jpnjim

:cheers: to you. :yes:

I was basing a lot of my actions on old, flawed, or just wrong information. Years ago, having a high *available* CC balance was considered a bad thing, because that represented potential future debt. Having two many credit cards (even if unused) would compound this. Well, the rules have changed, unused available credit now increases your Debt Ratio (= good, instead of bad) within the new rules, I listed the *Mistakes* I have made: I canceled a 2nd credit card I did not like ($25k limit) in 2008. Had I retained it, I would now have more than 1 (out of 3) credit score I chose a small local bank to have an account with, that has reserve credit. Being a small bank, they only report this reserve credit status to one of the three credit agencies (that agency has given me a credit score) If I had picked a big bank, that reports to all 3 agencies, all 3 would be giving me scores, instead of just one Bought our minivan last year cash, instead of pulling a loan It was under $10k, but if I financed even $1k, or $2k of that, I would have more than 1 credit score I paid all my bills on time, with no 30 day lates, or collections My GF has all the same exact credit history as me, but HAS a credit score because a wrongly submitted $200 medical bill (bloodwork) was sent to collection. They created a number for her, just so they could ding it. :fs1: (her score is 110 points lower than the 1 score I have, due to that bill). Even after paying off the house loan in 2007, doing any one of the above would have given me enough 'credit history' to generate a credit number. I know people with bankruptcies 2 years ago who could get a loan today, because they have enough credit history. 25 years of on time credit card payments, a paid off mortgage makes me more of a credit risk than someone who went bankrupt in 2010 :doh: :doh: :doh:

:yes: I agree. :cheers:

I am surprised how many people feel exactly this same way, and it has nothing to do with any 2012 Mayan Apocalypse predictions (I actually think the predictions are being used to ridicule the people who can see the economy collapse coming with crystal clarity). I agree some bad juju is coming our way, but have a slightly different take. If the dollar is going to collapse, as in hyperinflation killing all value (wheelbarrow full of $$$ for a loaf of bread type hyperinflation) then the thing to do with any money you have now is to spend it while it still has value. Having real assets in time of hyperinflation is better than having devalued funny money. As far as having debt, if it stops you from properly preparing for a crisis, then that may be bad debt. But if it's something that helps you, or has intrinsic value, no mater the situation, then that might be worthwhile debt. Either way, since you brought it up, :USAflag: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst :USAflag:

I'm having issues getting a home loan. In a nutshell, my credit history is: I've had a dozen or so credit cards since my first in 1987, Over the years I voluntarily dropped all but the one I still use. I've had zero late payments, penalties, etc. I buy stuff on the card, but try not to carry a balance. (15K limit) I got a mortgage in 1996, Paid extra every month, till it was paid off 19 years early, in 2007. I still live in that house. That mortgage had no late payments, penalties, etc I'm now looking for another house (I'm trying to finance 2x's my yearly income) I'll put 20% down, to avoid PMI. Great, right? Newp, not great! Two of the three credit agencies said I don't have enough credit history, and will not assign me credit scores. (25 years of paid on time revolving credit, and a paid off mortgage are not enough credit history!) Only one bank would even offer me a loan with just a single credit score (775). The rest say they absolutely cannot do a loan without at least 2 of the 3 scores, no matter how much the loan is for, or how much I put down. :doh:

It's been a while, but I seem to remember proudly doubling my 73 J4000's mileage from 4mpg to 8 :ack: 360/granny 1st T-18/4.10's on 32's. And that was with a fresh 360, one of those lean factory Holley 600's they put on Fords in the 1980's, electronic ignition, freeflowing duel exhaust, and a light foot. :doh:

OK, then I am 105. :doh:

Even the newest of the new brandy spanking new 1992 MJ is officially..... a 20 year old vehicle now. What is the actual date of the absolute latest one that's been found? We should have a Comanche bash somewhere to celebrate it's birthday. :cheers: How many MJers here aren't even 20 years old yet :doh:

Before anyone takes offense, Jeep went from a Truck maker, to a SUV maker, to a Crossover maker, with a 1/4 ton universal thrown in to 'keep it real'. And even that 1/4 ton universal would be gone if they could sell the 'rugged outdoors lifestyle' without it. /rant :thumbsup:

IFS 4x4 OHC Automatic Trans In Dash A/C (even the later FSJ's had external under dash A/C) Power Windows etc etc in a 'Truck' FSJ's were cutting edge in the 1960's, with features the big 3 hadn't even dreamed of yet. The competition had nothing even close to the 1960's "Super Wagoneer" till the 1980's. Jeep did it again in compacts in the 1980's when it offered 173HP and 4doors. Miles & years ahead of the competition. Too bad they abandoned trucks 20+ years ago, and are now only interested in selling a lifestyle, neatly packaged into streamlined cost conscious bellybutton look alike "Jeeps" on car platforms.

