WranglerMangler

I’m right there with EagleScout, not bashing your decision and hope it lasts you forever. I was planning on doing the same thing with a 44A but found this XJ 44 first. Can always swap parts over fairly easily if a problem comes up. I’ve read they can bend by jacking the truck up off the center section. But I’ve also read people beat them with 33s and have no issues. Send It!! Keep up the great work. I’m jealous of your shop too btw. Looks like your work but even that you have access to it. Better than laying in the muddy grass and chicken crap. Side note, maybe we should have a D44A strength test. I’ve got a truck that will break one if possible. Could start with 31s move to 33s then 35s. Might be an interesting test. Would be even more interesting getting the truck off the trail with a folded in half rear diff. I’ll keep an eye out for a cheap one locally.

Man, your lucky. I’ve wanted to move to Kalispell for years now. Wish you were closer. Have a Peugeot you could just have. Would even help you put her in!

Internal or external slave AX15? I’d be interested if your trying to get rid of it.

Your truck has made quite the transformation in fairly quick time. New lift and tires look great. I’d definitely do some more research into that D44A. I was thinking about putting one underneath the CommuteChe but decided against. Even in a 2wd. I’ve heard good and bad things about them so really, who knows. Lol. You could possibly run that thing forever with no problems. Maybe suggest a truss for extra support? EagleScout might have more insight on the topic since he immediately spotted it out.

This is a beautiful truck. And a ‘92 as well! Love the wheels and tires and Love the valve cover powder coat job too. Keep up the good work!! Didn’t happen to see, How many miles?

Oh yeah definitely. That’s kinda what I’m going for. Just the unsuspecting truck that can rail some corners. I have a 2WD WJ front end I plan on swapping in here shortly. Will be a big improvement as well. Then hopefully it will handle better than a street Comanche.

It honestly handles way better. I have a local corner that I’ve been railing just for this comparison. Lol. I started with the stock truck at 55 mph hitting this corner, made it through fairly uneventfully, next time was 60mph, sun glasses went flying across the dash and it was pushing it. 65mph was about as fast as I was willing to tip her into this corner, that’s both hands on the wheel, paying close attention and concentrating on the line. Just before “the corner” is a good little twisty bit that was another 55mph section for me. On the first test drive with the Dana 44 and sway bar, I went through the twisty bit at 65 with ease and wished I had been doing 70. Got my confidence up a bit so I hit “the corner” at 75mph and wished I had been doing 80mph. Haven’t been back through yet for my 80mph hit but will soon enough. Kinda getting to the limits of the cheap tires now. Need a lower profile tire and a bigger rim. There are also aftermarket rear WJ stiffer sway bars with poly bushings available that I’ll probably look into in the future. As well as upgrading the front, it’s stock for now. Highly suggest rear sway bar for a road truck. 👍

Here is the extra brace for the mount. Runs under the oil pan to the other frame rail.

The set up you have now is called single shear, you want double shear connections especially on steering parts with heim joints. Helps prevent death if that heim joint fails. Basically the same thing as cutting off one side of your lower control arm mount bracket. Or cutting off one side of a shock mount tab. What’s stronger? Bolt going through a one sided tab or two? Double shear is always stronger. Not saying your doing anything wrong, have seen dozens of rigs running single shear just like you have it, but for just $50 it could be so much safer and stronger. Plus. They also sell a reinforcement bar that bolts to that mount and runs over to the other frame rail for more stiffening and support our fragile unibodies love. And I have 2 MJs sitting at my house right now with stock cracked track bar mounts. Don’t seem to hold up well in my experience. Just my .02 brother. Keep up the good work.

Found some race Jeep parts locally.

Your truck is absolutely beautiful. Really like the painted ravine wheels you chose. I would just like to make one suggestion, these are well worth the money. Keep up the great work!!

