Greenjeans

I haven’t posted much lately, but I do work on the Jeep almost every day even if it’s just for a little bit. Today I painted the floor after treating some rust speckles with Ospho. There are a few pin holes but I will fill them with rtv. The paint used was Rustoleum black hammered metal. I’m real happy with it. When I removed the interior last winter, The original rubber mat developed some tears coming out. I about cried, because it looks so good and was in great shape (I thought). It’s just so old and an archaic rubber compound probably that it got brittle over time. The jute padding that was under it from the factory was waterlogged. And so I am not sure what I will do about all that at this moment. I think my plan is to save the portion that goes around the shifter under the console down the transmission tunnel. And just use rubber mats where your feet go. If I could buy a brand new factory rubber mat, I would do it in a heartbeat. I do have a slight water leak occasionally in the passenger foot well. Only after a heavy rain when the jeep is parked “nose down”. It never happens unless it rains good. So I think it’s one of those seals in the cowl area and I’m not going to work on that right now. So rubber mats and metal floor at this time. I don’t think I would ever put carpet in here, but who knows. I have some very tiny sheet metal cracks in the striker post area. I don’t know if it’s because of the design, or the fact this door had so many problems (see my previous door repairs) and a previous owner was just slamming the crap out of it. Or maybe a little both. but I have read somewhere that the earlier two doors did not have good reinforcement behind the door jam. And the later models were updated to add reinforcement to help support the striker post area. I do not have any pictures or access to a later model two door to see what they might have done at Chrysler. So I made a bracket to connect this support and this other sport. I have no idea if this is gonna help at all. But while I have it open and the seatbelt is out is the time to do it. By the way, I bought the reproduction seatbelts and they look OK not awesome and especially not awesome for $300 but what are you gonna do? I also finally modified a threaded bolt that holds the spare tire in. The original bolt was not designed for a tire and wheel this tall, so it was barely holding the spare in and allowing it to move around, etc. I did not have a bolt that was long enough, but I cut, bent and welded a long one that I had. I also added a little extra length and it works very well and is long enough that if another wheel was put in here with the different offset, there’s plenty of thread. lastly, I got a decent jack at u-pull-it that was in a big 1979 Ford van. You can run it up and down with a long rod or lazy man way with a Milwaukee impact. With a piece of 4x6 wood it’ll lift the Jeep and fits where the factory jack was (no back seat). It’s super beefy and has no hydraulics to worry about. Oh and it was only $7. 👍

One of y’all buy this so I’m not tempted to start another project 😁 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/QVwPgMtV6kjvu2aC/?mibextid=79PoIi

Someone got a good deal 👍

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/AsiNZjQBYmJNBHft/?mibextid=79PoIi

I told the glass shop to order a ‘99 windshield for my ‘86 (XJ) and also a rubber gasket. It was $300 installed.

I thought that I had added this info to the notes a few weeks ago but I don’t see it so here goes.. I checked my fuel economy and I’m sure this isn’t exact but it looks like I’m getting 11.25 mpg. This is 80% small town/city driving and 20% country highway maybe at 40-50 mph. That’s a 29.5” tire, 4:10 gears and a 700r4 (lower first gear). Spirited driving most of the time trying to break stuff 👍 I have yet to install the front drive shaft. I don’t know how that may change the mpg. My use of 4wd will be rare in this vehicle and I’m still shaking it out before I install that (soon). I did recently pick up a retired utility truck that needs a good bit of love. 2007 C2500 with 6.0 and 4l80e (2wd). 285k miles…I sold the bed off of it and I may tinker with it some but I’m trying not to jump in too deep until the XJ’s interior is “sorta almost” finished.

If your carb is good, I can’t recommend a 3.4 out of a 94-96 Camaro highly enough. You don’t have to go crazy like I did. Just swap over your accessories and add an electric fuel pump. My motor was $250 at a u-pull-it yard. There is some risk involved with a used motor but if you look around you may be able to find one with reasonable miles on it. Those cars have analog speedos so you can see the actual miles on the car before you pull it. Just another option for you and it’s a whole lot more motor..

Dry grass dyno testing. Slight dead spot off idle when I floored it but the Weber and timing is tuned about as good as my zero Weber experience can get it done. Two wheel grass burner! IMG_0241.mov

I dug out my old vacuum pump when I got into this project (30 year old tool probably) and it was nasty so unfortunately I had to make a trip down to Harbor You Know Where.. one of several trips down there I’m afraid..

