mfpdm

So interesting enough, I read this thread last night and since I'm going to get the truck inspected today, I tried the horn this morning and it didn't work. :headpop: I went through most of the things listed above and it still didn't work. :hateputers: Just for laughs, I turned on the ignition and low and behold the horn worked. :clapping: It's 100 degrees outside and I screwed with this for about an hour. I'm about 10 lbs lighter and two shades of red darker. :oops: So question is, is this normal for the horn to only work with the ignition switch on or is there something fubared with this MJ? :cheers:

Well I've been working a little to get this one up to snuff so I can get it inspected. Since the engine flush and the trouble it was having afterwards, I dropped the oil pan and removed all the slugde from it. In the process of doing that, I broke the exhaust pipe at the flange before the cat. :headpop: Took the down pipe from the 88's 2.5 set up and the cat. Had to change the tranny mount to make it work, then cut the pipe down going to the rest of the system to make it all fit right. Pulled the radiator, changed the water pump and thermastat. Also threw in a new belt. Was going to replace the rad with a new one I picked up, but it wouldn't fit without some modification. Tried to put the old one from the 88, but it wouldn't fit due to the slight difference in the front of the 86. Sooo, back in with the old one after flushing it out. I've got a small pinhole leak on the top I have to fix. Put new upper and lower hoses on also new plugs. She is running real good now. Installed a full gauge cluster but swapped the original speedo so I would have the right mileage. Fixed the brake release cable and a few other odds and ends. Installed the under the dash lighting and tried to fix those darn b pillar lights. You'd figure with all the ones I have, I would have a pair that worked. Will hopefully pass inspection tomorrow so I can start driving it around and save some $$ on Gas. :cheers:

I thought you were going to claim the 20 hp boost on the chrome. :D Looks good. :cheers:

Those I don't miss. I lived in a condo in La Mesa and they were all over the place. You always have to look out the window before opening your door as not to get sprayed. I called animal control the first time I saw one in the yard and they :rotf: at me and said welcome to La Mesa. Good luck and the tomato juice thing doesn't work for the smell on dogs. :brows: X2 on the dead skunk thing. :ack:

UCA bushings are the same as the axle bushings. :cheers:

She sounded good until the flush. I should have left the crud, it was keeping it tight. :D I've got another one just like it in the garage with fewer miles but a slight tap in the lower end. If I decide to rebuild, I'll pull the heads on both of them and choose the best looking one.

:bowdown: You got some skills. Can't wait to see whats next. :popcorn: :cheers:

Well I'm in day 19 of the drop bracket hostage crisis. RRO still has not even shipped them. Put the 97+ washer bottle in just so I could get away from the other MJ project thats starting to eat at my time. Here it is. Used Hornbrod's great write up here New Windshield Washer Tank Install I noticed there are slight differences in my firewall compared to his, but his instructions still work perfectly. Here's the hole I cut in. I used a 1" hole saw which is not big enough. A 1 1/4 inch would be perfect I think. Then I used the dremel to make it bigger and to fit the filler tube. View of the tank inplace from below. From the top. I hit the hole with primer and paint than mounted it with two ss screws. Will wire it up later when I get the wiring harness back in.

Did a few things over the holiday weekend. Took the doors apart and put new check stops in them along with new speakers, all the window rubber from an 95 XJ along with the solid vent windows. Also pulled the valve cover to fix the oil leak and ended up cleaning all the sludge out, then running engine flush thru it before changing the gasket and putting fresh oil in it. After it was all back together I ran it for a little while then took a quick trip around the block. It started tapping in the lower end and as I shut it off it overheated. :headpop: Will change out the rad with the new one I picked up before I continue and decide if I want to just go ahead and rebuild the motor or let it nickle and dime me.

It's back. He didn't change the write up but at least this time he started the bid off at 1K. He might get up to the 5K he wanted to start at last time. Ebay listing here :cheers:

Nice find. Very solid foundation to start with. Should be a nice project. No click the pics for ya. :cheers:

You are correct. Well at least the bed was a different color. When cleaning it up I found this, I'm going to decifer the build sheet and find out for sure what it originally was.

Figured I'd go with a MILD theme for this project. Plan is to start with an 86 Comanche X, 2.5, 5 spd, 2wd, and make it a dependable DD first. Once that is done, work on it bit by bit while keeping it on the road. No major wrenching or cash will go into this one. At least that is the plan. :brows: So here we go again. :D She's pretty solid with just some minor surface rust and a ding or two. Underneath is solid but the floorpans will be rusty because of the windows leaking. Motor will need some attention but I'm not sure right now if it's major or minor. First day after bringing it home and cleaning it up a bit. Since the grille and bumpers are chrome, I had a few odds and ends to throw on it. Drip rails and mirrors Will hopefully find a nice set of 2dr XJ buckets at the JY to replace the current ones. I haven't come up with the final plan for this one, but will do what I can until I figure it out.

Cleaned it up today to see what I really had. A little soap and water. Took a full large trash can of junk out of it. Pulled the door panel to swap mirrors and found this, It's the original build sheet. Then I taught I found well, just look. Had me excited for a second. :roll:

My new 86 MJ has that infamous tire carrier adapter. :D

I got it over in Portsmouth, roughly 20 miles away. Was going to tow it with the TJ but it was a little farther than I liked, plus I didn't want to go over the high rise bridge with it in rush hour traffic. Far as turning it over, I figured with a good cleaning and fixing the little things and leaving the motor as is, I could 2X my money. An 86 was not my most desired year, nor white, nor a long bed, but it's starting to grow on me already. Option 5 Drop in a V8 and make it a sleeper street MJ. :brows: (that's if gas doesn't go to $5 a gallon)

Never once did I have to visit the Great Lakes. Being a Ping Jockey, all my training was in San Diego. Winters are great there. :D I'll keep you in mind if it comes down to number 4.

:laughin: Not sure, but I would say it's had a southern life without salt. I thinking with gas prices, it will stay a 4cyl.

Yeah the spare motor thought was what I was thinking when I found out it was a 2.5. Believe it or not, I don't think there is anything seriously wrong with the one in it. It sounded better than the one out of the 88. Far as plans, right now I thinking of a couple of options, 1 Kept it stock, fix the motor, and DD it. 2 Same as one, except maybe sell it for a bit of a profit to put into the 88. 3 Same as one, but after the 88 is done, do a 97+ front and interior swap. 4 Part it out and make a small amount of profit. (don't believe this will happen) :cheers:

I was surfing craiglist at work and stubbled across a listing for a 86 MJ for $500 OBO. Picture looked ok and had a problem with the engine. I figure what the hell I'll call on it. After talking with him and setting up a time to look at it, I developed the shakes and a cold sweat. Couldn't stay focus on work and noticed the clock was going very slow. Well I finally got off work and went to look at it. Well long story short, look what followed me home. 86 Comanche X, 2wd, 2.5 4 cyl, 5 spd, AC, D35, and bucket seats. Needs some TLC but the body is rust free with the exception of surface rust on the bed rails and taligate due to the camper shell. Interior needs cleaned up. I couldn't believe the engine bay was so clean. So I decided to throw the battery in and give it a try. Fired right up but was running a little rough. Then I noticed that one of the plug wires was off. Hooked it up and fired it up again to hear it run smooth. AC clutch is making some noise. So I said what the heck and took it for a little test drive. Shifted smooth, and had decent power. It started to smoke a little so back into the driveway. It's started blowing oil around the valve cover. I'll give it a good going over this weekend and see if there is truely something wrong with the engine. Anyhow I figured it wasn't bad for $300. :brows: Is there a pill for this addiction? :cheers:

It looked to me that they just were offering the parts that you would need to install the factory air components. :dunno:

They should if they are both out of MJ's. The different tank sizes in gallons only effect the length of the tanks but the height is the same. Someone chime in if I'm wrong. :cheers:

Yep, just did this on my project build. Replaced the 2.5 pump on my 88 with a 4.0 pump off an 89 xj. Just had to bend a little tab on the 4.0's top bracket to make it fit flush on the sending unit. :cheers:

She'll get over it. Tell her it's better on gas. :brows: If you get it here is the complete header for it on ebay for cheap and the right color. Click me :cheers:

Nice write up and history lesson. That wouldn't be the one that was on ebay just recently was it. I was considering it but did not know enough about them. Missed another great deal due to my ignorance. :dunce: