strokedwoody
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- greensboro,NC
After several years of wheeling the unibody on my 87xj has had it. Full of dents and battle wounds, I decided to get an MJ, less body and glass. My plans are to remove the bed, tube the rear and incorperate an exocage into it.Currently my xj has a full width 9" in the rear,44 front using all the factory mounting points. One of my concerns is rear springs,I currently have bigoffroad 8" leafs, from taking a quick look at the MJ I bought (I don't have it at my shop yet) it doesn't look like I will be able to reuse my rear springs. If that's the case I plan on 3 link in the rear and swayaways. This would also get me back to the 108 to 110" wheel base I was hoping to have. Another concern is are there any differences in the front end set up on an MJ? doesn't look like it to me,but figure I better be prepared if there is. Is the steering box mounted in the same way and will my current steering set up gong to work as well?(it should if the box is mounted in the same way it is on my xj).It may all be identical to an XJ, it looks like it is to me, with exception of the rear end.
I plan on using my current drive train also,(a fresh stroker motor with about 200 miles on it,auto, and 231)I'm sure I'll have to retube the rear driveshaft. the MJ is an 88, looks to me like I can use the same harness and connections and just pull my motor,trans, and t-case together, drop it in , plug it in and roll, am I missing anything?
I plan on pulling the drivetrain,bed and sending the cab to be painted(deep burgundy with large metal flakes,bass boat stlye) the building the exocage and rocker protection. Then building my rear suspension, if the leafs won't work. Finally taking a weekend or two for swapping in my axles and drivetrain from my XJ. If I'm overlooking something please advise me. I'm posting b/c I know someone has done this already, as I said my main concern is the rear suspension,I'd like to keep my leafs if possible to keep from dumping a lot of cash in it all at once. The beauty of this is I got the running MJ with 98k , 4.0, 4wd,auto with air ,for $300.I couldn't pass it up. Also the cage from my XJ and all the drivetrain parts from this MJ will be for sale. For those who have seen my XJ "BIGWOODY" the cage is very well built DOM wich I can cut out in about two or three pieces. Thanx in advance for the help.
I plan on using my current drive train also,(a fresh stroker motor with about 200 miles on it,auto, and 231)I'm sure I'll have to retube the rear driveshaft. the MJ is an 88, looks to me like I can use the same harness and connections and just pull my motor,trans, and t-case together, drop it in , plug it in and roll, am I missing anything?
I plan on pulling the drivetrain,bed and sending the cab to be painted(deep burgundy with large metal flakes,bass boat stlye) the building the exocage and rocker protection. Then building my rear suspension, if the leafs won't work. Finally taking a weekend or two for swapping in my axles and drivetrain from my XJ. If I'm overlooking something please advise me. I'm posting b/c I know someone has done this already, as I said my main concern is the rear suspension,I'd like to keep my leafs if possible to keep from dumping a lot of cash in it all at once. The beauty of this is I got the running MJ with 98k , 4.0, 4wd,auto with air ,for $300.I couldn't pass it up. Also the cage from my XJ and all the drivetrain parts from this MJ will be for sale. For those who have seen my XJ "BIGWOODY" the cage is very well built DOM wich I can cut out in about two or three pieces. Thanx in advance for the help.