JeeperjohnfromPA

Thanks for the advice Rob. I figured I'd have to get in there somehow with a powerwasher, just not sure how much I like the idea of spraying water in there. I had a rust out hole in the passenger side frame just near the back of the cab. I shoved the tube end of my shop vac in there as far as it would go, and sucked out alot of stuff. Sheesh the ammount of crap that was in there, even sucked out an old mummified mouse! It just makes me nervous that the frame is rusting from the inside out.... I think I might take an old coat hanger, and make a tool of it, so as to get inside the frame and just scratch arround and loosen up all the solidified dirt/rust/crap. Then I'm gonna get an air compressor and blow out what I can, and vacuum out also. I just don't think a power washer is going to get into all those hard to reach spots. I like the tap on it with a Hammer Idea Rob, seems to make sense,,, There are 6 spots where the frame has rusted through. Two of these spots are big enough that I can shove the plastic tube from my shop vac in them, the other 4 spots are smaller. Funny thing though the two biggest spots have solid/strong frame arround them. Two spots where the holes aren't so big, are near the rear shock absorber mounts, (both sides on top mount), and arround them on the inner side of the frame the metal seems realy weak. I think I'll cut away some of that metal, ( I'm gonna reinforce it anyway, right?), just to get a better look inside and get more access to inside the frame to clean it out and rust proof it. This old MJ is getting a new lease on life, and I think it knows it. It was hard to start when I looked at it originaly. It was hard to start when the guy came and delivered it. But now after some attention, it starts right up, and idles nicely at about 6-7hundred RPM. I went to remove the bracket that holds where the three parking brake cables all hook together. The screws where so rusted, I hit them with the liquid wrench a few times, took me alomost a whole hour, but I slowly worked them out without snapping the bolts. loosen a little, tighten a little, spray a little liquid wrench, and repeat the process, finaly got them out.. I realy want to get this beast on the road by this Fall, so I'm going gang busters when I get the free moments to work on it,,,, However I don't want to get lazy on important things, somethings I can comeback next year and make better, somethings must be done correctly the first time arround,,,,,, I think the frame falls into the do it right the first time arround,,,,,,,,

Ok, Well so far I've pull out the seats, carpets and most of the interior panels, POR15 the inside of the cab. Now started working on the rust from underneath. While doing so I dropped the gas tank so I could get on the frame, This tank doesn't look so bad. I was thinking of painting it while I've got it out. My real question is this, I've noticed some rust through in the Frame. I was thinking of welding some 'braces' to 'sure-up' some spots. However seems that inside the frame there is dirt, (from the PO(s), four wheeling it, no doubt), and quite a bit of rust internaly on the frame in spots. I'm wondering what can be done to the inside of the frames where you can't realy see, to stop the rust in there. I was thinking of cleaning it as best I can, then a rust inhibitor and spray in some Rustoleum or POR15 type stuff. Anyone have any suggestions?

That little gizmo on the side that you say was from an old CB antenea, looks just like the stock antenea mount on my old CJ-8 and the one that was on the YJ's. :smart: JUST FYI

I'm gonna have an extra one shortly, If you realy want it, I'll let ya have it for the shipping cost. You would need to figure out it's actual wiring, if your MJ isn't already wired for it. Honestly, I don't think it realy makes a awhole lotta difference, from what I'm hearing. I got one out of an 88 XJ wagoneer with the switch for the rear windshield wiper. Was gonna swap it out with my current switch, and wire the wiper switch for some snow plow lights. So your welcome to have it.

Went to Harrys Upull it Junk yard the otherday, got some goodies. I found a 88 XJ wagoneer that had the same color interior. It was missing the headliner :mad: which I realy need, but I got some other goodeis. I installed the full gauge package, tach seems to work nicely. The gas gauge reads full which is wrong, but My old gauge didn't work right either, so it must be something at the tank or in the wires. I picked up lock cylinders for the doors and the glove box, installed them pretty easily, now I can lock it up. :brows: I replace the sticky throttle cable. I also picked up a center console and some other odds and ends for the interior, which won't get installed for quite awhile. Finding out more things I need every day, so a Harrys return trip is due,,,, :brows: Say I need to weld some pieces into my floor, can anyone recomend a good welder? People are telling me get a Mig welder but, I'm not sure,,,

Reconnected a few wires under the dash and tested it today, seems to work well. The Gas gauge doesn't work correctly. Gas gauge reads a full tank, The old gas gauge read 3/4 tank. I suspect there is something in the wiring at the fuel tank, float/sender that is the problem. I'll have to look into that further.

I ment to say I didn't test it. as there are to many disconnected wires under the dash at the moment.

Yeah, I love Harrys I went to the one in Hazelton PA, Didn't see any MJ's this time. Plenty of XJs from all years though. I looked at about 8 or 9 till I found the one with the full gauge package. It was a 1988 Cherokee Wagoneer. It had the same color interior as my MJ. :yes: I didn't look much further then that. I pulled most everything I was after off that. I'm sure I'll discover more stuff I need or want as I do more work on this MJ. But between the floors/rocker panel, rear brakes, and now all of these goodies, I'll be busy for a bit. Next time I go, I'm gonna leave earlier in the morning and scout out the place better. The Wagoneer I found had the same color interior but it was missing the headliner. :cry: Gonna have to keep my eye open for one, Mines got a big rip in it. Also I've never even driven this MJ, well I did drive it arround a parking lot, but I've never had it out on the road. Nor have I realy looked under the hood too much yet, :ack: well, I did manage to get the gauge cluster in tonight, the speedo cable was diffrent but I just swapped out the speedometer and should be good. did test it, to many wires disconnected under the dash at the moment. Got my fingers crossed. 8)

Just Got back from the U-Pull-It yard. Found my self a full gauge cluster off a 88 XJ wagoneer. and the instrument cluster bezel, also got some extra switchs from the dashboard, Picked up the center console, The passengers visor with lighted vanity mirror. Lock cylinders for the doors and the Glovebox,, bottom piece of the dashboard,(has all the lights and speakers too.). a chrome handle for the drivers door. I picked up a motorized seat bracket, for drivers side, just to see what modifications would be needed to actualy make it work. I'd go put the gauges in now, but it's just starting to rain. John

ha! The one part on the bottom is still there. its a got a nice coat of rust and some shoddeness! :cry: I figure I'm gonna have to squirt some POR up in there somehow, and also weld some reinforcemnts to a couple spots on the frame. Anyone want to recomend a welder? Some one at work mentioned a MIG welder. I don't remember much about welding sfrom High School shop class. :roll: But I'll figure it out quick enough on some scrap before I actualy weld anything ;) I'm gonna go out to it now, with a cold beer and work on the floor pieces. :cheers:

Oh I picked up the parking brake cables, (all 3), at NAPA the otherday, total cost after tax was $45.40 Not Bad. I wanted to order brake shoes for the rear drums, the guy there asked me if they were 1.75" or 2.5" wide. I didn't know so I would have to check, I checked and mine are the 1.75" wide shoes. now I've just got the D35 Rear, so I'm asuming that the D44 is the 2.5" shoes? this might be anotherway that people could ID the rear axle, by checking the brake shoes. Anyhow something to know before you go to order brake shoes,,,,

Awesome. Thanks, I'm gonna get me one tommorow at Harrys Upull it! (I hope).

OK cool that worked, now need to get a good picture of my ole CJ8 scanned in and reduced for Avatar purposes.

yes you uploaded the picture correctly. Now lets see if I changed my avatar correctly.

I have a 87 MJ pioneer, it has an almost full gauge cluster, everything but the tachometer. Can I just swap in a Full gauge cluster with a Tachometer? I have a 4.0 with an automatic, assuming the gauge cluster is from a cherokee with the same motor and trans should just splap right in yes?

I thought I was pretty bad off with the floor boards and rockers on my 87! Good luck, sounds like you got a good game plan figured out.!

Opps here's the picture of the dashboard, I forgot to mention I'm the king of TYPOS's hehhe Hers another picture This MJ is the Pioneer version, has a 4sp automatic floorshift, 4wheel drive. longbed. I just purchased a 1987 Jeep trucks sales brochure on Ebay, I just wanted it so I could find out more about this specific model/year. It's realy pretty cool. and who would have thought that this maroon interior is realy called Cordovan!?

Ok so maybe they aren't the best quality pictures, but you'll get the iea. Here it sits in the driveway The PO painted over most of the chrome trim. :cry: Gauges are alreay wired for Oil presure, alt, etc, just need to get the gauge cluster with a Tach. The passengers floor and Drivers floor have ROT! I plan on cleaning it up, hitting it with the POR15, then welding in some patches. I found some decent metal to work with from a HVAC shop's scrap metal pile, and am fabricating some pieces from that. The Rocker panel on the passenegr side is REALY shot I'll have to order a piece to patch that up. Well, I'm planing a trip to a nearby U-PULL-IT yard this weekend. I've got a whole little wish list made up. I'll get some more pictures up once I make some real progress.

That was nice, and just in time for me. I just picked up a full gauge cluster at my favorite U-Pullit yard. It's from a 88 XJ to put into my 87 Mj. Mines slightly different being that I have all the gauges already except the tach. but the bit about reseting the speedometer was nice, My MJ is happy!

The 2001 XJ is VERY NICE, I wish it were mine, but my wife needs a good vehicle, and I couldn't think of anything better for her and my two Boys to be in, (well nothing she could drive and we could afford) :brows: As for trying all the Jeeps, I never tried one of those old Kaiser J series, (I love the way they look). Nor did I ever have one of the old Grand Wagoneers, (like those too) I will say though that my CJ8(scrambler) was one hell of an of an off road vehicle. I Drove that ole CJ through more swamp/rock/mud/woods/streams/sand then any stock CJ should have been asked to. The Floor boards in that ole Scrambler were pretty rusted out by the time I was done with it, AND if Rusted floor boards are any indication of a Good Fourwheeler, well then this old MJ is sure to be one hell of a beast! I promis some pictures soon, so please to beat me !

Hi, My Name is John and I'm addicted to Jeeps. I had a 1981 CJ-8 (scrambler), which I purchased used in 1985, and sold in 1989. :nuts: I miss that old CJ! In 1991 I bought myself a brand new Wrangler, which is still my daily driver, and snow plows in the winter! (has over 257,000 miles on it!) :eek: Then in 2002 my wife and I bought a 2001 Cherokee, limited, (power everything) :brows: Arround 2004 I bought a beat up ole 1993 wrangler, (5spd, 2.5L hard top & doors), for $900 drove it for a year, then it developed problems. :mad: I just traded that 1993 wrangler for a 1987 Comanche pioneer longbed. :D The wrangler had a bad 3-4syncro, no exhaust, and the brakelines were shot! The Comanche has the usual rust problem(s) in the floor(s) and Rocker Panels, has a sticky throttle cable, needs new brake lines for the rear brakes, and needs new parking brake cable(s). Of course thats the obvious stuff. I'll get some pictures here for you all next week. I've ordered some POR off of Ebay, I've already taken the seats, carpet and most of the interior panels out of the MJ so I can get the floor/rockers fixed. The Bed has a few dings and dents, but no rust, (least nothing major). My plans for this truck are to just fix it up and keep it running. No major modifications for fourwheeling, ( I got thoses YaYas out in the CJ8 and my Wrangler). This Truck will be used as a work truck, a daily driver, and may even see a snowplow mounted to it. I'll need to aquire some comanche specific parts, but I've got a pretty good U-PULL-IT junkyard near me. I've been there several times looking for Parts for my Wranglers, and have always seen lots of Cherokees from various years. and even saw a comanche there once, and old J series Pickups on more then one occasion. Some things I need are the smaller center console, and one of the side interior lights. But I'm not so concerned with those right now, as they are more cosmetic. But I might be bugging some of you guys who have spares to Hook me up! So anyhow, just wanted to introduce myself and my jeeps. :USAflag: