Pete M Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 I wasn't even looking for one, but a 4.6 popped onto the market and I had to take advantage of the opportunity. I had been planning on building one using a 4.0 and 4.2 that I bought a while back, but now I don't have to mess with all that. This engine will be going into my red 88. Step 1 was getting the half-XJ. It was negotiated that I was to get the entire engine bay contents and I felt this was the easiest and the best way to guarantee that I know where everything is once I start pulling wires. Jared and I hopped the bridge to Windsor and used his new toy (plasma cutter) to hack the XJ in half. Took a bit longer than we thought, mostly because we couldn't get the front seats out and had to cut around them and the compressor and plasma cutter kept blowing fuses. Then we loaded it onto the trailer and ran the gauntlet back to the States. I've been cleaning up the garage and prepping it to house both the half-XJ and my 88 MJ at the same time so the swap goes as smoothly as possible. Here I just backed the trailer into the garage so the local code enforcer can't complain about it. (my driveway is technically "public property". and trailers can only stay there for 3 days at a time. Damn I hate this city.) And all that sweat has given me this. An engine bay full of non-corroded wires and supposed-to-be-working parts. :D Once I get the truck in the garage, I'll go through and decide how much I want to swap over. Next step is to hoist it off of the trailer and onto jack stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 Why didn't you just get the entire XJ? Could have gotten what you needed out of the engine bay, and make the rest a trailer or something useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 3, 2007 Author Share Posted July 3, 2007 My trailer can't carry the whole thing and my garage can't store 2 complete vehicles at the same time. Plus the suspension and axle were gone and the seats and what-not were things he wanted to keep. I wasn't expecting to take the windshield and trans/t-case, but as we went along it became apparent that it was unavoidable. :dunno: Oh, and the uniframe was cracked in two (the big reason he was parting it out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 I guess that works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted July 3, 2007 Share Posted July 3, 2007 nice, buy literally half an xj. you gonna share how much you nabbed that for? i'm jelous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share Posted July 4, 2007 $750 US with like 15k kms on it. But that came at a cost, I purchased it trusting (not totally blind, but close to it) that it was what he said it was. I was able to hear it run and it purred and the valves under the cap are the cleanest I've ever seen (short of new-in-the-box). He couldn't find the paperwork and just now I'm getting warmer on the trail to track down the original company that built it. Hopefully they have copies of the build sheet and dyno printout. Today I talked to the shop that installed it and I'll be calling back tomorrow morning when the computers are on so he can look it up (in Canada, the 4th is just another day). Then I'll be able to call the original builder on Thursday (supposed to be out of California) and then I should have me answer. :cheers: Plus later on I plan to use the AC components to fix my 90 MJ and the t-case is being kept until I am comfortable that the one in my 90 works alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 dude, thats a good deal. if my motor ever starts going south ;) i planned on building one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Just make sure you incorporate that bling-bling grill into the build. 20 extra style points for that :D (I sawed a YJ frame into thirds with the sawzall and thought I was the cat's azz....but that doesn't even compare to cutting an XJ in half with a plasma cutter ) Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share Posted July 4, 2007 Heck no. :D It's incomplete and I'm very partial to the grill I made for the 88. (5.9 ZJ style) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 you should use proper face protection jared :nuts: oh wait thats me :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Come to think of it... I just did the same thing, but with a 99 WJ. Getting the engine, tranny, all the wiring, and pretty much anything from the dash forward. It was cut just behind the front seats, and about half way up the A pillars. So yea, half a Jeep. But it's not going back into a Jeep, It will be the powerplant for the Bruiser. The 4.7L with the 545RFE tranny. I wonder what my mom will say when I bring that half a Jeep home... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 4, 2007 Author Share Posted July 4, 2007 Probably the same thing mine did; "What's that?". :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 No, more like "get that thing out of here by next weekend!!!" She would know what it was, my mom knows her jeeps quite well, seeing between me and my sister have had a totally of like 12 Jeeps now... I just finally got her off my back since I took the two scrap ones to the JY. We also have a few neighbors who complained, meaning now, anything that don't go on the road better get hidden, or dismantled and gone pretty quickly. My mom doesn't really mind too much about having the stuff, it's more of the fact of the 3rd warning from the town and the next will result in a $250 fine, or 15 days with big bubba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 What's missing on the Waggy front end? That 4.6'll be schweeet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 oooh wagoneer :D whatcha gonna do with that grille? :brows: I could use a spare.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86FUBAR Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 jeepco u need another spare part like i need a hole in the head , wich reminds me u ever install the wagy stuf u already got :roll: not to hyjack the thread just curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Looks like somebody got a good score. Jared, lose any skin off your face after doing that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 jeepco u need another spare part like i need a hole in the head , wich reminds me u ever install the wagy stuf u already got :roll: not to hyjack the thread just curious LMAO! yea, check project project. it went on my 89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 anyways, Pete, I'm glad that you got the stroker. and lemme know on the grille...it would be a shame to see it go to waste... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejndssn Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 well done Pete do you know if this is home brew version or did he get the parts or engines from one of the few that still provides from like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejndssn Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 :oops: like hesco, clifford and there is one more thats starts with a "g" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jared Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Looks like somebody got a good score. Jared, lose any skin off your face after doing that? actually only a tiny burn on my arm from leaning up against the hot metal, and a few spark burns on my arms and hands. 8) man that thing is great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 :oops: like hesco, clifford and there is one more thats starts with a "g" Golen? Have the 4.6L Golen version in my XJ and couldn't be happier! :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 nice, buy literally half an xj. you gonna share how much you nabbed that for? i'm jelous. I know of another one other then this oe I hooked pete up with. Its cheaper, but I have no idea about how it was built. this one I knew of by word of mouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted July 4, 2007 Share Posted July 4, 2007 Whatcha going to do with the left over half an XJ.. would make an awesome truggy project :D A few pieces of tube.. a obnoxious V-8 with some rockwells.. on some XMLs :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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