Bugout 1

Replaced the alternator and it still won't hold a charge. Belt is new and tight. I'm stumped. And now iv got fuel in my oil so I just ordered all new vacuum lines and valves and ordered upgraded injectors. I'm also going to do the valve cover mod.

I don't think so. I'm stumped. Maybe I got a bad alternator from AutoZone.

Belt is new and tight.

No tach though. It's funny that it was built on my birthday (not birth year though. Wish I was that young. Lol)

Thanks. Took some effort to get all the rust removed from the wheels and repainted.

1988 Comanche. New battery, new cables, new alternator, still not charging battery. Voltage regulator maybe?

Drove her around Saturday only to realize I have a failing alternator. Spent Saturday night removing the skid plate and replacing the alternator. Think I'm going to leave the skid plate off.

1988 swb red manual 4.0 4wd Grey interior, bench seat. Still on the road. 3rd owner registered but technically 2nd owner. Rust free, dent free, but needs a paint job. Roughly 175k miles

Got wipers working but they struggle. Should I replace motor and bushings or could it be something else?

I agree and iv thought about that too but I don't want a different track width on the rear than the front. Thought about spacers front and rear maybe?

#sideshotsaturday lol! Got the wheels sanded down, primed and painted then had a buddy mount up some new rubber. 31x10.5 Yokohama geolander at-x. Need new center caps. Did a home DIY alignment and worked out pretty good. I'm still going to take it to a shop for a professional alignment. Next up is interior. (Deep clean the seat, new headliner, new sound deadening, new carpet, new shifter bezel, and touch up some of the sever faded plastic) May or may not tackle it this weekend. I'm not a fan of the cold and it's 30 right now. Shop heater is out too. Also want to add some type of storage and will probably do a Durabake bed liner. Iv uses that brand in the past in multiple projects and I really like it.

Sweet 2 door - wanna sell it? I really like the TJ alluminum rims but part of the reason for aquiring this MJ was to bring it back to life / stock, in respect for the original owner that passed so I'm going to keep the white steelies, and I did lift it. I put TJ 4" coils on the front and netted about a 2-3/4" lift, and I put adjustable shackles on the rear and adjusted them to around a 1-3/4" lift to bring things level, nd as mentioned I also have core 4x4 control arms, doubel shear track bar and new shocks all around. Tires are on order (31" yokohamo geolander atx).

I had to "modify" the factory radiator skid plate to make the sway bar block work. Iv still got electrical issues to work out such as my wipers don't work and the turn signal indicator stays on. Iv been searching this forum and I think iv found solutions to both those problems. I also got in a new headliner, carpet and sound deadening liner for the cab. Input on what wheels to run would be appreciated. I know it's really personal opinion. Busted thumbs and bruised knuckles, I could barely hold a beer after working on her ---- y'all ever wonder why we fix old stuff? Lol!

No rust found so far except on the aftermarket trailer hitch. Worked on it a little more. Added new coils, shocks, double shear track bar, sway bar bushings, extended sway bar links and sway bar relocation bock. Also added the control arms. Tires will be here next Monday, need to decide on refurbishing the stock white steelies or putting on some aluminum Wrangler wheels that I have on my trailer for my LJ.

Oh, and a new water pump.

Been working on the MJ and she is finally moving around. Not a daily driver yet, still needs at a minimum tires. Rebuilt heads, adjusted valves, new radiator, new hoses, new heater valve, new spark plugs and wires, new calipers and rotors, new headlights, new battery, new rear diff seal, new fuel pump, new clutch. (I'm sure I'm forgetting something)Next step is suspension, tires, headliner, recover seat, new carpet and sound deadening liner. I'm also going to remove the plastic bed liner. Still undecided on the suspension. I ordered some WJ lower control arms that had a bend, but not the bend I was wanting. I thought they had a bend for tire clearance but it's bent the other way. Oh well. I also ordered adjustable rear shackles. Iv got several coil springs and shocks laying around from past TJ and ZJ projects I'll try but ultimately I think I'm going with a 2" spacer up front and old man emu shocks or some basic quadratec brand.

