jpnjim

So that's two things wrong with every Renix I've had..... they don't expel air pockets AND they didn't read the FSM to know they were supposed to do it ;) sorry Cruiser I couldn't help it :) I've had terrible luck getting any closed system 4.0L to self-purge, especially reading his earlier post about having heat, then not having heat, (after removing the valve & flushing the core) that sounded like low coolant/air pockets to me. Either way, good luck, I hope you figure it out, overheating in December is no fun.

Random facts; all factory XJ & MJ 15" wheels steel & aluminum were 5.25" back spacing, even the narrow steel 15x6 wheels were 5.25"bs. Some ZJ steel 5 star 15"x7's were 5" Backspacing, but they didn't come stock on XJ's YJ (Renegade)& TJ 15x8's were 5.5" back spacing, and they fit nicely on XJ/MJ's but those were never stock on XJ/MJ's. As far as what tucks into the fender flares, how much lift you have comes into play with this too. The more lift, the greater the angle the tire (and the whole axle) will be at when the tire reaches the edge of the flare. I could tuck in narrowish 33's&35's on 15x8's with 4.75" bs & 6" lift, but switching to 4" Backspacing forced me to move the ft flares way up to gain back the travel. Tucking in the stock wheel well really only works for 9.5-10.5-11.5" tires anyway, by the time you get to a 12" wide tire, you're pushing the flare and fender out most of the time to get it inside the ft fender. and you're rubbing the spring tower on the inside. Last point, widening the rear track width to match the body width is more pleasing to the eye, but costs turning radius if you get carried away. A nice narrow rear axle helps maneuver around all the trees we have here in the northeast.

Nice job on the exhaust! Those flat 4 bolt cat flanges like the original had aren't too difficult to fabricate with a piece of steel plate, a gasket, and a hole saw. Your system came out so nice, I wouldn't take it apart to add it now, but to anyone copying your idea of using the weld up kit like this, it really helps to have a flange like the factory set up if it needs to come apart later. BTW, the engine looks as great as the exhaust, nice job! edit; you would probably never need it, but the other benefit of having the flange is if you needed to replace that head pipe quickly (like in the middle of a 4wd trip somewhere), an off the shelf pipe would still work till you got home.... sorry for the side track :)

Long MJ leafs usually don't need much help to flex, most of the time I've gotten MORE wheel travel out of the rear of an MJ than the front (with short arms anyway), so unless your spring pack is too stiff, you probably don't need the Revolver Shackle band aid anyway, plus you have to deal with them unloading when you don't want them too. When they first came out I put my old trail MJ on a fork truck to flex the rear, with the rear shackle removed on one side. If it gained any down travel at all, it was minimal, like less than an inch or so at the shackel, way less at the wheel. Maybe others here have had good luck with them, but with our nice long rear leafs, I think they are an unecessary gimmick.

Sounds like you have air pockets in your cooling system still. All 4.0L's can be tough to completely fill the cooling system, especially closed system Renix 4.0L's. Here's what I do; Park tail down on a slightly sloped driveway, and fill the radiator & coolant neck via the upper radiator hose connection. Do this cold, with the heat on full hot (I know you removed the valve, still good practice for the next guy). Once its full, put the hose on, & bring the rpms to 1800-2000ish for a few seconds to see if some air came to the top (to the hose connection you are filling from). You might have to do this a few times, or try a *little* more rpm (not too much tho), or try a steeper slope to park on, but it should get most of the air out, eventuality driving the Jeep will get the rest. watch out for the fan while you are doing this!

It's *possible* that there was a Technical Service Bulletin on this, and rust-belt dealers *could have* been supplied with reinforcing brackets to weld in place. I have never heard of this particular TSB, maybe one of the long term Jeep Techs here can answer that question, but a TSB would explain the randomness of it (could have happened late in the vehicle run), and would also explain how nice form fitting brackets got 'Bubba-welded' to more than just one or two MJ's.

