DirtyComanche

You can do all the obvious visual checks first. Like, does the shaft that is visisble look straight in relation to the body? Is the seal at the top leaking, or showing an signs of having leaked? Is there any dents in the body? Normally they don't seize, they just kinda become zero rate. At least, that's what I found.

Oh hell, I thought the electrical ones used the same gear setup... Maybe no. I still think it's on the tailshaft. Looky for some wires?

As to off-road capability, there's trailors that actually, umm, drive? It's sorta like a PTO output on the back of a tractor to run all the attachments, but instead it just spins a driveshaft that drives the trailor axle. There was a big chevy with rockwells on the front of a rag not that long ago that used a setup like that (I think). Anyways, I have no idea what it's called, and you need a funky tcase or rockwell axles to make it work. I think it would add a huge new dimension to wheeling. Think of how bad it can be to back up a trailor in a parking lot. Now throw in some rocks and it wanting to go where-ever it wants. Ohhh, that could be fun.

It's be in the tailhousing of your tranny. They use the same gears as the tcase would, AFIK. Find where the speedo-cable runs into the tailhousing on your tranny, and undo it. There will also be another retaining bolt there. Pull it. The speedo gear will come out. I dunno where they cover it in the manual.

Which threads did you hurt? Ones that matter? As in they are near the base of the stud. If they're ones that matter, get a new stud. If they aren't I'd just file the threads so it works. Reasonably somebody will make a die, but it's often not worth finding/buying one.

Yes, those bolts are metric. The frame side ones are often torx - which is a big hint as there is very few SAE/UN thread bolts that use that head style. I want to say there's none, but I can think of one application right now - so they may well be common somewhere. Anyways, my point is that on Jeeps the torx are always metric. Anyways, to make the bloody hole the right size I'd suggest a shock bushing sleeve. They make them for most sizes (providing you can find somebody that sells them), and with a little trial and error would allow you to shim up the hole to the right size.

How it was explained to me was that the firewall change was done either late in the 85 year or early in the 86 as it was already pretty much written in stone that the 4.0 would be replacing the 2.8. FWIW, my 86 firewall was identical to the one in my 89. Save a few holes drilled in random places.

That's what everything is like... It's the way of the future.

They make plastic paint for interior peices. If you ever watch 'Unique Whips' or whatever that stupid show is, you can see people paying thousands of dollars to have their interior peices spraypainted. I'd imagine it's a little tougher and adheres to plastic a bit better. But perhaps it is totally the same thing as what you're already using.

The rust in the middle of the doors is strangely common. They must have screwed something up at the factory.

I think it's just a standard carrier. I thought it was a rubi-con one or w/e. I don't know if the normal TJ carrier is a rubi style 'thick gearset' setup. I don't know anything about TJs. They are too expensive for me.

Do you just want it legal? Or pretty? Lawn edge trimming and pop rivets... Ya just rivet the trimming to a factory flare. It's hack. But it 'works' in that it might get ripped off but it costs little and takes little time. Another favorite is grabage cans that have been split and riveted on... Same with door mats. Oh, and big rig suppliers actually sell fender flare by the foot - which can be attached to the factory flares. It's similar to the lawn trimming but not 'quite' as hack. It's a little more flexible though.

Okay, ya got me there.

In my experience they are the cheapest SOBs you can find. It might be worth something to them, but they ain't gonna pay you.

Now theres a smart man!!! A backup to any good MJ is a Dodge Diesel!!!! My other passion!!! Theres not to many diesels that can do this!!! http://gallery.hot4x4.ca/albums/The-Tow-Rig/aad.avi http://gallery.hot4x4.ca/albums/The-Tow-Rig/aae.avi Ryan That things certainly seem to go pretty good. Any idea what type of numbers it's putting down? Mine is a 94 12V, and it's a little slow in stock trim. I'm going to look into that, but I'll probably leave it fairly stock. I have no luck with transmissions to begin with, and I bet I can make way more torque than it'll hold. I'm definatly happy with it so far! Cruises like a dream on the highway and has no lack of power at speed! We'll wait to see how the milage is though - I filled the tank and it cost $120. But I doubt it'll be much (if any) worse than my XJ when all is said and done. Now I just need to pick up a decent trailer.

Don't quote me, but Jeep Thrills sells use-able D300s for $75 bucks. A freind bought one not that long ago. Yeah, with a D300 that's just the first payment though.

Sorta... I don't know the full story on what they did. But they used a thick gearset on the rubi carriers. They are essentially the carrier ment for 3.92 and numerically lower gears (or where-ever that split is). I think the reasoning was so they all shipped with the same carrier or air locker. Basically it's a pile of garbage. You could use any D44 carrier and a thick gearset and do the same thing. But it's advantageous to simply buy the right carrier.

He'd have to cut about as much as I did... It's totally do-able if a guy is willing to mess around with it. And that's without bending any tube or anything else, just making new front inner fenders.

Apparently they shipped with two different firewalls. If I was to swap something in a 2.5L MJ it wouldn't be a 4oh. For the work I think a guy could do better.

It all depends what you want to do with it... If you want to make it nice, AVOID rust at all costs. Just because a little surface rust turns into a lot of pinholes, and rotted out fenders/bedsides once you try to clean it up. But at the same time, there's some body panels that are a PITA to straighten. For a wheeler I figure as long as there isn't any huge holes in bad places you're good.

I'm going to have to do something about how it smells so I can sell it. Or just part it out. Seems liek a stupid thing to do when it's actually in really decent shape. For anybody who cares... I bought a dodge. It makes funny noises and has glow plugs.

Bushwackers do. Everybody I know that had them broke them or tore out all the mounting points. Which is fun when they're like $499 or some BS.

That tailgate is off a CJ, no?

That stuff looks pretty good.

I wouldn't. Threads aren't ment to do that. It inevitably will lead to them wearing out. Especially if you can't grease the threads. And it sucks if the threads fail.