First MJ - 1989 pioneer

[BoundForGlory]

I’m so glad I found this forum, what a wealth of information!

 

(I’ll check this in at the vin registry once it gets light out)
Here she is! My 1989 pioneer with a 4.0, ax15, 4x4 and some 35 inch tires! And what appears to be 3.07 gears…

I saw the machine during spring break, and after convincing my dad to drive 4 hours each way with a trailer, I went up to get her.
About that trailer… thought it was rated for 5000lbs, but some bottomed out leaf springs were screaming otherwise. Oh well, at least it’s easy to unload, the 35s just roll right off! Anyhow, at this point, it’s 8pm, and there’s a snowstorm moving in/already here, but I had faith, in this new to me rig, and set off into the night, with my dads watchful eye behind me in case a wheel flew off or something. Now, the previous owner had told me two mission critical things: #1 - the radiator leaks, and #2 - the temp sensor jumps up to max and stays there, so the Renix engine monitor is no help in this case. But hey! At least it has an engine monitor! Having to refill the radiator made for slow going, and the lack of a temp sensor led immense amounts of stress, but we made it! 
My roadkill-style mission actually turned out better than expected. When all was said and done, I was down 3 cans of radiator fluid, got pulled over 2 times, and had 1 sweet project sitting in my yard! (I think the cops were impressed, despite being down both a headlight and a taillight in the dead of night, one just talked to me, the other gave me a written warning with no fix it ticket and told me to wave it if other ones pulled me over on the rest of the way).

 

Now it’s here and it’s mine, and I’m on summer break so it’s time to get to work!

What I know so far about it:

started life as a 1989 pioneer with an auto trans

previous owner installed 1991 xj axles, transfer case, transmission, and engine, but it still runs a renix ecu.

So far:
New NTK o2 sensor

Headlight relays

And a whole lot of figuring out where wires go and how this thing is set up.

Radiator fixed 

 

To do: 

-cupholder

-Temp sensor

-get rid of that window tint

-hook up speedometer

-Hook up reverse lights 

-Pound out a ton of dents

-rockers down the road, and maybe some kinda rock slider

-touch up paint

-Maybe put a Dana 44 on the rear end… But then, I looked under it today, and HALLELUJAH! Beneath that caked on mud and rust, I’m pretty sure that’s a 44! 

 

 

I’m loving this truck so far, but man, there’s a long way to go! Hoping to keep the truck along similar lines as it’s already on, just a fun off-roader jeep, and really put my effort into making it super reliable.

[89 MJ]

I hate to rain on your parade, but that’s a D35. Looks like a good truck though!

[BoundForGlory]

That’s why I’m here lol, totally new to these things! I appreciate you letting me know, maybe time for some reading on an 8.8 swap

[89 MJ]

I did an 8.8 in my truck. The Explorer ones are too narrow. I’d recommend one from an Explorer Sport Trac. It’s much closer to the width of an MJ rear. I’d also recommend checking out a Liberty 8.25 swap. 

[BoundForGlory]

Sweet! I’ll start doing my homework, the back brakes on this truck are shot, so probably as good a time as any to bite the bullet