PomPom Posted September 28 Share Posted September 28 Hello all, Rhett from northern Colorado here and excited to meet you all. Owned a few XJ’s in the past and when the need for a new commuting vehicle came up I found this little gem and had to have it. it’s an 86 2.5l, 5 speed, 4x4 long bed. Don’t know a ton about these trucks but I’m glossing through the forums trying to pick up some info and learn as I go. I plan on body work and repairs, panel alignment, repainting the truck, reinstalling some decals, interior, maybe some lockers who knows? I haven’t driven it a ton, it’s at my work waiting for my job transfer where I give back my company vehicle and to take me home. I don’t have any more photos as of right now but I’ll add more to my post a little later. The name Pom Pom was a name from my daughter. Referencing the littlest white dog from the tv show bluey. I have a white square body Chevrolet crew cab long bed they named Judo (larger white dog from bluey) anyways, looking forward to wrenching on the truck and cleaning it up. Take care and God bless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted September 28 Share Posted September 28 Welcome! Looks like it has the factory sport bar When you get a chance add it to the registry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 4 Author Share Posted October 4 Dropped out the custom bumper and sport bar today to strip the paint and prep for powder coating. Made a hell of a mess and still more to do. Should be pretty nice when it’s done, need to re weld some spots and fill some holes to open up the door for new options. anyways, should be coated by the end of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smash6 Posted October 4 Share Posted October 4 I'm excited to see that bumper mounted up. Looks sharp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted October 4 Share Posted October 4 Welcome - it is a good looking truck. That bumper is very nice. I have no fabrication skills, so I’m impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ωhm Posted October 5 Share Posted October 5 While that front bumper is off, check front grille. It's upside down. Welcome to CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 5 Author Share Posted October 5 3 hours ago, Drahcir495 said: Welcome - it is a good looking truck. That bumper is very nice. I have no fabrication skills, so I’m impressed! Thanks! I definitely don’t either, I’m trying to learn and gather the tools to do it. My brother is a metal fabricator by trade but not a great teacher haha he is going to be the one who will powdercoat the bumper and sport bar. I’ll update when it’s done 20 minutes ago, Ωhm said: While that front bumper is off, check front grille. It's upside down. Welcome to CC. thanks… how embarrassing… must be a noob 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 10 Author Share Posted October 10 So the powder coating is in process and I will update when I get a chance. Had a different question though, may make a thread about it unless someone can point me in the right direction. see picture below. Looks like either a d35 but has disc brakes and inner emergency drums. The drums are ruined and need replaced but I don’t know where it came from. Is this a newer Cherokee axle swap? PO cut off the emergency brake cable so that’s another fun issue I’ll have to deal with. But any help is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchamakalit Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Looks like that might be wj rear brakes. To my knowledge mj's never came factory with rear discs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Welcome, nice trick! Post a pic of the pumpkin. Could be a ZJ conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 11 Author Share Posted October 11 Here is a picture of the rear axle pumpkin, appears to be a Dana 35 to me. Just can’t figure out what that may have come from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 11 Author Share Posted October 11 Also, powder coating is complete. It’s definitely not show quality, but I didn’t want it to be. Just enough to make it look good and work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 18 Author Share Posted October 18 Found a new dash bezel at the local pull it yard in perfect condition and in black. Looking much cleaner! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smash6 Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 Front bumper is killer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted October 21 Author Share Posted October 21 On 10/18/2025 at 9:39 PM, Smash6 said: Front bumper is killer! Thank you! Pretty happy with the way it turned out. Going to have to make a matching rear bumper. But of course my mind runs away with “neat” ideas to add to a custom rear bumper. - multiple d ring attachments - built in receiver hitch - spare tire swing? - wrap around corners to wheel well - integrated reverse LED - cb radio antenna mount - high lift mount… or the sport bar… Goes on and on and on indefinitely in my mind… haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted November 4 Author Share Posted November 4 So had a little bit of and emergency repair over the weekend. Figured it would be a good little PSA for those who haven’t seen it before or as a reminder. over the Halloween weekend, jeep started making a belt squealing sound. Thought maybe it was the cheap PS pump I replaced for the leaking one but it was the harmonic balancer. Upon further inspection, it was rubbing against the inside of the timing cover. How? welp, appears the rubber grommet between the “crank sprocket” and the belt pulley walked backwards. Photos compared to a new harmonic balancer. yay. So that was replaced along with the timing cover. Maybe replace that old balancer if you’re still rocking the OE one and save yourself a timing cover. Or if you’re taking the timing cover off for any reason throw on a new one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted November 4 Share Posted November 4 Yup! Thats a PSA we preach around here. Good catch! Though you might want to grab a timing cover in your spare time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted November 5 Author Share Posted November 5 22 hours ago, eaglescout526 said: Yup! Thats a PSA we preach around here. Good catch! Though you might want to grab a timing cover in your spare time. Don’t worry sir I replaced the timing cover and oil pan gasket while it was tore apart. Definitely wasn’t going to cover that train wreck with a new balancer haha Eagle Scout, says your a 2.5 expert, may be reaching out with a couple questions, if you don’t mind (and I can’t find the info on another forum of course) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 3 minutes ago, PomPom said: Don’t worry sir I replaced the timing cover and oil pan gasket while it was tore apart. Definitely wasn’t going to cover that train wreck with a new balancer haha Eagle Scout, says your a 2.5 expert, may be reaching out with a couple questions, if you don’t mind (and I can’t find the info on another forum of course) Oh good! Haha. Absolutely! Feel free to reach out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted Monday at 05:03 AM Author Share Posted Monday at 05:03 AM Got some window tint installed. I know some people don’t like it but it keeps it cool in the summer and people more honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted Monday at 05:19 AM Share Posted Monday at 05:19 AM I like it, what % tint is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgeranium Posted Monday at 06:27 AM Share Posted Monday at 06:27 AM What a great looking truck! And the build seems to be coming along quite smoothly. 2.5 4x4 5spd long bed sounds like the perfect combo to do all sorts of small truck stuff. I bet it gets pretty decent MPG too with the 4cyl stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted Monday at 06:28 AM Author Share Posted Monday at 06:28 AM 1 hour ago, fiatslug87 said: I like it, what % tint is that? Thank you, it’s 15%. It was either that or 5% that I had laying around and I’m too blind for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PomPom Posted Monday at 06:36 AM Author Share Posted Monday at 06:36 AM 1 minute ago, hgeranium said: What a great looking truck! And the build seems to be coming along quite smoothly. 2.5 4x4 5spd long bed sounds like the perfect combo to do all sorts of small truck stuff. I bet it gets pretty decent MPG too with the 4cyl stick. Much appreciated. Have some plans for the ol girl but still getting it reliable and happy. Does do fairly well on fuel economy id guess mid to high 20’s. My son is absolutely obsessed with this truck. Wants to work on it everyday but he is 2 and has the attention span of a 2 year old haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgeranium Posted Monday at 04:10 PM Share Posted Monday at 04:10 PM 9 hours ago, PomPom said: Much appreciated. Have some plans for the ol girl but still getting it reliable and happy. Does do fairly well on fuel economy id guess mid to high 20’s. My son is absolutely obsessed with this truck. Wants to work on it everyday but he is 2 and has the attention span of a 2 year old haha I love my 4.0 but if I could find a 2.5 XJ/MJ I'd definitely pick it up. When I'm driving around town it's not super fun to be getting less than 11MPG and not even have enough power to tow anything lol. Maybe if I had a metric ton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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