Rymanrph

I did read the responses; I just couldn't find the bolt that was holding it on. I'm working in a dark garage and just overlooked it. The bolt that was holding it in was a ground as well and so I wasn't looking closely enough. I never said it wasn't there, just that I couldn't find it and I would look again. I found it.

Here's a shot of the engine bay mostly done. I still need an electric fan though. I threw the front clip on to try and get an idea of how it would look. Obviously, it needs some black paint, but that can wait. I'm not getting fuel to the engine (at least I think) when I try to crank it, so I'm working on that. Hopefully I can figure that out so I can finish up the wiring and then move on to getting the doors swapped.

Haha. I guess I need to figure out which wire it is then... What's the easiest way to do this? Just get a set of leads and connect them straight to the battery? I suppose if it works I should hear it running. Is it bad for the pump to run without gas? I thought maybe I could get a new one from the store just to use it as a test. That way I can plug it into my harness and see if runs.

Clean the terminals and contacts, nothing. So I put in the battery from my TJ and it tried to start (more on that in a second). Put the Comanche battery on the charger for all of maybe a minute and it finally tried to start. It sounds like its trying to crank; the motor is spinning, but I don't think its getting fuel. The gas gauge doesn't move at all when you turn it to accessory (or when you try to crank). I've got probably 4 gallons in the tank, so unless the XJ pump just sits so high that it clears 4 gallons completely, I've got another problem. Is there any way to check to see if the pump/sender is working without taking it out?

I'm not getting anything. No click, accessories, anything.

So, I'm working on my '97 swap and today is the day I wanted to get it test fired. When I connected the battery, the under hood light came on and I got a buzzing from the inside. I assumed the buzzing was cause I don't have any doors on it at the moment, but that's not it. The hazard switch was on, but as soon as I turned it off, the buzzing stopped and then wouldn't start again even if I moved the switch back. That's the only signs off life I could find in this vehicle. Turning the key back doesn't do anything nor does turning it forward. I double-checked the engine bay and everything seems to be plugged in. I expected something not to work, but not everything. Any ideas?

Where did you get your electric fan? I need one for my '97 swap.

I found the bolt. The reason I didn't see it to begin with is because the same bolt is used for a ground and I just dismissed it. All is well now, except that I need another dipstick.

I looked again and I didn't see a bolt for the dipstick on my '97 motor. I really don't want to drop the oil pan if I don't have to.

I forgot to mention, mine is out of a '97 if that matters. I looked but didn't see a bolt. I'll look again.

Ok, so when I was installing my new motor the dipstick got caught on something and the plastic handle broke off. Every attempt to grab what's left just pushes it further down. I can't get a magnet to it because there is still some plastic left. Any ideas on how to retrieve it?

Thanks man! I need to hear that encouragement. My update from the other night is gone, so I guess I'll have to retype. I got the new gas tank in, but not without an issue. I'm using a Comanche tank without the slosh pan and then the Copperhead Fab adapter ring for the '97 pump and sender. When I tried to reinstall the tank, the sender/pump assembly contacted the bottom of the bed before the tank contacted the supports. To alleviate this problem, I grabbed the stock spare tire spacers from my TJ (I have a swing away carrier now) and they seem to work great. The stock straps worked OK, but the J-bolts were too short now, so I had to use the longer ones from the '97 XJ. The transmission and transfer case are installed. I didn't install the transfer case skid that I got because I don't have the nutserts for it yet. I also got the radiator and condenser installed. My engine bay is short an electric fan, a couple brake lines and a couple little things here and there, but otherwise its done. I have a couple loose ends to tie up, but my goal is to get fluids in the truck and try to crank it this weekend. If I can get home before its dark tomorrow, I'll post up some pictures of the progress.

A lot of glass companies will come to your house; do you not have that option?

Today I made some progress. I swapped all the wiring and cables over from the 2wd '97 AW4 to the 4wd '97 AW4. I'm still trying to figure out if my harness has a plug for the 4wd indicator. So far, I haven't found one. I put in a new filter as well; tomorrow I will put the pan back on and work on the input and output seals. Also, my new gas tank came in today. Still waiting on the copperhead fab adapter ring. Any body have any ideas on how to seal off the old hole for the pump/sender assembly?

I swapped all the wiring and cables over from the 2wd '97 AW4 to the 4wd '97 AW4. I'm still trying to figure out if my harness has a plug for the 4wd indicator. So far, I haven't found one.

That's only the 2nd Comanche Laredo I've seen. I've got a NOS laredo bumper still in the box and I wondered what it looked like on an MJ.

That's one thing I'm dreading. I know I want mine painted, but the last time I had a car painted it took 16 weeks. I've only put about 2k miles on this truck since I bought it over a year ago, so I think I'm going to want some seat time in it for a while before I take it out of commission again to get painted.

I've borrowed plenty advise from others, so I'm hoping my experience can help some others who might think about doing this swap. I have no doubt that this will work, I'm just a little curious to see how it affects the accuracy of the gauge. I spoke to Copperhead Fab and my ring should have shipped yesterday, so I figure I may have it before the end of the week, but most likely it will be the first of next week (its going coast to coast). The parts I'm still looking out for are: Electric Fan (one of the mounting tabs is gone and one of the three support "stalks" is broken) Airbag Clockspring (I have a bag, but no clockspring. Most people won't sell them separately, so I might have to buy both) Cruise Control Switch - left side (I think the bag blowing broke the mounting tab on it. I still have it and it probably works, just flops around) Fan Shroud? (I have the one for the MJ; is it the same for the newer XJs?) 2dr window and door switches Luckily none of those will keep me from being able to finish most everything and get it running. I've been following your progress to see if you'll beat me to the finish haha.

I made a trip down to the junk yard on Saturday and picked up the following items: '97 4wd AW4 '97 NP 242 They also had a u-pull it section of the yard and scored the shifter and linkage for the 242, a passenger airbag cover to replace my scratched up one (yay!) and new battery tray since mine is cracked, a transfer case skid plate (I'd never seen one before), a vacuum canister and lines and part of the interior wiring harness to light up the 4wd bezel all for $35. I started working on the new transmission last night. They cut all the cables and wires off of it, so I'm having to swap everything over from my 2wd unit (I hope everything works the same...). My new gas tank was supposed to come yesterday, but the snow and ice kept UPS away. This cold weather is making me impatient. I'm ready to get this project done!

2wd or 4wd are the same (I believe). They just have the plate that covers the opening for the handle. It pops out and you pop the other in. I have my original 2wd one and its gray.

There isn't a key for the ¢ symbol, but you can type Alt 0162 or Alt 155. Just FYI. There are codes for a whole bunch of symbols that you can type on pretty much any windows system.

I didn't realize that it just slid over the the shaft like that. A little PB blaster and a little persuasion and it came right off (my old trans, still need to do the new one). Thanks.

I got a junkyard AW4 and they cut all the wires and lines, so i'm having to swap them over from my old one. I can't figure out how to remove the NSS. There is a 12mm bolt and a 22mm nut that I have removed, but it doesn't want to come. From what I've read, I just need to apply more force, but I'm afraid I'll break something. What am I supposed to do?

What color did you paint your 2dr. XJ? Is that Amber Fire? Oh and great job on the Comanche. That's a lot of work you've done so far.

On the back of the current striker, it feels like there is a captured nut of some sort. How do I get that out?