Help clarifying 97+ interior swap

[EUREKA]

I've read quite a few threads but it is still not clear to me exactly what is involved in swapping my 91 MJ to the 97+ interior. I have a 2000 XJ donor vehicle. Is this swap any easier/differant to do on a H.O. MJ compared to a pre-H.O. MJ?

 

I like some recommendations for the best threads covering this swap. 

 

The front clip swap I have covered.

 

I have doors from a 96 XJ that are in fantastic shape but I also have the option of swapping on the doors from my 2000 XJ donor. I'm not sure how I would wire the power windows and sideview mirrors or if I want the power option, given that one day they they will break.* 

 

Thanks for the help!

 

Pics of the truck and floor pan repair so far,

https://www.facebook.com/aaron.gustaveson/media_set?set=a.1590665934297787.1073741839.100000631866055&type=3&uploaded=11

 

 

*I'm so sick of repairing broken door harness wires on ZJ's for myself and others and they're not being made new.

[Dzimm]

I have some info on the swap on my build thread (My (Just Another) 97+ swap). Not as much on the interior but you may find something useful. Also check out Alexia's build thread, it has tons of good info.

 

The main things to consider for the interior are:

- dash mounts on driver and passenger side

- relocating the steering column hole

- drilling a couple new holes for the hvac box bolts

- the seat mounts

- upper dash mounts

- brake pedal/steering column assembly mounts

- patching firewall holes around the hvac box and main body harness

- emergency brake cable relocation

 

These are the big modifications that have to be done for this swap, everything else is pretty much bolt in. Most of the holes can be patched/relocated by just cutting the firewall from the new XJ and using it as a template or welding in place. As for the other stuff I will gather more in-depth info and get back to you tomorrow.

[Dzimm]

Ok here is the long winded response.  I will get back to clean this up and with images as I am suddenly very busy today but wanted to get you some more detailed info.  Also with the new deal with Photobucket, it is hard to find good images for this stuff.  I am kicking myself for not taking good pictures early on in my build...

 

- Dash mounts.  You will need to drill out the spot welds holding the factory MJ dash mounts/steering column brace on the firewall and start with a clean slate.  From here you need to cut the factory dash mount from the passenger side of the 97+ XJ out and bolt/weld it to the MJ firewall.  The steering column/ brake pedal assembly from the 97+ XJ  will be the mount for the drivers side of the dash.  This will require some holes to be drilled through the drivers side kick panel/inner fender area.  

 

From there you will need to modify the rail along the windshield to accommodate the new holes for the dash.  This can be done by cutting strips of thin metal with the correct hole locations, and welding them in place.  

 

- The steering column hole in the firewall will need to be relocated up and to the right IIRC.  If you cut the firewall out from around the steering column hole and brake booster holes of the 97+ XJ, it will give you a nice template for tracing.  Also the half-moon shape that is cut from the MJ firewall can be flipped and welded on to patch the half-moon area of the original hole not being used anymore.

 

- The HVAC box will require a new hole to be drilled up high on the passenger side of the firewall for one of the mounting bolts.  

 

- There will also be a gap around the main cutout fro the HVAC box that isn't filled properly by the 97+ box.  This can be fixed with a small piece of metal welded in.  There is also an oval shaped hole near the passengers left foot where a wiring harness used to go.  This will need patched over.  The last big patch on the firewall is around the main body harness on the far drivers side of the firewall as the 97+ harness grommet is smaller.  This can be cut from the 97+ XJ for proper sizing.

 

- The seat mounts from the MJ seats should be removed from the seat and welded to the bottom of the XJ seat.  There is a lot of cross bracing under the XJ seats, which offers as lot of area to weld to.

 

- The emergency brake cable and pedal can be left in place but this requires some modifying of the 97+ drivers kick panel and possibly the dash.  To use the 97+ console mounted handle, take the cable and wrap it in a big circle under the drivers seat and bring it up to the center console where the brake handle will need to be mounted.  For this you will want to cut the protrusion on the bottom of the mount off so it can sit flush on the MJ trans tunnel.  You can then use this piece you just cut off, or fabricate a new one to \hold the cable in place behind the handle.  

 

-  There is some smaller things like mounting the center console that really is just trial and error getting the holes in the right spot.

 

Like I said, I wrote this up in about 5 minutes because I am strapped on time today but I will get back and try to clean this up and get some good pictures.  You should be able to use some of this information to get you started on the swap or started on some more in depth research of your own.  I apologize if something doesn't make sense.  

[Dzimm]

Here is a link to probably the best documented 97+ swap ever done by Alexia. The interior stuff starts on page 3. This thread also has pretty much the only good pictures of the stripped interior that still work. It should have all the visual info you need to understand what I was saying above.

 

http://comancheclub.com/topic/32740-alexias-1987-to-1997-comanche/page-3

[HOrnbrod]

Here is a link to probably the best documented 97+ swap ever done by Alexia. The interior stuff starts on page 3. This thread also has pretty much the only good pictures of the stripped interior that still work. It should have all the visual info you need to understand what I was saying above.

 

Where?   :dunno:

[Dzimm]

 

 

Here is a link to probably the best documented 97+ swap ever done by Alexia. The interior stuff starts on page 3. This thread also has pretty much the only good pictures of the stripped interior that still work. It should have all the visual info you need to understand what I was saying above.

Where? :dunno:

Oops forgot. Sorry, here it is. http://comancheclub.com/topic/32740-alexias-1987-to-1997-comanche/page-3