stay away from early MJ's???

[jeepaholic]

I heard recently to stay away from the earlier MJ's. I had an 88 at one time. Is the only reason the 2.8L or is there more to it than that?

[87manche]

some people don't like the Renix engine management. personally I think they should have kept it, it's simple and bulletproof

2.8's are junk though, and universally regarded as piles.

[Pete M]

"Early" can refer to just the 86 (which won't have the 4.0L) or more broadly to anything pre-late-90. 87-90 4.0L MJs got stuck with a crappy manual transmission plus the aforementioned Renix system. It's easy to swap in an AX-15 and any 15 year od truck will need some attention paid to the old sensors.

Personally I think people that say to avoid the early trucks are either wusses who avoid wrenching at all cost, or sneaky bastids trying to keep prices down for their ownb selfish needs. :D

What you want to buy depends entirely on what you want in the end.

[jeepaholic]

"Early" can refer to just the 86 (which won't have the 4.0L) or more broadly to anything pre-late-90. 87-90 4.0L MJs got stuck with a crappy manual transmission plus the aforementioned Renix system. It's easy to swap in an AX-15 and any 15 year od truck will need some attention paid to the old sensors.

Personally I think people that say to avoid the early trucks are either wusses who avoid wrenching at all cost, or sneaky bastids trying to keep prices down for their ownb selfish needs. :D

What you want to buy depends entirely on what you want in the end.

What does an AX-15 entail as far as swappin and how much $$$..I have set myself a budget on this thing. My wheelin buddies have a new name..CBFWD...cheap bastards four wheel drive..My cj5 is not a CBFWD as i have over 7K under the hood.

[Pete M]

This site can give you an idea of what's involved. Mostly it depends on how cheap you can get parts.

http://www.jeeptech.com/convtrans/ax15swap.html

[DirtyComanche]

Or you can run the peugeot until it breaks. Chances are it won't strand you when it breaks, you'll just lose 1st or Reverse or something.

[pingpong]

Skip the manual trannies :brows: and just go with the auto :chillin: Then the only thing you have to overcome is the renix system, and as stated earlier they are tough and reliable :agree: So why do ppl say avoid them :dunno: cause they don't know how to use a voltmeter, or diagnose a vehicles problem :deal:

[Eagle]

87-90 4.0L MJs got stuck with a crappy manual transmission plus the aforementioned Renix system.

Correction -- the BA 10/5 tranny only went from 87 thru mid-89. The 89 LWB I bought last year has an AX-15 in it and it seems pretty clearly to be original.

[Pete M]

Yeah, that's what I get for typing before my morning caffine. :ack: :loser: :shake:

I should have said 89.5, but even then I think the cutoff is in September so that would be 89.75 :D

[GirsMJ86]

well idk what others say i love my 86 and it aint going anywhere. lol. just had to get that out there. i must have got lucky because even though i have the 2.8 it runs strong and purrs. but then again it was bored out to a 3.2L so that might have helped a tad.

 

alex