Purcell69
10-22-2011, 04:13 PM
Hello to all. I've been lurking around the XJ forums a bit researching for some ideas on my latest project.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0145.jpg
Early last year, I was given an '86 XJ with a bad 2.8L engine. The little Jeep had less than 90k miles, one owner, and no rust. At the same time, I acquired a 1985 XJ that had alreay been through a transplant. The 2.5L had been replaced with a GM 3.4L crate motor hooked up to a 700R4 and T-case from an S-10. This one had a bad tranny and would be pretty much an organ donor, with a potential 4.3 build down the road.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0151-1.jpg
The Parts Department had a hard life. It was used as a work truck for a farrier, so the back was littered with old nails from horse shoes, and seldom saw maintenance other than an oil change. It had even been used to drag a two horse trailer, (which probably explains the bad transmission).
The Project on the other hand had been a tow-behind-the-RV baby until the engine went out. From there it was parked and the windows were boarded up from the inside to protect the interior from the sun, (who does that?!) The owner was going to give it to his granddaughter with a new motor, but she thumbed her nose at it. He knew I've got a thing for Jeeps (these became my 3rd and 4th XJs), and asked if I was interested in it. Aside from the bad motor, the right rear window had been broken by a stone tossed from the lawn mower (which he promptly replaced with a piece of plywood to keep weather out), and the latch in the rear hatch needed repair.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0189.jpg
All of this comes about as my daughter is learning to drive and the coordination for manipulating the 5 speed in my 1993 ZJ is lacking. An automatic may be a better starting place for her. Knowing new drivers are spatially challenged, I opted to remove most of the body panels from the Parts Department to keep as spares for the Project.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0185.jpg
I also took the right rear window I needed, as well as the swing away spare tire carrier and chrome bumper.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0190.jpg
I even cut out the latch mount from the rear hatch on the Parts Department to use for a repair on the Project. I would have taken the whole rear hatch, but the fiberglass near the hinges is badly cracked and leaking.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0188.jpg
So far, the motor swap is almost complete, the spare tire mount and bumper have been moved over, the rear window has been replaced, and I am currently working on the latch mount for the rear hatch. Once everything checks out, I'll be adding a 3" lift and some 31's on the stock steel 5 spoke rims.
-Joe
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0145.jpg
Early last year, I was given an '86 XJ with a bad 2.8L engine. The little Jeep had less than 90k miles, one owner, and no rust. At the same time, I acquired a 1985 XJ that had alreay been through a transplant. The 2.5L had been replaced with a GM 3.4L crate motor hooked up to a 700R4 and T-case from an S-10. This one had a bad tranny and would be pretty much an organ donor, with a potential 4.3 build down the road.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0151-1.jpg
The Parts Department had a hard life. It was used as a work truck for a farrier, so the back was littered with old nails from horse shoes, and seldom saw maintenance other than an oil change. It had even been used to drag a two horse trailer, (which probably explains the bad transmission).
The Project on the other hand had been a tow-behind-the-RV baby until the engine went out. From there it was parked and the windows were boarded up from the inside to protect the interior from the sun, (who does that?!) The owner was going to give it to his granddaughter with a new motor, but she thumbed her nose at it. He knew I've got a thing for Jeeps (these became my 3rd and 4th XJs), and asked if I was interested in it. Aside from the bad motor, the right rear window had been broken by a stone tossed from the lawn mower (which he promptly replaced with a piece of plywood to keep weather out), and the latch in the rear hatch needed repair.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0189.jpg
All of this comes about as my daughter is learning to drive and the coordination for manipulating the 5 speed in my 1993 ZJ is lacking. An automatic may be a better starting place for her. Knowing new drivers are spatially challenged, I opted to remove most of the body panels from the Parts Department to keep as spares for the Project.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0185.jpg
I also took the right rear window I needed, as well as the swing away spare tire carrier and chrome bumper.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0190.jpg
I even cut out the latch mount from the rear hatch on the Parts Department to use for a repair on the Project. I would have taken the whole rear hatch, but the fiberglass near the hinges is badly cracked and leaking.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh221/Noble413/White%20Jeep/IMG_0188.jpg
So far, the motor swap is almost complete, the spare tire mount and bumper have been moved over, the rear window has been replaced, and I am currently working on the latch mount for the rear hatch. Once everything checks out, I'll be adding a 3" lift and some 31's on the stock steel 5 spoke rims.
-Joe