AMCJeepMJ

Did a 280 mile round trip from Redmond OR to Salem OR and back. Through the Cascades, and there's plenty of snow on the side of the road at Santiam Pass. No icy spots, fortunately. Detroit Lake was down some 40'; all the docks were on dry lakebottom. Pic of the Oregon capitol building in Salem I took today, looking south, for those interested (MJ in low foreground for authenticity ;))

14" steelies with wheel covers and studded tires came off today. 15" XJ Limited mesh alloys and 205/70/15 Nokian tires went on it. At least now it doesn't look like little baby wheels on a big van anymore.

According to the serial plate and how to decode it in the link above, AB = Beige Clearcoat. Now I know the 'official' name of the color of my MJ. I always thougt it was I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Yellow.

Put it on the roof! That way if you're ever involved in a high speed car chase, we will know its you! :D

I'm only going to say this in favor of keeping the canopy on the bed- it keeps the sun off your shoulders and keeps the contents of the bed dry. I went out of my way to find one that fit well due to the snow in Oregon.

My fiberglass canopy is very very similar in design to Pete's. I have no markings on it other than 'USA Sport' Came off a salvage-yarded 88 Comanche. Screens on sliding side windows, working lift shocks, and mostly watertight in rain. Rear window is plexi with lovely hazing and scratches. Dome light at rear within easy reach. Edit July 22, 2015: updated image.

I have a set of Wolo brand (craptastic) 'big rig' sound red plastic airhorns and mini compressor that I received as a gift a few years ago. I don't like the sound of the Oogah horn on it now (really, I have a oogah horn on the jeep). Time to knock the dust off.

Looks like a nice pit to do some easy wheelin' in. Don't know if that monster would do very well thru a forest tho.

So, we decided the $#!&box Aerostar should go in the street. Its worth the least, and if its hit then oh well. MJ back in the driveway. Discovered after a week or so the front driveshaft was disconnected. Why would anyone do that? We noticed the van would shift funny after warm and took a look underneath. Lo and Behold, no driveshaft. One trip to the salvage yard later, we had a driveshaft back in it. Now it drives just like a 20 year old minivan is supposed to... vibrations and squeaks and rattles and that old U-Haul truck feel. Already put a 92+ grille on it, painted to match the metallic red, and the 1997-only red/clear tail lights. 2 new front seats out of a 97 are going in soon. New passenger one has a drawer under it. My Cherokee Limited mesh alloys are going on it when the studs come off in the next few weeks. Image Not Found

Took the studs off today. Limited mesh wheels will go on the Aerostar. Black hammer finish 5 spokes now on with used 235/75 tires. Finally took a pic after weeks and weeks.

Classic rock stations. The tape player doesn't work so I'm stuck with the airwaves (its a 20-odd yr old head unit). When off paved surfaces, the music goes off so I can hear the truck.

Put mesh stone guards on to protect the headlights, but since they're chrome and the rest of the nose is black, it looks like its wearing glasses! Will rattle can them semi-gloss black this weekend if the weather holds.

Nice finds. I haven't bought a new set of tires from a tire shop in years thanks to craigslist.

Nice day today for last day of February. Clear and almost 60. Installed and wired up a generic tractor floodlight under the rear bumper on drivers' side to assist visibility in reverse. Installed and wired up two old LE series KC amber foglights on front bumper. Installed and wired up two KC Daylighters to a gutter mount roof light bar. Pics another time... too dark by time completed for good clear shots. ...now if I turn them on all at once, the entire truck will melt into a pool of molten metal. ;)

Oil change today. Diff service today. Repaired a chip in windshield today. Hauled various Aerostar interior parts today including both bench seats and both front seats.

Took mine for a trip the salvage yard to pick up some Aerostar parts. Also picked up a new clutch and slave cylinder to put in tomorrow.

I'm surprised it lasted that long. I thought they were to self-destruct at 150k... or is it 15k... Indeed it will serve the purpose. Function over form with this one.

Sounds like I do indeed have some catching up to do. ;) The Accord is in the garage since it has the highest risk of theft... and the other half is storage. The Aerostar would go in the road, but its hard to see through when backing out.

Took the significant other and the kids to see Avatar. Woo.

90 big butt Aerostar XLT AWD. 4.0 v6, 122k, no outstanding recalls, rear air, front air, power whatevers, rear headphone jacks for radio, and nasty gray cloth interior. Paint is shiny, obviously been garaged. Not a bad color combo, either. Yes, I know, its a Blue Oval. :help: :nuts: Picked up on the 13th for 6 bills. We needed a people hauler since we're sick of taking 2 vehicles for 6 people on any significant trips. This behemoth hauls 7. So that makes FIVE vehicles for two adults at the house. What were we thinking?!?!? Were we thinking at all? Now one car has to be in the street... sorry, MJ, you drew the short straw. :(

Rinsed the winter road grime off, cleaned the wheels, scraped a triple-A sticker off the rear window of the canopy, and filled the tank.

Propaganda aside, All the stations in this neck of the high desert... erm, woods... are either Arco/AM-PMs, Shell, Chevron, or some hole-in-the-wall brand gas station. Only one Texaco I know of for 30 miles and its out of the way. All Shells are .08 higher than the Chevrons, which are .05 higher than the AM-PMs and lesser knowns. To avoid the crappy gas stations, I run only Chevron in the Comanche, Escape, and LeSabre, and will pass other stations to hit a Chevron... the mothballed Accord still has AM-PM gas in it from when it was over $4/gal in April 2008 (with a healthy dose of sta-bil).

Fantastic. TYVM.

Attempting to install an aftermarket tach in my 87 2.5 this weekend. Looks pretty simple. One small question, since I don't have an owners' manual to refer to... what's the redline on a 2.5? :???: Anyone? Bueller?

1987 SWB, 2.5, 4sp manual, 2wd, studded 235/75-15s, canopy, hilly terrain, daily driver. 33 highway miles/day round trip to work, 5 days/week. Last tank I received 18.2 mpg. Previous tank was 18.8, and the one before that 18.3. Pretty consistent at 18 mpg.