JeffK

Thanks. If you use a 6 cylinder cluster on a 4 cylinder everything will work except the tach, which will not register properly. According to these guys here the tachs are calibrated for either the 4 or 6 cylinder. You'll have to find a full cluster from a 4 cylinder.

It was easy. The cluster is from an '89 model. I pulled the senders off the same old XJ, and the junk yard charged like $2 a piece for them. Here's a pretty decent write up that covers the swap. :cheers:

yep, 10mm x 1.5

You change out the oil and the temp sending units (less than 10 minutes) and install the cluster. That's it, and amazingly everything works. IMO, best $27 I ever spent. Thanks for stopping in. :cheers:

Unfortunately, the headliner backer board is to the point where it is crumbling apart. Maybe I'll luck up on a decent one. You're right on the bench as well, I'm going to hold off and see what turns up. Check out the mfpdm's 'Stuff for Sale' Top notch service. :clapping:

I did some parts swapping today and came out with a Chrysler 8.25 29 spline with 3.55's. It doesn't look this grungy in person: The previous owner had recently added a new Sony CD player and replaced the door speakers with Infinity's, but had left stock rear speakers: I picked up some Sony 4X6's at Walmart for $38. Not cutting edge stuff, but sound a lot better than the old stockers: Bench seat sage part 3. In case you folks didn't know, butterscotch 2 door XJ or factory MJ buckets are fairly scarce. My poor old bench had sat out in a couple of rainstorms and had finally dried out enough for me to haul it by the reupholsters shop today. The guy I took it to had done a bench for me a few years ago and I thought I'd give him a shot at this bench. He pointed out the obvious sad condition of the seat... and gave me an estimate of $350... :eek: Seems likely the search for the butterscotch buckets will continue.

This afternoon I made a trip to our brand new Pull-A-Part. http://www.pullapart.com/ To have a look around and ended up with a few goodies. 89 XJ full instrument cluster $22.26, with senders $27.38: Like new rear view mirror from a late model Chrysler car, $4.38. Close but not exactly the same as the Jeep. Different shape. I don't know if I like it yet: I couldn't wait, so I decided to install the instrument cluster this afternoon. This is what I started out with: I took the Plexiglas cover off to clean and get the dust off the gauges. The new cluster has a gray surround for the gauges: I swapped it with the black surround from the old custer. I like it better: Installed and working: There's just over 2k difference in mileages between the two clusters, I'm thinking I'll leave it as is.

I appreciate the encouragement. I took very few pics of the work I did on my XJ, so I plan to make up for it on my MJ. Had a few delays with the rain and the drying time between coats, but I finally got the bed liner down. 100% PITA. This stuff absolutely reeks and is nearly impossible to get off your hands. I laid down two coats on everything and 3 coats on the footwell area. Trans hump: Area behind/underneath seat: 3 coats on the drivers side footwells: closer on the drivers side: 3 coats on the passengers side: closer on the passenger side: Glad it's done...:mad:

Thanks Rich. I finally got a day off and I'm going back to work on her Sunday afternoon.

I like the RE kit I have now and the RE 5.5 is one of first choices, budget premitting. What happens at work for the next couple of months will determine that. Deja vu? No probably not. Can I use 'being new' as an excuse?

