dlee Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Hi guys, glad I found this forum, lot's of great info here!! Long story short, I have a 1987 MJ base, shortbed, 4.0, 2wd, manual, in great shape and minimal rust, with a bad engine. I also have a 1991 XJ Laredo 4.0 HO, 4x4 w/ a fresh engine. At the minimum, I want to put fresh paint, freshen the interior, and odds and ends on the MJ, keeping it mostly stock. With these in this shape harder and harder to find, how would putting in the HO engine, AW4, and 4x4 driveline from the XJ affect the value and "resellability" of this truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Wouldn't change the reliability or the value at all, if any. The only value you would get from the swap would be the value gained by having 4x4. You would get a few more ponies out of it being an HO, but you would also lose some MPG's. Renix engines run a bit leaner than HO's. I would say that if you want to keep it, restore it like you want to, make it 4x4, keep the Renix. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlee Posted January 30, 2012 Author Share Posted January 30, 2012 That's what I wanted to hear! Can't wait to get started on this thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I actually wanted to start a thread on this subject. I find in disheartening that too many guys turn their trucks into what I call trailtrash (yeah I know I'll get a load of crap for that comment). But anyway...... Yeah restore it and keep it stock. As you know or may not know the Dakota and Ranger are out of production and the amount of trucks being scraped is amazing to me. The used midsized truck market is becoming scarce of good roadworthy older trucks. Also take a look at the new Obummer cafe standards going into effect 2014/15, some of the blame for the loss of midsized trucks. Bring it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boardmanMJ Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 its always nice to see a stock MJ rolling around, especially one with minimal rust is fantastic. I say restore it! Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 You can still do a resto mod, restore the outward appearance and upgrade underneath where you can to gain performance or reliability. Like doing a WJ or 96XJ brake booster upgrade. Upgrading the front brakes with WJ knuckles, rotors and calipers. Putting in a V8 ZJ front sway bar. Electric cooling fan upgrades. If you have a 4.0 you can swap injectors for some ford style injectors for better atomization and efficiency. Swapping the dana 35 out for a ford 8.8 with disc brakes and a limited slip.... these are all things you can do to improve your truck without going all out custom while keeping the appearnace of a stock truck. I'm sure there are many more things you can do too. Just look through the DIY writeups and go to town. I'm doing my truck a similar way. Small lift, added AC, PS, PW, PL, clock, lighter... stuff like that, most of which can be had from a cherokee. A wheel swap for a cherokee is good too... you keep it jeep, but get better wheels. It all depends on what you like. Let us know what you come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I find in disheartening that too many guys turn their trucks into what I call trailtrash (yeah I know I'll get a load of crap for that comment). Bring it back. +1 My feelings, too. I have been looking at CJ on the 'net and just about all of them do not resemble what rolled out of the factory. Call me a purest, but I like stock vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlee Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Finally got this thing to the house, bought it from my grandad, who had it in a barn for about 10 years. He bought it from my cousin who blew the engine years ago and never got around to fixing it. Factory buckets with the black interior, in perfect shape other than the drivers seat. Truck has 109,000K Miles!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boardmanMJ Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 if its a factory black interior i would restore it back to the stock look but like mentioned before, do some upgrade to make it handle/perform better. Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleydog Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I bought my 89 long bed sight unseen as a flood victim, Then spent 2 years turning it into trail trash. It makes a great trail rig, but many times when I'm driving it to work, I wish it was just a nice clean, almost stock truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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