Kj...limited Liberty Renegade On 32S

[JeepcoMJ]

Thanks Jake!

 

Short update with some teaser pics

 

engine/trans in, trans mounted. Need to think about motor mounts. But mocking up I can see what will and will not fit.

 

The intake manifold on this one is not one that I will be using. I have the appropriate jeep one along with computer etc. from an 02 jeep grand cherokee. This motor still needs the tone rings swapped on the crank, and cleaned up, but I want the mounts and exhaust done before I ever get to that point, so that it's purely a mechanical issue and electrical to finish.

 

pics.

 

fuzzy, but k-member and suspension back up and in

 

this will need to come back out to be degreased properly before the jeep is able to go back together for final assembly

 

Motor in with trans bolted up. pan is on a 2x4 wood block between axle and oil pan to hold it in position without the hoist.

 

 

driver side motor mount. I'm thinking that the grand cherokee motor mounts should work out for me.

 

passenger side motor mount

 

The heater hoses will need to be stretched, in the middle, so that the reservoir and heater core can be hooked up and look proper.

 

here is your fan hub clearance. You can NOT use a factory e-fan. I will have to cut the e-fan out of the e-fan only fan shroud, and install one directly on the radiator, with a pusher on the other side. The fan shroud itself will then fit in order to duct air efficiently

 

Power steering gets a little tight but the hoses will all reach and fit with plenty of flex. There's actually too much hose to the U and the cooler, but no big deal

 

Here's how it sits with the v8 in it. Obviously it will drop a bit more with full fluids, driveshaft, exhaust, everything else assembled. I'll be wanting diesel springs, but it didn't drop the height by too much

This is where it will sit for a week or so while I finish up the engine replacement on the black 02.

[Jakeman17]

Looks kinda tight but looks good

[JeepcoMJ]

It's no tighter on either side than the 3.7 was. The radiator clearance is really the only issue.

[JeepcoMJ]

So all of the new parts showed up today

 

Reman heads, zinc coated, complete with cams, rockers, 3 step grind on valves
full gasket set (upper and lower)
trans filter set
oil pump
lower timing tensioner (timing set was good, I broke the tensioner on disassembly as the lower gear was fubar'd)

 

engine on stand

 

new heads

 

new gaskets

 

pressure washed/simple greened kmember then painted it

 

trans on stand, ready to be cleaned and painted

 

this was one of the green renegade rims.   I cleaned them up, stripped, sanded, and painted with a chrysler silver via dupli-color color match and high gloss clear coat.    These will look very nice on the black jeep

[comanche1989]

Looking good! Are you going to use the stock exhaust, other than the retrofitted manifolds?

[JeepcoMJ]

The current build is for the black one, which is just getting a 3.7  put back in it.
 

as far as the 4.7 swap, it's keeping the 3.7 forward cats, downpipe, rear cat.   for now it will keep the stock muffler etc.   I don't want this thing to be loud or have a drone.    I'm making my own complete stainless headers and shields for it.

 

 

here's some of the progress.

 

motor mounts blasted primed and painted

 

 

trans resealed with new input and output seals, filter kit.    used rtv ultra black and gasket for added assurance that it won't leak.   Also checked and adjusted bands.  they were just shy of being outside of spec

 

 

 

we had also bead blasted the pan to get rid of the typical surface rust on the outside, and checked for pinholes...we found none as it hadn't reached the point of pitting yet.

 

Engine is cleaned, ready to clean the sealing surfaces up proper, then resealing it.

[JeepcoMJ]

Engine is going well.   will have it installed thursday, have prior obligations until then.

 

 

 

 

 

I did not replace the timing chains or sprockets, because there was nothing wrong with them.   I cleaned them as best as they can be cleaned with a parts washer to ensure there was no buildup or debris.   didn't take the stains out, but that's fine.   all chains fit factory spec.

[JeepcoMJ]

Well, motor is just about done.   Juggling alot of projects so this is spare time stuff right now.

 

intake cleaned and on, got a new oil dipstick tube as this one was fubar'd, valve covers cleaned, painted, thumbed on for now, everything is pretty well buttoned up except for the fuel rail...waiting on paint to dry.

 

Tomorrow I'll  be replacing the passenger inner axle c clip on the kmember, and outer seal, then putting the motor in the k-member, trans on motor, tcase on trans, wiring on all, starter in, fuel rail on.

