Chuck's '86 Daily Driver

[armyofchuckness]

So, here's my '86 2.5 litre, 4 speed longbed. Not anything special under the hood, but it's in nice shape for its age serves as my daily driver/parts hauler while I'm working on restoring my first car, a 1964 Plymouth Valiant.

 

Trying to keep it nice without doing too much to it for now.

 

Here's what I've added since I got it:

• Fixed the leaky clutch cylinder and (sort of) fixed the fuse box issues
• Fixed the busted interior lights
• Fixed the busted windshield washer pump
• Spiffy shift knob.
• Even more spiffy 76 antennae ball
• Tool box
• New stereo and speakers
• White J-e-e-p decals on the tailgate

 

Eventual goals include:

• Changing out the flooring and sealing the floor pans to keep them nice.
• Upgrading the instrument cluster
• Rear axle upgrade
• Cold air intake
• Bull bar

 

More to come!

 

 

[armyofchuckness]

Here's my ghettofabulous DIY cupholder that I finished yesterday.

 

[armyofchuckness]

Got these spiffy stickers from jeepsticker.com today. Spencer even through in a free 4 Wheel Drive decal, which is really nice of him. Sadly, I don't have a 4WD vehicle, but it's still a cool freebie.

 

 

The decals seem really well made and came with a great set of instructions. Application went smoothly. I used a credit card to work out the bubbles, but the decals laid nicely, so there were very few to work out.

 

The only negative thing I can say about the decals is it took twelve days for them to arrive, but they were absolutely worth the wait, and they really add a lot to the look of the MJ for less than $20.

[AeroNautical]

That's an incredibly clean ride, very nice. Mind showin the I4? I'd like to make a couple comparisons to my sisters wrangler. 

[armyofchuckness]

Thanks! I got very lucky on this one. Aside from the floor pan, I can't find any rust on this thing. It's obviously been repainted, but I can't find any patches or Bondo'd over dents. I'll see if I can snap a few pics of the engine tonight. It's pretty bone stock under there, so I didn't think anyone would care. I can't really compare it to another Jeep product other than my brother's Jeep Patriot, but I really like this truck. Definitely not fast, but it feels solid going down the road and it gets plenty of compliments almost everywhere I go. 

[neohic]

 

Beautiful!  :thumbsup:

[JeepcoMJ]

i've got a center console and bucket seats calling your name!

[armyofchuckness]

Thanks, Neohic!

 

Tempting offer on the seats and console. :) I actually don't mind the bench seat that much. If kind of suits the truck. Of course, that's easy to say after owning it for all of two months. I'm sure I'll be hating it after the first road trip. I am going to add some taxi driver beads to the seat so there's some ventilation. No matter how much the air chills the cab, my back always gets sweaty. :ack:

[armyofchuckness]

Engine pics!

 

[AeroNautical]

I'm blown away by how clean your truck is. Those inline 4s really did change over the years, sisters got a 97 wrangler with one and looks nothing like that. It's a renix 2.5, right?

[88whitemanche]

That's exactly what I was thinking....my 2.5 do not look anywhere as clean as yours...mine has a leaky valve cover, mud, and dirt....great truck you have there...great cup holder I'm going to do that myself today

[zackcj7]

 Wow, your truck is in great shape. I thought my '88 was well taken care of.

[armyofchuckness]

Thanks, guys. I really feel like I hit the jackpot on this one for the money. I'm sad that I don't have a garage to keep it in, but I'm trying hard to keep it washed and waxed to protect it.

 

I believe it's the Renix 2.5. It has the Renix blue instrument cluster. My mechanic friend swears it's an Iron Duke 4. I said that's crazy, but he insists it's the same engine. Any thoughts on that? Everything I've read says it's an AMC derived motor, but I wouldn't be surprised if it stole a lot from GM.

[randomguy310]

its not you can Wikipedia iron duke 4 motor and the amc 2.5 there not the same, I believe there the same bell housing but not engine... the iron duke is 151 c.i  and amc is 150 c.i . I could be wrong .

[armyofchuckness]

I did that. I showed him the article. He still said they're the same. He's a stubborn SOB.  :doh:

[randomguy310]

oh well....

[randomguy310]

from what I read you used to be able to really make some power out of the iron duke

[armyofchuckness]

Then this is definitely no Iron Duke.  :laughin:

 

Actually, this truck is a lot torquier than I thought it would be. I wish it were a five speed, because the gearing really does feel arbitrary, like it was meant for another engine (which it probably was), but it still accelerates into traffic okay. Of course, what do I know about power? My other cars have been a Slant 6 Valiant, a Neon, a Cressida, an '84 Reliant wagon, and a '65 Beetle. If it makes more than 110 horsepower, I feel like Richard Petty.

[armyofchuckness]

Helped a buddy living in a more scenic part of the county work on his roof. Snapped this as I was about to leave.

 

[AeroNautical]

I know I've said it, but damn is that clean. You know what would look great? 30 inch tires with a small lift so they don't rub. That'd be icing on the cake. However, now that I look a bit closer, those tires probably aren't too far off from 30s are they? 

Then this is definitely no Iron Duke.  :laughin:

 

Actually, this truck is a lot torquier than I thought it would be. I wish it were a five speed, because the gearing really does feel arbitrary, like it was meant for another engine (which it probably was), but it still accelerates into traffic okay. Of course, what do I know about power? My other cars have been a Slant 6 Valiant, a Neon, a Cressida, an '84 Reliant wagon, and a '65 Beetle. If it makes more than 110 horsepower, I feel like Richard Petty.

My sisters got a neon, it's quick, and it feels like your dragging your butt on the ground it's so low. And a bug you say? Driven one, as well as my brothers 70 Karmann Ghia. Great cars, really pushing the limit at 60mph. I've also driven a 2.5l in a wrangler. It's a slug. It's incredible what 2 more pistons in the 4.0 can do. 

[randomguy310]

that's funny,

 

I know I've said it, but damn is that clean. You know what would look great? 30 inch tires with a small lift so they don't rub. That'd be icing on the cake. However, now that I look a bit closer, those tires probably aren't too far off from 30s are they? 

Then this is definitely no Iron Duke.  :laughin:

 

Actually, this truck is a lot torquier than I thought it would be. I wish it were a five speed, because the gearing really does feel arbitrary, like it was meant for another engine (which it probably was), but it still accelerates into traffic okay. Of course, what do I know about power? My other cars have been a Slant 6 Valiant, a Neon, a Cressida, an '84 Reliant wagon, and a '65 Beetle. If it makes more than 110 horsepower, I feel like Richard Petty.

My sisters got a neon, it's quick, and it feels like your dragging your butt on the ground it's so low. And a bug you say? Driven one, as well as my brothers 70 Karmann Ghia. Great cars, really pushing the limit at 60mph. I've also driven a 2.5l in a wrangler. It's a slug. It's incredible what 2 more pistons in the 4.0 can do. 

that funny my 1st car was a 1960 karmann ghia...I still have it...24yrs later.. I was looking at your engine pics and I had a 86 Comanche and it had a serpentine belt not v belts.. weird..

[Harley]

Not sure if you want or need one but I have a 2.5 aluminum valve cover. 

Let me know if your interested.

[armyofchuckness]

So I had a free weekend, so I decided to do a few upgrades to the MJ. Yesterday, I installed a new heater valve so I have heat for the mild winters of Florida.  :shake:

 

That was successful, so I did what I always do, I kept going until disaster hit, and it didn't take long.

 

I did a cluster swap this morning (Thanks again, Jim!) and everything seemed to work when I started it in the driveway.

 

But while I was reconnecting the speedo cable, I noticed a small rust hole, and when I poked my finger in the hole, it was wet. And it hadn't rained in a week.

 

Uh oh.

 

Sure enough, the entire insulation under the vinyl was soaked, and everything else was very rusty, although it looked a lot worse than it really was.

 

 

A lot of wire wheeling, a few quick patches, some rust converting wash, rust reformer Rustoleum, a top coat of Rustoleum truck bedliner, and it was looking a lot better.

 

 

I have new insulation and vinyl, but I really don't want to put it in until I get to the bottom of why it's leaking so bad.

 

Oh yeah, and I didn't realize until I got everything back together that everything was working except the friggin' speedometer that lead to all this mess in the first place! That's what I get for not driving it before putting it back together.   :wall:

 

Guess I know what I'm working on tomorrow.

[armyofchuckness]

Yeah, I'm a moron. All I did wrong was over tighten the cable connection at the transmission. I disconnected it, oiled the the end, and slapped it back in. Works like a champ. Thanks again, Jim.