ExpatMJGuy

This XJ got a great new lease on life and has been sold to a young family up in Tennessee. I had intended to take this Jeep to New Zealand with me, but it was abandoned at the last minute after finding out some real technical details the in the Warrant of Fitness process for New Zealand registration. New Zealand has strict restrictions on lifts and ride heights and the the 4wd conversion could have proven to be problematic. Prior to sale she got a new engine and a complete new grey interior. Complete with reupholstered leather seats, and new carpet. The trim and dash came from my other XJ that was parted. As much of the tan interior was sold as best as possible. She was also converted to 4wd. Great Jeep. It was a disappointment leaving her behind. But we're onto a new XJ in New Zealand.

UPDATE: All the parts have been used off this Jeep or Sold including the engine, driveline, and the entire interior was moved into another XJ for a color change! Very few parts remained when we were done. The Chassis itself was sent to the crusher when all the parts were used. RIP Your sacrifices will not be forgotten.

1997 XJ Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0L, 4WD, NP242 Transfer Case, Chrysler 8.25 Rear Differential. Auckland, New Zealand Status: Owned and Driven Australian spec XJ Sport! Imported from Australia to New Zealand sometime around 2003. Moved to New Zealand and started a new project learning all RHD and international market quirks! FYI if your vehicle is RHD your steering adjustment nut is most likely reverse threaded! Ask me how I know!

Update... This poor girl was parted out and gave many parts to other Comanches in need! It was eventually discovered that the vehicle had been in a prior accident and the frame previously pulled. The very front end even was welded from another Jeep. There was significant rust in this area of the frame and it was determined that she wasn't salvageable. The grill and chrome bits along with the black interior got moved to my other Comanche as well as the fender flares. Rear glass was also moved to my other Comanche. The tailgate was sold to another party, and when we got down to just the bed and the frame it was sold to someone in NC with the intent to turn it into a MJ trailer and scrap the damaged front end. All of her parts were used to the best of my ability. May your sacrifices not go unforgotten!

Sold to a gentleman in South Carolina. It's been fully painted red and the interior redone in black. It looks incredible.

Problem solved.... Two pairs of vice grips....

Well I carefully got the cap off but no screw behind it

So my truck didn't come with an elbow where the quarter glass closes. I stumbled across one on a Cherokee at the junk yard that looks identical but when you go to actually attach it to the vehicle, how it mates to the glass is actually different. Does anybody know how I get this style off? I really don't want to break anything. I don't see screws or pins or anything like the one I found on the Cherokee. Thanks!! .

Almost forgot to transfer my glove box key. But we've passed emissions and have a current registration! Leather seats coming soon!

So the XJ is pretty much done! I haven't had a lot of time to document as I've gone but, the engine is in it after having to go back and do an intake manifold gasket again. I then started the 4wd conversion and decided to do the interior swap at the same time since you have to mount the bracket for the shift lever linkage under the carpet. When I got the carpet out of the donor Jeep I decided it was time for new carpet due to the rust pretty much destroying the carpet. The rest of the trim and the headliner went exactly as planned. I've sent it off for an alignment and tire balance, had a spare key made, and put in a new controller board for the key fobs this week. So I need to run up to Ohio and pickup my reupholstered leather seats in Agate and it's pretty much done!

I haven't updated this in a while but I've been crazy busy with the move. So for those that don't move, my wife's work threw a curve ball and decided to send us to New Zealand instead of Australia. It was number 2 on our list so we still can't complain. Right after a back surgery late last summer we got the green light for the move. Jeep should be on the boat at the end of May. I just got my XJ finished up and now I'm in a mad dash to put my MJ back together in time. I disassembled it and got it ready for paint and then dropped it off for its actual paint job while we were in New Zealand last January. This week I started basic reassembly. I replaced my tailgate hardware, I've got the grill mostly back together and key parts lenses on the rear. I'm ordering some more parts this evening. I'll prolly start fender liners and fender flares tomorrow, that or start working on rekeying the ignition.

