[Jeepers28]

I know there was a thread on this, but that was for a TJ not a YJ. So I would like to know is there any "junkyard" mods that can be performed to the YJ series of Wranglers to enhance the look, drive, ride height, or anything else?

[Brandon_YJ]

Ummm, find a modded YJ in the boneyard and strip all the goodies off of it?
Actually...
2 of the best boneyard mods (for the 258) are the "Team Rush" mod and the 4.0 head swap.
Sometimes you can find chrome air cleaners, aftermarket valve covers, CB antennas, etc if the yard hasn't been stripped yet.

[Jeepers28]

team rush mod? what is that? I'm relatively new to the jeep world.

[Burnerman]

Ford 8.8 axle swap.
90-95 lands you drum brakes on a stronger axle with the same bolt pattern. 95-99 Explorer gets you rear disc brakes as a bonus.
Seats from a Pontiac Sunfire and a Chevy Cavalier are supposed to bolt right in.

[Brandon_YJ]

The Team Rush mod is:
It's an ignition mod (upgrade) for the 258ci engine (4.2L) that replaces the rotor, cap, coil, and wires to those used in a certain Ford truck. Provides better spark, among other advantages.
You can Google it, or search the forum here for it, but it looks like you have a 4.0 so there's no benefit for you (as if it could even be done on a 4.0).

[TheRobster]

Seats. I just put in a pair from a 97 Sunfire RS.

Electric cooling fan from a 3.3 L Ford Torus. I grabbed one and am waiting for my temp sensor to come in to put it in.

[TheRobster]

Originally Posted by Burnerman

Seats from a Pontiac Sunfire and a Chevy Cavalier are supposed to bolt right in.

Not quite a direct bolt in. At least not in my 89. I had to fab up a couple of small brackets to hold the rear of the seat. I got lucky, in that the drivers seat I pulled had a piece of rectangular stock about 1" by 1/2" by 15" bloted to the bottom of it. I used it to make my rear supports.

[Bgeddes]

8.8, alternators from big old GMs, one I haven't tried is Isuzu Amigo springs as a lift. GM blower motors, Ford Rad fans....

[Gearhead22]

I did the Motrocraft 2150 swap with adapter plate and carb kit. very happy with it. i'm sure i was under $100 for everthing including the 26 oz. bottle of Gibsons Finest whisky i gave the old guy for the carb If you are interested there is lots of info on the web, and here at JF, i'm sure. The carb tag on mine was E3-TE ('83 full size ford passenger car), but the critical info you need is that the carb must be stamped '1.08' on the side of the body.

[Gunbunny]

Originally Posted by Jeepers28

I know there was a thread on this, but that was for a TJ not a YJ. So I would like to know is there any "junkyard" mods that can be performed to the YJ series of Wranglers to enhance the look, drive, ride height, or anything else?

HEI distributor from a late 70/early 80 GM 6 cylinder. Be careful of the HEI distributor you get - it needs to be from a straight 6 (not a V6) - they extend different amounts into the engine. You want the one with the short extension.

Team this with a Motorcraft 2100 carb and you have a completely different vehicle (performance wise).

[JeepsOLot]

Speaking of seat, I had a friend of mine put Pontiac Grand Am GT seats in his '78 CJ5, and he LOVES them!! Is the Ford 8.8 a true bolt in? I thought you had to do some mods to the spring perches to make it work. Is that right? Thanks.

Jerry

[FunkSkunk]

you are correct, there's some fabbin' to do on an 8.8 but it's closer to bolt in than almost any other axle. Same wheel bolt pattern as a jeep 4.5 on 5 and it's almost exactly the same width as your rear (actually it's like a half inch or inch or something like that skinny) but you won't know it just looking at it.

[jgillespie]

IIRC the perches have to be refabbed to run for SUA suspension...of course unless you are one of the lucky SOA people.