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Project: Timber

High2by

NAXJA Forum User
NAXJA Member
Location
Gassaway TN
Well, I probably should start a build thread on my new MJ. Well obviously not “new” but new to me. It’s an ‘89 Pioneer 2wd. It has a 4.0/AW4 with an 8.8 rear axle with 4.10 gears. It has a little pep off the line but it does run some r’s around 70. I posted a couple pictures already but to keep everything together, here they are again.

Starting point:
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I’ve been making small modifications to it ever since I got it. The first thing I did was to swap the ranger wheels for some Jeep Ravines. I’m running 295/50/15’s on the rear and 255/60/15’s on the front. The rear has 1-1/2” spacers and the front has 1/4” spacers. With the two piece knuckle and hub assembly I needed the 1/4” to make the wheel fit the hub without grinding anything down. Once I get a late model front beam I can do away with those.
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I put in the Hella E-code headlight housings with a set of Osram night breaker H4 bulbs. I also added a new headlight harness with relays and man the headlights are light years ahead of stock. I am super impressed.
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Since my truck is a column shift and I wanted a full gauge cluster, I was out of luck as far as finding a factory cluster, so I made one. I took the old idiot light cluster that came in the truck and took the gear selector out of it and then took a full cluster from a Cherokee and cut a hole in the tach gauge so the selector could be seen. It works great and looks pretty good. I got the idea on Comanche Club.
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All the gauges but fuel work and I think it may be the sending unit. Still have to figure that out but with a working trip meter, I know when to fill up. It’s getting about 18.5 MPG. Not the best but with the gearing it’s good enough for now.

I got a set of B-pillar lights and got them installed along with new door jamb switches. Now when you open the doors, yep, I have light. I replaced the bulbs with LED bulbs and I must say I like them.
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One more thing I did was to replace the heater hoses because the ones on it were cruddy looking from the PO swapping to a closed cooling system.
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I’m collecting parts for my next work day and if it stops raining long enough, I’ll get some more stuff done.


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Last edited:
Ohhh, a new build thread!
 
I forgot. I also put in a new valve cover gasket and 1/2 of the vacuum harness on the front on the manifold. I bought the better gasket instead of the old cork ones, they seem to always leak.

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Looking good!
 
mmm... I'm jealous. I should have never sold the comanches I've had.
I bet the 4.10's make that thing launch pretty good. Does is have a limited slip?

It does have the LS diff in it. I need more power to break the tires loose....they are too wide for the old 4.0 I think.
 
Why the name "Timber"?
 
And here I sit in my Hemi Commander getting 12.2 mpg and listening to you bemoan 18.5!
I may drink up the petrol, but I do it with heated seats.

Really though Mark, good job on the MJ so far. Looking forward to watching this one.
 
And here I sit in my Hemi Commander getting 12.2 mpg and listening to you bemoan 18.5!
I may drink up the petrol, but I do it with heated seats.

Really though Mark, good job on the MJ so far. Looking forward to watching this one.

My diesel jetta has heated seats and gets 53 mpg:gee:
Also has 290 ft lbs because turbo diesel, lol...
Now I just need to put that motor in my xj....
 
This morning I put a new lower radiator hose on and a new thermostat in it. The lower hose blew out the first of the week because I think the thermal stuck closed. The old thermostat had two holes drilled it. I guess to get the air out of the system.

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I bought a Mopar OEM thermostat to go back in it. It had the bleed hole already drilled in it but it had a “thingy” in it so it wasn’t an open hole all the time.

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I’m still working on a few things and I’ll post up when I get some of them done.


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Are the E-code housings glass? What did it cost to do the headlight upgrade? I'm guessing these items are from Amazon?
 
Are the E-code housings glass? What did it cost to do the headlight upgrade? I'm guessing these items are from Amazon?



Yes, they are glass, let’s them handle a higher wattage bulb without issues. First thing I got was a wiring harness, $20.00 from EBay. The housings I got from..... I’ll have to check cause I can’t remember but it wasn’t EBay. They came with a set of H4 bulbs and were right at $100.00 shipped. Pricey, maybe but I don’t have to worry about seeing at night. These are the best lights I’ve had on any Jeep I’ve owned.


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Do you have the part numbers by chance?
 
Let me see if I can fine them. Do you have a harness?


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I got some new parts for the truck. I hope to be able to get some of them put in this weekend.

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I’m also gonna try and get my new radio in but it’s all for nothing right now. My alternator took a dive on me so it’s sitting till the new one comes in which will hopefully be tomorrow or Monday.

Such is driving a 30 year old vehicle I guess.


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I take on way too many projects at the same time. My manche needs so much attention and I just bought another one....

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I take on way too many projects at the same time. My manche needs so much attention and I just bought another one....

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Does the MJ run?


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I generally drive it every day, yes sir. I've been fixing small stuf fon it, but it really needs my undivided attention to reach it's full potential.

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