jpnjim

Looks taller all of a sudden........

You're doing something right if the wife was on board with it! Not the most practical vehicle ever, but I've wanted one for a long time. a Pinzgauser could be almost as much fun, but maybe not as tractor-y

I love stepside Jeeps, I know this original question is old, but there was a guy that (re)designed these wheel flares and had them produced about 10-12 years ago for a Gaucho rebuild: ^The original 78' Brian Chuchua Gaucho^ I don't know if the re-creater "jscherb" is still making anything like this. I think he still posts some of the Wrangler & CJ forums: https://www.wranglerforum.com/ https://www.cj-8.com/members/jscherb.3191/ Here's a couple threads where he was using the flares in builds: https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/gaucho-cj-stepside-pickup-build.709132/ older version: https://forum.aev-conversions.com/forum/all-aev-products/brute-and-brute-double-cab-pickup-discussion/397-not-quite-a-brute and he was offering them to some S10 guys to try out: https://www.s10forum.com/threads/retro-stepside-s10.421964/ I don't know him, but remember him from Pirate, and maybe even back in the Jeepsunlimited days, lots of talent for design and was always eager to share his ideas. He had some awesome CJ/Wrangler hard tops reproduced, and designed some Jeep trailers in Fiberglass too. Always very nice, high quality stuff.

My first choice for a non-Jeep truck would be:

I've never had a Renix computer go bad on me (yet), but is your mechanic pretty sure that whatever caused the last one to fry won't blow up the next one too?

Thanks ghinmi for the explanation, I guessed there was an answer for your approach with this build. I would love to do a similar (but far less amazing!) turbo Cherokee/Comanche, knowing what the differences are is helpful. And thanks for all the thread updates, it really is amazing to see all the attention to detail as the build unfolds.

Thanks Eagle Scout! Very interesting to see how some of these were optioned out! Nice that you were able to confirm it as a Florida truck as well.

Thanks Eaglescout! and Fiat! that seems like an awful lot of codes for just one vehicle, is that normal? & I didn't see where it said what model it was, I believe this one had the hockey stick PIONEER decals (I'll post a pic if/when I find it)

I really like them, and think they would look great on the trail truck, but being LED only is a dealbreaker for me. at $300-ish a set, & I'm guessing they won't be replaceable one side at a time if they get smashed. + I'd rather not deal with LED's when it comes to blinkers, etc. (backup lights yes, blinkers, no). So I'm not holding my breath, but hopefully they think about expanding their market by offering the tailights themselves with conventional sockets in them (assuming the plastic is high temp rated), and sell them one at a time for replacement purposes. I am very glad to see another company taking a chance on us though

I bought this one in 1996 with 87K miles, it still lives on in other Jeeps, but most of it finally went off to the big Jeep Farm in the sky around 2004: 1J7FT36L9KL465542 1989 2wd MJ Longbed P1 Black Pioneer Light Grey Interior Bench Seat Mini-Console Roll up windows Renix 4.0L Peugeot 5spd 3.07 geared D35 Body was a little rough for a 7 year old truck, but I think I paid $1200. Engine had copper showing on the rod bearings at 87K miles, but a CarFax showed the mileage was right

I found an old note with the VIN of this one on it from back in 1996: 1JTMW64P9JT163724 1988 2wd MJ Shortbed Colorado Red Light Grey interior bench seat mini-console roll up windows Renix 4.0L Peugeot 5 speed 3.07 geared D35 I remember it well because the body was good, had one repaint in a slightly darker shade, tinted windows, may have originally been a Florida truck. Pretty sure it's long gone now, just wondering what it was (I'm guessing a Pioneer)

It's been a pretty good Father/son project so far (while we wait to start on the Chief......) Just to put all the specs, work done & future work in one place: info: 2000 4dr XJ Forest Green Pearlcoat Dark Slate/Agate interior 280K miles 4.0L w/miss & slight rap AW4 Auto LP 30 front/8.25 Rear 3.55's w/Aussie Lockers Ft & Rear (front in box) 4.5" Rough Country short arm lift w/rear springs new 33x10.5-15 BFG AT's on American Racing Atlas wheels Factory (long) slip yoke, with T-case drop some rot, rear bumper/quarter munched also came with set of newish 225/75-15's (now on the Chief) and a big box of spare parts/uninstalled new parts. ^Paid $1000 in 2020 2020-2022: Jeep mostly sat in back yard waiting Fixed rear bumper, pulled quarter out cut out rotted rocker Cleared out mouse nests Sept 2022- Dec 2022: Swapped in: 2001 4.0L (52k miles) New Waterpump 1998 AW4 (90k miles) 1987 NP231 (for older style slip yoke) removed t-case drop Dropped lift to 3.5-4" (removed 1 rear leaf, RE Ft Coils) Burned in new inner and outer passengers side rockers new front floors new front ACC Carper (black) LED Headlights JKS Disconnects Longer rubber ft brake lines replaced front steel lines with Copper/Nickel used Keyless entry module from 2001 Swapped black 1998 header panel on after using too-short Harbor Freight 1ton engine crane to pull old engine (damaged 2000 green header panel) Jan 2023 Installed BPI Front bumper 6000lb rear receiver hitch Swapped wheels & tires a few times (Snow tires for now) Speakers & Stereo LED Foglights Swapped out bad steering wheel Next stuff & later stuff: Clearance/adjust lift height for 33's Front brake pads Re-cover headliner fix speaker wires to ft passenger door 32 spline HD T-case output + Double Cardan rear shaft longer rubber rear brake line put front Aussie locker in at some point recharge & diagnose A/C

Wow Ghinmi, you're killing it with this build! Very nice work all around! I miss reading your stuff on the AMC Forum, so I'm glad to see what you're doing with an MJ. I have a couple questions though if you don't mind: Is the PT Cruizer/SRT-4 (transverse) 2.4L block better/stronger, than a Liberty/TJ 2.4L block? (or is the PT Cruizer/SRT-4 block the same as the KJ/TJ?) I like the idea of this build (a lot!), and wondered if there would be a simpler way to get a PowerTech 2.4L Turbo into an MJ or an XJ. Even if the transverse vs longitudinal blocks are all the same, I'd guess that the front engine accessory layout from a TJ/KJ may be a closer fit out of the box(?), and something like an AR5, or MA5 transmission might work with the Libby/TJ NV1500 bell. I'm not well versed in NV1500 bells, but I think a Supra R154 would even bolt up if input shafts could be swapped. I know you are building this around an automatic, so that part wouldn't really apply to your build, and sorry to sidetrack this thread, but I'm really interested in this swap and there's not a ton of info out there on these engines. Thanks!

Hey Neohic thanks for remembering me Yeah Jake is better at crawling around on the cold unheated garage floor this time of the year, so he does a lot of the wrenching, while I point and complain he's doing it wrong That old Red MJ was put together when decent Comanches could be found for $500, and parts Cherokees were everywhere, so not everything was done to be a work of art The YJ/CJ bed bar was stick welded together outside in a rainstorm the night before a trail ride, I always worried about the little MJ cab not holding up to a rollover, and figured it was time for a little insurance. I still read Comanche Club from time to time, but hadn't looked up the old password till now. Glad to see some of the old guys are still around with lots of great new members keeping the place going strong.

Get well soon Don!!! Sorry to hear you're having a tough time, take it slow and steady, this place needs you back to show the young guys what Chrome is all about. Get stronger every day sir there's lots and lots more World Champion Red Sox to enjoy in the coming year.