jeff351

Doing my 97+ conversion, the drivers door bolted right up pretty much spot on. The passengers door was way off however - for the lower hinge I had to use a couple of thick washers under each bolt plus the factory shim to get the door to line up. The top hinge 'only' uses 1 washer with the shim. Does anyone make thicker shims? These washers are only temporary.

Exhaust complete. I bought a new cat from Rockauto, a couple of 2.5" mandrel U-bends and a https://www.summitracing.com/parts/APH-709025 muffler from Summit (disregard the image on their website, its wrong) and got to cutting and welding. With the XJ gas tank in the rear, I was limited with exit routes so I'll play the guinea pig and see if my idea works; the tail pipe comes off the muffler and snakes around the shock and between the frame and leaf spring. It is higher than the bump stop - I'm no hardcore off-roader so I don't see this as a problem, but we'll see what happens. The other night I was making a mental list of what's left before i fire it up... Gas!

Awesome! Any videos of the action?

I've always had a pile of torx sockets, but nothing organized. This is a nice organized set and good value for the buck. https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-10083A-Master-External-60-Piece/dp/B004XD0Z6O/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=SFA123IEJ31R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sKENpg6zkIcLFqFYCUYo2G61E82atzclJGKGnBVMeyCdA4D1Fvy4OL4vvJmkzmBhMzXIh9Cbw_4BAMDG0soG-WG8f91GonR_xgeeZxFDRGxmD-V8y4oRFiQ41txtjEiy3fJ0nW03majFxKn0lK23TxBzGAhx4M0ZHBD5xHwu-KA7pb8tm-Xrm7v3SqfHUzZ-W_uU_jLj-hzmwzPm5r3cwGcMtQX4tEDMEflvKss-OrlEBdIdKHwlFhMr5Je0JQDb0YbHvtuLKp-bjvwKPIKbmgEyqt5WYilSqyhlyqYszvI.QanCNW0p-9__omXbl1EaERU3jzeNlLKl2LDAPZ5MlFQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=neiko+torx+socket+set&qid=1715035100&sprefix=neiko+%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

another status update Fun step was adding fluids - Coolant, no leaks. Power steering, no leaks. Brake fluid - realized which fittings I forgot to tighten Interesting enough, just gravity bleeding via leaks left me with a really good brake pedal feel, before I even did an actual bleeding process! (yes, I'll do an official bleed once I quit screwing around with everything else) While the grille dries, I couldn't resist plugging in the sockets and checking lights. Its starting to look like a Jeep again. Little stuff like this is motivation to get it back on the road.

on mine I filled the unused holes in the firewall and cut new ones....after all the work it came out great. But if I did it again I'd be tempted to just cut the entire firewall out and weld in the XJ one. It actually might be easier. I had the best-case scenario; complete 98 XJ parked nose-to-nose in front of my MJ so it was easy to jump back and forth measuring and figuring things out.

I'm doing a 97+ conversion, and the ad shows the header fits 96-99. I didnt know there was a major difference between 89 and later header pipes until now.

I think Dennis Collins did a youtube episode of this on his Coffee Walk series. Its amazing to see those Toyotas in perfect condition. Growing up on the coast of Maine they didn't survive more than a few years before rust took its toll. My dad had an 82 Datsun truck that literally rusted so bad that by 1990 when i was in high school, it was pretty much a basket case.

I have several pair: These are over-the-ear, if you prefer that style- Amazon.com: Treblab X3 Pro - True Wireless Earbuds with Earhooks - 45H Battery Life, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX, IPX7 Waterproof Headphones - TWS Bluetooth Earphones with Charging case for Sport, Running (Renewed) : Electronics In-ear. Best bass and sound quality for the price. Amazon.com: Duet 50 Pro – Sweatproof Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds. 130 Hour Long Battery Life for iPhone, Android. Mini Charging Case, TWS Headphones with Microphone, Gift for Runners : Electronics Bone conductive..it doesnt block your ear canal so you hear your surroundings like normal, but you do loss a little bass if you listen to music. I use them for my runs. A little pricey but perfect for what i use them for Amazon.com: SHOKZ OpenRun Pro - Open-Ear Bluetooth Bone Conduction Sport Headphones - Sweat Resistant Wireless Earphones for Workouts and Running with Premium Deep Base - Built-in Mic, with Hair Band : Electronics

one arrived at a local LKQ here and within hours it was picked clean. Weather was terrible that day too - heavy rain and really cold.

