Drive-train swap?

[rjinga]

Hey everyone,

 

Ok, don't tear me a new one if this has already been discussed to death, but I'm not mechanically inclined and this is for my youngest son. I think I'm asking about a drive-train swap. Here's the deal: a neighbor has a white '88 Olympic edition short-bed that my son has wanted for half his life (he's 14). The problem is the truck has set up for years, and when my neighbor finally took it to the shop, the mechanic says the pistons are frozen and the 4WD and the brakes are "messed up". In other words, my neighbor is just thinking of selling literally for scrap.

 

Question - is it feasible, affordable, practical to jack up the body and slide a working engine, drive-train, etc up underneath it? If so, what's a fair price for the truck as is (assume that the body, interior is in good/very good condition), and how much might the swap cost?

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

[mnkyboy]

Not quite as simple as that but yes you could swap in new stuff,the easiest thing would be to buy a Cherokee and swap everything to the truck.

 

If the pistons are frozen the engine doesn't run so how do they know if the 4x4 stuff is messed up?

[rjinga]

If the pistons are frozen the engine doesn't run so how do they know if the 4x4 stuff is messed up?

 

I wondered that myself. My neighbor is like an adopted granddad to my boys, but when I was asked him for details about the jeep he acted kind of odd. I couldn't tell if he was being evasive or was just upset because my son wouldn't be able to get the truck (we would have bought it from him, of course).

[MiNi Beast]

ok first off if don't know MJs are unibody front ends so only part of body you can jack up is the bed. but if nothing else what engine is in it? I good shaped no rust Mj to me is worth $1000 running with 4wd and a 4.0. if can wants to just scrap it then I say a fair price be $350-$450 range and this depends as in if it is a 2.5 or 4.0 etc... and if you are not very wrench capable then may need some help with doing a drivetrain swap. but as mention a doner rig makes things easier. But being 14 I think it would be a great thing to get him into. just tell him if he wants a car to drive then he better fix it so he can. :yes: be a good healthy hobby for him and teach him responsibility, which is why I assume your asking, so in long words, I personally think it is worth it, but I own a MJ and is kinda partial. :shake:

[HOrnbrod]

Hey everyone,

 

Ok, don't tear me a new one if this has already been discussed to death, but I'm not mechanically inclined and this is for my youngest son. I think I'm asking about a drive-train swap. Here's the deal: a neighbor has a white '88 Olympic edition short-bed that my son has wanted for half his life (he's 14). The problem is the truck has set up for years, and when my neighbor finally took it to the shop, the mechanic says the pistons are frozen and the 4WD and the brakes are "messed up". In other words, my neighbor is just thinking of selling literally for scrap.

 

Question - is it feasible, affordable, practical to jack up the body and slide a working engine, drive-train, etc up underneath it? If so, what's a fair price for the truck as is (assume that the body, interior is in good/very good condition), and how much might the swap cost?

 

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Need more info. Where are you located? How was the 88 stored i.e. out in the weather, barn, garage, indoors? Some pics would help. The Olympic Edition MJ is not a classic, but even though it was just a trim package, it's much more desirable than an ordinary 88. "Assume that the body, interior is in good/very good condition", what does that mean? Is it? Can't really answer intelligently until some pics are posted. :cheers:

[mnkyboy]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28102&p=283621#p283621

[rjinga]

Need more info. Where are you located? How was the 88 stored i.e. out in the weather, barn, garage, indoors? Some pics would help. The Olympic Edition MJ is not a classic, but even though it was just a trim package, it's much more desirable than an ordinary 88. "Assume that the body, interior is in good/very good condition", what does that mean? Is it? Can't really answer intelligently until some pics are posted. :cheers:

 

It's located in N.E. Georgia. It was outside for 2-4 years (I think) and then in a garage for 4 or 5. There is what appears to be a little surface rust on the top of the cab. I'll gladly post pics if someone will tell me how to do it (apparently I'm not a computer whiz either).

[MiNi Beast]

[HOrnbrod]

Thanks mnkyboy, wasn't aware of the previous thread. It's in NE GA, just down the road a bit from me, so not a northern rust bucket - which is good. Even though, if it's been stored for that many years w/o any preservation, there will be a lot of work to get it roadworthy, especially on the mechanicals as I'm sure you know. It's all very doable especially if it still looks like the single pic I see, and it all depends how much you can get it for. The mechanicals are easy; it looks like an excellent platform you have work from if the interior is decent. Me, if the guy wants scrap price, I'd pay no more than $200-$300 over that tops for it, then do an assessment of the drive train. If shot, probably is, pick up a donor 91+ HO wrecked XJ and swap it all in. Would be a good project.

