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Ok thanks, I'll snag a Mopar t-stat and see what happens.

As I mentioned in my build thread, my 91 4.0 HO Eliminator has been apparently running a little hot according to the gauge. It had been pointing straight up at 210 until recently, now it's typically right around here: It does fluctuate a little bit, but not much. Sometimes goes down a tiny bit when accelerating but not back to 210 even. I checked the fan clutch, seems to be working. Replaced the radiator cap, no change. Fluid level appears ok, bright slimer green. I tried to confirm the gauge was reading accurately to begin with but wasn't 100% sure what to measure off of. I used my IR thermometer on the thermostat housing, is this a reasonable place to take a reading? Temp was reading 210 plus minus 5 degrees or so depending on what part I aimed at. Was gonna replace the thermostat next, I'd read here that you should drill a hole in it first - what size? Hole should be oriented to top, correct? Anything else I should check?

Yeah I think I'm gonna run it for a bit but might do a change on the early side and switch it out for some 10w30 conventional and see what happens. I think it's probably okay, will keep an eye on it. I've also noticed my temp gauge is running hotter than normal. Before it was ramrod straight at 210, now it's hovering around what I assume to be like 230? I know the gauge can be inaccurate and also that the needle's position between 210 and the red line doesn't necessarily indicate the temp I think it does. Gonna test it with an IR thermometer and see what it reads. I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be either the temp sending unit or more likely the wiring harness that's plugged into it, it looks like it's been chewed on by a rat for the past ten years so that may be causing some problems for sure. Gross. I've already done some research so I will go through the other obvious causes as well, rad cap, thermostat, fan clutch etc and try to figure it out!

I'll take a crack at it, PM me what ya got :thumbsup:

Thanks guys, yeah could be worse - at least there was no body damage. Or broken taillights! Finally got time today to do an oil change, decided to try out Rotella based on the positive reviews on this forum. Wasn't sure which weight to go with but the engine already had a minor tick and I'd read the 15w40 could sometimes quiet that so that's what I got. Installed a high capacity Wix filter and filled it up and the tick is like way way louder now. Everything seems fine otherwise, idle is cool, oil pressure is normal, and actually it feels like it has a bit more power when I accelerate now? Not sure if that's related or if I'm just imagining things. Anyway, should I try running a different weight next time? Any additives? I need to get the valve cover off soon anyway to replace the seal, anything I can look for there? Also I already dumped in half a bottle of MMO I had leftover, no change so far. Will drive it around a bunch this week and see if it gets better/worse

Dirtboundoffroad.com Looks awesome, thanks a lot!

PM sent, thanks!

VERY nice Eliminator! Looking great already, gonna be awesome when you're done with it. Is that your red Eliminator that's visible in one of the pics?

Some dingus nailed my rear bumper while parked yesterday, I think I can pull it back a bit but it was rusted out and twisted already so I was already planning on replacing it at some point. Might as well start putting out feelers now, let me know what you have - not picky with regards to black or chrome, just looking for a straight bumper. I'm located in Philadelphia PA, fine with paying shipping for the right bumper. Thanks!

Came out today to see this What the hell man? That's the second time this winter one of my cars has gotten hit while parked, since someone sideswiped my WK a couple months ago. To be fair, it already had a pretty nasty ding in one end but still. Gonna pull it off this weekend and see if I can just knock it back into place. Two steps forward, one step back lol

Haha, sorry I'm also a camera dork - that's how we refer to the lens mount, I didn't know how else to describe it :)

Was hoping to get some work done on the suspension this weekend but it was just too darn cold, winter finally arrived but it will be back in the 40's and 50's this coming week so will hopefully have time to get to it then. Weather's been so weird this year but it's worked out well, no way I would have gotten as much done any other year. Did a little cosmetic work this week, replaced cracked and broken headlight trim with some unbroken black ones, I like the look of the all black front much better than black grille/red headlight trim but it's all getting painted at some point anyway - still not sure what though. I also replaced the distributor cap, rotor, wires and plugs. Plugs were pretty beat - cyl 4-6 look mostly like they were just old, 1 through 3 look much worse. Definitely some oil on 3. If anyone has a read on them based on the photos I'd appreciate it, all I have for reference is the photos in the back of the Haynes. 1, 2 and 3 4, 5 and 6 The oil might be getting in from the valve cover leak, which I will be addressing ASAP. Minuit linked me to this Fel Pro gasket earlier in the thread but is there a chance it might not fit if my valve cover has been replaced at some point? I have reason to think it's not original and I think there might be a few differing types that might not take the same gasket, can anyone confirm and if so how do I tell which one I have? For reference, my CCV nozzles are the bayonet mount type, not just pull out/press in. And I did check and clean them, still need a gasket for one but otherwise look okay. One was very loose which was probably part of the problem. Oh yeah almost forgot - part of the reason the suspension feels a little sloppy is probably the fact that one of the coil springs is definitely on it's way out. It's not broken but looks like it's close. Would this be a good replacement if I'm trying to maintain stock ride height? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C53ZSC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thanks as always for the pointers Minuit. I'll check those spots for the oil issue. I'm gonna replace upper/lower control arms and all shocks... as soon as this damn snow melts!