I'm 52 and grew up in the northeast where we were taught in driving school to flash to pass. It gets the other drivers attention and a heads up that someone is passing on the left so they didn't get spooked. That is for empty lane scenarios; Otherwise its common when on the highway and you see an 18-wheeler wanting to merge over, so if he has room, a flash of the lights gives him the all-clear signal. Usually get a response from the trucker of him flashing his trailer lights back as a thanks. Kind of a cool thing in my book.

I've had several sheets laying around for about 10 years, but it's very similar, if not the same, as this: Amazon.com: Exhaust Heat Shield Automotive Embossed Aluminum Heat Shield Material for Heat Barrier, Fire Wall, Exhaust Wrap 20" X 47.2" : Automotive

works here on my desktop PC

Long time no post. Still picking away....on one shoulder i have the OCD devil saying "make that engine shiny and spotless" and on my other shoulder is one saying "just finish the darn thing." Exhaust-wise, I added a flex pipe to the down pipe and v-band clamp at the end. (One of my pet peeves is not being able to remove exhaust once a u-bolt style clamp has been used. ) I remember putting my hand on the passenger floor one time after driving and it was dangerously hot to the touch. So I took some laminated aluminum heat-shield stuff left over from another project, and used riv-nuts to secure it. That gives it about 1/4" standoff which should help. Otherwise...just little ankle-biter projects that arent news worthy but eat up my time.

I wonder if that's the same one I've seen in Spartanburg on several occasions (once on the back of a flatbed tow truck) Haven't seen it in over a year.

So I gutted my MJ for the 97+ conversion, got it almost put back together, then realized I forgot all about the washer hose that runs from under the hood into the firewall. (is it the same routing on my 89 MJ as it is on a 2000 XJ?) How does it go from the firewall (in this picture below) up into the cowl there it connects to the T junction for both washer squirters? I checked out a couple of XJs at the pick-n-pull yesterday but couldn't figure it out. EDIT: ok, so i put some washer fluid in the reservoir and did a test run with the wipers. Realized the hose is inside the wire loom that runs inside the cowl to the wiper motor. So what is this hose for in the picture below? Vacuum?

Hey while we're talking about washer options...I can't remember how the windshield washer hose routes from the engine bay into the cowl.

Haven't seen much about mandrel bent downpipes so figured I'd give credit where its due. Necessary or not, I prefer mandrel bent for all exhaust on my projects. Comparison photos below. (the mandrel bent one isnt welded/clamped so its just laying loose in this picture, thats why they look like they arent the same) A while back i bought a Walker p/n 54488 downpipe. Ends up its not mandrel bent like the photo showed on the ad. Its all 2" tubing, and has a crimp on both sides right at the top. Somewhat disappointed but its not the end of the world. Its a 1 pc unit. (it was delivered with no box, the shipper wrapped ALL of it in clear packing tape which would be nice as it heats up and melts off) Recently I found this one on ebay and the seller confirmed its mandrel bent 409 stainless steel, so I ordered it. I'm actually impressed. Starts at 2" OD at the top (no crimping) where it bolts to the header, and then merges to 2.25" from there. From my picture here you can see its a 2 pc so you either weld or clamp it together. Funny thing is its a little less $ than the Walker crimped bend one.

neat video. i had to look up those wheels...each one costs more than my Comanche

hey...no one said there is an upper limit when we talk about 97+ conversions on our MJs!

do you have a welder or a friend that can weld?

Very minimal, luckily

mine looked just like that. I posted it a year or so back! And yes, mouse nests are pretty smelly

I gotta admit, I don't hate it

Finally got a lot done in a day. A friend came over and we installed the new 4.0 in Scuzzy, pulled the old driveline from the donor, got the donor 4.0 on the engine cradle, and swapped the doors over. Nothing broke and it went relatively smooth.