Master Guns

Just going to leave this here for your viewing pleasure. Picked up this great condition project on Marketplace late June...been working on it intermittently, with help from many discussions on this forum (you guys are great). I'm the 4th owner now. From the day I picked her up, there had been the faint smell of fuel in the engine bay and interior of the cab. Truck had been sitting in the third owner's driveway for around four years, they'd only added about 100 miles since they'd bought it in 2021. Replaced the battery and drove her around 65 miles one way to my place, with zero issues, albeit the faint fuel smell. Never a puddle or any indication of a leak. Previous owner did indicate they'd replaced the gas tank and lines. Clearly all new parts, correctly installed, upon deeper inspection. After a few weeks of other more pressing repairs and upgrades, I decided to really track down this smell. Started with the vapor canister filter and new vacuum lines. Those were fairly easy fixes, but didn't solve the smell. Picked up a brand new gas cap too...thought maybe? Finally, after driving her more and more, the smell was getting worse, and one afternoon while idling and searching and searching, I FINALLY saw the leak dripping slowly from the rear of the throttle body...check out these pictures! Someone along the way JB WELDED a crack in the throttle body!!!! Had a hell of a time finding a replacement for the 2.5...but found one in great shape on eBay for under $200, swapped them out and smell is gone now. My children were in this truck y'all....

It was the linkage! Completely came apart; looks like whoever reinstalled the tranny didn’t fully reassemble it! Had to disassemble and reassemble everything. Came right out of 4wd and drove down the block…🤦‍♂️ Appreciate the diagnostics and the advice, guys! Loving this thing so far, road bumps aside!

Hello folks. Help please. *I have had many Jeeps (14 total) over the years, CJ’s, YJ, Wranglers and Gladiators. This is my first MJ (or XJ). ‘87, 2.5, 5sp, AX-5 (trans and transfer case were just rebuilt a couple weeks ago at a very reputable transmission shop). Today was my first attempt engaging 4wd, due to a fuel issue that is now resolved. The attempt at 4wd didn’t go well. It’s now stuck in 4wd. Dash says 4wd even though I've shifted the transfer case through all gears. 2H, 4H, N, 4L, and back again in an attempt to disengage. Also… The clutch (also new) feels fine. The stick smoothly goes into place, in all gears, like normal. However when I let off the clutch to engage to drive, nothing happens as if it's in neutral. Truck will not move, in any gear. Transfer case lever is at 2H but dash still says 4wd is engaged. What am I doing wrong? I hope this is user error.