I've had several XJ's and my current '00 has a 3 1/2 inch RE lift on it. New leaf packs, fixed lower control arms and adjustable trac arm. The 3 1/2 lift netted approximately 4" in the front (with 2 stock insulators) and just over 4 1/2" in the back , after everything had settled in. Apparently anything over 2" of lift calls for a SYE, which I installed, right after the lift. I later added an ARB bumper, which squatted the front down, but with a 2" block and 1 stock insulator I got it back close to where it was. I'm kind of new to the MJ's, so I been reading up in the past forum posts on the lift subject. Now I'm sitting here blurry eyed and I think I have more questions now than when I started. I plan for this to be my DD, right now my XJ is. The amount of lift the XJ currently has makes for decent enough ride, So I'd like to stay within an inch or so of that height. The MJ will see mostly road miles with some trips to Uwharrie and the beach. Tires are most likely going be 265/75R16's (not quite 32 inches tall) My tentative plans/expectations are: 1. Achieve 4-5 inches of lift. I'd like to have a little rake in the rear, because I'd like to tow my ATV trailer without the nose pointing in the air. 2. Run my ARB bumper with a winch, and not have to use those cursed poly spacers to achieve the above mentioned lift. 3. Rehome my '99 HP D30 and '00 8.25, both with 3.55's (hopefully to be changed outif needed at a later date). 4. Adjustable Trac bar, ZJ tie rods and sway bar. 5. 95 Dakota rear brake line and YJ front lines. Now for the questions: 1. Realistically, how much lift you guys seen out of the SOA? 2. I've read that you guys purcahsed new perches for the SOA. Are these what you are refering to? http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RC-LSP1&Category_Code=LEAF I believe I might have even read that this might be available at the dealer? 3. If the rear ends up with 5", what would you guys recommend as far as front mods? Would I need both upper and lower control arms? Would they both need to be adjustable or just the uppers or just the lowers? 4. If adjustable control arms are needed, would a control arm relocation bracket be necessary? 5. No need for a SYE? How much longer will the stock driveshaft need to be? Can the stock be run, in moderation, until a new one can be installed? 6. Shocks, I'm running RE's cheapo repainted Doetschs and I'm not overjoyed with them. What's your suggestions on a decent shock for my planned application? I appreciate your comments and suggestions, Jeff

Well Pete, following your advise I checked out the clutch master cylinder, and from the looks of the rust trail, it appears the main source of the fluid I had coming in was from between the fire wall and the main wiring harness connection, or right below the clutch master cylinder (note the the scary jumper thingy somebody has added to the fuse box)... Further investigation showed a fairly recent clutch master cylinder, fortunately with no leaks, and an old trail leading down toward the wiring harness...huge surprise :eek: ... I then removed the plastic inner fender, and that revealed some and gooey paint and undercoating directly beneath the Clutch master cylinder. Here's the beginning of the prep... After removing the rust and gooey mess that used to be paint and undercoating, I applied a couple of layers of new undercoating... ...and on the inside, two coats of primer like the rest or the floor pan. Good advice, It seems the majority of my rust issues are from a previously long neglected clutch master cylinder. Makes you wonder how long the previous owners added fluid before they finally broke down and fixed the problem...

I moved the bench out of the driveway... ...the neighbors trying to ignore it and the noise. My wife said she didn't care, but she thinks it is attracting flies, not sure if she was kidding or not. Anyway, Late yesterday afternoon I decide I'd take care of my little ant 'friends'... ...and after a little research, I decided on my course of action for the floor pans. 1. Grind, sand or whatever the rust down to bare metal. 2. Two coats of fairly thick primer. 3. Re-undercoat the affected areas. 4. Lay down a nice solid thick coat of bed liner on the inside, First the rust... Digging in. nearly ready for paint... the worst side... before any paint goes on the grungy and shedding head liner needs to go... Murphy is not digging the smell... 1/2 the first coat... First coat is done... Before the second coat I wanted to address the 3-4 small holes I ended up with in the drivers side floor plan, so I put a piece of tape over each hole... I then prepped the floor pan underneath and laid on a 2 coats of undercoating. After that dried, I removed the pieces of tape and laid down a fairly thick second coat of primer. More of the second coat... So the next step will be rolling on the bed liner, but I have to back to work Wednesday morning and since the primer is kind of thick I decided to give it a little curing time. The bed liner Is Rust-oleum's version, $17 bucks a quart at my friendly local AutoZone. Next to it is my Lowe's $2.60 hi-tech application system. End of a fairly long and dirty day... A little side note-from the start I never really was a fan of the tan interior, and now that it's 2 door panels and the dash away form being a different color I am tempted to change it out.

