Andy in Pa

Can I send a PM to more than one person? What are the names separated with? Thanks, Andy

Hmmm....interesting. This one was blue, but kind of rough. It was all there though (it was being driven). Thx for the info. A.

I saw an MJ dually today in Md, down near Westminster. I saw one before on ebay.....(different one of course, I think it was in CA).....what is the story with them? Did an aftermarket company do them, or is this an old airport/military vehicle? I didn't get a close look at the one I saw today, it was quite a few cars in front of me. Neat though, would make a cool project. A.

Pace Edwards has a roll-up tonneau cover for MJ's. Both long bed and short bed. Go to www.paceedwards.com. It may also help you to figure out compatibility with other trucks. I have a Pace Edwards roll-up tonneau cover that I got for my SB MJ. I got it brand new on e-bay for $100 from a surplus automotive house. It is not hard to install and looks very nice. Keep looking on ebay for them, that is how I found this one.

BTT with you... gonna need them soon... A.

If the front drivetrain is factory, it will not hold up to the torque of an LT-1.

I have one of their front winch bumpers on my XJ...very strong nicely done product. Can't help you much with their rock rails though.

Whoops...thanks for the move... A.

Thought you gents would like to see a few pics of a run a few buds of mine and I did to RC. 2 MJ's and 1 XJ. This is actually my wifes MJ, and it is the first time we had it out. She did most of the driving. It worked very well on the trails!!! We didn't do anything too crazy, the MJ does not have rocker protection yet. My MJ is the silver one, and Stroker has the green one (he is on this forum too). My buddy Keith is in the XJ. His wife was driving too. Enjoy!! Andy http://rides.webshots.com/album/176396210hfAInb

I don't know how many folks here belong to NAXJA (nationwide XJ/MJ club), but we are having our big North Atlantic Chapter (Nac) event June 21-24th. If your a member or would like to become a member, come on out. Members can bring along a friend as well. Our home base is going to be Echo Valley Campground, and we'll be having a BBQ and raffle on Saturday afternoon/evening. We expect approx. 50-60 various shapes/sizes of XJ's and MJ's to be in attendance this year, as well as a fair mix of members bringing friends in other rigs from TJ's to a full size comp-cut Dodge Ram on 40's!!. We'll be running all levels of trails at RC. Its always a good time. Here is the link to the info: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=913751 And here is the Nac-Fest Forum if you have any questions: http://www.naxja.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=181 Thanks, Andy

Are there any spacers between the wheel and the drum? Looks like there might be in one of the pics. Those wheels have a fairly deep offset, and that drum should be sitting farther in the wheel than it looks like it is. The Lincoln Versaille 9" rears are around 58" WMS to WMS. 1" spacers on that rear (and aftermarket axleshafts to get to 5 on 4.5 pattern) and you would have a stout (big bearing!!) piece. Are the gears factory? My bet is someone put a spool in that rear. I say find yourself a second chunk, gear it the same as the front and swap it in. Nice find!!! It also could be a completely custom Currie 9" The ends of the axleshafts should give you some clue if you pull the wheels/drums. These shafts typically have both 5 on 4.5 and 5 on 5.5 pattern pre-drilled. You just punch wheel studs into whichever pattern you plan on running. Good luck, should be fun tracking down where that rear came from. A.

I have been running 12" travel Bilstein 5150's on the front of my XJ for years now, best shock I ever put on (for the price). I just lifted my MJ and got a set of 12" travel Bilstein 5125's for the front. They ride nice too. Make sure you get the heavier valving (255/70) for the front. In the rear you can use the lighter valving (170/60). The XJ has 8" of lift and the MJ has 6" of lift. Both have custom shock mounts in the front at the axle. Both have tabs welded to the side of the LCA mount on the axle. I don't know how much lift you have, but if your sticking with the factory mounts with the upper eye conversion and your around 6", you may want to consider a 10" travel, or maybe even an 11" travel shock. The 12" travel shocks are a little too long if you use the factory mounting at the axle at 6" of lift. A.

I took a look at my XJ prop valve I had laying around...turns out the plug in the back end is the right size. It had a little cup on the end that needed cut off, but it will work perfectly. Even had an o-ring on it already. It is 1/2 x 20, I sized it up w/a standard (coarse thread) 1/2" bolt. Shoulda known better than to doubt the Eagle, it just sounded big.... Thanks again, A.

