So here she is . I just pulled it to the car wash to hose out the engine bay for an engine swap . It was covered in snow when I bought it , and until a few days ago , still had a full box full . But , it was time to clean it up .
With so many choices , it was hard to know where to start . For now , I bought a replacement engine with 95K . It's just a 2.5 but it will work for this summer and to keep it mobile while I build it . It's getting moved to the garage today and from there will begin the swap .
Stage 1 includes
A , get it running .
B , work out any bugs to make it roadworthy
C , start swapping 98 XJ door and header parts
D , prep and paint
Stage 2 will include
A , interior swap from the 98
B , powertrain swap with a 4.0/AW4/231/D44/HPnondisco30
C , lift it and run 32's
I have most everything for both stages , yes , that's another MJ behind the XJ .
The spots you see were the PO's touch ups with por-15 , except for the shady tree patch job on the doors , not sure what the plan was there , lol . No matter to me , the XJ doors are clean
Hopefully the engine is in and running tomorrow or Friday . :thumbsup:
Yesturday I decided to get a new clutch and have the flywheel resurfaced .
Never got alot done except some cleaning and brackets swapping .
Funny how the 88MJ had a sepentine belt system , and the 90YJ didn't . Tha harmonic balancer has to be swapped also . Had I'd of thought about it , I would have got a new seal . Fingers crossed it done leak , lol .
This was the old clutch . I was gonna use it but figured I'd be changing it out sooner than later
This morning I just have to align the clutch , pin everything together and drop her in .
I bought new oil , plugs , cap , rotor , fuel conditioner and gear oil for the rear so far . Still a few things to get , I might need a starter me thinks .
yesterday i saw a flat black MJ on 35''s look really good, i think there might of been a small block under the hood though, sounded a little meaner than a 4.0
Your project is giving me inspiration to start working on my jeeps again, i am on day 10 off pulling my transfer case:rofl: Sold the diesel so my next project is twin centrifugal supers on the v10.
I'll never stuff 35's , my plan is to do as little lift as possible to run 32's , maybe 3".
Anyways , the engine is in , and it fired up . Made me sweat a little , and the starts seem slower than they should , but , the gas is old , and I still haven't installed the new cap and rotor . I suppose I should have got a fuel filter also , I just wasn't thinking about it . It's a curse living in the country .
Still have the rad and hoses to install , then bleed the clutch . Should be having a test drive tonite , or , wait till morning .
Gonna need a little exhaust work , the muffler is falling apart , now I get to try out my auto-dark sheild
Ha ha . That almost happened but it was a day after I bought the 2.5 . There was a 94 ImpalaSS for $1200 , hit in the d/s rear door . Would have made a nice swap .
Don't need the V8 in this one , 2 Grand's are plenty for me , lol . This one is economical . I like it just as it is to be honest .
This is stage one . Stage 2 get's the 4.0 . I'm gonna rebuild most everything before I tear the MJ back down .
Good to hear from someone from home . I'm originally from Burin , you ?
Yeah its gonna be a great little rig. Do it however YOU want it.
I'm out in Rocky Harbour in Gros Morne, getting ready for a snow storm it seems. I bet you dont miss that!
The 4.0 will be nice when you get it done. I swapped in a V8 in my YJ. I did a full frame off last year. Just stuck in a carbed 305 that I had, but did a proper job of the mounts and trans mount etc, with intention of doing a stage 2 as well. I put 6000 Kms on the 305 and the jeep is workin out, so I just pulled the 305 and ordered a new GM crate engine, 5.7 Vortec and I'm doing the Affordable Fuel injection Multi Port Injection. Its costin a bit, but I went from 3 vehicles to 2 and now the Jeep is gonna be my daily driver. It should dead nuts reliable when its done....Hopefully :2thumbsup:
Nice thing about stickin in a V8, your options a limitless as almost anything fits!
We had enough snow here this year for me , it's finally starting to melt off a little , .
Got an issue now . Seems I'm building pressure in the cooling system and loosing circulation due to air lock . I've bled it out and figure now the head gasket is leaking into the water jacket . Curses , I just wanted this to run OK to see if I like it enough to keep going on the build . Now I'm ready to toss the lot and scrap it down for the proper 98 complete swap .
The guy I bought this engine from said he would pay for new gaskets , I suppose the head gasket isn't that hard to do on a 4 banger . Effin thing , I'll have so much into this powertrain I'll need to drive it a few years to get some money back
Good news . Discovered the water pump has a reverse rotation , the YJ was standard . "New" water pump should fix things up . It's at the parts place for p/u first thing in the morning .
