not the lock nut. That, and it's only something like $11. Rob :cheers:

Been awhile since we all got together... This date work for everyone? Rob :cheers:

I don't believe anyone is reproducing those currently. Rob

That seller trickles out some good MJ stuff every once and awhile... Last set he had went for $950 IIRC. Rob ;)

Funny that you mention that. Almost every LKQ down here I've been to has a strict NO ELECTRIC TOOLS policy. Must be a southern thing... and it can be quite a nuisance sometimes.... :fs1: :wall: Up here, there are a few rules at LKQ: No Alcohol No Jacks No torches The day I got that bed section I had a generator, extension cords, angle grinder, and a handful of cut off blades... Depending on the day, you hear generators all over the yard. Makes the job so much easier. Electric impact/air impact, saws, grinders... Rob

I know at LKQ it's up to the counter person or the manager. When I cut the back of that SWB off for my couch, I asked before hand, explained what I was up to, and put a feeler out before doing all the work to grab it. Ended up leaving with it for $7.50. Rob

Yep, and to go a little further, lose the whole mess you have at the bottom, and just put the AMC logo with Jeep after it. Simple is better. Rob

I was going to say something about that too. A block letter, like the Jeep, would be better throughout, IMHO. Rob