500 MJ

Good luck - Do things right the first time and don't cut corners and you will be very happy with your build - Most of all - Have Fun With it!!!

Its one of those rare un-molested stockers! Nice Truck!

Pretty sweet how its 4wd setup is based on two rear axles... ;)

C'mon guys -its got a chrome rear bumper!!!

To answer some of your questions on the D44 disc brake setup... I followed a similar procedure as what is found here www.madxj.com. Navigating the site, it can be found under "Technical" and then under "Brakes" - The first article. It was pretty well put together. I did not have access to a machine shop so making the spacer and re-drilling the caliper brackets took me some time. I used a dremel to widen the holes on the ZJ brackets (the guy at the parts store and I determined that mine were off of a '98 Dana 35 ZJ rear - I bought them from another Jeeper who had planned to do the swap so I didnt know the year). The spacers can all be done with a drill press and a hole saw kit. The spacers don't need to be exact. I think I used a 2.75" saw and a 3" saw to cut the rings. When I bolted it all together I made sure they were centered though... if you have access to a machine shop, you should go that route. Also, you will need a press to get the new bearings on. I cut the old ones off with a cut off wheel on my dremel. Everything goes back together the same way, just with the spacers on the axle to give the seal the proper riding surface. I reused my perches. I don't torch them off, I cut them with a grinder and then hit them off with a hammer to avoid damaging the axle tube. I have cut into the axle tube at times this way but I always fill it back up with the welder and grind the filled area back flush. If you have any more questions - don't hesitate to ask - page 6 of my build thread is where I have some pics of the disc break stuff installed... http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/view ... c&start=75 - Brent

St. Elmos Fire - John Parr

Yah, I should have mentioned that I did just check the fluid this spring and it was just fine. Kinda forgot that bit of info... After some looking online I found that the external slaves are apparently on 94+ models of the AX-15... Just a longshot but does anyone know an easy way for me to get my hands on one of these bellhousings? Anyone got one for sale?

I did replace it a while back with the one included in the clutch kit from carquest when I did my 4wd conversion... You really don't think it is anything inside the transmission? ;) That is great news. I was planning on going out and spending major money on getting this one rebuilt... Is there any way for me to check and see if my transmission is ok? Also, I've heard that the AX-15 did come with an external slave cylinder setup at one point in time. Does anyone know what years this could be found on?

So I think that yesterday the old tranny gave up the ghost. I'm running an AX-15 from a '90 Wrangler in my truck. Story goes: When I was parked at the girlfriends house last night (kinda a steep incline in the driveway) and I started the truck up, a growling noise was coming from the tranny. I pushed in the clutch and it modified the noise some but didnt stop it. I tried to put the truck in reverse but couldnt do it at first. With the clutch in, I ran through all of the gears 1,2,3,4,5 and then was able to get it in reverse. I pulled out of the drive and noticed a gyration in the trans when I backed up. I stopped the truck and got it to go into first, I only live a few blocks away so I decided I would try and get the truck home. I drove it home and was unable to shift into some gears like 2nd and 4th on my way there. The noise was still coming from the trans but it did stop at times and run like it was normal. Once I got home though EVERYTHING seemed to be working right. I was able to leave the truck running as I opened the garage door and it wasnt making any noise. I was also able to back in the garage just like normal and things seemed fine... Any thoughts on what the heck is going on? I'm not driving the truck right now, I don't want to damage anything anymore than it already is.

Now, go get a console and put it over top and the problem is solved... ;)

I had this problem and had to replace the socket. That fixed it. Try that before you go digging into the electrical. I have replaced both of mine. Problem was never present until I swapped in my new guage cluster... the old idiot one never had a problem with it... Carquest has the steel style sockets for cheap... Got both of mine there, they had them on hand in the light sockets section.

When I bought my MJ 2 years ago it was 2wd. I did the 4wd convo ASAP and when I did it I got a YJ AX-15 instead of one from another XJ/MJ. The YJ shifter arm is much longer and straighter than the MJ/XJ one. I had one of these shorter and angled MJ levers on my 2wd BA-10 that I had in the truck. So I looked into it and I decided I would see if I could change them out. So thats the story on why I did what I am about to explain. I know that there are tools for everything but when you are working on something that you know you can't make any worse (That YJ shifter made the truck feel like a semi with how high it was) you tend to get creative. So I took the sucker off of the tranmission and put it in the vice. From what I remember it took alot of banging and alot of prying on both of them but I was able to get them swapped around and not damage anything vital in the process. If I remember right, there is some sort of rubber chunk in there or something that helps hold it on. I can't remember the process too well, wish I could help, sorry. Maybe I smushed it with the vice a bit and that did something... You can see how it is kinda ?pressed on? there with the two flat sides in the second pic you have put up. All I know is that I was able to do it... :roll: :???:

ANOTHER white one! I swear that I see more white MJ's than other colors... Have fun playing around with it, these trucks are awesome!

Welcome to the club, My Dad and I are spending our whole next summer on this one: This truck is from Arkansas and we have deemed it to be a '55. As it sits right now it has all been stripped apart and the chassis is sitting in primer after we got it sandblasted. When we bought it, it was running and driving, barely. Planning on putting in a 289 Ford with a Dana 30 in the front and a 9 inch in the rear...getting the axles under it is the next step. Good luck on yours, looks great so far.

Looks good without the stickers on it! Keep it up!

I got mine off with a lot of standard screwdrivers and a few big hammers. I don't know the "proper way"....

Google search brought up a whole sloo of places to buy the joints...

Thats exactly why I don't like them, too supple. I guess I use mine more for hauling things around than wheeling and that is the reason why. I did grab some load springs from another MJ and have added them to the bottom of the pack. That helped alot but its all still too lightweight for my tastes... ...Guess I should just go get a J-truck and dedicate that to my hauling duties. I wish. :roll:

Got my bed and bumpers done at the local body shop. They use Extreme Liners product and its guaranteed as well. The plates on the wheelwells are for my rollbar to bolt into.

:thumbsup: Mine still do the job... but I learned my lesson with them.

Its working wonderfully! THANK YOU Again!

From what I hear though, they are worth the time you will be waiting. I wish I would have gone with them rather than get mine from Rusty's Offroad. I didnt even get a sticker from Rusty's when I ordered mine...

Thanks for the input guys. I've been talking to some other guys that will be going on the trip as well and we are thinking about renting a car and driving up to the Sweden and Norway borders so we can cross over into those countries to say we have been there. This would let us see pretty much the whole area of northern Finland. Any thoughts? Wanna plan a meeting time up in Northern Norway Joop?

Hey Guys, This summer I will be spending about a month of my time in Finland on a Study Abroad trip. The trip will most focus on studying the Railroads of Finland and how they are different than the ones in the USA (Next year I will graduate with a Civil Engineering Degree and Transportation (Railroading) will be my specialty). I was wondering if anyone on here has been to Finland and could suggest some places to check out while I am there. We will have a free weekend and some free time after the program is over to scope out some things. We will be staying in Tampere for the most part for the program but on my free time I hope to see other places as well. Shoot me some suggestions. Thanks - Brent :USAflag:

Very Nice!