jpnjim

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/pts/1739334208.html

Chrysler bought Jeep as much for their Jeep engineering team as they did for the brand name. That's why they attached the truck division to the Jeep line, so the Jeep engineers could improve their failing Dodge Truck division. So to call the TJ was a Chrysler product is a stretch, they did own Jeep when it was built, an they were holding the purse strings, but it was more a case of Chrysler being smart enough to let the Jeep engineers do their job, and footing the bill for it all. Jeep engineers took the (designed under AMC/Jeep) XJ front suspension, modified the (designed under AMC/Jeep) ZJ rear suspension, and slid them both under a modified version of the (designed under AMC/Jeep) Wrangler platform. Mechanical engineering aside, you can see what I'd guess is Chrysler's hand in the other aspects of the TJ (interior, body panels, improved soft & hard tops), but the things that made the TJ great (platform, size, wheelbase, suspension) were all Jeep ideas well before Chrysler came sniffing around to buy Jeep off Renault. I'd be more likely to agree if it was said the TJ was the third 'Renault Jeep', since they had hired the engineer who designed the 4 link coil suspension. As far as the KJ, I don't think improved stiffness, and it using the 2nd strongest XJ rear end makes up for it's limitations. FWIW, I'd agree to the KJ being almost an 100% 'Chrysler' Jeep, in design, and execution.

:rotf: Boxy, square, 'dated' styling, even when brand new, holdover from an earlier time, economy oriented (for a Jeep anyway) 4 & 6 cylinder, 2 & 4 door body styles, the XJ was more like the Rambler American than just about anything else with an AMC badge on it.

Wow, you'd think he posted about kicking out a stained glass window on a Catholic Message Board. ;) Sooner, or later either: 1)someone will start making MJ taillights, or 2)someone will have to find a way to adapt what is available to use on MJ's. Personally, I'd hope if we had to go with #2, that 'some' slightly smaller, but close in size taillight could be used with a simple bolt on adapter bracket, or framework.

I'll stay out of the 2wd Wrangler debate, but there were 2wd CJ & DJ's. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, just remember there are still CJ people who still don't accept YJ & TJ's as 'real' Jeeps yet (never mind XJ/MJ's).

:thumbsup: Looking forward to this one.

Sneak preview, on the (loooong) list of things to do, a WJ knuckle swap should be in the works: I'm leaning towards keeping the Teves calipers for now (unless they're not serviceable as is), and redrilling the WJ rotors (vs buying Sport-Trac, or Crown Vic rotors). I've got to strip down the axle, see which wheel bearings will work best (most say the 00-01 XJ's are closest, once you add the 1/4" spacers), and figure out what I need to buy/build (minimum, WJ lower ball joints, WJ brake pads, JKS spacers, & drill rotors). It would be easier to do this in two parts (knuckles/brakes first, then steering), so I'll probably bolt the current XJ steering into the WJ knuckles till the knuckles are completely sorted out.

:rotf: :rotf:

My MJ did a little more work yesterday, brought home the best $20 find of the week. ($20.50 to be exact :yes: ) They're the Teves calipers (instead of the good Akebono's, but I think I can live with them for the $$ ;) )

Cool winch bumper whose is it? And does that license plate really say XXX XXX??? or is that just good photoshop? Photochop, but I think it was available in this state (Mass) when I checked. The bumper was made by a fab shop, but last I heard they were no longer doing bumpers. :(

You guys know 2wd Jeeps date back to the 1950's, right? just sayin' ;)

Meh, I hope they sell a billion of the little pieces of crap. (are long as they make them here in the USA)

That alone should make it better than most of the crap you can get today. Glad no one got hurt. :ack:

I didn't want the fat tube, so I cut down a 72' 401 4spd Javelin/AMX's driveshaft. (sacrilege, I know, but it goes good with the 69' Hemi Charger rear Dana 60 back there :clapping: )

Good read & good info Don (as usual :cheers: ). Neither of my MJ's had clocks, I put the 88' style in my 89', and the 89' style in my 88'. :dunce: This webpage gives me one more reason to swap them (also the 89' style I have shows the clock with the ignition in the acc position, but the 88' style does not).

I've had 4 MJ's (that's a low total in this crowd BTW :nuts: ), and all have had bench seats & (factory single pane) sliders. All were 4.0L Pioneers too :dunno: (3 5spds & 1 auto)

Renix 4.0L's have EGR, which (under cruise conditions only), displaces some of the fuel air mixture with (inert) exhaust gas. Less air/fuel mix is then required to 'fill' the engine, and the engine 'acts' like it has a smaller displacement. Renix 4.0L's have a knock sensor. This allows the Renix 4.0L's default timing curve to be more advanced than the later HO's. More advanced timing typically results in more efficient burning, and better gas mileage. Renix 4.0L's have a heat riser tube from the exhaust header. This only comes into play for a short period of time, during the engine's warm up phase, using warm/hot air drawn next to the header while the engine is still cold, promotes better suspension of the fuel in the fuel/air mixture, allowing the engine to run on a slightly leaner mixture than would be required otherwise. (= not much difference, but it helps MPG & emissions when cold). Renix 4.0L's also have lower fuel pressure, and smaller injectors than the later HO's. HO's have benefits other than more HP tho, a real 'check engine light' for diagnosis, a more modern setup that should have greater parts availability for years to come (Renix 4.0L's were only used for 4 model years, the 'newest' being 20 years ago) I'll leave the GM vs Mopar sourced alternator debate up to you guys. (I've had GM alternators fail, but I'll take that over the voltage regulator in the ECM that later HO's have). & I don't think anyone could argue that HO Intakes/throttle bodies/headers & cylinder heads are substantially better across the board.

Not mine, Choice of open style (for slider) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Com ... ccessories or closed style: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Com ... ccessories I have no idea if they really fit, but the guy is advertising them as MJ specific rear louvers. $100 shipped for either style.

First thing I'd check with 'loose' conventional bearings is if the center nut itself is on tight enough. :yes: I've seen people repack them, but not know how to properly tighten them back up again.

One of the guys I work with found a strange egg in his yard (in the mulch), and he was thinking it could be a turtle egg for some reason. That's when one of the other guys suggested (seriously) that maybe it was a Raccoon Egg. :doh: :rotf: :rotfl2: Just thought that was worth adding to the conversation. :waving: Carry on.

Very nice :cheers: Did ya need to pull a permit for the work? Whats up with that rocks inserted into the bricks...? 120 year old house, back when 'fieldstone foundations' were sometimes 'mortar optional'. :nuts: They used mortar on the inside (basement side), but the outside of the wall was just a bunch of loosely stacked rocks, held in place by dirt. The inside wall was providing all the support, evidenced by how loosely the outside stones were in place. Either way, they're mortared in now. I asked about permits, the driveway guy (who seems to be working his way up & down my street) said only if we were changing the driveway location, or significantly widening it.

I'm thinking one of those cardboard box/pinhole camera's we used to make in school (in the 1970's). ;) :D BTW, looks nice. :cheers:

It was over 1200 sq feet, but the guy did it for the 1000 sq price ($3 a square = $3k). He did a nice job, and there were some added costs on his end, so I also tipped him a few $$ on top of that.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :cheers:

Was nice to have my own private trail for a while: I got the work done cheap, but the work crew was a little on the young side: Widened it just enough for the 'boys' to park side by side in the back. :thumbsup: