lil_loco Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Did a search but nothing came up... I've really only worked on or owned long enough to know 2.5l 86s (4x4 ax4/ax5) before I got myself an 87 4.0l. automatic 4x4...... Now I am totally lost. I noticed the rear driveshaft on my 86s is almost twice as thick as the 87's. What othe differnces are there between them? We found one of three vacuum lines that seem to go to the t-body/intake-manifold via a U shaped hard plastic hose isnt connected to anything and I don't know whats missing here as it is definitely sucking (and hissing). The other lines are attached. Does anyone have a list of what lines/components are supposed to be attached to the t-body vacuums? I followed one larger white hose from the junction clip that is just infront of the tbody to the airbox and engine, the other is a smaller black hose that snakes under the air box - brake booster? Which gauge cluster is supposed to be in an 87? The blue or the black/red? Its obvious someone swapped them at one point since the odometer is meddled with and the temp/oil dials don't work. Also the scratches from the tinsnips used to cut out the gear selector panel are obvious. Good effort though. Some genious removed the CAT - is it necessary for function? I am e-test exempt and have no intentions of driving to california. What is the function of the transmission button on the dash that says power/comfort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 The cat isn't critical to the way the truck runs, no. The power/comfort switch remaps shift points. It holds gears a little longer and kicks down sooner in "power". Sorry I can't help with the vacuum lines. Take a pic and someone will know where they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickmiata Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Take a picture of the vac lines in that area and we'll be able to sort that out. For now plug it somehow and it will likely run a touch smoother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee21490 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Did a search but nothing came up... I've really only worked on or owned long enough to know 2.5l 86s (4x4 ax4/ax5) before I got myself an 87 4.0l. automatic 4x4...... Now I am totally lost. I noticed the rear driveshaft on my 86s is almost twice as thick as the 87's. What othe differnces are there between them? We found one of three vacuum lines that seem to go to the t-body/intake-manifold via a U shaped hard plastic hose isnt connected to anything and I don't know whats missing here as it is definitely sucking (and hissing). The other lines are attached. Does anyone have a list of what lines/components are supposed to be attached to the t-body vacuums? I followed one larger white hose from the junction clip that is just infront of the tbody to the airbox and engine, the other is a smaller black hose that snakes under the air box - brake booster? Which gauge cluster is supposed to be in an 87? The blue or the black/red? Its obvious someone swapped them at one point since the odometer is meddled with and the temp/oil dials don't work. Also the scratches from the tinsnips used to cut out the gear selector panel are obvious. Good effort though. Some genious removed the CAT - is it necessary for function? I am e-test exempt and have no intentions of driving to california. What is the function of the transmission button on the dash that says power/comfort? The 86 has a rubber filled driveline, To help reduce vibrations, Thats why its thicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Funny enough that this same rubber meant to reduce vibration has a habit of falling apart and causing a vibration after about 25 or so years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Did a search but nothing came up... I've really only worked on or owned long enough to know 2.5l 86s (4x4 ax4/ax5) before I got myself an 87 4.0l. automatic 4x4...... Now I am totally lost. I noticed the rear driveshaft on my 86s is almost twice as thick as the 87's. What othe differnces are there between them? We found one of three vacuum lines that seem to go to the t-body/intake-manifold via a U shaped hard plastic hose isnt connected to anything and I don't know whats missing here as it is definitely sucking (and hissing). The other lines are attached. Does anyone have a list of what lines/components are supposed to be attached to the t-body vacuums? I followed one larger white hose from the junction clip that is just infront of the tbody to the airbox and engine, the other is a smaller black hose that snakes under the air box - brake booster? Which gauge cluster is supposed to be in an 87? The blue or the black/red? Its obvious someone swapped them at one point since the odometer is meddled with and the temp/oil dials don't work. Also the scratches from the tinsnips used to cut out the gear selector panel are obvious. Good effort though. Some genious removed the CAT - is it necessary for function? I am e-test exempt and have no intentions of driving to california. What is the function of the transmission button on the dash that says power/comfort? Click on the link to my Tips in my signature. Go to Tip 22. Hornbrod's gonna add another photo to that Tip which shows a vacuum diagram. 87 was blue in the base model's cluster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I've seen some 87s with the blue cluster and some with the red cluster. More blue than red I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 I've seen some 87s with the blue cluster and some with the red cluster. More blue than red I'd say. Red? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Which gauge cluster is supposed to be in an 87? The blue or the black/red? Its obvious someone swapped them at one point since the odometer is meddled with and the temp/oil dials don't work. Also the scratches from the tinsnips used to cut out the gear selector panel are obvious. Good effort though. The Blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 The 'red' cluster: The 'blue' cluster with full gauges: Although all base models thru '96 had a 'blue' cluster. OP's truck almost certainly had a 'blue' cluster - the base model idiot light or 3/4 one. Just the earlier ones had a 'blue' cluster with full gauges and starting around '88 the 'red' cluster appeared. That's what I was talking about in my earlier post. I thought the OP was asking whether it should have a blue full cluster or red one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I'm calling the Red cluster Black based on the background color.... Back to business. Hornbrod has updated Tip 22 to address the OP's original issue of vacuum hose routing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil_loco Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 So I found the vacuum line. Somehow fell off and ended up hiding beneath the air box. I found it while doing the brake booster. YAY! It belonged to the sensor in front of the air box. What is left is the mystery of the gauges: Given that a blue cluster should have been the original and this is assumed from an XJ or newer/younger MJ - suggestions to why the Oil gauge shoots to max and the temp gauge doesn't do anything when the truck is running? Can I fix it? I was analyzing a blue gauge set from my 86 donor truck - its 4cyl ax4. Very different mechanics involved as well. Mostly magnetic/mechanically driven vs. the red cluster which is electronic for most gauges. Could this be why the red cluster does not work in the temp/oil gauges? Gas and battery are fine though. While attempting to fix the odometer that was jammed - speedo worked, trip meter worked, just not the main odometer. I went a little crazy and pulled off the needle to get into the dials. Suggestions for getting it back on and in proper place? I also had to pull the needle off the tach to get to the gear shift indicator to free the cluster. How hard will it be to reinstall and correct that needle? It was the only way to get to the wire that was adjusting the shifter indicator and preventing removal otherwise. I'd take pics but phone is on 2% battery. Thanks for all your replies :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 The reason oil press and temp don't work is because your engine has switches meant to drive idiot lights, not sending units to drive the gauges. Swap them out fo the correct ones, out of a 87-90 MJ/XJ with full gauges, or from a parts store and it should all work correctly. The oil one sits on the oil filter adapter while the temp one is screwed into the driver side firewall corner of the head right next to the valve cover. Be careful as this one might want to break off before it comes loose. The blue full gauge cluster is relatively rare, but correct for the truck. The read ones are more plentiful and thus easier to find. I used a red one for over a year before I finally found a blue one. Luckily I didn't have to swap sending units as my truck started out with a 3/4 cluster (all gauges, but no tach). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil_loco Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Thanks mvusse. Bought new sending units. Now I need to find a tachometer from an 88 "red" cluster. I accidently destroyed mine. Also need an odometer mechanism. Anyone got one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Yes. Several. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil_loco Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 I would be scared to guess what the shipping would be from Colorado to Ontario :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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