FKreider

Hey guys, we need help with a swap we are currently doing ASAP. Any advice or help is greatly apreciated. We are trying to swap a HO from a 98 ZJ into a 87 MJ. We have swapped everything required over to the HO engine. Except the flexplate/flywheel. It would appear that the flywheel from the 87 Renix will not bolt onto the 98 ZJ HO. Is this true or are we missing something obvious? The MJ is a manual with an AX-15 trans, the ZJ was an automatic, is this our problem?

Last weekend I was able to replace that leaking trans. line with the one I got from the junkyard. :cheers: Today I had some free time and the weather was nice so I installed a new fuel filter, since the old one was rusted out so bad that it leaked. New one in and we are good to go! Its funny that the filter was so rusty because the lines and filter mounting bracket arent that bad. :dunno: I intended on replacing a brake line also but since the weather was so nice I finally got around to masking off the windows, handles and mirrors and finishing the primer paint job. At least its one color for now. I think it will be like this for at least a year and then I will do the 97+ swap and give it a nice paint job. I am also getting a quote this week for tubing to make front and rear tube bumpers and sliders. I'm going with for a slight pre-runner look with this MJ. No fiberglass fenders in its future though, new england trails are too tight, we like to bounce off tree's up here. :nuts: I'm still not driving it on a regular basis but after I worked on it today I took it for a ride to the gas station. I like it so far.

Finally got my front shocks in to go with the 3.5" coils. They are stock Jeep JK shocks, in case anyone didnt know they work perfect for a XJ/MJ with 3-4" of lift. Now I can finally drive it again. Tomorrow I'm going to the junkyard to pull a transmission cooler line, because mine is leaking pretty good. I'm also going to try and check out a small fuel leak that I noticed. It appears to be coming from the fuel filter, so I'm going to replace it and go from there. I'll try and get some pictures up soon.

where did you get the new headliner? i need one for my MJ

This weekend worked out pretty good. Saturday I got a 8.8 with 3.73 out of the junkyard. Its in really good condition, pretty much just need to weld new spring perches on and run it. Sunday I went to help my friend move is TJ that he is putting a D60 and 14Bolt under and then I pulled his front long arm suspension out, which will be going in the comanche. Pretty much all I need at this point to get things moving is a D30 with 3.73's. I ran the gear ratio numbers friday night and there honestly wasnt a huge difference in road speed vs. rpm with the 3.73 and 4.10 gears with 33" tires. I decided to just go with the 3.73 gear ratio because I can find a HPD30 with those gears a lot easier than 4.10's and I really don't want to re-gear right now. I'll get some pictures up soon.

I love the low stance with the grabbers! I would like to do a 4.3 in my MJ some day.

Thanks dude, I already love driving it around. Installed some Rusty's 3.5" coils over the weekend and mounted the 32" BFG A/T's that I picked up. They rub at full wheel lock but that is something I can live with for now. Obviously this is just enough lift for road driving and not wheeling but I'll be updating the suspension when I convert it to 4x4.

Fixed the powersteering leak today after work and got the grill back on. Then took it for its first legal drive. I know these cellphone pictures suck but I can't find my camera.

That camper is going to be awesome to have!

The whole point was keeping it cheap untill I go SOA but I'm waiting to get a 8.8 for that and I also have to wait for my friend to pull his longarms and 5.5" coils so he can sell them to me.

Yeah I don't really like any lift shackle for any truck over 2" longer than factory. I was just exploring this option to see what I could do. I am new to the MJ's so its a good thing I asked and didnt just order up a set of XJ" lift shackles.

Does anyone know the length of stock MJ shackles? and what length equals how much lift? For instance stock YJ shackles are 4" bolt to bolt. After that for every inch you gain 1/2" lift. So a 6" shackle is 1" lift for a YJ. It would be great to figure out this rule of thumb for MJ shackles.

I was going to order the shackles Online does anyone know which chevy shackles specifically work good?

I'm going to swap in some Rusty's 3.5" XJ coils and some RC lower tube control arms onto my currently stock XJ. What is the best way to approximatly match this lift in the rear? Its a 2wd shortbed with the 4.0 and AW4 trans. It already sits higher in the rear as of right now, I was thinking a 2" XJ lift shackle would be enough for now? I will be converting it to 4x4 sometime in the neer future also. I will be going SOA (when I swap in a 88) with the stock springs and shackles so I don't want to waste money buying any lift springs.

This requires more pics and a write up in the DIY section. Great looking truck too! x2!!

Tires: :jump: AW4 and NP242 waiting to be swapped in:

wow looks great!

this is exactly how I was thinking of doing it in my head. I'm already sold on this. Maybe when I get around to it I'll post a write up.

Is anyone running 97+ doors with the older style dash? I'm thinking of putting the new style doors and interior panels on my comanche and was wondering if anyone had done this. You would get one peice power windows and remote mirrors, however I'm not sure how difficult it would be to wire these things up? Anyways, I figured Id throw this out there and see if anyone had done it.

truck is looking good. :cheers:

Ive heard great things about the park and even though I'm really not that far away I've never been able to make it there. Part of the reason being that my wheeling jeep is a little too hardcore to make the drive. 1988 YJ: CJ clip and tailgate, 2.5L AX15 trans, flipped D300 t-case w/ 4:1 conversion and twin stick, waggy D44's w/ 4.88 gears, front spool, no rear locker as of now (grenaded it this summer), 35" BFG KM1's. It does great on the trail but getting there is not fun. I can't afford a truck and trailer right now, so thats why I'm building this comanche to be more mild. There is still TONS of fun to be had wheeling on 31-33" tires. A couple recent pics: Now back to the Comanche: I have a line on a set of 32" BFG A/T for a pretty good price I may pick up in a couple days. I also worked out a deal with a buddy who is about to put a D60 and 14 bolt in his TJ. He is selling me all of his front suspension. Its all clayton stuff; long arms, 5.5" coils, and track bar. He is also throwing in a brand new pair of Rancho shocks and coil lift spacers/pucks which I'm not sure on the size. We will see if I end up using the spacers anyways, it depends on how the SOA looks in the rear. Also I am going to temporarily run the shocks because they come with the deal and I'm trying to keep the budget down. Eventually I'll get a pair of Fox with remote reservoirs.

I've been too buisy with school and work to get much done but I managed to do a couple things this week. I gave it a new cap and wires because the old ones looked scary and I had a new set laying around. I'm still going to change out the plugs but I didnt have the time for that. I pulled the tail lights so I could finish the primer on the rear of the bed. Its almost one color now I just have to tape off the driver and passenger door windows and finish the prep there. Also I didnt post a picture yet but I pulled the drop in bed liner and was VERY surprised to see NO RUST. :banana: Being in new england this is a big deal. Also a shot of the interior for good measure. It needs a good cleaning but it should end up decent. I plan on keeping the bench seat. However I'm thinking before I paint it in the spring I'll problably swap to 97+ doors. I want the one peice power windows and I just like the look of them more.

Awesome build! I love the grabbers, if I can manage I'm going to get a set for my MJ. Do you know how much down/up travel the rear suspension has? Also I might have missed it but what size front coils are you running?

that suspension is really scary. :ack: Nice looking MJ otherwise :cheers:

yeah after doing some research i realized that the rear SOA will problably lift it more than 5" but I'm problably still going to go that route. I don't mind a small rake to the truck so if the 5.5" coils are a little too short then I may just leave it. Also the short arm set up is only going to be temporary, ill problably convert it to a 3 link front later down the road. This is not going to be a full time daily driver, I have a stock 99 cherokee that I drive everyday. I started finishing the primer paint job so it is at least one color for now. Depending on the weather I may finish the primer sunday. I also picked up the AW4 tuesday night and I realized that I have a good NP242 sitting in my basement that I am going to run enstead of a 231. Just need to get the axles and stuff for the lift and axle swap.