Best looking $250 XJ I’ve seen! Nice score good save. I found myself with a $200 XJ one time. Traded it to the junkyard man to save an MJ from the junkyard. No regrets

I used to work on Triumphs at a dealership back when that bike was brand new. Never really thought of an America as a “cool” bike in my “I like crotch rocket” teenage years, but definitely loved the smooth and comfortable ride they offer. Your upgrades have made that bike look a lot better. Thank you for not just throwing on all the gawdy Triumph accessories lol. Check out the Arrow pipe and Uni filter upgrade too. Sounds great but have to rejet. Keep up the good work 👍

CommuteChe got her Dana 44 swap this last weekend. I had been cleaning up the XJ donor Dana 44 for a while now and had nothing better to do this last weekend. I sourced a rear sway bar and mounts off an ‘04 WJ Dana 35 I have laying around. Tuned out pretty good. I had to fiddle around finding the proper length of sway bar end link to clear everything but pretty sure I got her figured out. Ended up with the shortest of the bunch. The rear shocks were totally shot so I replaced them with used but still good and way better condition shocks off the XJ. Now we’re just a Detroit TrueTrack, Disc brake conversion and Chromoly axles away from having a really nice street rear end. Just the expensive stuff to go. Lol. Just more future posts I suppose. Want to stay around 3.54:1 gear ratio. I am honestly impressed with the braking improvement over the Dana 35 drums. However the Dana 35 did have a weeping wheel cylinder so I’m sure that contributed to the poor brakes. I was screwing around with the spare tire winch tonight as well and noticed how clean the cable is. Looks almost new. Soaked her down with WD-40. Figured I’d share. Crappy picture but, shiny Truck 144,500mi D44 161,000

I’ll definitely take some!!

This is a good one. Going to be getting a few of those to hide in dump truck and foreman’s trucks cabs. Thank you.

Well hey, it’s all good. I need an 87 as well. And thanks 89MJ. Useful information I did not know. Or have forgot lol.

Oh. Lol. Aren’t they 86 only badges?

I’ve actually been seeing quite a few lately. Memorial Day weekend, Friday night, my buddy saw this one in Cle Elum Wa Sunday afternoon Memorial Day weekend in Black Diamond Wa, I spotted him and chased him down. Full 97 swap truck. Super nice guy. Couple of weekends before I went out to NorthwestMJs house and saw his 2 MJs, then while driving back, I took the scenic route. Started with this guy. Stopped and knocked, “it’s my sons and it’s not for sale” was the answer at the door. Kept on heading home and saw this guy from afar. I pulled up beside the truck and 2 dudes were immediately there to see what I was up to. Both really cool guys and both Jeep enthusiasts as well. He has just purchased this truck for $800 locally. I really missed out. 88 SWB 4x4 5speed D44 pioneer. Was actually pretty nice. Then continued on my way home and stopped by a place I was told there would be another MJ and sure enough it was there. I had found this truck like 2 weeks prior and talked to the guy and he told me where I could find the truck. These first 3 photos are from our first encounter, Here she is resting peacefully at home. Hopefully soon to be my 7th MJ. I’ve also been working on this one from a tip from another Member. (Thank you NorthwestMJ) I’ve stopped and knocked 3 or 4 different times now and they have yet to answer. I want this truck. It fills 2 spots on my “MJs I need list” I “need” an ‘86 and I “need” a 2.5L MJ. This one is both. (I have a dream to own every year MJ made at one time. And I’m kinda close) And I would definitely prefer a 2.5 over a 2.8 and we all know I ain’t finding a 2.1TD. Hopefully I can strike a deal with these guys to get this truck. NorthwestMJs 2 plus the 3 driving home plus my 6 it was an 11 MJ day!

Friday night, my buddy who lives in Cle Elum (about 70 miles away) sent me this picture, Out running errands today (Sunday) and I passed the same truck going the opposite way, needless to say, I chased him down. Lol. Super nice guy. Matt was his name. 88, 4.0 full 97+ swap including axles, didn’t get the vin again, sorry FiatSlug. His dad has a super beautiful 2wd sporttruck as well. Will hopefully find it soon enough. Think I need some more magnets to pass out.

Yeah, it’s yours if you want it EagleScout. I just recently threw a 7 blade fan on the wife’s TJ as a mechanical fan upgrade. Try to ditch all the 5 blade fans.

AMC logo

My Wife has a ‘98 2.5L TJ and it has the aluminum Valve cover. Was wondering if they had the same “bolt pattern” It took me years to actually find the clips on a junkyard rig. Good luck probably best bet would be like EBay

Looks great. Cleaned up nice. I’ve always been a fan of the aluminum covers over stamped or plastic. The Relay center cover will help with hiding the mess of wires on the passenger fender as well. Do you happen to know what that aluminum valve cover comes off of or have the P#? Thanks

Good to know. Thank you for informing me.