I'll add mine; "You don't have what it takes!" I spoke with the Airforce Recruiter on the phone for a pretty long time (we took the ASVAB tests in school so all the recruiters were calling all of us) towards the end of a pretty decent conversation on joining the AirForce I mentioned I have Diabetes (type I) he said "ah, sorry I can't touch you, we can't be responsible for that, tho you sound like a nice kid good-luck-bye" The next day the Marine Recruiter called, and spoke very loudly and enthusiastly; "HI JIM I'M SO AND SO FROM THE UNITED STATES MARINES ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE BEST AND etc etc etc" I responded, sorry, but I have diabetes.... to which he replied (loudly and enthusiasticly) "SO YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?!?" Lol, and I never got to join the Marines. :)

Would either of you mind saying how much they end up costing you door to door with shipping for the set? You could PM it to me if you'd rather not post it. Thanks :) I would REALLY like to be able to pick up a ton of wood pellets in the back of my MJ :) (I already have an MJ D44 patiently waiting for me to install it)

Eddie has been a part of the AMC hobby for a long long long time :D He would fit right in here with us :)

They used to make an armored cover for our GM columns so they couldn't be 'top rodded' (opened up with a screwdriver & started). I don't know if anyone still makes it, but it would be a good upgrade for any MJ that needed a little anti-methhead protection. I'm glad you got your MJ back! :)

HO benefits; 1)It stores codes, so you can put a code reader on it to see what's wrong with the system. 2)HO's came with all kinds of better parts, better head, intake, injectors, throttle body,eliminated EGR, better header, and the OBDI system is already set up to run everything = you don't have to cobble together a conversion TPS to use the intake & TB. & you don't have to *hope* your Renix PCM *likes* the bigger injectors & lack of EGR 3)parts availability 4)simplicity (once its converted)

Renix benefits; 1)knock sensor = more advanced timing that retards ignition when it 'hears' a knock 2)no check engine light only a benefit if they do emissions testing for inspection. nothing worse than the CEL coming on, or the car throwing a random code, or "systems not ready" because your battery died the day before you need an inspection sticker 3)voltage regulator is NOT part of the engines computer. HO's incorporate them together, I don't know if any decent work arounds have been figured out yet, but plenty of people have had to buy new Mopar ECM's because the voltage regulator inside theirs failed 4)Yours is already a Renix = you can keep the GM alternator & brackets you already have you don't have to rerun any wiring, mount the HO computer change the flywheel/flexplate (tho I guess that's not applicable in this case), gauges, o2 sensor, add a speedo sensor, etc etc.

Whenever I needed a U-Haul trailer it's always so I could bring home a CJ-7 frame, no engine, no body :)

If you can grab it for $300 or less - snag it. Do you know what ratio it has now? Don't know gear ratioBut will go next Friday to grab it... And I'll inform you guys on it... The gear ratio is 4.10 all MJ M20's are 4.10. the only variation is whether or not it has a limited slip if yes, its just a trac-lok, not a great LSD anyway. Axle shafts are one piece, just like the FSJ's Good luck

Winnebago coverted the Trekkers for Toyota, I wonder if Chrysler Jeep did the work on yours in house, or if they farmed it out, they worked with Winnebago when they made those camper Jeeps, right? http://www.toyotatrekker.com/new_page_1.htm

First thing I thought of when I saw the pics on Pirate was the old Toyota Trekker/Trailblazers anyone else remember these? they were pickups with the back cut out and a cap bonded on + carpeted interior added. Seems like this was done the same way, only to cover a smaller portion of the bed. I really love this thing :)

By the way, I hope someone here can help you get what you need to import/register it, absolutely amazing vehicle that I hope gets all the attention & preservation it deserves! Good luck!

There was a short thread on this amazing MJ on Pirate back in May (before the op bought it?) sorry I meant to post a link here but it must have slipped my mind; http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep-non-hardcore/1723930-jeep-comanche-twin-cab.html

Wow! looking awesome!!

annnnnd they are developing it, & looking for some test vehicles; http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/misc/test-vehicles/

lol even the chop made it in there :thumbsup: :rotf:

Jim, I hope its just a bump in the road, and whatever ails you improves. You seem more alive than most teenagers I know so I hope your heath gets better good luck

Sorry for the late reply, I just saw the question, no I don't have any pics, but I just got some of the same size hose as the factory vent (3/8"? possibly 5/16") and ran the hose end to a higher location.Up high on the firewall is a good spot, another place is under the bed rail in the back. I've capped the hose with those little ends that look like they should close when you go under water, but don't , or with some type of open filter, or a fuel filter.

lol I'm honored that the first pic on both links are both of my old MJ :thumbsup: thanks

Hey guys, Looking for a Comanche AMC Model 20 rear end, within a couple hours drive from Boston if possible. Anyone have one kicking around, axle has a round cover that looks like an army pith helmet :) I'm looking for the Comanche version that's usually found under 86' MJ's, not the CJ', or FSJ version please. Thanks!