[rjinga]

Did this work?

 

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[rjinga]

The mechanicals are easy; it looks like an excellent platform you have work from if the interior is decent. Me, if the guy wants scrap price, I'd pay no more than $200-$300 over that tops for it, then do an assessment of the drive train. If shot, probably is, pick up a donor 91+ HO wrecked XJ and swap it all in. Would be a good project.

 

The interior is in good shape. Another newbie question - what does "HO" mean?

[NewfieMJ]

That's a nice looking truck and in good shape for sure .$1800 seems high from the mechanical POV

 

HO=High Output . Basic difference was the fuel injection . TB(throttle body) changed to MPFI(multi-port fuel inj.)

[HOrnbrod]

Here's your photos:

 

 

HO = 91+ XJ/MJ Mopar system vs. the craptacular Renix system, 1990 and below. Lots of posts in the forum detailing the differences, do a search, the HO is an upgrade. Only IF you do have to do a drive train swap, swap to the HO. If after your analysis the engine is okay, and can be salvaged, do it and retain the Renix system. It will be easier.

 

BTW, that rig looks definitely worth salvaging for sure mate. :cheers:

[mnkyboy]

That's a nice looking truck and in good shape for sure .$1800 seems high from the mechanical POV

 

HO=High Output . Basic difference was the fuel injection . TB(throttle body) changed to MPFI(multi-port fuel inj.)

 

This is wrong,there is no 4.0l with TBI

[rjinga]

Thanks for all the input so far guys. Now, assuming that we don't do any of the major mechanic work ourselves, what kind of price range are we talking to swap the engine and drive-train? Under/over $2K? Over 3K?

[Eagle]

Thanks for all the input so far guys. Now, assuming that we don't do any of the major mechanic work ourselves, what kind of price range are we talking to swap the engine and drive-train? Under/over $2K? Over 3K?

It depends.

 

First off, to keep it simple you do NOT want to look for a swap to an HO. That involves the entire under-hood electrical system, the ECU (computer), different injection, different manifolds -- virtually everything. The 1987 thru 1990 4.0L is a good, solid engine so there's no reason to do anything other than just replace the engine.

 

If you buy a commercial rebuilt engine, such as a Jasper, you're easily looking at $2500 or more. However, if you find a running junkyard engine, you might get the engine for a couple of hundred dollars, and then pay for the labor to swap it in. You don't "jack up" anything to do an engine swap in these trucks. You remove the hood, the grille and the radiator, and slide the old engine out to the front. The "new" engine goes in the same way.

[NewfieMJ]

That's a nice looking truck and in good shape for sure .$1800 seems high from the mechanical POV

 

HO=High Output . Basic difference was the fuel injection . TB(throttle body) changed to MPFI(multi-port fuel inj.)

 

This is wrong,there is no 4.0l with TBI

 

I thought the old Renix systems were TB , my mistake .

 

Amen Eagle , there's no way 17 hp is worth the work in this case

[rjinga]

 

The phrase "jack it up and slide in..." was just a joke. What I meant was put the existing body on a working drive-train, etc.

[mnkyboy]

Only the renix 2.5l was TBI.

 

I agree its not worth the work to do a HO swap especially if you can't do the swap yourself.

[meljr]

That's a nice looking truck and in good shape for sure .$1800 seems high from the mechanical POV

 

HO=High Output . Basic difference was the fuel injection . TB(throttle body) changed to MPFI(multi-port fuel inj.)

 

This is wrong,there is no 4.0l with TBI

 

I thought the old Renix systems were TB , my mistake .

...

I may have been making the same mistake as I have been trying to identify the engine/transmission in my newly purchased 89 MJ. A PO obviously did a lot of work mechanically on the truck and when I saw what looked like six injectors along the fuel rail, I assumed it had a HO/AX-15 swap. Since the truck has what feels like a miss under load, it would make trouble shooting the problem much easier if I knew this setup belonged on my 89 from the git-go.

[tugalo]

If the de facto grandfather will sell it for scrap price, the current price here in Toccoa, Ga. is $13.00 per hundred pounds. A jeep cherokee weighs 3084 lbs, and the truck should be about the same. No matter what is wrong with the truck, you can't go wrong buying it at scrap price. the tail lights alone are worth 75.00 to 100.00.

I would find another mechanic.....no one can tell that the 4x4 is messed up without the engine running and the truck drivable. I also do not believe that the pistons are seized since it was stored inside.

It would make a GREAT learning experience for your son, and the total, (with junkyard parts) should run less than $1500. Just make sure you stay away from Atlanta and Atlanta prices.....