Another question, and this may need another thread started, but the reason I was going to run 33's and not change the gears is because it's been mentioned on this forum many times, even in a sticky, to not build the stock axles, that it's not worth it. Is that still the case? When I had a xj many people on the Cherokee forums built the stock axles to withstand up to 33's for off roading, 44's for 35's. I know the type of terrain, weight of the vehicle, horse power and driving style also play a roll, but is it still a rule of thumb to not build the stock 35/30 combo? If it can be done with lower gears and chromoly axles I may just go ahead and regear. Iv ordered complete axles in the past and that's just not in the budget at the moment, plus the Mj will NEVER be a hardcore off roader.

Thanks for the responses, yeah I know patience is key and doing it right is worth it, I'm just trying to rush the project cuz I'm ready to start driving it. I can't tell you how many times on other forums (Wrangler based forums) iv told people to be patient and do it right yet here I am contemplating doing it wrong. 31's it is. My plan is to get the Mj somewhat finished so I can put the LJR in back in my shop, regear, chromoly axles and truss it, 4.88's, 35's, etc.. then get back on the MJ. I really don't need 33's on the MJ cuz it will never go off-road.

I already know the answer, but you know, maybe someone has a different opinion or has had better results. I'm 99.99999% sure I'm going with 2" lift and 31's to keep the front control arm angle low, live with the stock gearing (for now) and keep the axles alive, but I love the way MJ's look on pizza cutters but I just don't feel like upgrading the stock axles to handle 33 skinnys is worth it, so how much will I hate driving it with stock gears and 33x10.5 and a manual transmission. My other jeep is a LJR with a auto trans, 4.10 gears and 33x12.5 and it drives ok. I tow a 17' center console with it and it's my overland vehicle/ daily driver/ highway cruzer and as long as you are patient it does ok. Will the manual and skinnier tires make up for the terrible gearing, I'm guessing 3.55's maybe.

I don't mind spending some $ to get it right but if I can save some $ I also want to do that. Changing form 33x10 to 31's was due to the budget yes, but the $ spent on the suspension wasnt my concern, it was everything else that you need to go along with 33's such as brakes, gears, axle shafts, slip yoke, etc..... Iv got some LJ 4.5" coils, shocks and front LJ arms that I was going to put under it because if I'm correct the 4.5" coils will only net 3" of lift or am I mistaken? and thats why I was just trying to bring up the rear. Like I said - I want to save $ but I'm also not affraid to spend $ if it would be better and make it ride better for 31's. If I should just pony up and get new everything for a 3" (Coils, Arms, Sway bar links, Track bar, full rear leafs, shocks) I will, but if it will ride better with a 2" spacer and keep factory coils Ill do that and the control arm angle would be better too. Best ride for a decent budget and 31's is the goal. If I had an easy way to lift the rear I could put on what I have and if it rides terrible I would just take it off and start over.

going to a 2-3" lift - Would yall recomend an adjustable track bar and/ or double sheer mount?

How does it handle / ride with the add a leaf? I had a Dodge Power Wagon that I did a 2" spacer front and add a leaf rear and it was the worst ride ever... and being that this is a lighter vehicle and really won't be hauling much in the bed I'm just worried about how stiff it will be.

Yea I was worried about the quality for the same reasons, as far as performace I not to worried. The MJ will be a weekend driver to Lowes or maybe the hunting land when weather is good. The tires will probably get old before they wear out. My last LJ picked up a bolt in a tire and I ended up having to get 4 new tires becauses the spare was a 33 and the running tires were 35's so I agree, my current LJ i have all matching tires including the spare.

I have some rough country arms laying around but I was thinking of going with some aftermarket WJ arms that are adjustable and also have the side bend. Any benifet to usisng stock WJ arms? And what shackles do yall recomend? The adjustable ones from CORE4x4 look good.