I also took a walk though the pick-n-pull . Found a 1990 YJ with a 5 speed . I'm gonna nab that trans and turn the MJ 4X4 . It's only $130 and it has the starter too which is only $26 more . Mine sounds bad
I think I'll drop some 4:10's in the front axle to match the rear , if the rear turns out to be quiet after it's on the road .
Good news . Discovered the water pump has a reverse rotation , the YJ was standard . "New" water pump should fix things up . It's at the parts place for p/u first thing in the morning .
I also took a walk though the pick-n-pull . Found a 1990 YJ with a 5 speed . I'm gonna nab that trans and turn the MJ 4X4 . It's only $130 and it has the starter too which is only $26 more . Mine sounds bad
I think I'll drop some 4:10's in the front axle to match the rear , if the rear turns out to be quiet after it's on the road .
this is gonna be a great build, I want one of these so bad to build for myself.. i'm thinking 4bt or a Mercedes Benz 5 cylinder diesel would be an awesome swap!
Good to hear is was simple. I am surprised it makes that much of a difference, I thought there would be cooling issues, but I wouldn't of expected it would build pressure like that.
Yeah , I was surprise too . It was a learning experience for sure . Got the interior out . Remember that "minor repair I was talking about , see second pic
I did a small patch on the pass side . It wasn't a hole , but close enough . Need to grab some rock-guard now and spray it .
Meanwhile , I'm swapping out the bucket and console from the 91 . The console is not in great shape , it cracked in 2 places . however , I may be able to use the one from the 98XJ even though it's automatic . I'd get a 'handbrake' and 2 cupholders . I hate the foot e-brake on a manual . I have seen the write-up on it and I can use the original MJ brake cable
Got the buckets in place now . I have no carpet worthy of going back in so I guess that's going on my 'to-order' list . The inside is done for me now until I start wiring on the power windows . Things were outta hand messy in my garage so I took a few hours and cleaned things up . With the garage cleaned up , I can pull the XJ in along side the MJ and begin swapping some updated body panels . Possibly swap front diffs while it's in there . Hopefully tonite I'll have some pics of the parts on . That's my day so far
Pics to follow , cam's battery is dead , someone forgot to recharge it .
The doors and hood should go on tomorrow . The XJ stuff was just laid on there and a few things adjusted . I accually had to grind off a little from the top edge on the XJ fender to close the door gap enough . Driver's side fit like a glove :dunno:
Here's a few pics of the process :
You'll need to change these brackets off the XJ to attach the fenders .
Don't for get you vacumn cylider thingy , lol . It attaches to the bumper . Holes are in the XJ bumper , but , in a slightly different location . You can utilize the same location though .
MJ , naked :shhh:
Once the doors and hood go on , I'm gonna rock guard the inner wheel wells , inside the flares , and the inner fender bottoms . Then , re-install the inner fender sheilds , do a final line up of the body parts and tighten everything down .
After that comes the grueling task of wiring in the front lights , power windows , and power mirrors . I have a friend for such tasks
Here's a few pics of the hood alignment . I took hinges and all from the XJ . Made for a super easy swap which I did alone . I simple bolted it on and closed the hood . I didn't even have to tweek the fenders . I was very pleased
Looks good , I'm amazed how well the body lines match. Guess i need to source a xj now. The kid that i bought my mj off of just did the 97+ grill; It doesn't look bad but bothers me, plus full sized windows and mirrors would be nice...
did you/can you swap the lock cylinders? (or ignition/glovebox for single key?)
I have yet to check to see if the lock cylinders can be swapped . I can live with a spare key , but ,, it would be nice .
The wiring is yet to be started , but , it all must operate . I have the XJ to follow for the wires . Doubt it will get keyless entry .
Body lines came out great , when it does get paint , you won't see anything . I've even tweeked the pass fender after seeing the pic above , lol . It's flush now
I also just installed the center console from the XJ . Got a decent fit , and it's bolted down . I took the auto shifter plate and remover the center . Then , installed the boot in it and it looks great . Ahhh yes , cup holders , very important to a coffee addict , lol . Pics later .
I kinda wanna do the dash install , but I have a feeling , that's coming in stage 2 . It's definately doable but it means a full wiring and powertrain swap .
I figure I'll drive it for a while and see if I like it first . The XJ is going under a tarp today , sored parts
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