89 MJ

Added to my list of parts to add to my MJ someday!

What rpm does it idle at?

Oh yeah, I have fought my Eagle’s cooling system much less than my MJ. My comment comes from the fact that in less than the 50k combined miles I’ve put on both of my vehicles, they have had a total of 5 engines and still have had problems with their current engines. And I’ve grown up around GMs so I’m not used to everything being a fight either like they are with the MJ and Eagle. Absolutely worth it, but a fight every time.

Because 6 cyls suck. Because it’s an Eagle, so it needs to fight you every step of the way. Maybe a bad thermostat out of the box?

I've been wondering the same! If this is his definition of a beater, I can't wait to see his other one when that is finished!

March 2026 - The Slippery Slope Project -And the MJOTM Thread That We All Knew Was Coming- Owned by @Gjeep Build Thread- Year/Model – 1991 Pioneer 2WD AW4. (Odd Pioneer build as it was an upper trim level in that year but came from the factory with no AC or radio.) As purchased: Drivetrain- 4.0L upgraded with Borla stainless exhaust/ MagnaFlow catalytic converter; NOS ‘99+ XJ U-style intake manifold & valve cover; Bosch 4-hole injectors; Bored 62mm throttle body; Factory ’95 XJ R134a NOS AC system; All new/ NOS sensors, senders, cooling system, motor mounts & horizontal oil filter adapter; AW4 transmission cooler; Bosch fuel pump. Cooling- New heavy-duty factory radiator & NOS Modine heater core. All components NOS to factory spec. Mopar ‘97+ XJ electric fan added when AC installed, complete with dash override switch. Electrical/Ignition- Added-in factory style PDC fuses & relays to keep engine bay appearance clean to run headlight harness, amplifier, subwoofer, and various USB power to cab; Added ignition & 12V terminals to the interior fuse block to run power to plug-n-play interior side; DUI distributor cap & wires with ZJ TSB relocated to passenger inner fender NOS ignition coil; 200amp Mean Green ’99+ XJ connector style alternator. Suspension/Steering- Straight axle up front (upgraded to a ’99 XJ beam to use hubs and newer rotors/ calipers); Dana 35 in the rear with an Eaton locker, 3.55 gearing. NOS ‘97+ steering box & pitman arm; Front suspension 100% replaced to: NOS ZJ V8 sway bar; Moog ZJ steering components, control arms, new ball joints, OME 1.25” coils, KYB MonoMax shocks. Rear suspension: General Spring Metric Ton 3/2 leaf springs, XJ shackle and KYB shocks. Interior- ’87 vintage black interior with Mesa fabric factory XJ bucket seats; Column shifted AW4 converted to center console shift, NOS tilt steering column setup; First generation XJ modified overhead console; Factory power windows & door locks (tailgate power actuator/ lock wired); Factory power mirrors; ’95 XJ complete R134 AC system installed; New HVAC related seals sourced from CC member @H3ADBANG4L1F3; NOS ’87 AM/FM radio teamed with RediRad aux (modulated through radio) to Bluetooth setup also hard wired for center console connectivity option; Rockford Punch compact amplifier PBR400X4D running Kicker 5.25” door and 6.5” B-pillar speakers; Pioneer TS-WX010A under the passenger seat compact subwoofer; NOS factory first gen digital clock; DEI alarm/ starter kill; Acoustic matting and insulation all around. Brakes- ’95 XJ dual diaphragm brake booster & proportion valve (eliminated load sense at rear); PowerStop cross-drilled rotors, NOS calipers, soft lines; PowerStop rear drum brakes; NOS XJ hand brake. Lighting- Exterior: Holley RetroBright 5700K headlights; IPF headlight harness (re-wired because it didn’t directly work with Holley lights); NOS TJ front bumper & upper cab light bar fog lights, fitted with 5700K bulbs to match headlights; Key parts new taillights with 50W backup bulbs; Hobbs under the hood crank retractable work light. Interior: Added Euramtec B-pillar & factory footwell lights, in addition to overhead console lighting tied into aftermarket mid-‘90’s Ford F150 3rd brake/ cargo light combo. Exterior- New style seal front windshield; ‘97+ XJ full door glass with ’05 Beijing XJ lower window wipes (allows for use of original lower window metal trim with full length Beijing XJ sourced rubber wipe); Relocated washer bottle via ‘97+ XJ inner fender reservoir; Custom above cab light bar made from 99+ XJ roof rack components, powered by a CJ foot/ floorboard mounted high-beam switch; Relocated jack & crank under the hood using early ‘90’s F150 modified bracketry to keep the MJ cab interior backwall free from clutter; Power tailgate lock/ actuator with cargo light sense trigger for when tailgate is open or closed. ‘Comanche Chief’ graphics; NOS Mopar Jeep drop-in bedliner; Krustyballer MJ hitch. Wheel & Tires- BFG All-Terrain 30x9.50R15 tires on American Racing Matte Black Vector rims with custom Jeep logo’d center caps. Misc- Revised vacuum line setup using ‘99+ XJ main tube off intake manifold. Best MJ story- I was looking for a ‘beater’ truck I could use around the property and Home Depot runs, but finding this one-owner MJ was a surprise. I was on vacation with the family in the Bahamas when it popped up for sale in Washington state. I had connected with the owner on Facebook Marketplace that same day asking about the MJ – but I had a full week of vacation in front of me and an 85K near all original MJ up for grabs by first taker available. His original asking price was $12K and he had several who were interested. As the days of vacation continued, I was more and more tortured at this MJ getting away, so I asked the family for forgiveness as I boarded a cobbed together day plus trip back to Washington. I made it. And was able to buy the MJ for $9K after a long Jeep chat with the owner sharing my other MJ/ XJ builds. Success – almost. Pouring rain like I had never seen before and brakes that were a non-factory spec anti-lock. They were atrocious. First hour there was no rain, then the downpour. 7 hours to home and I switch the windshield wipers on… nothing. Dead. I pulled over to check fuses, wiring and called a number of surrounding auto parts stores for an XJ wiper motor. And of course no one had one on hand. And no wrecking yards open on the weekends. Back into the MJ and on the road back home, God willing. Thankfully, I made it. CC is Awesome! Why? The CC crew is the reason MJ’s are still on the road – and being built and rebuilt. A resolute and enthusiastic bunch who have motivated the aftermarket to come alive with products specific to our few in production number trucks. And that’s not counting those among the CC members who have taken it upon themselves to produce the long gone, but still in demand parts. Everything from bucket seat brackets, to receiver hitches, to 3D produced seat bezels, cupholders, HVAC seals, etc. Thank you for keeping the products and knowledge of these trucks alive with enthusiasm – Couldn’t do it without you and us all. Alright, I'll stop teasing you all and put in some pictures of the full truck:

