Stuck on direction of MJ project

[EUREKA]

I have two MJ's.

1) 88 4.0, metric ton edition, column shift

2) 91 HO 4.0 pioneer edition, floor shift

 

My goals is to build one MJ with all the features I want.

 

HO 4.0

Dana 44 and metric ton springs

Column shift

 

Would it be easier to swap the rear axle, springs, bed, and column to the 91 from the 88, or to swap the HO 4.0 from the 91 to the 88?
I understand there are multiple versions of the Renix to HO swap and I would want to do whatever version results in the best performance.

 

I already have the bed off of the 91, and on a "dolly" I made to store / move the bed.

 

Thanks in advance for the wisdom!

 

[trinity5007]

Personally I would run the ho. And swap the parts over. You want. The columns are easy to swap over. I've changed mine twice. Electrical connections are the same on both.

[Pete M]

you should be able to swap things around and still have 2 MJs  

[Eagle]

4 hours ago, Pete M said:

you should be able to swap things around and still have 2 MJs  

 

^^^ This.

Just swap the axles. I would much rather just swap axles than get involved in swapping an engine, tranny and transfer case -- especially since the engine swap will also require a complete wiring harness swap.

[JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Have you evaluated the rust on each of them? Depending on what the end goal (daily driver? show car? rock bouncer?) is here, I would move whatever I wanted to the least rusty MJ, then move all the other parts over to the rusty MJ and sell that one. Recoup some money for future upgrades!

[EUREKA]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I am convinced that swapping parts from the 88 to the 91 is the way I want to go.

Neither of these MJ's have and significant rust.

[EUREKA]

13 hours ago, Pete M said:

you should be able to swap things around and still have 2 MJs  

Absolutely.  I have to decide if I want to spend my time doing that, or sell the the 88 as a project for someone else.

I have some other goals for this year and would like to free up the space.

It would be nice to continue owning two running Comanches but I also own a 64 el camino and we are starting a family in the next couple years, I can only own so many 2 seat vehicles.

 

[omega_rugal]

swaping the metric ton rear axle to the 91 is easy, also swaping columns, but whats the rear axle ratio?

 

six+auto should be 3.55 but what about the metric ton axle?

 

also MTs are supposed to have better front suspension and HD cooling too, amek sure to swap those also

[Pete M]

if both are 4.0/autos then they will both be 3.55.   metric ton didn't change the factory ratio.

[EUREKA]

3 hours ago, omega_rugal said:

swaping the metric ton rear axle to the 91 is easy, also swaping columns, but whats the rear axle ratio?

 

six+auto should be 3.55 but what about the metric ton axle?

 

also MTs are supposed to have better front suspension and HD cooling too, amek sure to swap those also

I appreciate you thinking about these factors! Eventually I plan to re-gear the axles and install Eaton Detroit Truetrac soft lockers. I know they have a mixed reputation but I had them in both axles of my ZJ for over a decade and absolutely loved the way they perform in and off the road.

I had heard that the front coils of the metric ton editions are stiffer. I will definitely be swapping those to the 91.

The HD cooling is news to me. I'll make sure to check into that! The 91 came with an aftermarket aluminum radiator that looks like a major upgrade over stock.

[Pete M]

I want to say that "heavy duty cooling means getting an E-fan and a trans cooler if auto.  but can't say for sure off the top of my head 

[silvertwinkiehobo]

The e-fan is stock either way. Maveric's 88 MT has one, along with every other MJ/XJ I've encountered. The question of an aux trans cooler in the Metric Ton (since it has an auto) is a different story. But swapping the '88s goodies to the newer one would be the way to go.

[Pete M]

did those jeeps also have A/C?  the e-fan came with various packages but wasn't standard issue for all Jeeps.  

[EUREKA]

27 minutes ago, Pete M said:

did those jeeps also have A/C?  the e-fan came with various packages but wasn't standard issue for all Jeeps.  

Yep, both have factory AC.