Dzimm

My initial guess is they just rewired to use the factory MJ pump, which won't provide a working fuel gauge nor the proper fuel pressure. That needs to get taken out.

I misspoke before, mine came from a 99 but any Dakota of that timeframe should have the same setup. Not sure what model, I think they all either had the 18 gal or 22 gal. The 18 will fit the MJ without modification, the 22 gal requires a dent to clear a frame bracket, torch and 2x4 works for it, just be careful not to melt a hole in the tank. The Dakota pump assembly provides the proper fuel pressure you will need, again not sure which model it came from but I only found one option when searching so they may all use the same. I also forgot to mention, the 97+ XJ fuel straps work perfect in the MJ with the Dakota tank, just need to straighten then rebend them. Part way down the first page of my thread posted below you will see the fuel tank pictures with the dent and a description of how I did it. I don't know if I have pictures of it installed but I can take some tomorrow if I need to.

What fuel tank are you running and are you fully 97+ swapped as in dash and electrical are all 97+? I'm going to assume yes based on the dash shape in your picture. On my full 97+ swap I run a 22 gallon fuel tank and pump assembly from a 98 Dodge Dakota. Tank needs very minor modification to clear a frame brace and the pump wiring will splice directly into the 97+ XJ wiring and the gauge will read correctly and everything works as it should. My build thread covers this, link in my sig. To use the factory MJ tank you would need to do some custom work since the 97+ XJ fuel pump goes into the top of the tank and the depth won't be correct so the gauge won't read correctly.

Here is a diagram for wire gauges for DC circuits. You will need to know your wire length and power consumption in amps. Math says you will be just over 8 amps per bulb but want some overhead so I'd call it 10 amps. Not sure on your wire length but I'm guessing it would be 10-15ft to get to the sport bar so I'd go with 12ga if you are running each light to the battery. 14ga would be plenty at the bar if you splice at the bar and run a single (thicker ga) wire to the battery. If you want to only run one power wire back and splice to each light on the bar, you will need to add the amps together to find your wire size for the main wire. Basically don't chain 5 lights together and run on one single 12 ga wire.

XJs tend to feel much slower than MJs even in stock form. Id be interested to see Dyno numbers but they aren't cheap.

This picture doesn't do them justice. Your tails are absolutely gorgeous in person!

Transfer case shift linkage?

New sheetmetal is by far the best "bling" thing you can do around the Midwest.

The head bolts are bolts but a few have threads extending past the "head" so I guess you could call them studs. Run a 195* thermostat. Nothing else. How sure are you it's the lifters making noise?

Id try exchanging the cps and see if anything changes.

Was it a Mopar cps or aftermarket? The aftermarket ones tend to be garbage, even new.

Yeah that's a good option with brackets that are clean. Works great! I've done that as well as ditched the brackets entirely for nut and bolt with big fender washers. Either way will work just fine.

Sweet!

This whole thing is rediculous. Although the added publicity in sure has helped the donations for the hospital. If only he could get his beer tho...

Not seeing what you need with a quick Google search. May be able to find a schematic for the gate opener or info if that's a common failure. You don't necessarily need a surface mount replacement but ideally you would Could also contact the manufacturer and see if they will give you any info on it.

Looks to be a diode. Let's power only flow one way.

Wow better yet someone just found a post the reporter who called Carson out made back in 2011. I can't even post a picture of it because it's so unbelievably bad. This is what's wrong with society, people seek out to destroy each other's image and tear people down.

I don't know how many of you have seen anything about Carson King and his Busch Light sign at the Iowa vs Iowa State football game but it went from totally awesome to just downright rediculous. Quick background, guy holds a sign up that says something along the lines of I need more Busch light, Venmo me here. Thousands of dollars are sent to him so he decides to give it all to the Iowa Children's hospital. Busch desides to match it and so does Venmo and people kept donating so it is now over $1million dollars he raised for the hospital. Busch was also going to give him a year supply of beer and put his face on the cans as an "Iowa Legend" Fast forward to now and a reporter from the Des Moines register decided to dig through his social media posts and found one from when he was 16 years old where he referenced a Tosh.0 skit that was racist (of course it was) and called him out on it. Now Busch has "cut ties with Carson" and he is now being made out to be a terrible person. He apologized and everything for it and actually had a really good statement about learning from mistakes made as a kid. I don't even know who to be more mad at, the reporter who went looking for dirt on someone who is doing an incredibly Noble thing, or Anheuser-Busch for conforming to this new thing where companies are afraid to be even remotely associated with anything negative. There is now a boycott of Anheuser-Busch going on and I don't see any posts of anyone defending Busch at all on any platforms, it's all people up in arms mad at them. I typically don't get involved in this sort of stuff but it really got under my skin that someone can be doing something so great but being beaten down over a minor mistake made as a child. Budweiser is my preferred beer but I may have to partake in this boycott to help prove a point. Sorry for the rant but this really made me mad.

Happened upon this thread talking about a 15% off coupon for Mopar accessories and figured I'd post it in case anyone was interested. I have no idea if it works but the poster claims it does for some items online and even posted a printable coupon to take into the dealer. Code is case sensitive: Mopar15 https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/code-mopar15-15-off-store-mopar-com-or-at-dealer.22215/

If you can reach the metal bar that runs across between the latches and yank it sideways it will release. This will also be of use.

It may just be the camera angle but the damage is confusing to me. It looks like the front axle was smashed up into the under carriage hard and a minor impact on the passenger front corner but the bumper looks to be pulled outward rather than pushed in.

Sway bar looks good!

The kids (I think mostly the adults) wanted to go for rides in the Suzuki the morning after the reception. The windshield works fantastic! No need for safety glasses anymore and the weeds and bugs no longer pepper my face. I also jumped it further than ever before, flew about 20ft from take off to first contact on the ground and took a huge chunk of turf because it nosed forward so far. Luckily it just bounced and was good but of course nobody video taped it, they were too busy screaming when it took off cause they thought I was going over. I need to do something to balance the weight out for anything bigger or it will stab the nose and roll. I should probably also do some suspension upgrades because I don't think the stock suspension will handle much more. The landings are suprisingly soft though. There are some things that need fixed now though. - The brakes don't work anymore, I suspect a hole in a brake line but the handbrake works so it's still driveable... Kinda - The exhaust came off and is up against the driveshaft so it doesn't sound good. - The engine dies at idle, I suspect because some of the vacuum lines are broken. - Transmission still has issues with disengaging or not engaging right away, I still think it's low on fluid but haven't checked yet. - Needs an oil change bad. - The battery needs to be held down better. On the second jump the battery bounced and landed so the positive terminal was touching the hood. Nice spark show and melted a hole in the hood structure. - Side mirror needs more than zipties for offroading. - Really need to disable the passenger airbag so it doesn't go off in someone's face for no reason. Although it survived the big jump somehow.

Thanks, yeah the rain luckily held out for most of the party. Started to rain later on when mostly just drunk people were still there. Lightning shows are the best out here too, you can see so much of the sky it makes for great viewing.

You guys have no patience.. Photographer started sending some pictures so I used one of us on the top of the main hill at the farm. Same spot my avatar picture was taken. Unfortunately no Jeep pictures.. Dogs from left to right is Drift (M), Kado (M), Marley (F) Wrangler (F).