Jetnoise Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Hey all. Today was a good day, after looking for a few years I finally got myself an MJ. This is an 88 Pioneer that's made its way from Colorado to Nebraska and now to North Dakota. It's nearly rust free but it needs mechanical work and maybe some front end straightening...front panels don't match and there are gaps. But other than that, I'm pumped to have one in this shape to build into a head turner. It's got the D44 rear end and HP D30 up front, but I don't know what gear ratio yet. Anyway, I think I got a good deal on it and the owner was kind enough to haul it 10 hours one way to my front door! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Anytime you get a D44 rear it's a good deal. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 welcome to the addiction :waving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Should be a 3.55 axle ratio with an automatic trans. That tag will tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetnoise Posted July 3, 2017 Author Share Posted July 3, 2017 Thanks y'all. Today my little man and me needed to see what kind of shape this thing is in. We expected to find a rotted bed and floorboard because this thing has been sitting outside, not running for who knows how long. So I got my son on the task of pulling seat and carpet while I emptied the spare parts out of the bed, and cleaned it up. Had a heck of a time figuring out how to pull that console. Ended up calling my buddy Tink who owns an MJ too, and he let me in on the secret screw location. Lol So,there's a little corrosion but nothing major. I can keep these floor boards but I need to seal it all up forever. Maybe linex or POR 15 or some,thing? I welcome your suggestions on this. I can't believe that's 30 year old sheet metal that's been sitting. This Jeep has lived a privileged life. No corrosion in the box at all, just a coup,e of bumps that can be tapped back into place. Linex? What do y'all think? I want this thing to be in my possession for a long time. 3.54s means I'll regear. While I'm in there may as well do cromoly shafts and slectables. From what I can tell from the condition of this thing, it's worth throwing money at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 line-x will not stop the rust. it'll only seal it up so you won't know how bad it's getting. if you want to be thorough, get a spot-weld drill bit and remove the raised section there. any rust in there will propagate even if you seal everything else. nice floors though! I know a lot of us are deeply jealous. :yes: start yourself a build thread and keep us posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 nice floors though! X2. Obviously it's not a rust belt truck. :cheers: Welcome aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetnoise Posted July 3, 2017 Author Share Posted July 3, 2017 Here's the worst of it by the passengers door, close up shots: So would that need to be cut out or ya think it could be brought down to bare metal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 if you can't stab through it with a screwdriver, I'd say it probably just needs some grinding. :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 Wire wheel that stuff off. Run a vacuum in there while you do it, and wear a mask, the seam sealer crap is bad stuff to breathe. You should be able to get away with just cleaning it after that, then a zinc etch primer, and then top coating it with a good quality paint. If it's in the channel reinforcement then short of pulling it up probably the best thing is to get some of that Eastwood internal frame coating stuff. http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-internal-frame-coating-14oz-aerosol.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potterman42 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potterman42 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Digging the column shift. Like my 89 Lwb Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500 MJ Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 Nice truck, you've got a great one to start with. Yes, there are plenty who are jealous of the lack of rust on that one! Also, that column shift with tilt is a pretty sought after steering column. I see you also have a cargo light. With the 4x4 and D44, you got a very well optioned truck! Have fun with it, looking forward to your build thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetnoise Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 Nice truck, you've got a great one to start with. Yes, there are plenty who are jealous of the lack of rust on that one! Also, that column shift with tilt is a pretty sought after steering column. I see you also have a cargo light. With the 4x4 and D44, you got a very well optioned truck! Have fun with it, looking forward to your build thread! That's good to know! I'm new to the MJ but I feel like I got pretty lucky. I am curious why the column shift is sought after? I've got floor shifter in the XJ and prefer it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I prefer the floor shifter too, but column shift with a tilt wheel was a pretty rare option on these trucks. May have been swapped in, considering short beds never came with a D44. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I have 3 MJs. 2 are column shift, one floor. I prefer driving the column shift models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 ^^ Agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I prefer the floor shifter too, but column shift with a tilt wheel was a pretty rare option on these trucks. May have been swapped in, considering short beds never came with a D44. apparently (from what I've been told) some later years could have been had with the 44 under a short bed (some sort of offroad package?). but only long beds had the metric ton package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I prefer the floor shifter too, but column shift with a tilt wheel was a pretty rare option on these trucks. May have been swapped in, considering short beds never came with a D44. apparently (from what I've been told) some later years could have been had with the 44 under a short bed (some sort of offroad package?). but only long beds had the metric ton package. If so it was never "officially" available from what I've seen. I have brochures up to 91 and none make any mention of the heavy duty axle except in the MT package. I could see it happening though. Possibly a case of "well, if you REALLY want it..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I always thought that too, but a few of the gurus on here that were involved with Jeep back in the day, as well as a couple original owners have put forth claims of it being offered. and there is ALWAYS the possibility of it being "custom" ordered. :D Jeep dealerships were desperate to move product at the end of the AMC era and the trucks were like legos. :yes: just pick and choose what you'd like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I think "custom" ordered rigs were always available. An old gent in town here ordered an 87 2WD longbed Laredo with the 2.5, 5-speed, A/C, and a 4.88-geared D44 tow package from our local Jeep dealer. He used it to haul light custom VW beetles he built all over the south back in the day. The truck sat in his yard for years on blocks when he got too old to drive anymore. I also tried for years to get that D44, but he would never sell it. Came back one day last year to see him and the truck was gone. Found out later he had passed away, and the family scrapped the MJ. What a waste...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted July 4, 2017 Share Posted July 4, 2017 I ordered most all of the 13 Comanches I had as demos. Back in the day, you could order more individual things and piece them together. Unlike today, the "packages" dominate the ordering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetnoise Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share Posted July 5, 2017 Interesting history. I know I don't have your folks knowledge of what was available back then but I do know this thing looks untouched apart from the body panels up front to repair damage from a crash. It doesn't look like it was ever wheeled so apart from towing, I don't know why anyone would have gone to the trouble to swap the rear end. My bet is on a factory install. Is there any way to get a build sheet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 I blew up my dana 35 on a 2wd daily driver MJ. :( there's always a chance of that. :( :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Interesting history. I know I don't have your folks knowledge of what was available back then but I do know this thing looks untouched apart from the body panels up front to repair damage from a crash. It doesn't look like it was ever wheeled so apart from towing, I don't know why anyone would have gone to the trouble to swap the rear end. My bet is on a factory install. Is there any way to get a build sheet? The most common places to find them are either tucked underneath the seat springs or behind one of the door panels. If this can be proven as a factory install it would be the first example I've ever seen of a stock SWB with a D44. If someone swapped that in (still what I'm leaning towards) they did a half decent job. I see some other things that aren't quite as they were from the factory. But don't take this as me knocking your truck, that's an absolute gem of a truck you have as far as I'm concerned :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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