Pete M
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- S/E Michigan
The players:
-86 MJ; 180k+ mile 2.8l, no wiring harness or dash (previous owner removed them after a fire in the harness and then never put them back since it ran good enough for farm work, I've since added wires to the lights and what-not to make the truck street worthy), it is 4wd but that feature has never been used in the 6 years I've owned her and I hardly need it now that I have the 88 around. I originally bought her to haul rocks and dirt around (metric tonne).
-91 S-10; A truck that my uncle owns, mild hit in the front drivers side, ~100k mile 4.3l, 2wd auto, been sitting for the last couple years, I can get it practically free
What I want:
I'd like to make the 86 driveable again. The carbed 2.8 is tempermental at best and not exactly something you'd want to commute with. I'd like to swap the 4.3l/700r4 and the entire wire harness (maybe even the dash too) into the MJ. This won't happen for a couple months at the earliest so I have plenty of time to think about it and take measurements and what-not.
The questions and my thoughts:
Finding an online write-up with pictures would be sweet, but maybe that's shooting a bit too high. The most detailed lists I've found so far are the AdvanceAdapter info and YellaHeep's comments here: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=206168#post206168
What has everyone done with the exhaust manifolds? I remember hearing somewhere that only the drivers side will need replacement? AA recommends ones from a 78 Malibu classic but I've read that an Astro manifold works too. The AA headers are out of the question for cost reasons.
What about the radiator? I know that a brand new stock-size one is insufficient for offroading, but what about for highway use? Or do I have that backwards and the highway use is worse?
What about connecting the S-10 steering pump to the MJ box?
I refuse to pay anyone $170 for motor mounts so I'll be fabbing those up. The AA motor mounts drop the engine too low anyway. The MJ won't be getting a lift anytime soon and AA requires 3 inches to clear the suspension. I'm much more willing to modify the hood to clear the top of the engine if it is indeed that close. This MJ is far, FAR from being a beauty queen so no worries there. What exactly are the clearance issues with the firewall? Why is it that the AA mounts are so low? Is it simply to allow use of the mechanical fan? Couldn't the engine be pushed forward a bit? If it comes down to it, firewall mods are ok with me if it helps out with the rest of the build.
Do you think I could use the S-10's steering column? Wishful thinking? That would simplify my wiring immensely.
I plan on using an electric fan, so I won't have to mess with the mechanical one at all. I won't have to build a shroud, and don't have to worry about fan clearance with the rad or hood.
I was thinking of just adding an inline fuel pump.
Oh, and the tranny mount/crossmember, rear shaft, and the rest of the exhaust are fairly straight forward. I'd like to just copy what I did to my 88.
This is a budget build for sure. Normally swapping in the 4.3l is reasonably expensive, but since I'm using all the S-10 wiring, keeping it 2wd,, going with the auto and fabbing my own mounts, I hope to keep everything under control. Heck, with a bit of ingenuity, I might even get A/C! It's not required, but both trucks had A/C so it should be possible with some effort.
Please don't bother with recommending other possible engine swaps (like the 3.4, which I know all about), this is the only one being considered because the S-10 is free and complete. If the S-10 doesn't live up to my expectations (I'm going over there tomorrow to try and fire it up), the MJ with remain as-is and I'll just go ahead with commuting in the minivan (gag). Maybe someday I'll continue the swap and make it 4x4 again, but for the time being I'd like to give the ol' girl a new lease on life.
Jeep on!
--Pete
-86 MJ; 180k+ mile 2.8l, no wiring harness or dash (previous owner removed them after a fire in the harness and then never put them back since it ran good enough for farm work, I've since added wires to the lights and what-not to make the truck street worthy), it is 4wd but that feature has never been used in the 6 years I've owned her and I hardly need it now that I have the 88 around. I originally bought her to haul rocks and dirt around (metric tonne).
-91 S-10; A truck that my uncle owns, mild hit in the front drivers side, ~100k mile 4.3l, 2wd auto, been sitting for the last couple years, I can get it practically free
What I want:
I'd like to make the 86 driveable again. The carbed 2.8 is tempermental at best and not exactly something you'd want to commute with. I'd like to swap the 4.3l/700r4 and the entire wire harness (maybe even the dash too) into the MJ. This won't happen for a couple months at the earliest so I have plenty of time to think about it and take measurements and what-not.
The questions and my thoughts:
Finding an online write-up with pictures would be sweet, but maybe that's shooting a bit too high. The most detailed lists I've found so far are the AdvanceAdapter info and YellaHeep's comments here: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=206168#post206168
What has everyone done with the exhaust manifolds? I remember hearing somewhere that only the drivers side will need replacement? AA recommends ones from a 78 Malibu classic but I've read that an Astro manifold works too. The AA headers are out of the question for cost reasons.
What about the radiator? I know that a brand new stock-size one is insufficient for offroading, but what about for highway use? Or do I have that backwards and the highway use is worse?
What about connecting the S-10 steering pump to the MJ box?
I refuse to pay anyone $170 for motor mounts so I'll be fabbing those up. The AA motor mounts drop the engine too low anyway. The MJ won't be getting a lift anytime soon and AA requires 3 inches to clear the suspension. I'm much more willing to modify the hood to clear the top of the engine if it is indeed that close. This MJ is far, FAR from being a beauty queen so no worries there. What exactly are the clearance issues with the firewall? Why is it that the AA mounts are so low? Is it simply to allow use of the mechanical fan? Couldn't the engine be pushed forward a bit? If it comes down to it, firewall mods are ok with me if it helps out with the rest of the build.
Do you think I could use the S-10's steering column? Wishful thinking? That would simplify my wiring immensely.
I plan on using an electric fan, so I won't have to mess with the mechanical one at all. I won't have to build a shroud, and don't have to worry about fan clearance with the rad or hood.
I was thinking of just adding an inline fuel pump.
Oh, and the tranny mount/crossmember, rear shaft, and the rest of the exhaust are fairly straight forward. I'd like to just copy what I did to my 88.
This is a budget build for sure. Normally swapping in the 4.3l is reasonably expensive, but since I'm using all the S-10 wiring, keeping it 2wd,, going with the auto and fabbing my own mounts, I hope to keep everything under control. Heck, with a bit of ingenuity, I might even get A/C! It's not required, but both trucks had A/C so it should be possible with some effort.
Please don't bother with recommending other possible engine swaps (like the 3.4, which I know all about), this is the only one being considered because the S-10 is free and complete. If the S-10 doesn't live up to my expectations (I'm going over there tomorrow to try and fire it up), the MJ with remain as-is and I'll just go ahead with commuting in the minivan (gag). Maybe someday I'll continue the swap and make it 4x4 again, but for the time being I'd like to give the ol' girl a new lease on life.
Jeep on!
--Pete
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