I'm an old mechanic, and I've been turning wrenches in some capacity since the late 70's. Though I haven't done it professionally in awhile, I still love to wrench on something. I've wanted an MJ for a long time, and finally I was able to find a decent one in my price range. I've got big plans for her. The day I brought her home... /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/c241c93f9809d7aa5bdd5f88c308e47b.jpg ...and it begins: Since he's already gave me some pretty sound info, I decided to follow Pete M's advise, and... Pull up your carpet and check for rust before it's too late!! 137,000 miles and 21 years of grunge, and carpet that smells like old booty. /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/41e23756eac0563c5854bd48bf606b3f.jpg After the seat was removed. Left side... /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/6518a5b6be5e9c5fe9239afb2175ae34.jpg Right side. Serious nastiness. /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/fd1627e8b2c7f9c58b2ab6577dec4d84.jpg I tried to take the the carpet out in one piece, but between the smell and the ant colony I just cut it into pieces and tossed it. One of my new friends... /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/afd436e31942328c438788045aee5391.jpg With the carpet out. More rust than I hoped for, but less than I expected. Left side. /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/e699af5baf94cb70df5f36c641852d85.jpg Right side. /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/706b8634938611e2e9eb7a85f662451c.jpg Pete M's advise is sound. The carpet padding was real damp, especially on the passenger side, don't know if the previous owner is to blame or if there's a leak. Anyway, with the carpet out I can address the rust issue and if there is a leak it'll be easier to find. Plus it already smells better. A positive note for the day, I believe I might have found why my dash lights weren't working... /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/7332212bdd459c8380e086061f93a597.jpg /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/3687f778666cf915214f41b1d77242c8.jpg The bench sits pretty good out of the truck, I might leave it in driveway for a couple of days and make the neighbors nervous.. /uploads/archive/58aa43b0c888d20a6b809a9f2c996a3c/f8f721c3345d647b332596233d160005.jpg

Thanks for the advice Pete M, One question though: I plan to use a newer model front differential, and I am completely unfamiliar with the current vacuum disconnect system that's on it. By switching out the front diff will the transfer case I have still work or should I look for both an AX15 and non Vacuum t-case? Tentative plans: 1. AX15/new clutch. 2. SYE From my old XJ. 3. Lift SOA rear/5" springs in front with control arms. 4. Axles ('99 D35 Front and a '00 8.25 29 spine rear from my old XJ) and rear drive shaft. 5. ZJ tie rods and sway bar remaining suspension bushings. 6. Newer model master cylinder and booster. 7. 16" black steelies and 265/75R16 tires (from the old XJ). 8. 97 front end and possibly doors 9. 97-01 ARB front bumper (from my old XJ again) and a new winch

Yeah I do too, but did the previous 2 owners? :???:

Looks like a Peugeot to me. Is that good or bad?

My 'bikes' '06 Kawasaki KFX400 '05 Fetish Disipline '97 Gary Fisher Tassajara '07 Honda CRF50

Thanks everyone. My 15 year XJ addiction has finally run it's course. It looks like MJs are next.

I'm in Winston Salem.

Thanks, That's first on next weekends to-do list.

I'm quoting the previous owner. I'm familiar with everything except the manual trans, all my XJs were auto. How do you tell the difference?

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New member, like to take a moment to say hello to everyone. I'm a longtime Cherokee owner, but I'm brand new to the Comanches. I've been looking on and off for several months and just yesterday I finally found one. It's a 1988 Pioneer, SWB 4X4. 4.0L I6, AX-15 5-speed, NP 231 t-case, Dana 30/35. The paints faded and the interior is a little rough, but I think it's a worthwhile project. Yesterday afternoon: I've pretty stoked about it (even if my wife's not). :shake: