87MJTIM

I don’t need Easter to watch it. I just need a day that ends with Y.

sounds like someone did some "deep water" driving with it.

Would those bellhousing bolt up to a 4.0?

There are no bell housings for a BA10 to go external. Your options are to keep swapping slave cylinders or swap transmissions. Ask me how I know.

I think I've watched them three or four times, especially the rebuild portions.

A youtube presenter has a tear-apart and rebuild of an AX15 I followed this to open up an AX15. There is also Robinsonautomotive on youtube where he breaks down and rebuilds an AX15. This one is a little slower and the lighting is not as good.

A guy on youtube has several videos on tearing apart and rebuilding an AX15. I watched all these before I took apart one.

I have not tried a 12 point. Previously when I removed those bolts I throw them away and get hex head bolts

E20 is the type and size (or E12) I don’t remember

No offense intended. Most fuel senders advertised on the internet will not fit the MJ. Most are XJ senders. The sellers don't know that the two vehicles are different. Also, as mentioned, the Renix and HO senders operate on different ohm scales and in reverse direction.

Does the 2.5 have an IAC? I had the same problem with my 4.0 in my CJ. It would start up but died once I let off the gas. I took the old IAC out and cleaned it (ended up replacing it). It runs fine afterwards. (Mine is a 93 4.0 HO. )

ditto

If you haven't done so already, download the 88 electrical service manual. Search the DIY section. The efan wiring is the same for 87 and 88. I think for all Renix years. There is an entire page on the efan wiring.

If the OP had done his homework on here, he may have found this - http://www.mtscompany.com/sendingunits.htm (I don't want to sound suspicious, but it looks to me like a sales pitch.)

AMC = Any Manufacturers Components

Do you still have a cat? Sounds like it could be partially blocked.

So with all those issues, it does sound like inside the BH. Possibly slave cyl related. Plan on dropping the trans and inspect it. While you are in there.... replace the clutch kit and the slave cylinder.

In the Pub section, there is thread on "Cheap Jeep" about an 88 MJ. The father/son duo bought an 88 with a BA10. The spent over $2K fixing the BA. I'd hate to see anyone go down that rabbit hole when a used AX15 can be purchased for a fraction of that cost. If the repair is simple - like aligning the shifter - go for it. If the issue is more extensive - internal - don't waste money on it. My 2¢.

Go grab a 4wd and the tcase, front drive shaft, tcase shifter, and the cross member (your BA 10 won't fit). You're more than half way to a 4wd conversion.

Was the AX15 installed on Toyotas? I thought I read that somewhere. However, if it did come on a Toylet, the bellhousing would not fit a 4.0. The BA10 BH won't fit to an AX15, either. So, that leads back to an XJ or YJ. Two years ago, there were two XJs in a local LKQ with AX15s. One was a 4wd with an internal slave cyl. bellhousing; the other was a 2wd with an external slave cyl. BH. I left there with a 4wd and a BH for external slave cyl. Long day.

Didn't see that. Yeah, that's an issue. It's just that a BA 10 is not worth fixing (if that is the problem).

Just my opinion, but start searching junkyards close by to find an XJ with a manual trans. You would want 90+ for model years. (89 is split: 1/2 BA, 1/2 AX)

yep, that's a BA 10. Word of advise: Open the fill plug BEFORE you open the drain plug. (Think about it.)

Congratulations to her family

To test the internals, I would drain the transmission fluid and look for metal parts 😱. Then you may know which direction to go.