For what it’s worth, 2.8 distributor requires 10 inches of vacuum to pull the vacuum advance canister arm all the way in. IMG_0215.mov

Another note for anyone using a 241c transfer case. I don’t remember what metric bolt I welded to the XJ transfer case shifter, but a 2018 or thereabouts Dodge T-case shift knob has the correct pattern and happened to screw right onto it. I haven’t really done any interior work yet so don’t judge 😁

Someone on FB asked about the parts I used for the 3.4 swap. I will post my shopping list from Rock Auto here. This isn’t nearly everything but is most of the important stuff. *I ended up sending the timing chain back because mine was like new. 2.8 parts I reused: Intake (hogged out primary hole) pulleys and accessory brackets timing cover & oil pan valve covers distributor (rebuilt) 3.4 parts from Camaro: long block exhaust manifolds & heat shields flex plate & starter parts thrown away: smog parts (from 2.8) O2 sensors (from Camaro exhaust manifolds) There was one oring that was difficult to find a part number (don’t have that part #) and I got it from a GM dealer. I believe it was for the oil filter mount bolt.

Still logging miles. About 850-900 now. I realigned the front end and it’s about as good as I think it’s going to get. The original ‘86 steering box may be the last big piece that needs to be replaced, it’s just got a tiny amount of slop in the middle. The rest of the front end is all new so it’s the only thing to complain about. It looks like the quick ratio Camaro Cutlass Transam boxes will fit so I’m looking out for one. I did originally put a Dakota box in, still have it but I never drive it with that box installed. The internet said the turning radius was different and it had a leak so I went back to my original box. The one sort of big project I did was to move the electric fuel pump to the rear by the tank. No more sputtering under a load due to loss of fuel pressure. I should have put it there to start with 🙄 and looking to order new seat belts next…

Still just logging miles to shake it out more. This weekend should allow some time to do another front end retorque just to check all this home made and junkyard parts collection under this Jeep. Something is very noisy and I have a feeling it may be the Rough Country control arms. $15 each at u-pull-it, so I knew they were a risk. The ride is decent but it sounds like cracking knuckles once in a while. I’m going to pull the lowers I think and do an inspection. The hurricane (cat 1in my area) left a little water in the passenger footwell but I think all the rubber in this thing needs replacing. I’ll probably just drill a drain hole in the floor 👍

As of 8/31 it was still there..

I took the 10 slot grille for a spare. It is marked AMC on the back so I know it’s an original, not a replacement and no damage. Makes me feel sort of bad for spray painting the chrome one that I have on the XJ 🤷🏼. But I never thought I’d find a black one.. the chrome sill moulding was missing off the driver side, I still need one of those.. I also got a Chevy Sonic headrest I needed, and a spare starter relay, overall good day at the yard!

And then the local yard had this on their website 🙄 ding dong dang I had to go down there in the Sahara desert heat to check it out…

Cartoon picture of “Mountain Dew”, name changed slightly to avoid the copyright issues although the drink people will probably still come after me 😁. Some random Chinese guy contacted me on one of the FB groups and offered to do a cartoon for $30. No Hella lights, I may or may not keep them.. anyway I think it’s pretty cool. And a “clean” version..

Sorry I misunderstood. I thought you had purchased a set from the seatbelt website that was posted.

Were you happy with the quality of the seatbelts? Retract hood and all that? I need some (2 door XJ) and I’m looking at the options.

I had this YJ back in ‘99. I put Mustang wheels on it that I painted black. It needed a slave cyl. (Inside the bellhousing) and so was only $3k, a good deal at the time…it was a fancy Sahara model. I kind of wish I’d kept it but it was from up north and had frame rot. They do seem to be getting cheap around here but they all need a lot of love.. it looks like you got a nice one..

Spotted behind a random car garage in Cleveland GA ..

2016 Chevy Sonic. I picked them because the dimensions were good, they aren’t electric (aside from the heat function which I haven’t fooled with yet). They also have a driver side fold down arm rest. I welded the original seat tracks from the XJ to the bottom of the seat frames, which was a pretty substantial project. But I couldn’t be happier with them!

Belay my last..he’s actually got a video or two on that car.

One of my new favorite you tube channels…. Fast forward to 19:00 and look in the back ground.