So I just learned the rear bumper I have for my MJ won't work. It came off my parts long bed and and the mounting holes are different on my short bed. I need one ASAP as I have to put my MJ on a boat by the end of May. I was planning for chrome but I can go with black if someone has the matching black front bumper. I can even trade the straight chrome bumpers that I have.

Since we're on axle topics I'm hunting an a front Axle for a 4wd conversion. I'm finding some conflicting information when it comes to axles used. I don't remember where I found this but I've held onto this screen shot for a long time. But I just read from somewhere else a blanket statement that the MJ shipped with 3.55 gearing. What is the truth here? My MJ is an 88 Manual with the 4.0L so I was thinking I was looking for a 3.07 axle. 3.55 would be nice... There's a lot more of them out there.

Is this stuff still needed?

At this point it can't hurt. I hope there is still some under the sink. I'm trying to buy as little consumables as possible right now.

PSA! Don't put your original tail lights in the dishwasher. They will turn out cloudy afterwards! Okay, I know. WTF would you want to put your tail lights in the dishwasher? Hear me out! For those that don't know I'm moving to New Zealand at the end of May and the shippers are coming for my stuff mid April. Customs are super stringent for Australia and New Zealand when it comes to dirt and other biologic materials. Spare car parts are allowed to go in my household goods shipment provided they are clean and have no dirt on them. I don't have time to scrub everything so small parts that aren't greasy just dirty have been going in the dishwasher. It's been working great for a lot of things. I've even washed the milk crates where I've stored parts in the dishwasher. Just not so much with the tail lights. Since I'll be so far from the supply chain after I put my key parts ones on the truck I figured I'd wash my originals and and pack them up as spares. Oh well...

I saw that one. I just didn't know its reputation. I think I'll give it a whirl. Thanks Guys.

Title is pretty simple. I have an 88 short bed with an inline six and soon to be 4wd with an AX-15. The prior owner didn't have exhaust on it after the Catalytic Converter. Everything before that is pretty solid. I also have the exhaust on my long bed parts truck but they just cut the catalytic converter out for cash but haven't even started looking to see if it could be adapted. I'm leaning towards new due to longevity. Anybody have any decent recommendations. I'm not a vehicle has to be loud kinda guy. As a matter of fact I find loud exhaust annoying when you're going down the road. I just need it to be there and function.

I was there yesterday. Grabbed the tailgate, functioning spare tire carrier! , and tach cluster. I'd grabbed more but I'm fixing to move and unfortunately can't horde parts right now. Good parts on it include a bed, a not 100% straight but decent rear bumper, back solid pain of glass, purple/maroon interior pieces including a bench seat that would be a good candidate for a reuphostery job. Has a Dana 30 front axle in it still even though the shift bezel had the blank 2wd plate in it. Missing the transmission and the engine is toast. Hopes this helps people save some time knowing what is there.

Yup, have the scar on my lower lip to prove it. Didn't exactly walk away but I lived to tell the tale and went home from the hospital later that night with just a broken leg and a bunch of stitches.

88 Comanche Pioneer @ Copart in Charleston SC. 4cyl, 2wd, lwb, tan interior. Totally wrong setup for me. Bid is only $300 right now. https://www.copart.com/lot/43400313/clean-title-1988-jeep-comanche-pioneer-sc-north-charleston

