Topics

31

Technical Advice and Questions / Replace a 2.5 with a 4.0 ... or other suggestions ....

« on: November 16, 2008, 05:38:23 pm »

I just mounted 31's on my YJ and it's kinda pathetic on uphills - figure the 4.0 would bring a bit of life back to the old girl - how much of a PIA would it be to swap in a 4.0?  I assume the same transmission and t-case - is it just a matter of wiring harness (firewall forward), motor mounts and the motor itself?  I've done swaps before BUT they were all pre-fuel injection / computerized ignition (although living in Adams County I could probably swap in a 1966 Chevy 327 without anyone paying attention) -

Failing that - suggestions for gearing?  Would swapping in the 5SPD diff ratios help out?  I don't pile on the miles so fuel mileage isn't that big a deal -

Thanks - and cheers!

Steve

32

Technical Advice and Questions / Couple (potentially) questions to close out -

« on: August 23, 2008, 06:15:03 pm »

Ok - just got myself a '94 YJ 4cyl automatic -

Q1:  Checking the transfer case fluid level - is it the bolt between the output shaft and the tcase id tag?  If NOT then where the heck is it?  I can HEAR the tcase when I'm driving and presume that it needs some fluid added - never mind - already figured it out - but what size is that sucker - it's bigger than 1" (the largest socket in my set) Never mind - just found out it's 30mm

Q2: What do I put into the danged thing???  90W, 80W? again - never mind - takes ATF

Q3:  when I FIRST start the Jeep and put it in reverse I get a whirring/light grinding sound - is this terminal for the slushbox?  Fluid level seems fine - after 20 min. of driving there's no noise going into reverse - apparently attributed to the t-case being 1PT low oin fluid - no more issues

Thanks much in advance -

Steve

33

Technical Advice and Questions / Another problem with my XJ

« on: April 10, 2008, 02:56:17 pm »

Ok - oh those of great Jeep knowledge - my 98 XJ 4.0 automatic has developed an irritating noise - when I get hard on the gas (say I'm pulling away from an uphill traffic light) I'm getting a lot of vibration under the tranny tunnel - if I'm gentle on the gas - no noise - no vibes - my motor mounts are fine (did the old power brake it with the hood open test - the engine didn't move much at all) - I suspect the transmission mount on the cross member - does this sound reasonable and - short of dropping the cross member to see if the tranny mount drops out in multiple parts - is there a non-destructive way to test it?

I also noticed that it won't stay in low range 4WD - which again makes me suspect the mount is the culprit -

Thanks

Steve

34

Technical Advice and Questions / Qick question (rattle, bang, clunk)

« on: March 18, 2008, 01:18:58 pm »

Ok - after my little (accidental, unplanned) off road / horizontal telephone pole hopping trip on 03/08 the old Jeep is coming back together pretty well.  The lower control arm has been replaced, the alignment seems OK (same distance F-R on left and right side, about 1/4" toe out, steering wheel is a bit off center BUT it was a bit off center BEFORE) - I replaced the exhaust system last night (it was 10 years old and the muffler took a hit) - pounded the fender out - getting the cosmetic bits to put her all back together. 

That's the background - here comes my question (inevitable that it'd come out eventually) -

How do I check the transfercase / transmission mounts?  It feels like something is moving around down there - visual inspection didn't reveal anything - no obvious hits to the pan or t-case, no leaks BUT when I get on the gas hard there's quite a bit of vibration (well, it's relative, but there's more than there was pre-hit) - do I just lever between the t-case and the cross bar to check the mount?  The motor mounts seem fine.  Also, every once in a while (especially on rough roads) it feels like something is hitting the underside of the transmission tunnel - I looked but didn't see any obvious shiny spots where there would have been metal to metal contact, and nothing looks loose.  I do have to pull the glove box out and figure out what's rattling around behind the dash ....

Any/all ideas appreciated -

Thanks

Steve

35

Technical Advice and Questions / Quick question - lower control arm replacement

« on: March 11, 2008, 01:17:41 pm »

Quick question - I'm going to be replacing my RS LCA tonight when I get home from work - working in the driveway - is there any need for me to put the XJ on jackstands to do this OR can I just put a "safety stand" under  the RS and work with it sitting on the ground?  It would seem to me that it'd be fine sitting on the ground (got the nuts off last night - all I need to do is yank the bolts, drop the old LCA, insert the new one and bolt it up, right?).

If I need to I'll jack it up and put it on stands - just doesn't seem to be something I'll need to do - unless there's a good (like safety) reason to do so -

I've got to get it done tonight - #1 daughter is home from college and - with the Jeep being off the road I've been using her car to go to-from work - I really think she'd rather be out and about during the day!

Thanks

Steve

36

Technical Advice and Questions / Check your hard brake lines!

« on: March 03, 2008, 09:40:25 am »

Hey fellow Jeepers -

Had a real "pucker" moment this past Saturday - nailed the brakes to avoid a Honda Fit and the pedal went to the freakin' floor - I missed the fit and got her stopped with the e-brake - limped it back to where I was staying (why does this stuff always happen when you're away from home and your tools?) popped the hood and the hard brake line had blown out (the convenient one that goes from the MC to the right front) - seems that it was pretty well rusted out at a 90 degree bend.

Not having tools I had to get it repaired at a shop (Lord I hate paying others to do what I can do!) - Yesterday I took a look at the other hard lines (with a critical eye) - rear lines looked fine but the one going to the LF was rusted AND bulged a bit - so off to the parts store for a 20" length of brake line - removed the old one (whoever decided to make that line leave the rear of the distribution block should be doomed to forever replace those lines!) - bent up a new one - slapped it in and bled the brakes -

I'm serious though - check those  hard lines - my XJ (1998) has less than 60K on it (had 42K on it when I got it in December) - but low miles doesn't always mean strong brake lines.  This could have been bad (especially for the guy in the Honda) - no warning - no brakes - no fun!

Steve

37

Technical Advice and Questions / Squeal from the serp belt

« on: December 10, 2007, 09:50:49 am »

Ok Ladies and Gents -

My son has an '87 XJ - recently replaced the serp belt.  Now the tension seems fine (about 3/8" deflection across the longest top run under  moderate pressure) - however - after it warms up she screams like a banshee -

Now, for a bit more information he did blow off a tranmission cooler line (the clamp was fubar where the rubber hose connects to the hard line going to the radiator) and soak the underside of the jeep with at least six quarts of ATF - so it's possible that the crankshaft pulley is just slick as snot on a glass doorknob - but I was wondering (as our two XJ's are my first step(s) into the Jeep experience) - is there a harmonic balancer incorporated into the crank pulley?  In my previous life (Saab's) a persistent squeal was a sign of a deteriorating harmonic balancer on the crank -

The squeal DOES seem to be coming from the crank pulley - it's not alternator bearings nor is it associated with the AC compressor or PS pump.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated -

Cheers

Steve