Yes, thats what I am saying. The line is in good shape, so I see no reason to mess with it. Excellent, thanks!! A 1/2 x 20 bolt? hmmm...that sounds a little big to me but I am sure your correct.....thanks again!! I'll have to get some pics up here soon, but the MJ is growing up. Its not my fault though, I was instructed by Leah (my wife) to build it, she is making me do it!!! She wants a truck to do "light" trails with. She enjoys rock crawling as much as I do. I fell off the wagon a little though, (it will have 6.5" of lift, 33's 4.56's, locked front/rear :roll: ) but it should be able to handle light trails NO PROBLEM ;) :D What can I say, I had lots of extra parts from various builds of my XJ. Don't worry Eagle, as long as she stays behind the wheel the suspension/drivetrain will remain the only thing modified. Andy

Yes, I am sticking with the MJ prop valve. I think I am in good shape for using the factory line. I was able to loosen the line that goes directly to the rear prop valve (from the front prop valve). I traced it out and think I have it right (my 3yr old was holding the flashlight :roll: ) but the line that goes directly to the rear prop valve ties into the nose of the front prop valve, correct?? Any trouble finding the right size plug for the front/bottom line on the front prop valve? combination valve combo valve proportioning valve (I typed those other names just for the search feature...) Thanks gents (and Eagle :brows: :D )!! Andy

Wow, I am glad I looked into this topic again. I researched it once before and thought the fitting in the nose was the one not used. I was about to plug the fitting in the nose of the prop valve, and just use the line from the front/bottom for rear brakes (while doing away with the rear prop valve). So, technically, one should be able to plug the front/bottom fitting in the front prop valve and just use the line coming from the nose of the prop valve for full braking in the rear, correct??? Thanks, Andy

Yes, thanks for the line 87manche!! I was just about to go searching for it, but thought I should check here first. For some reason the NAXJA forums are getting slow again, it is taking a long time to load. A.

Hi Harwood, Oh, I mostly lurk on this site and use it for a source of info, (LOTS of good info here too!!!) but I have been busy having kids (2 now), still beating on Barnabus a bit and doing my best to stay out of trouble. Leah wants me to build the MJ now, so I have a front axle for it, and I'll have 33" Trxus tires soon, but the doors are getting bad, and I just spotted a newer body style (with the newer mirrors..) sitting in a scrap yard. Thats cool, I'll have to dig up that post from Kejtar over on NAXJA and see if it is worth it. Hope all is well in MJ-land Ct... Andy

This might be a stupid question, but do the body lines/hinges and all match up so one could bolt on a set of 97 or newer XJ doors on, say an 87 MJ? I would imagine it may work if the whole front clip was put on the MJ, but I just want to swap the doors on. The front clip is mashed up on the donor vehicle. Thanks, Andy

So you have the mirrors that are NOT like the XJ mirrors? They have the big bracket that goes down to the center of the door? I don't like those mirrors because they are not break-away like the XJ style ones are. Your MJ is an 89, that adds to the mystery. I saw an 89 the other day that had the XJ style mirrors on it......hmmm....

Ok, I need to clear something up. What year MJ went to the same style side view mirrors as the XJ? Was it an option? I have an 87 and I HATE the big mirrors that mount to the door. Just curious when the switch was made. I thought it was in 88, but I just saw an 87 with the small mirrors on it. Of course I suppose they could have changed the mounting. And yes, I am aware that I can mount up the small mirror to my doors, I need to replace them anyway though, so I am just going to swap doors. Also, XJ 4dr front doors will swap on to the MJ, correct?? They look the same. My doors are getting bad, and I think I'll just score a set of XJ doors that are the same color as my MJ, and bolt them up. Thanks for your help!! Andy

Yeah, I know, and it might just happen that way yet. I don't have any of the stuff though. I would have to get the aw-4, xfer case, and rear driveshaft. I have done so much to my 2wd though, I would hate to start over on another MJ. I even found an MJ D44 in the local u-pull-it and I swapped that in about a year ago. I'll probably end up doing the conversion, we'll see. Thanks for the welcome!!! Andy

I didn't realize that there was a Comanche only forum, this is great!! I have a 2WD 87 Comanche with 212,000 miles on it, and it still runs like a top!! A few on this forum may know me from NAXJA, I have a 96 XJ that I wheel. I am thinking about getting a 4WD Comanche to build, and selling the 2WD. I know I can make the 2WD into 4WD, but I don't have enough time to take on this project right now. I had lowered my Comanche and drove it every day for a while, then I lifted it back up (and added 2" to it) and it is a second vehicle now. Thanks, Andy