What would YOU do with a 31k mile 89 MJ? (build?restore?)

[Pete M]

any old MJ can be used for that. The OP was excited that it was a low mileage truck. you only get that once. If that's not important to the owner, he can do whatever he likes. If it is important, then i don't suggest making drastic changes. Whatever it may or may not be worth, low mileage survivors are rare.

[jpnjim]

Thanks for all the replies so far :cheers:

 

I finally got around to giving it a bath, and dropping the paperwork off at my insurance co today.

 

I pulled the rotten piece of plywood off the bed, and what was underneath looked close to perfect (tho dirty).

The clearcoat on the top edges of the bedsides is gone, but surprisingly, the hood looks great.

 

The roof section has by far the worst paint.

At least I could spray that separately if needed.

 

The tranny in 'her' ZJ went yesterday, so this could end up being my short term DD, until I can get her something else. :ack:

Not what I want to do with snow still everywhere.

 

Still haven't snapped any pics, or cleaned out the interior, hope I'll have time on Sunday.

[jpnjim]

Welp,

 

I did NOT get this registered yesterday.

 

 

Seems the date on the title was filled out as '09, instead of '10 (neither I, nor my insurance guy even noticed)

So, according to the registry, that would have made the sale more than a year ago, and void now :doh:

 

I have a notorized letter of correction from the seller now,

so I should be able to register it Monday AM.

[CWLONGSHOT]

Remember my troubles regestering my trailer last year? I FEEL YOU PAIN!!! :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

 

CW

[mfpdm]

I've been burnt a couple of times due to similar things. I now watch people like a hawk when signing over the title.

 

Oh, and my earlier post was in no way meant to pull away from the value of the gem you have found.

 

:cheers:

[misterroadman]

well i say drop a HEMI KIT in her , slam it just a little keep the exterior stock image and pull up to those little punks with the Honda's at a stop light and show everybody that jeeps are much more than off roaders!!! After all, you already have a 4x4 right. well just a thought..

[jpnjim]

For what I'm gonna use it for (street transportation, maybe a little towing),

a V8 swap would be

 

 

 

but it's not gonna happen. :D

 

 

I've been driving it for a few days now, and am pretty sure the direction I'm going to go with it.

I probably should start a build thread, but this is already the second thread on this one MJ, so I'm going to hold back till I get a little further on it.

 

 

Grandpa Jeep in all it's glory:

 

 

 

I swapped on some stock 30" TJ wheels & tires to replaced the dryrotted originals (I actually swapped tires again since this pic, hopefully I'll snap some of those today).

 

I've been daily driving it since the GF's ZJ is down for the moment (tranny S.T.B. :roll: )

but it needs a little more attention before it's really a decent DD (radio not working, no bed storage yet, need to do plugs/wires & the rest of the fluids, etc).

 

 

I will say it's the quietest MJ I ever owned,

zero wind noise on the highway, and the quietest muffler of any Jeep I owned (even her ZJ).

 

I removed the ft mudflaps (all good Grandpa Jeeps should have mudflaps at every wheel), changed the oil, filled the antifreeze, tossed out the rotted piece of plywood in the bed, and added a plastic bedliner (had the side effect of covering up the dead clearcoat on the top edges of the bed).

 

I also swapped the Canyon wheels in the pics for some factory 15x6 steelies, painted olive drab, with newer center caps & 235/75's.

They actually look pretty good (I'm not sure why, but I do not like Canyons on XJ/MJ's :nuts: ).

 

So here it is in all it's granpa-ish glory:

 

 

 

 

Plans include:

new (84-96 factory) ft bumper & caps

97-01 mirrors (one of the few 'mods' planned)

decent receiver hitch (haven't seen any 5k lb rated ones tho :???: )

straighten out rear bumper (may have to patch in some obvious 'pushing' dents)

tool box for rear (I'm leaning towards using a Weatherguard side box I already have)

clean up paint & exterior where possible (flares were repainted for some reason, and paint is cracked & checkerboarded)

pull rug & POR-15

Keep my eye out for an MJ D44

& enjoy driving a 31k mile MJ. :thumbsup: :banana:

[freakjeep93]

i like the look of the canyons but myself i like the factory "jeep "alloys that came on mjs. but that looks good man . any sighn of rust?

[jpnjim]

i like the look of the canyons but myself i like the factory "jeep "alloys that came on mjs. but that looks good man . any sighn of rust?

 

I wouldn't say 'no' signs of rust,

there was some bubbling started on one of the lower edges of the bed,

looked like there could've been a repaint in that spot at some point (some trace evidence of bondo).

The floors look great from below, but that doesn't mean a whole lot.

 

As much as I'd like to go through it with a fine tooth comb, and find/kill every trace of rust,

with 'her' ZJ being down, it's 'function first' for the moment.

 

That means getting it mechanically trustworthy (so far it seems to be), and letting rust-chasing be an issue for when there's less snow in the driveway, and more time to play with it.

 

I'm still not sure what I'll end up with for wheels,

stock Pioneer wheels were the steel 6 spokes, with the 10 spoke alloy's being optional.

I've run both these wheels in the past, but don't really want to run either on this Jeep.

 

Eliminator wheels would be nice, and period correct (tho not actually available on a Pioneer),

but I doubt I'll find a nice set with decent clear coat.

 

There are some newer wheels I like:

5.9L wheels look great on anything :yes:, as do Rubi's,

and they might look decent with the newer mirrors I'm planning

(I forgot how bad the old mirrors were :ack: ).

[freakjeep93]

decisions eh?

[jpnjim]

I shouldn't post anything else w/o pics, but it's dark, and I'm wet from playing in the rain, so some typed words will have to suffice for now.

 

 

The fuse was pulled on the radio circuit feeding the stock radio (am/fm only, but says JEEP on it).

I replaced the fuse, and the radio would light up, but shut off once you turned up the volume.

 

I'm amazed no one ever tried to replace it/butcher in an aftermarket one.

 

So I dug through 15 years of hoarded Jeep parts, and 'found' a mint perfect JEEP Hi-power stereo cassette player :banana: .

 

Unplugged the stock uncut harness from the broken one, and the new one plugged in & worked perfect,

even pulls in some stations my stock 98' XJ radio doesn't

 

The stock speakers even sound decent for being 21 years old, and low end components even when new.

 

 

 

I fought with a bead leak on one of my 'new' wheels.

After dismounting it twice, I ended up hitting it with a flap wheel, and a new coat of paint to finally get the tire to seal.

 

 

I also mounted up the Weatherguard side box,

looks OK, but I'm not bowled over by it.

 

That's it,

hopefully it'll be clear enough out tomorrow to snap some decent pics, and I'll start a build thread in the forum it actually belongs in (sorry mods :D )

[Automan2164]

Is that plate legit?

 

Rob L. :dunno:

[jpnjim]

Is that plate legit?

 

Rob L. :dunno:

 

:D

 

Naw, just a little creative 'paint' work. :yes:

 

 

I think I got a few with the 'DOO OOD' plate in my bumper build thread too ;)

[freakjeep93]

its not ilegal to do that to a plate? it wouold be around here

[jpnjim]

its not ilegal to do that to a plate? it wouold be around here

 

'Paint', as in that ancient MS program to alter pictures. :smart:

 

Guess I should've said photo-chopped. :thumbsup:

 

 

Edit:

I just checked, and BOTH "XXX XXX" and "DOO OOD" are available in Mass.

 

(tho I'd rather keep a low profile, so I won't be ordering either ;) )

[EastCoast D]

#4 is the only way