87 Manche

[finneys98xj]

Ok guy here is my 87 Mj the Christmas day after the old lady gave it to me.
Stock 2.5 aw4 2wd. dana 35
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/817/39477262290_418a0fa0ef_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239thHh)20171225_101311 (https://flic.kr/p/239thHh) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/39477250370_cdb1719961_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239teaL)20171225_101317 (https://flic.kr/p/239teaL) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/789/40573267184_03fca37a65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24PjAMo)20171225_101323 (https://flic.kr/p/24PjAMo) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/815/40573258164_2317573f5c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24Pjy6S)20171225_101331 (https://flic.kr/p/24Pjy6S) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/885/27414242068_845c4c8d2a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HLva51)20171225_101333 (https://flic.kr/p/HLva51) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/885/27414242068_845c4c8d2a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HLva51)20171225_101333 (https://flic.kr/p/HLva51) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/900/39477200580_30bc8c6afd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239sYnj)20171225_101340 (https://flic.kr/p/239sYnj) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/41243764452_8c0cfaf8f7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25Qz5g7)20171225_101343 (https://flic.kr/p/25Qz5g7) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/41286927721_f9e7cfc184_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25Uoicp)20171225_101420 (https://flic.kr/p/25Uoicp) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/786/27414023578_cae2269d1b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HLu37W)20171225_101423 (https://flic.kr/p/HLu37W) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/793/41286916101_58482bc8fc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25UoeK4)20171225_101429 (https://flic.kr/p/25UoeK4) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

[finneys98xj]

The next day I yanked out the 4cyl. and pulled a 4.0l out of a 88 xj.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/39477167920_4fba73e0d3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239sNEd)20171225_145826 (https://flic.kr/p/239sNEd) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/895/27414174728_fe915ea70b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HLuP3Y)20171226_172122 (https://flic.kr/p/HLuP3Y) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/41286884301_4cac087fa8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25Uo5hM)20171226_172126 (https://flic.kr/p/25Uo5hM) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/786/26414838507_891612dd76_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GfbXd8)20171227_104959 (https://flic.kr/p/GfbXd8) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/877/39477100200_ff969a5939_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239sswC)20171228_121250 (https://flic.kr/p/239sswC) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

The engine bay being prepped for the 4.0 swap.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/40390171755_21d6b4d5de_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24x9bTD)20171227_221350 (https://flic.kr/p/24x9bTD) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr


https://farm1.staticflickr.com/889/40390157705_9e03fd5e25_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24x97Hp)20171230_170256 (https://flic.kr/p/24x97Hp) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/39477080390_487bc505d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239smD5)20171230_211438 (https://flic.kr/p/239smD5) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

The donor tranny and tcase is an aw4/np231 out of a 97 xj.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/39477065730_4d66609a31_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/239shhj)20180121_143949 (https://flic.kr/p/239shhj) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/784/26414685617_498fb92dbb_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GfbaL6)received_1547602525294655 (https://flic.kr/p/GfbaL6) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

[finneys98xj]

They tranny and engine mated and dropped in.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/41243637402_4c0d90119f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25QyquA)20180128_144645 (https://flic.kr/p/25QyquA) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/809/26414754467_dd5834a8c8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Gfbwea)20180128_154251 (https://flic.kr/p/Gfbwea) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/870/27414050608_fe67323773_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HLub9Y)20180215_113907 (https://flic.kr/p/HLub9Y) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

Im going to run and renix intake the block is a 95 with a 95 head. I went though it before dropping it in. I waiting to get a fuel cell so I can fab up fuel lines and a fuel pump. After that I'll finish putting the intake and stuff on.

The axles are going to be a 78 F250 front d44 with F150 hubs to run 5 lugs, to match the 9 inch rear. I got the front housing for FREE with a machined pass side flat top knuckle. I was originally going to run a tnt truss and clayton longs arms. But after a ton of thinking and budgeting, I'm going to run leafs up front. I have a set of stock yj leafs ready to be mocked up.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/898/41286781911_13ebdc8021_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25UnxRr)20180225_161327 (https://flic.kr/p/25UnxRr) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/819/40573037564_f9f5c61b33_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/24Piqwq)20180225_161331 (https://flic.kr/p/24Piqwq) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

I have a d300 Im going to slowly build so when the 231 fails I have a back up. I hoping to be done around thanksgiving. The end results Im hoping for is the Mj sitting on 37's spool front and rear with 513s.

[4.3LXJ]

Big plans Finney. But you are coming along nicely. Leaves are cheaper and you can go higher easier that way. Looking forward to your progress.

[finneys98xj]

Big plans Finney. But you are coming along nicely. Leaves are cheaper and you can go higher easier that way. Looking forward to your progress.

The height I am going to need was a big part in my decision. Not to mention leaves would knock roughly 2500 off the budget. It took roughly two weeks to get it to the point it is now. I have a pile of parts in my living room waiting for a fuel cell so I can put them on. I'm still undecided on weather to run the bed or flatbed.

[4.3LXJ]

I think a bed would be more classy, but up to you of course. Are you going to run a removable or telescoping track bar for the highway to get rid of bump steer on the highway?

[finneys98xj]

I think a bed would be more classy, but up to you of course. Are you going to run a removable or telescoping track bar for the highway to get rid of bump steer on the highway?

I'm not 100% on the trac bar. The trail guide for our club runs a custom cj10 with the same front axle and leaves. Talking to him, he said not to worry about a trac bar. He's only sitting on 35s. I've also read where guys say screw a trac bar and run hydro assist. I figured I would cross that bridge as needed.
I do plan on running anti wrap bars on the rear, unless the spring perches make it unnoticeable.

I have roughly ten feet of 1/4" x 8" steel I'm going to building the front cross member out of for the shackles. I not 100% on the style shackle Im going to run, yj or xj. I have a set of stock xjs and a set of stock yjs. The xj style would be easy/cheap to mock up and build the mount for, where the yjs would either require more fab or buying a set of mounts. Im wanting to make the front cross member bolt on that way if later I wanted to swap back to coils up front its a matter of swapping the leafs for the stock setup and welding a tnt truss on the axle.

[4.3LXJ]

I was just wondering on that. I remember bump steer quite clearly every time I got to an overpass, that dive to the right.

[finneys98xj]

Well I got the 2wd axle out yesterday. Stuck the leafs in to start the mock up. Got alot of mearsurements so i know what modifications are needed to the front axle. Now just need to order some YJ shackle hangers and a few pieces of metal.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/888/41346419151_2ea12940ed_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/25ZDcVH)Leaf mock up (https://flic.kr/p/25ZDcVH) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

[4.3LXJ]

Now there is an idea. Use the original control arm bracket as a leaf spring mount. Good job on that

[finneys98xj]

I didn't think it was going to be so hard finding a shackle hanger. The control arm mount and reinforced from the factory on a mj but I still plan to add a little more

[finneys98xj]

Well pulled the bed off. I thinking hard about a flat bed it would be so easy to do. Everything is nice and flat. It would give lots of practice welding. I wouldn't have to cut a bed to clear 37's. Anybody have input?

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/808/41398744381_e5371ac029_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/265gooR)Bed off (https://flic.kr/p/265gooR) by Joshua FInney (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141137718@N07/), on Flickr

[4.3LXJ]

There are plusses and minuses. Flat bed can be tough and you can weld in special stuff like gas can holders, air tank, spare rack etc and it can be made tough. Minus is that it would hurt resale value if you peddle it.

[finneys98xj]

I'm installing a fuel cell and will be running oba. I'm torn between a flatbed or a custom stepside bed. I have lots of 2x2x1/8 square tube and some flat sheet metal.

[4.3LXJ]

All that steel, all that temptation :D

[bluedragon436]

I've seen some pretty nicely setup "flatbeds" that were setup for offroading/Baja style... and if I was going to do it that is what I would do, over a standard flatbed... I'll see if I can find a picture of what I'm talking about... but since I'm using a mobile hotspot through my cell phone... we'll see how successful I am at that.. lol Either way look forward to seeing the progress and ultimate end result of this build...


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