Backroads

Still working on some little stuff. 88 4.0 5sp longbed. When i first got it. Current:

I diy bored the TB on my 00 xj, it already had an afe intake all i got from doing it was a venturi whistle through my intake. Its not so easily achievable on a renix but doing a 97+ intake mani swap with an intake will definately help get more air into the engine. Just like ricers though it doesnt really add any notable horsepower.

Havent done an update in a while, here's where shes at now... Took it to my buddies farm for some light wheeling and shooting. Then finally found the 8.8 ive wanted from the beginning. Discs, 410s and lsd. So i pulled the 8.25 and got to cleaning up the new axle. Got the iron rock xj mount and truss kit and after some cutting and grinding it works. Almost done welding then paint then back on the road.

Corrected the backup lights. X2 for just carefully cutting the carpet to access the nuts/ put in the new bracket.

70 k. Runs like new hehe

When i put the cj pilot bushing in it seemed to stick out a little far and after researching no one mentioned shortening it so i left it. Now once in a while i get a squealing in 1st n 2nd. Not sure if thats the cause but if i had shortened it a hair it would be one less thing it may be. So before you yank the original out maybe take some measurements then compare to the cj one once installed. Everything else you see to be good. You will have to resplice your tail lights but its only 2 wires.

Some XJ guys use MJ shackles to gain a little extra lift, going to xj shackles isnt going to give you anything. I would either find an xj spring pack and add a couple leafs to your pack and buy a cheap pair of shackles (ie rough country) for a 2" or budget boost, that would beleast expensive.

Most of my DW experiences have been with tires. If all that stuff is good/new I would maybe try swapping tires out for a drive, or put the front on stands and wiggle the crap out of everything and try to find something loose. Those lcasshould walk like that. If theyre torqued down tight they should have much room to move. Maybe next move would be adjustable LCAs.

If you just moved accessories around and changed the belt i would start there. can't hurt anything by giving the belt a slight adjustment either wayto see whatthe reaction is. I would guess it needs to be a tad tighter. Tried putting your defrost or acon if you have it. The ac clutch kicking in will bring out a loose belt squeal right away.

Didnt see it noted but your gonna need to use your original flywheel so your cps will still read correctly. Stock clutch kit will work but you will need to remove your pilot bearing and install a pilot 'bushing' from a 70's CJ with the 304 V8. Unless thAt year is the same? Not sure about snout differences there. My added advice to that is to get thatbushing machined down some in length. I searched and searched but found no mention of having to do this and so I didnt. I believe its just a little too long and sticks out a hair too much and half convinced its the noise i hear on occassion. You will need to splice your reverse lights in as well.

nice thanks!

anyone have links or know where to find a wiring diagram for an 88 comanche? I need the TCU pinout, I have a FSM and haynes but neither have the actual pinouts. I also have a FSM wiring diagram for an 86 year MJ, but that was pre 4.0 so it doesnt have what I need! From what I'm gathering about swapping in the trans is if I can get access to a harness (jy) I know it goes from the trans (2 plugs) to the TCM (1 plug) them wires that go to parts within the engine harness. Would it wrong to just take the harness and unplug from the trans and the TCM, then cut the wires going to the engine harness and re splice them into my harness? I really didn't want to replace the entire harness, sounds like a recipe for disaster, my MJ runs GREAT and i don't want to jeapordize that!

Thank you sir, guess I didnt browse through enough pages of the DIY forums!

Long story short.... 88 comanche, originally was 2wd and BA-10. Now its 4wd with an AX15. Basically I think the trans I put in has bad syncros, shifts really stiff and clunks and clanks and honestly I don't trust it for a minute. I built this jeep with adventures in mind, last thing I need is to get stuck in the middle of nowhere cos something happened to my questionable trans!!!! I like a 5 speed, but I'm not attatched to it. I have access to a couple different AW4s but I'm wondering what all I am going to need to convert it? Entire new harness? Or just a sub harness for the trans and PCM? Any links to write-ups would be helpful.

Got this bad boy inspected! Drives pretty good. My alignment and or tracbar still needs to find the proper place, but its actually pretty nice on the road. A little different getting used to driving with the locker too. Pretty much the last crucial thing on the list is regearing the front to match the 4:10s in the rear.

Got a bunch more done, just havent updated. Needed new pads and rotors up front, which meant redrilling WJ rotors to 5 on 4.5. Didnt wanna use the sportrac rotors because they were more expensive...end story. came out great anyways... Adjusted my steering and got everything aligned, but need to move the tracbar a little bit. Mounted my CB up inside (no pics) Then made up a spare tire mount for the bed. Probably going to have that powder coated tomorrow, then hopefully getting this thing inspected on thursday

I fully agree. I like a lwb lifted as a mall crawler, but a bobbed bed as a wheeler.

The cutting and welding was fun, lots of work for sure. The body work to make it all smooth was not my best hour. It still could use more work. Looks good from a distance but up close its not perfect. I used a cutoff wheen mostle because a reciprocating saw was hard to control. I kinda just measured it out and went for it. Had to do a little fitting to get the pieces to line up straight and tight but not too bad. Working on finishing up my bumper now. Also took a leaf from the rear to drop it down to level. Latest pic Second ones a bit dark. Some of it i made up on my own but the main beam was recycled from an old 84 postal jeep bumper. Just cos I'm cheap like that. Then had a local machine shop make up the pull tabs which will mount the whole deal to the frame.

Ya theyre the flex flares

Slowly getting there. I still need to make a rear bumpeR and then front gears and inspection! here's how it sits today.

Lol at the mini disco ball! Pride and joy right there.

Also rushed the paint process for now because i got to get back into fixing the brakes and work towards getting it street legal. More pics Its a glare not a race stripe :P Show of hands who love a green MJ!

Worked on my tailgate tonight. Modified a bit and almost fits good. Got some welding to do as well as still supporting the rear of the bed which will help line up the tailgate latches better.

Probably but youll have to just see on the fly. Might higher might be lower and depends what rear. 8.25 is a bigger tube than a 35 or 44.

tellin ya right now its a LOT of work to get to where I'm at now...just tranny swap was a lot of piecing stuff together, CJ 304 pilot bushing, with clutch kit from a later year, converted to the newer style master/external slave...et friggin c.