That's why I put 'mostly' in my statement before 'correct' :yes: people complain that AMC was behind the times when it came to standardization (eg: 84-86 AMC XJ's vs 88+ XJ's). Kaiser was far worse than AMC.:yes: (eg: 64-70 Kaiser FSJ vs 74+ FSJ's) Atleast AMC started straightening out/standardizing the XJ line in 87 before Chrysler took over Kaiser had experimented with so much in the FSJ line: AMC 6's, Continental 6's, ohc sixes, gen 1 AMC v8's, Buick v8's, IFS, every kind of Dana axle, thrift side beds, fleet side beds, flat beds, tow trucks, fire trucks, military trucks, utility bodies, sedan deliveries, and everything else under the sun, it took AMC till 74' to whittle it down to just 4 vehicles (J10,J20, Waggy & Cherokee). There's exceptions to the exceptions when it comes to Kaiser & early AMC FSJ's :ack:

If it's reading 50mph parked like that, he'd better sell it quick, thing's likely to hit 100k miles without ever leaving the parking spot. :smart:

As far as J10 J20 goes, yes J10 = d44 or m20 J20 = d60. Earlier stuff is a little more confusing, since the designations were different. J300 J3000 J4000, etc. So change that to 1/2 ton 3/4 ton, and it's (mostly) correct. DRW d70's being one exception in the early trucks.

Merry Christmas guys! :cheers:

or get both and struggle to make up your mind :nuts:

J10 & Waggy had horrible gears ratios, to try to meet gas mileage standards :ack: 1980's CJ's got hammered by the same backward thinking. Luckily, J20's with their higher GVWR didn't fall under those standards, so their D44/D60's got 3.73's right till the bitter end. :chillin:

You mean they didn't come from the factory with those ;)

Yeah, I forgot about the closed knuckles, great point. Worst part of my 73 J4000 (J4600) was the closed knuckle ft axle. Turning radius was not so great. Good setup otherwise, P code 360/4bbl Granny T-18/D-20 5 lug 35sp SF D60 rear w/4.10's. I should've taken more pics Tons of Grand Waggy's were in the junkyard when I had it, swapped in GW doors (with the 90* opening J truck hinges), power leather seats, under dash air vents (no AC tho), Rhino Chaser grille, late model plastic tank, etc etc. Only bad part was last foot of frame was badly rusted, So I chopped it off, and had a 7' bed with the 132" wheelbase.

Most aftermarket rwd 15x7 & 15x8s were 3.75-4.00" Backspacing Factory 15x7s were 5.25" If you want them to stick out, space accordingly. :wrench:

For the most part, the newer the better: 1974+ has improved (Wag style) ft suspension (2.5" wide leaf SUA vs earlier 2" wide SOA) 1974+ has disc brakes (atleast optional) 1976+ has better boxed frame 1980+ has drivers side ft diff Exceptions to newer = better: 1979 last year of TH400 trans & 1/2 ton T18 4spd's (stronger) 1980+ = Chrysler 3spd auto's & T176 4spd's (I *think* 1980+ J20's still got T18's) 1979 = last year of built in cab visor 1979 = last year of pass side diff 1978 = last year of 401/4bbl 1974 = first year of FSJ 401/4bb 1973 = last year of 5 lug axles (74+ J10=6lug J20=8lug)

Only negative with the 242 is, since there's an open spider gear differential in there, one *really* slipping/spinning tire (like a single tire on ice) is enough to stop forward momentum, and make you have to shift into part time 4wd. Honestly, it only happened to us once: gf was driving 96' ZJ in FT 4wd, snow/ice on the ground she punched it to get moving quick, fast merge onto short highway onramp and it just sat there with one tire spinning

I accidentally installed one of these on my Cherokee, before I even realized what I had done... both floorboards rotted out, the interior light stopped working, headliner sagged onto the top of my head, and rust started forming around the rear wheelwells. :eek: Luckily I removed it off before they could pull XJ tail lights off the shelf at the local parts store. :jump:

Thank you to all who took the time to read this thread, and think about Lenny's life, and thank you for all the kind replies. Lenny was every bit of the "give you the shirt off his back" kind of friend, and he is sorely missed. His obituary goes a short way to describe his life, so I'll post it for anyone interested. :( I had a tough time at Lenny's wake & funeral, and both his wife, and mother separately took notice of this, each coming over to console me. :( I have no words when a selfless family can reach out through tragedy to try to help someone else. Amazing. God bless Lenny & his wonderful family edit, added an old pic, not sure if he was playing with one of his kids, or waving goodbye, either seems like a fitting tribute to a good man.

Jim, just when I thought you couldn't get any cooler :chillin: :cheers: FWIW, I'm picturing it black on black, with a Caddy 472, and fuzzy dice on the rear view Only way to make it badder would be with a 4spd bolted in :wrench: :yes:

It was ugly when I got it in 1990 Ugly and fast My brother painted it as his Senior project in HS auto body shop in 1992 :yes: