89 MJ

Looks like a very good job.

It's been a while since I've had my marker lights removed, but I believe that they screw into the header panel and not the bezel, the bezel just has holes for the screw to pass through. I would suspect that at some point, someone installed the side marker lights, tightened the screws too much and pulled the threads out of the header panel. I think Gojira has a good idea with fixing the holes.

Bump, just over two weeks away!

Agreed, but that’s not what most people are using their shortbed half ton truck for.

Yet they keep buying new anyways. I think you’re right with it being a status thing. There is definitely great value in sticking with a vehicle that works for you. I have some that work for me, and I’ve driven plenty of stuff that doesn’t.

I think the belts should do alright. My Bolens runs either a 36” snowblower or a 32” tiller in heavy clay off of a belt driven PTO. I don’t know how many rpms it’s turning, but as far as I know, the belts are original and I’ve never had one slip.

I generally agree. 90s have all the amenities you want, without the screens and complications. Easy enough to work on and still good economy. @Pete M would for sure agree on the minivan thing. They can do everything most people use trucks for. Tires always make a world of difference.

Oh yeah, I don’t care for those 3.6s either. Never driven a 3.8. Exactly! Trucks are for towing and hauling level things. Wagons and vans are for the majority of the work.

Yes! I'd love to see small 4 cyl diesels in most vehicles.

Add on top of the fact that they're basically disposable because of the price of a battery when they go bad and the battery recycling process isn't good either, I'll stick with my old stuff

I'm not talking about opinions that most of us have, I want to hear some controversial automotive opinions that even those here might not agree with. Back this opinion up with reasoning too. That said, keep it civil, feel free to debate, but avoid arguing. Per the usual, keep politics and religion out of it too. I'll start with an opinion that I have that is a pretty wild one: The AMC and Jeep 4.0 is a boat anchor. The fuel economy is ok at best, it is not powerful and does not make as much low end torque as people say that it does (off idle, it is nowhere near that of the 258 AMC), its not terribly easy to work on, they leak, they aren't as tough as everyone thinks they are, and they aren't smooth (compared to its carbureted predecessor, the 258). The next time either my MJ or Eagle needs an engine, they aren't getting AMC 6 cyls. Now for some less crazy ones: Modern cars are so safe that they're dangerous. Lane keep assist, automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, etc. just enable the driver to be distracted while driving. 99% of people do not need a 4x4 or a pickup. 99% of my winter driving experience has been split between my Eagle on worn out all terrains and my dad's plow trucks on all terrains. Aside from plowing snow, I don't think I've used 4wd more than 5 times. The Eagle and one of the plow trucks didn't even have ABS and I have never been stuck (I got close when plowing snow once, but that was me getting greedy, no fault to any of the vehicles there). Same story with trucks. How often do you really see a pickup with stuff in the bed? A truck with a bed less than 6' in length is a car. Darn near anything you can fit in that bed would fit in the trunk of a car or back of an SUV. There's no point for that. AC, power steering, power brakes, power locks, and power windows should go back to being options. Vehicles without those were perfectly drivable 50 years ago, they would be just as drivable today and would let people buy cheaper cars.

The 23 gallon tank will run into the rear axle on a SWB truck. If you tried to move it forward, I would suspect it would run into some of the cab support stuff. If you want more fuel capacity, I would look at something that could occupy the space where the spare tire went originally.

Any updates on this truck, Pete?

There’s always an exception to the rule I suppose!

I think I do remember it. Honestly, most AMXs are more or less the same to me though

I’m surprised it beat an AMX! Even most AMC folks seem to prefer AMXs.

But we do have a section for that stuff

Exactly why you’re is one of my favorites. You’re still around and there’s a lot of conversation from a lot of others.

It looks a little like an I6 from that camera angle, but it’s an AMC V8.

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: