benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Hello everyone. I'm creating this thread to document the purchase, build up, and eventually, the completion of my MJ. First, some background info: While this is my first MJ, I have been around 4x4's in general and Jeeps in particular for basically my whole life. Having grown up in the rural areas of Colorado, the Texas Panhandle, and finally far West Texas, I have a slightly different take on the world than some. I attribute this to my dad. Old school can't begin to describe the guy. Until 6 years ago, his daily driver was a 1951 Willys pickup that he built from the ground up. "Restored" is what you're thinking; but he quite literally built it with not much else but hand tools. This particular pickup is one he had bought as a young man travelling in Mexico during the late 60's. He drove it THROUGH the Sierra Madre range, into Chihuahua, and across the border with the stock 3 speed manual and flat head 4. He drove it like that, until, in a quest for more acceptable highway speeds, he dropped in a TH400/Pontiac 326 combo. This drivetrain swap worked a bit too well. He kept twisting the motor mounts apart, ripping them off the frame, and eventually cracking the frame in several places. At this point, he stopped driving it. He needed a vehicle more befitting a family man... so he purchased a 428 Catalina SD, a 66 GTO with the TriPower set up, a 76 K5 with a 400SBC, and a 78 J10 with the 4 on the floor/ 258 combo. While everyone's else's dad was being wowed by the Camry's build quality, the Accord's sporty handling, and the fuel efficiency and modern reliability of both, my dad was adjusting valve lash, tuning his beloved TriPowers, and teaching me how to tear apart a Q Jet with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. This obviously influenced my vehicular tastes and driving habits. AS I grew up, my father knew I would want to drive SOMETHING. When I was around 10, he began the long process of getting his Willys pickup back on the road. The frame was hashed, and he figured the stock suspension and axles were not up to his standards. so he went out and purchased a complete, running late 70's F250 with a Dana 60 in the front, a 70 in the back, and one of the widest frame rails I have yet seen in a light truck. He then removed the bodyu, the tranny and t case, the big block Ford engine, and got started. He built body mounts from scratch, motor mounts from scratch, modded crossmembers, and shortened the frame and moved the rear suspension mounting points forward. He then threw in a warmed over Olds 455 rocket engine, a TH400, and a divorced 205. Seeing how I had gone head over heels over that truck, he made a decision to get me a Jeep. Specifically, a 1950 Willy's wagon with a beautiful body, stripped interior, and a box full of rusted parts that used to be an engine. I was 13 at the time. We then sourced a late 70's (I think) FSJ Cherokee, which I proceeded to strip, remove the body from the frame, and install my Willys body on top of the FSJ frame, complete with an AMC 360 V8, a TH400... and a Quadratrac center diff,. It was definitely a fun ride, until the T case started feeling weird and the engine threw a rod. This led me down a path of some crazy builds: A 455 powered 1981 Pontiac Firebird that could roast the tires in all 4 gears a Dodge W250 with a non electronic Cummins 12v engine, and finally... jeeps. My first "modern" Jeep was an old J20, much like my old man's J10, save for the one ton axles, the auto tranny, and V8 power. I traded the beast for a Scrambler. It was a great little vehicle, except that the frame was cracked and the suspension was prettby hashed when I got it. Right after that I bought my ZJ. The high miles didn't bother me, I didn't know what a 42RE was, and I had yet to break an axle. Besides, it was quiet (cars come with carpeting?!?!?), sipped fuel (comparitively speaking), could be converted to 4wd, and most importantly, had that big, torquey, AMC designed straight 6 under the hood. I drove it stock for a long time, doing only maintenance to it, and assembling parts for a 4wd conversion. Things conspired nd it turned into a stroker engined, beefed up 42RE-having (holding for now; knock on wood), 2wd quasi-prerunner. Big shocks, compliant springs, VERY low lift, wide tires, lots of chopping, and big power allow this thing to top 110mph in flat stretches of desert. Next I purchased a XJ, which has approximately 5 inches of lift, lockers front and rear, and a breathed upon 6 banger with a cam and some head work. This worked out well for a few years, until recently, when I began commuting 30 miles each way for work every day. I needed something cheap, reliable, and thrifty so that I could keep my 2 jeeps. My only requirements were rear drive and some kind of driving enjoyment, I ended up with a decent Toyota MR2 Turbo, chassis code SW20. On January 20, 2014, while scouring the local CL for parts, I cam across an ad for a 1987, 4 cylinder, 5 speed jeep. Out of curiosity, I contacted the seller, who told me he was selling his aunt's old ranch truck. I asked what it was, he said he thought it said Comanche on the side. Bells and whistles started going off. I had ALWAYS wanted one of those.... I asked for the price. He said 690. I told him I was on my wayu. I live in El Paso, TX. The truck was in Alamogordo, NM, which is about 90 miles away. I asked my brother if he was up for a little drive. After fueling up, tossing soime straps, tools, and fluids in his Explorer Limited, we were off. I got there, turns out it looked a lot rougher than the CL pics. My brother turned it on easily, oil looked clean, it went around the block... 600 bucks exchanged hands, and now, this was mine: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 I thought, "for 600 bucks, not bad; leaves money fior a big lift, tires, a good 5 speed, and either a stroked out L6, or a higher power Chrysler 4.7L V8 build up. Hell, even a 2.4DOHC Turbo build. For now, we needed to get it home, and those tires weren't going to cut it. They were out of round and severely dry rotted. Off to Discount Tire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 it came to me on 205's, but that wasn't going to cut it. I decided to go with 235/75R15 Kumho Solus tires. Very good street traction in all weather, smooth, 80,000 mile warranty, and they look nice and grip well enough on sand, though I wouldnt beat on them too hard. They do seem a bit thin. The guys at Discount were awesome, we were out in less than an hour... and they sold me some 15x8 MB Razors on clearance for 50 bucks each, including center caps and lug nuts! Our luck was holding.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 What a difference new shoes make!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 The first of MANY pressure-washings.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Engine bay didn't look TOO bad... but it sounded like a Harley at idle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 ZJ Upcountry coil on the right, stock, beat to crap 2wd coil on the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 My brother and I proceeded to install the Upcountry coils along with an Energy Suspensions Coil Isolator kit (about a 1-1.5" poly puck) on the front as well as swapping in a new Moog track bar intended for a 1988 4wd XJ, and all new tie rod ends. We also installed a set of Skyjacker Hydro shocks. Overall. it rides very well, if a bit firm, and it soaks up bumps well without unsettling the chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Here it is sitting next to my ZJ on 32's. The MJ is still on 235's at this stage, but the clearance is much improved, as is the ride and handling (even without a sway bar). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Here it is sitting on 31's. I may go a bit higher in the front, as I get slight rubbing on the front and rear of the fender liner. If I had used a set of Canyons like the ones I have on the ZJ, this would have been avoided, but I couldn't pass up those MB's at their clearance price. :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Nice truck! This is only the beginning Id imagine! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Thanks, man! Oh yeah.... I've done quite a bit since that last pic. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 I took measurements today following the instructions posted in the DIY sections of the forum, and it appears that I'm between 1.25-1.5" over a stock 4x4 in the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Here it is, "flexing": Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Magnaflow 2.5" glasspack installed....ummm... AFTER the cat. :brows: Sounds great, and is actually pretty quiet on the highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 This is the exhaust set up the PO had. It was surprisingly loud AND restrictive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Interesting finds while JY picking.... EVERYBODY loves Wankels! CLEAN 280Z on the stock 14x8 mags. SWEEET! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Passenger side floor after being cleaned and hit with a bit of rust reforming spray. Not too bad: The, uh, driver side "floor" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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