JeepcoMJ

So In the last few years, I haven't driven an mj. it's been 4 years actually. I parked the 3800 5 years ago with engine trouble. The 87 saw 1000 miles a year when i had it, and ended up selling it after almost finishing a 99 swap. I did the swap because I had become accustomed to nicer more modern interior and options like push button steering wheel cruise, etc. with my xj's. Since then, I've dd'd a 92 ford crown vic beater (hated that ABS crap) a 97/98 xj hybrid 5 speed 4.0 4dr that i built from two and a 99 xj 4.0 5 speed with a built motor all with full power windows, locks, mirrors, cruise on the steering wheels, keyless entry etc. I still have my 86, and just bought back my 87, but both are going to HAVE to have 97+ update. I justreally don't like the outdated look anymore. Then I built the lifted limited KJ, and drove it for a week. heated leather...i'm in heaven. gave it to my dad, and I'm currently driving my brother's 88 MJ 4.0 4x4 MT 3" front lift d30/d44 3.55 ax15 with Meyer ST6'8" plow, no cruise, manual windows, manual locks, no keyless entry, just pretty plain jane. Just driving that until I'm done with the black KJ then i have to put break-in miles on it prior to selling it, and finish my new DD v8 powered liberty. I HATE driving the MJ. I hate it, hate it, hate it. the truck is nice for it's age, runs good, drives good. but i've grown so accustomed to the bells and whistles that the thing is just inconvenient. Until driving it again, I couldn't remember the last time I'd put a key in the door to unlock it, or had to reach to both sides to lock and unlock a car. I'm also particularly embarassed to be driving something with rust, though that's nothing new...i've always been that way Maybe I'm just beginning to be a snob, but how do you guys bounce between something with amenities and these cool old trucks?

The current build is for the black one, which is just getting a 3.7 put back in it. as far as the 4.7 swap, it's keeping the 3.7 forward cats, downpipe, rear cat. for now it will keep the stock muffler etc. I don't want this thing to be loud or have a drone. I'm making my own complete stainless headers and shields for it. here's some of the progress. motor mounts blasted primed and painted trans resealed with new input and output seals, filter kit. used rtv ultra black and gasket for added assurance that it won't leak. Also checked and adjusted bands. they were just shy of being outside of spec we had also bead blasted the pan to get rid of the typical surface rust on the outside, and checked for pinholes...we found none as it hadn't reached the point of pitting yet. Engine is cleaned, ready to clean the sealing surfaces up proper, then resealing it.

sorry, had many more than one person tell me i should. it's a not a good idea, it's too much compromise on ride quality, and there is no point in putting a dana 30 into ANYTHING that it doesn't bolt into. If I were to do SFA, I'd want something better....and a dana 44 can be broken easily, so it would be dana 60. at which point you're limited by the design of the body you're putting it under, which is just assanine to even deal with. If you want a wheeler, don't start with a $10k vehicle. start with a pile of tubing, or a cheap beater that you can cut up and not feal bad about.

So all of the new parts showed up today Reman heads, zinc coated, complete with cams, rockers, 3 step grind on valves full gasket set (upper and lower) trans filter set oil pump lower timing tensioner (timing set was good, I broke the tensioner on disassembly as the lower gear was fubar'd) engine on stand new heads new gaskets pressure washed/simple greened kmember then painted it trans on stand, ready to be cleaned and painted this was one of the green renegade rims. I cleaned them up, stripped, sanded, and painted with a chrysler silver via dupli-color color match and high gloss clear coat. These will look very nice on the black jeep

anyone who thinks that liberties are meant for offroading is completely off their rockers. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul. there is flat out zero way I'll ever consider a KJ a replacement for an xj or mj. If I ever do anything to mine, it will be a 3.5" lift, some 31x10.50R16 dayton timberline at II, on mickey thompson classic 2 style rims. Then the most it would see is the green trail at the badlands. SFA libby swaps are for rich pricks.

I haven't seen a bedline job that looked good in the end. holds dirt, holds moisture in the cab corners, rust will come from the inside out. that is a beautiful truck. leave it alone.

I've not had that issue with my gasser, either.

thanks. Lifted they don't look so bad, though.

they are a very comfortable drive, roomier inside for a tall guy like myself, and heated leather with a sunroof speaks worlds to me. They look like girl jeeps in stock form. the v8 will be this thing's only saving grace. Replacing my cherokee with this one is a practical matter....I'm a small business owner and operator now, and also in a position that I need to be driving a respectable vehicle. This fits the bill.

Yup. I did as well for my 99 conversion. I have a fellow who wants to pay me to swap a 4.7 into his 02 KJ as well. I'll post all the tech and info for anyone who can do it themselves, and gladly. But people such as him who haven't got the shop or tools to do the swap will still come to me. Same thing that I do with my snowplow pumps...posted a how to, so other people can save money or make money, but I still get business. I don't see the point in being the only person with this swap and holding onto all of the tech for myself. I will not share enough how-to to put a buick 3800 into an 86 comanche, though, because that one is a one off and should be....it's not an easy swap, unlike this. I don't want to share information when it comes to something like that because there is too much liability involved in being the person who suggested it.

The whole thing is actually quite neat. how many watts is that amp?

I thought that you knew the harness wasn't pre-existing lol. I've never seen a factory subwoofer in any xj. interesting.

harness didn't come with the kit?

gotcha. This mounts over /through your spare tire I assume? neat.

It's no tighter on either side than the 3.7 was. The radiator clearance is really the only issue.

what is the square/rectangle indent piece for.

Isn't that @#$%ing annoying? Here is this cool thing I did, here's a single $#!&ty pic and I'll never come back to the internet.Right now I'm working on an SVX engine conversion into a VW van. This is a swap that has been done hundred of times before, but I'm having trouble finding a good single documented swap on it.......grrrr Yup, that is the single most annoying thing ever.

Thanks Sam Alexia....I do not love these things. I love what I can buy them for and sell them for. This one, I love the color and interior...and once done, will love the motor. The guy who did that swap posted the videos, a picture or two, and has never been heard from again. cool for sure.

Thanks Jake! Short update with some teaser pics engine/trans in, trans mounted. Need to think about motor mounts. But mocking up I can see what will and will not fit. The intake manifold on this one is not one that I will be using. I have the appropriate jeep one along with computer etc. from an 02 jeep grand cherokee. This motor still needs the tone rings swapped on the crank, and cleaned up, but I want the mounts and exhaust done before I ever get to that point, so that it's purely a mechanical issue and electrical to finish. pics. fuzzy, but k-member and suspension back up and in this will need to come back out to be degreased properly before the jeep is able to go back together for final assembly Motor in with trans bolted up. pan is on a 2x4 wood block between axle and oil pan to hold it in position without the hoist. driver side motor mount. I'm thinking that the grand cherokee motor mounts should work out for me. passenger side motor mount The heater hoses will need to be stretched, in the middle, so that the reservoir and heater core can be hooked up and look proper. here is your fan hub clearance. You can NOT use a factory e-fan. I will have to cut the e-fan out of the e-fan only fan shroud, and install one directly on the radiator, with a pusher on the other side. The fan shroud itself will then fit in order to duct air efficiently Power steering gets a little tight but the hoses will all reach and fit with plenty of flex. There's actually too much hose to the U and the cooler, but no big deal Here's how it sits with the v8 in it. Obviously it will drop a bit more with full fluids, driveshaft, exhaust, everything else assembled. I'll be wanting diesel springs, but it didn't drop the height by too much This is where it will sit for a week or so while I finish up the engine replacement on the black 02.

Short update with some teaser pics engine/trans in, trans mounted. Need to think about motor mounts. But mocking up I can see what will and will not fit. The intake manifold on this one is not one that I will be using. I have the appropriate jeep one along with computer etc. from an 02 jeep grand cherokee. This motor still needs the tone rings swapped on the crank, and cleaned up, but I want the mounts and exhaust done before I ever get to that point, so that it's purely a mechanical issue and electrical to finish. pics. fuzzy, but k-member and suspension back up and in this will need to come back out to be degreased properly before the jeep is able to go back together for final assembly Motor in with trans bolted up. pan is on a 2x4 wood block between axle and oil pan to hold it in position without the hoist. driver side motor mount. I'm thinking that the grand cherokee motor mounts should work out for me. passenger side motor mount The heater hoses will need to be stretched, in the middle, so that the reservoir and heater core can be hooked up and look proper. here is your fan hub clearance. You can NOT use a factory e-fan. I will have to cut the e-fan out of the e-fan only fan shroud, and install one directly on the radiator, with a pusher on the other side. The fan shroud itself will then fit in order to duct air efficiently Power steering gets a little tight but the hoses will all reach and fit with plenty of flex. There's actually too much hose to the U and the cooler, but no big deal Here's how it sits with the v8 in it. Obviously it will drop a bit more with full fluids, driveshaft, exhaust, everything else assembled. I'll be wanting diesel springs, but it didn't drop the height by too much This is where it will sit for a week or so while I finish up the engine replacement on the black 02.

more teasers. trans bolted right up. Only thing different is the inspection cover/girdle/reinforcement needs two holes redrilled. That is a v6 manifold bolted to it. ports line up. I'll be using that and the v8 manifold to make one. Found out the composition of the metal, ordered the proper rod for the stick welder so I can do it right. This allows me to use the factory heat shields.

Sweet! I've wanted a lowered MJ for awhile now... Those front brakes look sketchy. If you have 4x4 knuckles floating around, and unit bearings, calipers, and rotors with pads, I have the proper 2wd stub shafts to put in them...

diesel mj's had their battery located on the driver's side, but not dual batteries. the battery tray off of one is ideal to go to dual batteries on an xj, though.

Pics of the new motor for the orange one.

You're going to put enough stress on the transfercase by locking the CAD that that crack is going to turn into a cracked in half transfercase.