Biotex Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I was at the auto parts store the other day, and saw a fellow jeeper (YJ) with the hood up and a bunch of tools scattered about. As I was leaving I swung by and asked if he needed assistance. So turns out he was not getting fuel as evidenced by an empty filter, so he had installed a new fuel pump in the parking lot, and it still wouldn't start. Someone before me had done a check for him and told him he needed a coil, so he had just installed a new one. Still no start. I grabbed my multimeter and an induction timing light I quickly figured out he had voltage up to the distributor. Turns out it was a points distributor, and so once I verified the points were clean and opening/closing corectly, I had him go inside and get a condenser. I swapped it in and the engine fired right up. He had an AMC 360 in it. So he was as happy as a guy can be since he had been there stuck for 3 hours, so we started talking jeeps. I was in my Comanche and all. I was mentioning I was looking for a cherokee so I could do a 4wd swap. He mentions he has one siiting in his back yard that I can have. He didn't know what year it was, but it had a 6 cylinder 4x4 automatic. That was all he knew. I thinking I just scored an XJ parts car, but it turns out it was a grand Cherokee limited. I still don't know what year it was since I didn't check closer once I saw what it was. The engine tranny and transfer case was already pulled out and in his barn. I didn't go look at it, but he said it ran when pulled last summer. After thinking it over, I'm wondering if there are any parts I should grab before the thing goes to the scrap yard. Anybody have any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyzj Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 the motor,springs,seats,axles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted December 17, 2012 Author Share Posted December 17, 2012 the motor,springs,seats,axles Why the axles? Seats are pretty trashed. I'm only wanting parts that will redily fit on my MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Nothing will readily fit except maybe the radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Charlie Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyzj Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Why the axles? Seats are pretty trashed. I'm only wanting parts that will redily fit on my MJ. the d30 should fit,it bolt right up too a tj/mj/xj,ive seen alot of guys swap the hp d30 in zj's,the steering exp if it was the v8,the pittman arm is a 1'drop over a stock xj,steering box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share Posted December 18, 2012 Ok, so I did a quick search on swapping a ZJ front axle into an XJ, and seems it is a doable swap. I had never read that before. I think I will drag the ZJ home and do some measuring. I sure would like it to work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMCJeepMJ Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Front sway bar, wheels, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyzj Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 drag it home strip it, and sell the shell for scrap,put that money in your jeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share Posted December 18, 2012 Went back out there and knocked all the tumbleweeds away so I could get a better look. Turns out it is was mfd. 9/02, so it is an early 93. Just from a visual, it sure does look like the axles are a fit. I haven't had a chance to look at the tranfercase yet, but am supposing it is an NP231 or a 242. Wasn't the 249 also an option? Does anyone know if the crossmembers are a fit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88mjgilley Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 cross members are different you may get luck tho early 93 grands had the aw4 auto trans same as the mj and xj so you might have that for your swap if not send me a personal msg i have 2 or 3 tailshaft housing laying around off of 4wd aw4s you cover shipping and ill send it to ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 The Grand Cherokee is in my shop as of today. Hey, free is free right? Guess I should start a build thread. I didn't get the engine/transmission/tranfercase yet as they were already pulled. If I even only get a good front axle it will be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Be advised that front axle will be a low pinion, which is weaker than the stock XJ/MJ high pinion. Doesn't matter much stock on the street, but if you start building it up for off road it might make a difference. If the transmission is an AW4, transmission and transfer case should bolt up, but you may need a transmission mount and/or a cross member. The 249 I believe came only behind the V8, so your possibilities are 231 or 242. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 the d30 should fit,it bolt right up too a tj/mj/xj,ive seen alot of guys swap the hp d30 in zj's,the steering exp if it was the v8,the pittman arm is a 1'drop over a stock xj,steering box Also, the 93-98 ZJ steering gear box itself is a bolt-in with a quicker ratio than the stock MJ box. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted December 20, 2012 Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Be advised that front axle will be a low pinion, which is weaker than the stock XJ/MJ high pinion. Doesn't matter much stock on the street, but if you start building it up for off road it might make a difference. If the transmission is an AW4, transmission and transfer case should bolt up, but you may need a transmission mount and/or a cross member. The 249 I believe came only behind the V8, so your possibilities are 231 or 242. Yeah, I was aware of the low pinion D30, but not going to build this for anything serious offroad. On our ranch, we have a big hill that takes 4wd to get up if you have any kind of a load going up. Also, the transmission is definately an AW4. I'm hoping for a 231 since that's what is in my rock buggy. Also, the 93-98 ZJ steering gear box itself is a bolt-in with a quicker ratio than the stock MJ box. :thumbsup: Good to know. I will use it. I like a quicker ratio. Thanks for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyzj Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Also, the 93-98 ZJ steering gear box itself is a bolt-in with a quicker ratio than the stock MJ box. :thumbsup: i just stripped my zj down,keeping the axle,steering box,motor,pretty much the whole front end to put on my mj,I'm going to use my zj steering box untill i get a durango box,also the tie rod from the v8 is stronger also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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