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My 5.2 Build Thread

13K views 116 replies 17 participants last post by  Myusername1674 
#1 ·
Bought it Mid-October for $1900 had 170k miles. The guy didn't like American made vehicles and had to drive distances to work. He already had a Toyota sitting in his drive.

Positives: New breaks, new muffler, new cat (neither are anything fancy), new 4WD switch, new headers, newer spark wires, new Die Hard Gold battery, and other little things.

Negatives: Plastic bumper is cracked (but stable), oil pan gasket leak, multiple dead interior lights, VIC being a VIC, crappy aftermarket radio, all 4 Infinity speakers blown, front leather seats are ripped, Good Year tires all with low & different tread wear & LEAKY, factory spare tire, VERY first owner was a smoker, dash heat doesn't work (floor and windshield work), A/C needs to be re-charged, front door pins need replacing, small/normal Wisconsin rust spots, rims weren't well taken care of, and probably other minor things.

Found the date on the PCM and Infinity amp of March 23, 1995. I'm assuming this is when she was born?

How she sat after buying:
 

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#83 ·
Good luck I always hate trans pan leaks. On mine I dropped the pan multiple times before realizing the quick disconnect fittings that tap into the tranny that the tranny cooler lines hook to were leaking. Replaced those and so far so good. Just something to keep ur eye on

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#86 ·
Oh haha I had looked at another users pictures thinking they were yours. Do you have pictures of the stock sized tires with 2" bb? I have stock tires and want to bb (might buy 1.75" spacer ) but it would be some time before I can buy tires
 
#90 ·
Got home from work today and checked the pan. Found some slow drips :( I wiped around the pan edge and got some red. Decided to grab the torque wrench and check the torque. I didn't budge the dial AT ALL and all of those bolts needed at least one full turn to be 12.5ft-lbs. The temperature got to a little below forty last night, then back up to fifty today, let alone the tranny warming up to high temperatures driving at 50mph. I'm assuming this is normal, and hopefully that is the reason it was leaking.
 
#94 ·
Oh I hand threaded criss cross, then ratcheted criss cross, then final torqued criss cross! Today when I retorqued I criss crossed too. The pan was bone dry when I left work too. Kinda weird but hope the retorque takes care of it. If not I guess ill baby the fluid all winter then try again in spring. All out of love for the vehicle xD
 
#104 ·
The tread on those looks like the tread on the Badyears the PO threw on the jeep. I didn't like em and thy weren't to good in the snow. But then again with multiple tread depths and being leaky along with the rims, I would never truly know.

Drove to school today, and still saw a little pan leak. Tomorrow I'm going to try to re-torque again and see what happens. I'm regretting not using RTV now :thumbdown:

Either that or it wasn't flat. Using a steel ruler across each hole all turned up level. If I turn it upside down on the flat drive, it would rock a little bit. From what I under stood "check for flatness across each bolt hole" meant what I did with the ruler. I took my dads + uncles advice that "the bolts take care of that" and put it up knowing it rocked when put on level ground.
 
#108 ·
Got a car wash and did an oil change today. Found a can of under-body protector and sprayed it on the inside bottom edges of all four doors and the lift gate. Had some rust there, even though the spray won't help much it was free as far as I'm concerned. She's pretty much all ready for winter.

Going to look into swapping in a 242 or 231 then putting a locker in my front axle...work to be done next summer. Currently going to buy some 100W KC fog lights to replace the factory ones. Later down the road I'll throw on matching driving lights and mount all four on the bumper.
 
#109 ·
Finally got a deal lined up to buy a used hitch! Only a year old! And he's throwin in the wiring! Still wish my jeep was under the recall...college students can use freebies >.<

I liked the spray job I did on the doors and found another can of that rubber protector stuff. Can I apply this to the underbody? (Obviously not around bolts n stuff)
 
#110 ·
I sprayed mine down with underbody rubber ****. Itll help quiet and protect. Spray it on everything but any lines and you tcase/trans. Bolts will be fine, youll be able to get a socket back on em in the future when needed.
 
#112 ·
Haven't been on this thread in awhile! Had to replace my water pump at the beginning of the month. Also one of my cheapo front shocks blew out, bought replacement Doetsch front shocks and going to throw some hockey pucks on for extended bump stops.

Holidays came and I sold some things online so I had some green to spend. New KOR rad support, IRO 2" extended front sway links, and some Mossy Oak Break up Infinity car sticker sheets to cover up all that fake wood on the interior! Will post pics when everything is on.

Also, the plasti-dip on the wheels is holding up GREAT to the salty Wisconsin roads!
 
#113 ·
Weather conditions are making it impossible to install all my holiday goodies. Decided to not buy the Mossy oak sticker sheets, just going to paint the fake wood black. Its cheaper and will look better! Also my friggen tail pipe hanger busted off and took a chunk of the pipe with it. Not sure if it was stock or not, but the whole thing is pretty horrible. Since the weather isn't good and I can't occupy the garage long enough to fiddle with rust bolts, gotta have a shop do it! Good thing the pipe is clamped and not welded to the muffler! Saves me money since the last owner already replaced the cat and muffler before I bought it, I guess they figured sticking an old tail pipe back on was a good idea -.-
 
#114 ·
Its a blizzard here in wisconsin! Just the perfect day for my rear wiper motor burn out. I threw a new one in there, but couldn't see crap out my back window when I was driving!!! Now my wiper zips pretty fast! Lastly found out my plenum gasket isn't shot, but that means I have another leak.

Can't wait til spring! Itching to do more mods!
 
#115 ·
Good news for me, found my oil leak. It was right in front of me the whole time! Literally! Center-line down from the water pump, looks like its the oil pan gasket I replaced :brickwall This sucks. At least its not major! I also got my exhaust re-done. High flow cat and Dynomax Super Turbo muffler and a more open tail pipe. Gives the 5.2L a nice tone but doesn't over kill it. Its not as loud as I was expecting but I am actually pleased with the outcome. It will get somewhat louder when I bedline the floors anyway. Everything is tucked up more and beautifully welded together! Won't have to worry about exhaust problems for a few years now! :D
 
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