 

Then take the valve covers back off and jumper the starter to prime the oil pump and make sure oil is coming out everywhere it's supposed to still, button it up completely, get a compression test done, plugs in, coils on, and trans fluid in, then into the jeep it goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

coming along well.   First time dealing with TTY bolts, but that was easy enough.  first time timing a SOHC like this, too.

[JeepcoMJ]

Well, with many special thanks to Paul at OCD detailing  (On-Site Car Detailing), the jeep has been detailed inside and out.  It turned out really well, and while it does have blemishes, it's a beauty at 5' away, and really hard to pick apart.    He did a 2 stage buff and wax on her after a quick hand wash.   Very reasonably priced, and he was very happy to come do it even though the jeep isn't fully assembled!  

 

Pics will be up in a bit!

 

 

[JeepcoMJ]

Pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JeepcoMJ]

Also pretty much finished the engine etc.

 

Once I put it all together and mounted, before I put the wiring back on I hooked up a battery and jumped it to prime the oil up through the lifters, then put the valve covers back on, then wiring on.

 

All that's left is to put the exhaust on it, put thermostat and housing on, and install.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be driving it for sure by saturday to put the 500 mile break-in oil change on it, another wash, and then see what I can get for it.

[JeepcoMJ]

Just a quick update. I have about 3 hours of work left on it if I take it easy.

 

Rob stopped by and even though it was for something else gave us a hand putting the body on the motor.

 

got the body lined up, steering shaft hooked up, brakes on, abs hooked up, engine wiring hooked up, computers in, suspension bolted in, radiator in and hooked up, battery tran and airbox in and hooked up, trans and tcase cables hooked up, then test fired it. purrs like a kitten.

 

Then put the front clip on and tires on, put her on the ground and put the ventshades on, called it a day.

 

Tomorrow I've just got to remove a broken trans crossmember bolt and then bolt that up, and hook up the muffler. Then it's 500 sweet miles of test drive on, one more oil change, and on the market she goes.

 

 

 

 

[BIGHEEP]

It came out real nice. Great job.

[JeepcoMJ]

thanks. we will need to detail the engine bay out yet, but I will do that once i've put the miles on it.

[JeepcoMJ]

Finished her up today, put around 80 miles on her.

 

Start of the day I had to put new power steering pump on, fan shroud in, lower bumper bolts in, trans crossmember in after removing broken bolt, exhaust hooked up, rear driveshaft ujoints changed and installed, coolant in and top off trans fluid, front brakes on, swaybar on, and then I was able to finally drive her.

 

Once I did all that, game on!

 

Throughout the test drive, I noticed that the part time light was on while in 2wd. It's the switch, I'll figure that out. Aside from that, I had one of the old PCV hoses that was questionable and I hadn't replaced break on me, so I had to buy a new one.

 

But overall, with the exception of those two problems, this is hands down one of the best driving vehicles I've ever had the pleasure of working on. runs awesome at all speeds, no wobbles or funny business, great power response. Just a dream to be behind the wheel.

 

It will be up for sale once I put the break-in mileage on the motor.

 

[BIGHEEP]

Honestly I never pictured myself driving a Liberty until I got one for a week as a rental. They really are a nice driving vehicle. Good luck with the sale. I am sure you will have no problem selling it.

[JeepcoMJ]

Honestly I never pictured myself driving a Liberty until I got one for a week as a rental. They really are a nice driving vehicle. Good luck with the sale. I am sure you will have no problem selling it.

Thanks, it did sell for close to what I wanted on Monday.

 

Since it sold, and the 88 MJ is erstwhile damaged and non-functional and has one problem leading to another and so on (i.e. no point fixing one thing until I'm ready to just restore it), that left me without a vehicle. Unfortunately, that meant that I had a few options;

 

1.) Buy a beater

2.) Borrow a friend's beater

3.) Get more excercise (walk, ride bike)

4.) Screw option 3.

5.) Drop the 4.7 project for the moment, buy another 3.7 (got a "deal" at $1787 for one. I miss the price of 4.0's), drop it in orange KJ, detail it, fix up some minor issues, have it detailed, and drive it.

 

 

Chose option 5. I didn't want anything to do with a rusty, clunky, just-get-me-by vehicle. It's not what I want, but it works. I'll be buying another KJ with a bad 3.7 within the next month or so to do the 4.7 swap on. Once done, tested, proven, and finalized, I will play musical KJ bodies and swap the guts into the orange body, so I end up with the one I want.

 

end result;

 

 

Just need to put nicer rims on, replace driver's mirror (pivot point is messed up, doesn't stay put so it has a zip screw holding it tight to keep it from swinging around now), detail interior, replace windshield. drives great.