2 wheel 88' mj to 4x4 using 92' xj sport

[whitewidowtrick]

Hi everyone I'm new here and am an proud owner of an 1988 v6 4.0L 2 wheel drive Comanche. Over the last year ive been restoring it and making it new (in my eyes) however i live in the mountains and need it to be 4 wheel drive. I have a good deal on a 1992 xj sport with a v4 engine. Before i buy it, am i able to take the transmission, t-case & wiring, axles, and front drive shaft out of the xj and put it on my Comanche? I know a lot of parts are interchangeable but not sure which and don't want to shell out the money for no reason

 

Thanks in advanced

[Dzimm]

What trans is in the XJ?  From what I've seen/heard, the bellhousing are different between the 4.0l and 2.5l engines so you'd be better off finding an XJ with the 4.0l   Also the gear ratio in that front axle is very unlikely to match what is in the MJ due to the different engines. 

 

The front axle from any XJ will bolt right in to an MJ as well as the front driveshaft.  If you swap the rear axle (only do this if it's a C8.25 because it's way stronger than a D35) you will have to move the spring perches out slightly. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeep Driver]

Pass on the XJ

The only thing you'll get out of it are the axles the 410 ratio is good but you'll likely have a d-35 rear axle and it's not worth transferring to the MJ

Also you referring the engines as V6 and V4 no they are inline engines

[Eagle]

2 hours ago, whitewidowtrick said:

Hi everyone I'm new here and am an proud owner of an 1988 v6 4.0L 2 wheel drive Comanche. Over the last year ive been restoring it and making it new (in my eyes) however i live in the mountains and need it to be 4 wheel drive. I have a good deal on a 1992 xj sport with a v4 engine. Before i buy it, am i able to take the transmission, t-case & wiring, axles, and front drive shaft out of the xj and put it on my Comanche? I know a lot of parts are interchangeable but not sure which and don't want to shell out the money for no reason

 

Thanks in advanced

 

As already noted, you have something confused. The Comanche used a V6 engine only in 1986, so either you have an in-line 6-cylinder, or you don't have a 1988 MJ. And the MJ never had a V4 engine. Neither did the XJ.

 

Let's assume that you have an '88 4'0L in-line 6-cylinder. The '92 is a 4-cylinder. Plus, when the change was made from the 1990 model year to the 1991 model year, Chrysler dumped the 1987-1990 AMC/Renault/Bendix injection/ignition system and switched to a more modern, Chrysler system. So, basically, you can't use anything out of the '92 4-banger. You could use the transfer case, but the transmission and bell housing from the '92 won't fit your MJ, and you won't be getting the parts you need to modify your transmission to hand the transfer case off it.

 

You could use the front axle, but the ratio won't match what's in your truck. To swap the XJ axle into your truck you would have to move the spring perches, and (again as already commented) it's probably a Dana 35, so not an upgrade to what you have. In fact, the '88 isn't a C-clip Dana 35, but the 92 is a C-clip, so many people would consider it to be a downgrade.

 

Bottom line, look for a 4.0L XJ with better equipment as your donor.

[whitewidowtrick]

Thank you for the helpful information, it will help me in the future when looking for another car. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for correcting me. I meant an inline 6(mj) and and inline 4(xj). So i will pass on this xj and wait and watch craiglist till the proper year/engine are for sale.

[whitewidowtrick]

7 hours ago, Eagle said:

Let's assume that you have an '88 4'0L in-line 6-cylinder. The '92 is a 4-cylinder. Plus, when the change was made from the 1990 model year to the 1991 model year, Chrysler dumped the 1987-1990 AMC/Renault/Bendix injection/ignition system and switched to a more modern, Chrysler system. So, basically, you can't use anything out of the '92 4-banger. You could use the transfer case, but the transmission and bell housing from the '92 won't fit your MJ, and you won't be getting the parts you need to modify your transmission to hand the transfer case off it.

 If the '92 was a inline 6 cylinder instead would i still run into the injection/ignition system problems? Also i believe my mj has a rear dana 35

[HOrnbrod]

12 minutes ago, whitewidowtrick said:

 If the '92 was a inline 6 cylinder instead would i still run into the injection/ignition system problems?

 

Your 88 has the AMC Renix system; the Chrysler system came online with the 1991 models. So if you want to keep it simple(er), you will need a 1990 or below 4WD I6 donor.

[whitewidowtrick]

10 minutes ago, HOrnbrod said:

Your 88 has the AMC Renix system; the Chrysler system came online with the 1991 models. So if you want to keep it simple(er), you will need a 1990 or below 4WD I6 donor.

 

Gotcha. thanks for the help everyone!