87MJROB Posted July 19, 2022 Posted July 19, 2022 7/15/22 After about 16 years of wanting an MJ I finally own one. I had tried to buy one previously twice but it didn't work out. I've had XJs since before I got my license. I currently own 3 XJs, 1 TJ, and a willys CJ3A. All of which are projects of their own with their own problems lol.. But I have sizeable plans for this little MJ. She is an 87 2.5L 4spd manual. Mostly 4wd converted by PO. I am now in the process of cleaning up and reassembling everything that was taken apart. Currently I need to: Install the full exhaust Repair the exhaust manifold leak caused by a broken from stud - Planning to do EGR delete at this time. Reassemble the interior - new hardware for seatbelts, seat mounts, lower trim pieces, install new speedo cable, and put the dash together. I need to buy new carpeting, new seat mounts from a member on here, seat mounting nuts, misc exhaust parts. Before I reassemble the dash I am switching the gauge cluster from a dummy cluster to full cluster. I have already sourced a cluster and will be on the way soon.
87MJROB Posted July 19, 2022 Author Posted July 19, 2022 Cleaned up the facia a bit and wiper arms. Passenger bezel is damaged but for now I glued it and repainted it. Also I stopped in at a local junkyard and scored a wood grain dash bezel for it.
scguy Posted July 19, 2022 Posted July 19, 2022 Very nice start. Future 2.4? Like the Chrysler engine? SRT4 swap?
87MJROB Posted July 19, 2022 Author Posted July 19, 2022 2 hours ago, scguy said: Very nice start. Future 2.4? Like the Chrysler engine? SRT4 swap? Yessir. I need a few more parts but I already have the donor car and an ax15
87MJROB Posted July 22, 2022 Author Posted July 22, 2022 Well my cluster showed up from a fellow MJ owner. So I installed the new speedo cable that came with my MJ, cleaned and installed new cluster(only about 1,400miles off), and my wood grain dash bezel. still waiting on new exhaust manifold to get the whole exhaust installed. I want to drive this awhile before I tear it down for drivetrain swap
87MJROB Posted July 24, 2022 Author Posted July 24, 2022 Got new carpet and put in. Still assembling interior. Need to figure out rear speaker mounts since I have none. Repaired bench seat mounts and starting on full exhaust replacement and removing broken exhaust manifold stud
87MJROB Posted July 27, 2022 Author Posted July 27, 2022 19 hours ago, Pete M said: an srt4 MJ is going to be a fun drive It will definitely be better than the tired 2.5 and 4 speed lol
Pete M Posted July 27, 2022 Posted July 27, 2022 1 minute ago, 87MJROB said: It will definitely be better than the tired 2.5 and 4 speed lol 2.5+4spd got crappy 3.55 gears. that's most of the problem.
87MJROB Posted July 27, 2022 Author Posted July 27, 2022 Recently I cleaned the surface rust off of my rear bumper. While painting my seat brackets I also brush painted my bumper with the por15 a few days later I bought the cerakote trim wipes and boy do they work great
87MJROB Posted July 27, 2022 Author Posted July 27, 2022 Just now, Pete M said: 2.5+4spd got crappy 3.55 gears. that's most of the problem. Yes the gearing does not help. Will probably be getting 4.56s from a parts Cherokee
87MJROB Posted July 30, 2022 Author Posted July 30, 2022 Still getting this interior back together. A few more things to do then I’ll just need to find a new upper door trim piece as mine was broken.
87MJROB Posted October 23, 2022 Author Posted October 23, 2022 Well I haven’t updated in awhile. Interior is getting spiffy lately. So I guess here’s a list of things I’ve been doing. All new exhaust, deleted all the emissions junk, Refurbished some 5 spoke aluminum wheels a bit and wrapped them in iron man 31s, Push bar and fog lights, tool box, Laredo or pioneer xj door panels, full grab handles with chrome trim, cut my own newer console to fit and color matched it with SEM, installed a cordovan panel behind the seat, new chrome grill and bezels, a few other misc things I’m forgetting.
Pete M Posted December 21, 2022 Posted December 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, 87MJROB said: please delete this from my thread.... this does not belong in my thread. moved to tech.
87MJROB Posted December 21, 2022 Author Posted December 21, 2022 23 minutes ago, Pete M said: moved to tech. thanks
87MJROB Posted January 7, 2025 Author Posted January 7, 2025 I think the only thing I’ve done to this truck since my last post is change the steering wheel, dash cover, put on some more daily friendly tires, swap out the cad d30 for a freshened up non cad d30, and just drive it during the no snow months. Also this will no longer be a 2.4 swap project. It will eventually be ls swapped when I have the funds to do it how I want.
Salvagedcircuit Posted January 7, 2025 Posted January 7, 2025 Nice! I put a dash cover on mine too. Ended up needing a lot more velcro than provided in the kit, but well worth it in the long run
87MJROB Posted January 9, 2025 Author Posted January 9, 2025 On 1/7/2025 at 12:40 AM, Salvagedcircuit said: Nice! I put a dash cover on mine too. Ended up needing a lot more velcro than provided in the kit, but well worth it in the long run It definitely helps when the dash is already faded and dry lol. Yeah I think I used some more Velcro too.
Drahcir495 Posted February 16, 2025 Posted February 16, 2025 I can't believe how nice that wood grain bezel looks with the red interior - well done!
87MJROB Posted February 24, 2025 Author Posted February 24, 2025 On 2/15/2025 at 6:03 PM, Drahcir495 said: I can't believe how nice that wood grain bezel looks with the red interior - well done! Thanks lol. Love the wood grain dash bezels. I put a silver one in my other truck though
87MJROB Posted February 24, 2025 Author Posted February 24, 2025 On 2/12/2025 at 8:42 AM, Pete M said: drive it and enjoy it. Well I was until we got snow but now I might have a possible internal engine problem. Hopefully not but I haven’t had time to really find out. If the 2.5 is actually going I will probably swap it to a 4.0 until I can afford my ls swap or a diesel swap and save the ls I have for another project.
watchamakalit Posted February 24, 2025 Posted February 24, 2025 34 minutes ago, 87MJROB said: Well I was until we got snow but now I might have a possible internal engine problem. Hopefully not but I haven’t had time to really find out. If the 2.5 is actually going I will probably swap it to a 4.0 until I can afford my ls swap or a diesel swap and save the ls I have for another project. Might want to look into that a bit more. From my understanding the 2.5 to 4.0 swap is pretty involved.
87MJROB Posted February 24, 2025 Author Posted February 24, 2025 6 hours ago, watchamakalit said: Might want to look into that a bit more. From my understanding the 2.5 to 4.0 swap is pretty involved. Yeah I’m not worried. I already have all the parts to do it and I just completed a full blown up 2.5 2wd to 4.0 4x4 swap on my other mj
watchamakalit Posted February 24, 2025 Posted February 24, 2025 41 minutes ago, 87MJROB said: Yeah I’m not worried. I already have all the parts to do it and I just completed a full blown up 2.5 2wd to 4.0 4x4 swap on my other mj
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now