If you want that, you should ready through some of the older build threads and MJOTM posts. Here are some of my favorites. A lot of these have links in signatures to other threads too.

We've seen trouble before and I'm sure we will likely see trouble again, you'll just have to make sure that you stick around to see it.

In the better part of a decade, I can only recall two people that seemed to be troublesome. There may have been others, but I can think of two for sure. For the most part, this forum has been pretty great and pretty much everyone at least tolerates each other, with most people getting along like old friends.

I've done pegged the speedometer once. I have no desire to do it again. I also have a hard time believing it would reach 120. Maybe 100, but not much beyond that.

The link works for me

This is my kind of dealer

I would think this would make it a better daily as well. Though time becomes a problem with this too. I will echo everyone else though, I wouldn't use the MJ, unfortunately. It would look cool, but I think the MJ is too light, especially in the rear. I don't even like towing 1500lbs in a trailer behind my MJ, I can't imagine double that.

He’s asking so that other people know not to buy the brand if they didn’t fit. If it’s a brand that’s commonly recommended, we should know so that we stop recommending that. Moog, TRW, or SKP is probably decent. Heck, even Dorman is probably fine.

I wonder which end of the hose he is plugging. Hopefully its something like a bad hose instead of a bad booster. I know, wishful thinking.

I dig it. It would look really good with chrome header panel trim.

I see. So it’s only beneficial on the 87-88s that still have the C101.

Pic doesn’t show up

Alright, I’ll be the one to say I’m anti bypassing the connector. Now when your CPS goes, you’re doing more cutting as opposed to just undoing 2 bolts and a connector.

Here’s the last pic I have of it from some time in June 2025. Haven’t really seen the truck since then either.

That’s a beautiful truck. Hard to believe it has that many miles.

That thing is killer! Best interior color too.

It’s a long bed, so it won’t work for your truck

I think the grey seats were the same way

That’s awesome!