Ordering your new MJ

[89 MJ]

If you could go back and order 1 (or 2 if you are indecisive) brand new MJs, what would you order? 

I am indecisive, so here are mine.

1. 1992 Metric Ton, 4.0, 5 speed, grey bench seat interior, topper, factory fogs, turbines, and a hidden winch. The color would be Hunter Green. 4x4 and brush guard

2. 1987 Comanche Chief in silver. 4.0, 5 speed, D44 rear, bucket seats, black interior, hidden winch, sport bar with lights, factory fogs, and turbines. 4x4 and brush guard.

[eaglescout526]

I’m doing my best to build mine how I would’ve ordered it. Might have gone with 4 wheel drive but still on the fence about it. 

[The86manche]

This has so many options and ideas buzzing through my head haha

 

86 xls metric ton 2.1 diesel 5 speed 4x4 amc 20 rear sport bar with fog lights, cab light, brush guard, turbines, extra cabacity tank, tow mirrors, red interior with buckets and two tone silver and black exterior, full chrome trim, and a dually kit with a cherry on top. 

 

The other would be a street comanche. Dana 44 rear(if you could get it with one) 5 speed black on tan

[89 MJ]

14 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

I’m doing my best to build mine how I would’ve ordered it. Might have gone with 4 wheel drive but still on the fence about it. 

So pretty much everything LOL. To be fair, I would too.

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, The86manche said:

This has so many options and ideas buzzing through my head haha

 

86 xls metric ton 2.1 diesel 5 speed 4x4 amc 20 rear sport bar with fog lights, cab light, brush guard, turbines, extra cabacity tank, tow mirrors, red interior with buckets and two tone silver and black exterior, full chrome trim, and a dually kit with a cherry on top. 

 

The other would be a street comanche. Dana 44 rear(if you could get it with one) 5 speed black on tan

OOOOHHHHHHH that would be a pretty rig.

[derf]

Definitely a turbodiesel short bed to go wheeling with.  Probably with an automatic, sport bar, bucket seats, and a bunch of other goodies.  I'd swap in late 70s F150 axles with a spring over and run 35-37" tires.

 

Also a metric ton long bed diesel with the 5 speed (if available) and bucket seats to be a daily driver/working truck.

[89 MJ]

23 minutes ago, derf said:

Definitely a turbodiesel short bed to go wheeling with.  Probably with an automatic, sport bar, bucket seats, and a bunch of other goodies.  I'd swap in late 70s F150 axles with a spring over and run 35-37" tires.

 

Also a metric ton long bed diesel with the 5 speed (if available) and bucket seats to be a daily driver/working truck.

Those would be cool!

[Pete M]

I'd order a stainless steel body.   

 

the MJ I want never existed because I need the Chief decals on a 91.  

[89 MJ]

3 minutes ago, Pete M said:

I'd order a stainless steel body.   

 

the MJ I want never existed because I need the Chief decals on a 91.  

I assume you'd want Hunter Green while you were at it? Maybe throw the Thunderchief body kit on it too?

[Pete M]

no body kit on that particular one.  but definitely hunter green.    

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, Pete M said:

no body kit on that particular one.  but definitely hunter green.    

My 89 would have been Hunter Green if it didn't have blue interior. And I wouldn't have cared if it were sacrilegious. Maybe that is what color you should do your rust free shell.  Actually, don't. I would want to buy it from you. I don't need more MJs. I don't need more MJs. I don't need more MJs. Or at least that's what my mom says. I think she is wrong.

[coheed]

1. 86 XLS Metric ton turbo diesel, charcoal metallic paint, non-towing mirrors, chrome trim, A/C, smokers windows, RX135 radio, Honey interior with the sorta plaid buckets. 4x4 5spd, 24 gallon tank, brush guard, hidden winch, fog lights, slider window, and a camper top. So essentially my build plan...

 

2. 90 Red Chief, swb, 4x4, 4.0, 5spd, tan buckets, winch, slider, smokers windows, tow mirrors.

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, coheed said:

1. 86 XLS Metric ton turbo diesel, charcoal metallic paint, non-towing mirrors, chrome trim, A/C, smokers windows, RX135 radio, Honey interior with the sorta plaid buckets. 4x4 5spd, 24 gallon tank, brush guard, hidden winch, fog lights, slider window, and a camper top. So essentially my build plan...

 

2. 90 Red Chief, swb, 4x4, 4.0, 5spd, tan buckets, winch, slider, smokers windows, tow mirrors.

Both very cool rigs!

[coheed]

Oh and skid plates on both lol

[89 MJ]

3 minutes ago, coheed said:

Oh and skid plates on both lol

Of course, same with mine. I'm

sure many would agree. Tow hooks too. 

[JMO413]

#1 Renix 4.0, AX-15, 4WD, black, gray interior, buckets, SWB, Pioneer, skid plates, tow hooks, full cluster, bed light, & tonneau cover.

 

#2 Renix 4.0, AX-15, 2wd, SWB, Eliminator, black, gray interior.

[scguy]

My problem is I like the early interiors and trims, but the later, HO powertrain.

 

I mean, I would love a 92 longbed, 4WD, AX15,4.0 HO, but in the style of the white 86 MJ with the orange and red 4x4 stripes. Turbines, grey cloth buckets, brushguard, Dana 44, sportbar with lights. Perfecto.