After 2 years of MJ ownership here's what I have found out! Even if you owned 4 XJs from mid 90's up you still don't know crap about an MJ!!! Start there and assume nothing! If you find a cheap truck for spare parts, if you have a 88+ model year truck many of the parts off a 86 or 87 model year truck are incompatible. What you can actually use will be limited. You will end up with second jeep with many parts that are of no use to you. If you have the 86 or 87 and consider reviving that truck with newer parts it will be problematic. Ask me how I know. Never buy a truck in the dark. Even if it is an opportunity friend of friend word of mouth smoking deal. Even if you only plan to use it for parts. Especially if he says bring a trailer tonight and you can have it for a deal of X price! You won't notice many things until you see it in daylight or even worse when you pull it into your shop. again, ask me how I know. The 86 and 87 use a NP207 transfer case not the NP231. An AX-15 and AX-5 look a lot a like. Especially in the dark. Use a magnet to check the casing to find out. AX-5 are used on 4cyl and 2.8v6 engines. Peugeot's BA-10 and the AX-15 are used on the 4.0. Learn about CAD axles from earlier models. As a matter of fact when considering a 4wd swap and acquiring spare parts learn about all front axles and how they pair to rear axles. Don't assume same year and model it will go! Keep this in mind when considering another truck for spare parts. Again ask me how I know... As a matter of fact here! Learn how to make or change wiring connectors. Many connectors change after the Chrysler buyout of AMC. I haven't experienced it but rumor has it plugs change again on many things for later High Output engine years. Example the wiper motor. It's easier to find newer plug motors and change the harness over to the newer harness than try to find a matching old connector. Keep a note of what you did if you need to change the part later. Any part continuing from the back of the driver and passenger door going back are rare so keep a hold of it. If you go on vacation and have time. Scour the FB Marketplace for Jeep parts. In a different market some parts can be more plentiful and cheaper. Ex: I'm from Georgia. People come down here, horde our rust free parts, take them other places, then keep them in garages, barns, basements and stuff. Meanwhile it gets harder for us to find parts and when we do find them they are more expensive. I went up to Wisconsin to visit inlaws and MAN there were good, cheap, rust free parts coming out of the woodwork! Guy in Kenosha hooked me up with a massive loot haul dirt cheap including a decent straight tailgate for $150 bucks!! Start learning how to weld and fabricate now. It will save you time money and dependance on other people. IF you don't know how to fabricate and are learning like myself. There are many good people here on this forum that will be willing to teach you. Many will do it in person if you live close enough. Weld beads on rotors after brake jobs for practice if nothing else. I went to automotive school and quickly learned I'm good at diagnosing and changing parts but SUCK at anything fabrication wise. It's just not needed on new cars in the service department and if it is seldomly needed it just goes to the body shop. I'm still not great at fabrication but my knowledge is coming along. If you have a rust free vehicle maybe by the time you need a floor pan you will actually be a proficient welder. LAST be prepared to loose money from mistakes! Dear god knows I have! Unfortunately this is sometimes how we have to learn! You will never learn everything you need to know to prevent mistakes from forums or YouTube. If you can't handle that then owning a classic car isn't for you! But after you recover from those mistakes and it's behind you there is a real sense of accomplishment! I know it's a lot but I hope it helps someone!

Not sure where to put this so figure here is good as any… Maybe we need a spot to post help with non-MJ related Jeep issues? Just an idea… So my rust to riches project is coming to a point where I knew I’d have to modify and do some fab. I’ve got my engine out of my old rusty 99XJ into my shiny 01XJ. I’ve moved the newer style exhaust set timing on the cam sensor even changed the timing chain and water pump since it’s out and easy. I’m trying to decide how to mount the coil on plug assembly onto the 99 0630 style head. I’m sticking with the 99 style. First the one off my 01 is toast, second I already had it so it’s free 99, and third the 0630 is more durable than the later ones. I’ve seen how some people on the NAXJA website have created brackets. So I’m wondering if any of my peeps over here have done this and how they did it? MJ owners are better at hodge podge for parts! Also does anybody know in the scenario with the brackets does the bold holes need to be trimmed down? Since it’s an older thread I haven't gotten a good answer with that on NAXJA other than buy a newer expensive coil system that has plug wires.

Well that makes more sense. That's a better situation. Is it an older analog one with white plastic? And would be be willing to sell it?