Jump to content

Non Fi Gas Tank And Cherokee Sending Unit Swap?


Recommended Posts

I was wondering if anyone had the model year of the non fi gas tank that will fit in my Comanche, and also what year fuel sending unit. My sending unit is bad. I know its broken...I broke it....! I read some where in here that someone did this conversion but I can't seem to find the forum it was in. Genesis Auto Parts has a 86-88 gas tank without the pan for around 100 dollars. I have the 18 gal. tank, 2 wd, 6 ft bed, 4.0 6 cyl. I was hoping this will save me some time without having to guess at the parts, especially the sending unit.. Thanks for all the help.....................

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do have fuel injection, but nobody makes a fuel sending unit for a 1988 Comanche. They still make the sending units for the Cherokees. The sending unit is backwards compared to the Comanche sending unit. The non fuel injected gas tanks do not have a pan in the bottom. If I understand this correctly from other forums I have read in the past. If this conversion works, I will be able to have more access to parts if my sending unit or fuel pump goes out again, also my gas guage will be operational again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Might have been me.

On my '90 MJ when I bought it the tank had been patched with JB Weld, and the sock on the pump was clogged, wouldn't run for long without dieing out. Tank had a lot of rust/junk/sand in it.

AND it turned out that the sender/pump had been swapped with a XJ unit, explaining why things didn't seem to go back together right.

 

What I finally did was get a new tank that didn't have the baffle/reservoir/cup whatever in the bottom. And got a new sender/pump assy for a XJ.

All went together fine, and has been working fine since the install.

I have run mine down to where I had to put 16 or a little more gallons in to fill it, and it didn't starve out or have any problems, but most of the time I try to not run it to less than 1/4 tank, mainly because these in tank pumps rely on the gasoline to cool/lube? them, and running them out is generally regarded as being bad for the pump.

I am not sure how much gas would be left in that little resevoir if the tank were empty and on a mountainside anyways.

One thing though, I am not sure if I would get a tank for carbed MJ, not sure about the vent line fittings? I think when I got mine (ebay) it was a listing for my year without baffle? Bought the cheapest one that fit the description, can't remember manufacturer or seller, maybe could search ...

seriously tho, I can't believe there is many companies making a tank for these.

Hope this helps.

 

Oh, and go to your mopar or Jeep dealer and get the two rubber plug things for the vent lines, my Dodge dealer had them in stock, the Jeep dealer had one, and wanted about $1.25 each more for them...go figger, he was closer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Exgrayxj...............Why I was going back with a 86 gas tank....The pics on the website looked the same.....and I did look at other model gas tanks just to make sure they were'nt using a random pic. I'll order the tank first and then go to my parts store and bug the crap out of them by pulling different model sending units until one fits properly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought my pump/sender on ebay also, can't remember for sure the brand, think it was airtex. Everything as a unit, think it was around $75?

Airtex doesn't seem to get any love around here, but I wanted to get things moving again, and so far have no problems.

Of course it has only been a couple thousand miles.

Starting is typical, pump is quiet, who knows, miles will tell.

 

The pump/sender was for a same year XJ, btw.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, and go to your mopar or Jeep dealer and get the two rubber plug things for the vent lines, my Dodge dealer had them in stock, the Jeep dealer had one, and wanted about $1.25 each more for them...go figger, he was closer.

 

Can you provide a link or part number for these plugs? I am having trouble finding them. Thanks! Edit:Nvm if found some vent and grommet http://www.jeep4x4center.com/mts-ems-valve-with-grommet-mts-emsv2.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Okay..........I removed the gas tank and sending unit today. Tank looks clean and shiney. I also ordered a sending unit from a local parts store and it should be here monday afternoon. Its for a 88 Cherokee. I will check to see if I can get it to fit my tank first or maybe I'll just have to cut the pan down in my tank. My only concern is if it will make my gas guage work correctly. The tank came out real easy, Thank goodness! If anyone has any advice on the new sending unit or other problems that I may encounter just let me know. This is my first Comanche and the only Jeep proudct I have ever worked on. I like this little truck or I wouldn't be spending this much time or money on it. If this works out like I hope it will, the next project will be to recover the seat and that will finish me up. But......First things first!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unless you've got a lift and a strong partner, drain the tank before trying to strap it back up. And the frame rail side ends of straps (without the bolt things) go into the side of the frame, not the round hole in bottom of the bed supports, no matter how nicely they hang in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since mine already had a xj pump/sender assy in it, I have no direct comparison, in fact it was by accident that I found out what I had, someone posted a pic I found in a search, and viola, I deduced I had the wrong sender all this time, no wonder things didn't communicate.

 

As I understand it, the xj float arm is the biggest , maybe the only, difference, bent differently, goes left instead of right, or something? Not exactly sure, since I never have had a mj one to hold up to it.

 

And when I got all done, my gas gauge worked bass ackwards, full tank read empty, and versa vica, but the low fuel light worked normally.

 

That turned out to be that my ebay tach dash cluster had a '91 and later gauge in it, when I swapped that out with the right year one, it all speaks the same language. It wasn't until I noticed that the gauge face was a little off color from all the others that made me suspect something.

 

Too bad you have to go this route if your tank is good, seems like somewhere there should be a good sender.

 

OH and the grommets are likely all you need, my valves were ok, and all they are is checks so that gas won't go out the vents in a rollover.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My 88 cherokee sending unit came in today. I hooked it up to my wiring harness {without the positive wire on the fuel pump}, Guess what.......I got a working gas guage! I went ahead and ordered a new gas tank without the pan in bottom. It should be in Thursday. I will keep Y'all posted of all the work. I am hoping all of this will work. If this goes off without a problem I will post the parts numbers and total price of the fix. Wish me luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok....After three days of overtime, Came home today and installed the new gas tank and new fuel pump/sending unit and....I've got a working gas guage...so far. I just filled her up today so I will keep y'all posted on how accurate it is. Here is the part numbers.....Spectrum Premium Gas Tank JP5A and Precision Sending Unit with Fuel Pump from a 1988 Jeep Cherokee 4.0 engine #A30074. Everything went in easy. All parts came from O'reilly"s Auto Parts and price was $212.00.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"I love it when a plan comes together."

 

When I did mine, I never noticed the PO had had the bed unbolted, and only the rear most bolts were holding it on ... when I tightened the tank straps, drove it for a few days, I noticed the bed and cab were not aligned.

Tightening the straps lifted the bed!

Took a few seconds to figure out what was going on.

Loosened the tank, bolted the bed, and retightened the tank.

 

Best part of the above story, and I just now realized it, is that when I bought the truck it was about 100 miles away, so I rode my dresser Harley over, drove and bought the truck, loaded the bike in the back, strapped it to the bed, and came home ...now that I think about it, lucky I didn't lose the whole deal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I bought my second Harley, I drove 100 miles to pick it up. My wife made the statement "Hauling a 15,000 bike in a 500 dollar truck", six months later the truck broke down. I had to sell the Harley to get a truck. I made 1200 more on the bike than what I paid for it........So far, the Comanche is running good. It seems to have more fuel pressure than the other fuel pump that was in it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...
15 hours ago, Xjerickson94 said:

I'm way late to the conversation but I'm doing this swap currently. I am swapping everything over from a 94 xj and have a good working sending unit but the tank in my mj is shot. My understanding is that if i buy a JP5A tank i can drop in my cherokee sending unit correct?

 

doesn't an MJ tank have a side mounted pump assembly and an XJ has a top mounted pump assembly?  Shouldn't you be able to get a pump assembly for a 91 MJ still?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...