[Minuit]

Is "I wouldn't buy one new - I'd get into the hobby in 2002 when they were still relatively common, and with a junkyard/NOS parts base that still existed - and then do everything I've done to my 91 but maybe try to find some leather seats" an acceptable answer?

 

This is actually difficult, because a number of the options I want (power windows and locks) had been canceled by 1991 because Jeep knew that the ship was sinking and there was no point in adapting many of the improvements to something they were about to stop producing. So unfortunately, if you want the massively better '91 fuel injection and electrical system, you're stuck with an option list that maxes out at "base model Laredo with crank windows" There's also the things that just plain were never available on the MJ (power mirrors, overhead console, hand parking brake, power antenna) that I would want.

 

But if I was stuck to the factory catalog offerings, here's how I think I would do it:

 

'87 long bed

Silver or black

4.0/4x4. Roll the dice on automatic vs. BA-10. No real preference.

Fog lights

Tow package

Limited slip rear differential

Air conditioning

Cruise control

Tan interior with plaid bucket seats and full console

Power windows and locks

RX-135 radio

 

So basically "give me everything"

 

[89 MJ]

24 minutes ago, Minuit said:

Is "I wouldn't buy one new - I'd get into the hobby in 2002 when they were still relatively common, and with a junkyard/NOS parts base that still existed - and then do everything I've done to my 91 but maybe try to find some leather seats" an acceptable answer?

 

This is actually difficult, because a number of the options I want (power windows and locks) had been canceled by 1991 because Jeep knew that the ship was sinking and there was no point in adapting many of the improvements to something they were about to stop producing. So unfortunately, if you want the massively better '91 fuel injection and electrical system, you're stuck with an option list that maxes out at "base model Laredo with crank windows" There's also the things that just plain were never available on the MJ (power mirrors, overhead console, hand parking brake, power antenna) that I would want.

 

But if I was stuck to the factory catalog offerings, here's how I think I would do it:

 

'87 long bed

Silver or black

4.0/4x4. Roll the dice on automatic vs. BA-10. No real preference.

Fog lights

Tow package

Limited slip rear differential

Air conditioning

Cruise control

Tan interior with plaid bucket seats and full console

Power windows and locks

RX-135 radio

 

So basically "give me everything"

 

That is a very acceptable answer. I agree to it too. 

[eaglescout526]

Minuit is right on the spot in terms of getting into the MJ world in 2002. I see a lot of parts that were discontinued before 2006. A lot of Renix or MJ specific were discontinued by 2001. Part of me deeply wishes Chrysler would sit down and seriously consider legacy support for our trucks(and other Jeeps alike) much like how vintage Mercers get from Mercedes. I mean Chrysler still has a company who makes SJ tail lamp lenses and the SJ ceased production in 1991. 

[89 MJ]

21 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Minuit is right on the spot in terms of getting into the MJ world in 2002. I see a lot of parts that were discontinued before 2006. A lot of Renix or MJ specific were discontinued by 2001. Part of me deeply wishes Chrysler would sit down and seriously consider legacy support for our trucks(and other Jeeps alike) much like how vintage Mercers get from Mercedes. I mean Chrysler still has a company who makes SJ tail lamp lenses and the SJ ceased production in 1991. 

This does sound like a fairly profitable endeavor. Sadly, I don’t foresee it happening any time soon. 

[Torq_Shep]

6 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

This does sound like a fairly profitable endeavor. Sadly, I don’t foresee it happening any time soon. 

I am sure it probably isn't which is why they haven't done it. I think the issue is that the jeep nameplate has been passed around a fair bit and no owner feels any loyalty to vehicles sold/designed by previous owners.

[eaglescout526]

1 minute ago, Torq_Shep said:

I am sure it probably isn't which is why they haven't done it. I think the issue is that the jeep nameplate has been passed around a fair bit and no owner feels any loyalty to vehicles sold/designed by previous owners.

 

This isn't entirely true. If you look at the CJ's and MB's, Chrysler has gone as far as letting others have the Jeep name(via license agreements) to make something like a restoration part. Like you can get the AMC logo with the Jeep name next to it brand new if you'd like or CJ5 and 7 nameplates if youd like too! The Jeep floor mats I got for my truck, the bag says "Authentic Restoration Part" and has the vintage Chrysler pentastar logo on it. Same goes for the decals from 87-90 MJ's, they have that authentic restoration part label on it. I also think its fair to say AMC probably loved the Jeep name more than any of its past and present parents.

[Torq_Shep]

2 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

 

This isn't entirely true. If you look at the CJ's and MB's, Chrysler has gone as far as letting others have the Jeep name(via license agreements) to make something like a restoration part. Like you can get the AMC logo with the Jeep name next to it brand new if you'd like or CJ5 and 7 nameplates if youd like too! The Jeep floor mats I got for my truck, the bag says "Authentic Restoration Part" and has the vintage Chrysler pentastar logo on it. Same goes for the decals from 87-90 MJ's, they have that authentic restoration part label on it. I also think its fair to say AMC probably loved the Jeep name more than any of its past and present parents.

That is very true. Its a shame they aren't still around

[Manche757]

If wishing includes models never offered, I would go for a 4 door, 8 foot bed with rails, no decals and definitely rust proof alloy construction. One piece front windows with the bigger rubber trim like on the Grand Cherokees.  Ac and one piece rear window. Quieter cab.  A user friendlier location for the spare tire.  A richer looking dash.  Same great exterior look.  And indestructible tail lights and bumpers.  A faster start from zero.