Muchas gracias!

Tested out the 4wd today! Man I love this truck so goddamn much

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I have a bunch of other stuff to order at this point so I was just gonna get a new one online, but I'm interested in this metal one - Crash, I can't find anything online by googling Dbo and Jeep or battery tray, any idea where I could find one? Thanks again!

Broke my battery tray, junkyards around me are terrible so hoping one of you guys might have a spare. Cheapest one I can find online is like $35 including shipping so looking to spend... less than that. Let me know what you have! Also looking for a working cassette player. Thanks!

Thanks to you and everyone for the advice so far! So I drove the MJ to work today (because my #&$* WK is having weird battery issues :fs2: ) - first impression: i LOVE driving this thing! It's been a while since I've had a manual but it's coming back to me pretty quick. City driving so basically second gear 24/7 lol but I got it up to 4th/60 mph for a short stretch of highway - no wobble so far. Suspension feels okay but certainly needs a bit of TLC, especially in the back. Maybe just shocks, not sure yet.. Another issue: smelled some burning oil when I got home, popped the hood and no visible smoke or leaks but opened the oil filler cap and a tiny bit of smoke was visible. Oil level checks okay if a bit on the high side. Color looks okay. Was planning on changing it this weekend but may do it earlier if I can. What else should I check? I was also planning on checking/changing the plugs with Champion coppers.

New bumper's on! Not perfect but it's close enough for now. The front header panel is pretty much toast from whatever collision it was in, gonna replace that eventually along with the headlight trim.

Will it make bending/hammering easier if I hit the area with a torch for a bit first?

Thanks man! Don't worry, I'm not worried about dumb questions at all lol. I appreciate you guys catching my mistakes, it's part of why I'm here! So it's been an emotional rollercoaster but the bumper is finally off! What should take about five minutes normally was a total PITA due to the front end damage making it all but impossible to access several of the bolts on the mounting brackets, and extremely difficult to get to the upper torx bolts that hold the bumper to said bracket. In the end I was able to get all the torx off and will go back for the mount bracket bolts now that I have a better angle with the bumper removed. Also, I'm sure this is old news on this forum here but F#(&*@)&^ TORX BOLTS!!!!! AHHHHHGGHHHH ok just had to get that out lol Any protips on how to approach bending this back into shape so I can get to the last bolt and get the old bracket off and get the new one on straight? Before I go all HULK SMASH on it next week Also what is the correct replacement bolt to secure the vacuum canister inside the bumper? Mine were both gone so I don't have a reference.

Awesome Eliminator! Can't believe how perfect your floors are!!!

Good lookin out Strokermj! You're totally right, I missed that. I'll have to rerun that line. Gogmorgo/shelbyluvv, there's a lot of weird discrepancies like that with this truck. I got the build sheet and it did come with buckets, not to mention a tape deck which was also replaced with the base radio? Weird that they would take the trouble to downgrade on a couple things but hey, a lot can happen in 25 years. Who knows, I'm not sweating it. The grill is not really attached properly at all, the bumper is dented in so far it wouldn't be possible to attach correctly even right side up. Gonna swap in a new bumper this week and it should start looking a lot better.

It's a Christmas miracle! The Eliminator is on the road! Brake lines are all holding pressure and not leaking (anymore, after retightening all of them). 88whitemanche, I was hoping to be able to give a part number for that plug but of course it was in the incorrect packaging. It's a Dorman part and they had in in stock at Autozone. I brought the end of the line that goes into the bottom front port with me to the store and they had a bolt size-it chart which I used to confirm the plug was the same size and threading. I'll see if I can find the correct part # and will post it when I do. I also installed a passenger side mirror today, next up will be replace the front bumper and finally flip the grill the correct orientation! Drove it for about 30 mins today, shifts fine and no other major issues are apparent! Yet!

My wife gave me the morning off from baby duty and I finished replacing all the rear brake hard lines and the flex hose. Old: New: I removed both hard lines from the front nose and the lower front ports on the distribution block. Bypassed the rear prop valve (left it installed for now just in case I want to go back to it) and connected the main hard line directly to the top of the rear flex hose. Replaced the flex hose itself with a new one and ran new short hard lines from the sides of the hose to the wheel cylinders. If anything I did seems suspect, please let me know - I read up on the procedure a LOT but I'm still new to this. All that's left now is to add the plug to the bottom front port on the distribution block that fed to the rear prop valve and bleed the brakes. Does this seem to be the correct type of plug? It's the same size and pitch as the one on the line I removed, just want to make sure: