bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I have an 89 base mj 2wd 4.0 regular bed I found an 88 Pioneer xj 4x4 4.0 4dr both are 5 sp. but i don't know if his is peugotI or ax. Is it possible to switch either the bodies or the drive trains? the reason i ask that is because i havent decided which way i'd like to do it. What other problems may i face with this conversion? and can i avoid more problems going one way or the other? (bodies or drivetrains) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 You realize that MJs and XJs are unibody,your gonna have to swap drivetrain. the XJ should have BA10/5 transmission Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Are the frames the same? if you can get the bodies off the frame then why couldn't you put one on the other? Trying not to be hateful... just a question :dunno: what do you mean by unibody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Unibody means the frame and body are one,you cannot remove one from the other. And the "frame" of and XJ and MJ is very different so they wouldn't swap anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 Got it :D so are there any major problems in the swapping of the drivetrain? I'm probably going to keep my engine and rear axle unless he has something better, i have a dana 35 but i bet the xj has the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Standard auto construction is generally frame-body construction. The frame is one complete assembly and the body is another complete assembly. They are attached to each other using bolts and duct tape. Unibody is when the pieces are welded together forming one single solid piece. Also the wheel bases are different length. Yes, it could be done. That is why we have cutting torches, sawzalls and welders. But frankly I wouldn't see any point to it. Just get the body style you want and go with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 All MJ_XJ drive train parts are identical with the exception of the rear axle. The axle assembly is the same but the mounting is different. The XJ springs mount on top of the housing and the MJ mounts under the housing. They can be swapped by changing the perches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 my only goal is to turn my 2WD MJ into a 4X4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Both trucks should have crappy 3.07 gears so you should be able to use your axle. I wouldn't bother with the XJ rear axle unless it has a D44 or your rear ratio doesn't match the XJ front,they should have the same gears but you never know for sure till you check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 ok, i can do that if necessary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Easy conversion. Put the front axle, transmission and transfer case from the donor XJ into your MJ. I'm not sure about drive shaft length -- the XJ drive shaft won't be long enough, and the MJ drive shaft might be too long so you may need to have it shortened. But the 2WD tranny has a long tailshaft, so there's a possibility the driveshaft might be okay. Save the XJ rear axle as a spare in case your D35 blow up. If nothing else, you'll have spare shafts and brake drums. BTW, the XJ Pioneer will have gauges instead of idiot lights, so you can swap the gauge cluster into your MJ, too. And the 3-spoke sport steering wheel. And the fancier "hockey stick" armrests. What does your MJ have for side-view mirrors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 this is the current set up in my mj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 and my mirrors are in the front corner of the glass, there's a pic of them on my build page in my signature. :wrench: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 this is the current set up in my mj Either your MJ is not a base model, as you described it, or a previous owner did some upgrades. That's a Pioneer of Chief steering wheel and gauge cluster with optional tach, and the mirrors at the front corners of the vent windows were not standard on the base model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 will the vin number tell me what it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The vin, when read correctly, will only tell you what was supposed to come stock in the truck. If someone else has been adding upgrades its going to be hard to figure out what piece came from where. unless you can find and check part numbers on each individual piece. but alot of it is going to be personal taste things. steering wheel and gauge cluster doesnt matter where they came from as long as they work and you like them, same with axels, transmissions, engine, etc. If it doesnt work or you don't like the look or performance of something, change it. It's your truck, no matter what anyone else says its all about what you like and what makes you happy. You own it, do whatever you want to do to it so long as you love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The VIN will tell you if it's a base model, Pioneer, Chief, etc. And that will tell you if the gauges were stock. The base model had idiot lights, the Pioneer and Chief had gauges (although the tachomoeter was an available option, not standard). The base model also had the black "station wagon" steering wheel, and the Pioneer and Chief had the 3-spoke sport wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomline89 Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 i looked it up, its actually a pioneer :D , with the optional tachometer, nothings been modified really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddzz1 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 The VIN will tell you if it's a base model, Pioneer, Chief, etc. And that will tell you if the gauges were stock. The base model had idiot lights, the Pioneer and Chief had gauges (although the tachomoeter was an available option, not standard). The base model also had the black "station wagon" steering wheel, and the Pioneer and Chief had the 3-spoke sport wheel. My pioneer had idiot lights, but it does have the 3 spoke wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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