Not enough heat. Apparently, either the t stat is stuck open or it ain't in there. Used an IR thermometer on the engine after a very cold drive on the freeway. The block temp was 100° and back at the heater it was 60°. At least I got a set of tires on it.

 

Get a factory t-stat 83501426AC.

 

Progress. It was a dead day at the office yesterday so I brought Piglet in and did some work. Thermostat was stuck open. Put in a new one last night and let the RTV set overnight. Filled it and ran it this morning. Gobs of heat. Tor the dash apart and fixed the dash lights, bad connection. Tried to take the heater control out to fix the vacuum valve. No luck there. I'm getting heat now, so I'll dink with it later. Next will be the transfercase seal then off to the lube rack for a fluid change. Found a jack, crank and a lug wrench to go with my full size spare.
Need to replace the pilots door window regulator. That should be fun.
Need tail gate lift struts.
Getting closer to being winter road worthy.

 

Replaced the rear transfer case drive shaft seal.
Changed the oil in the transmission and bled the clutch some more. Shifts into 2nd a lot better now.
Changed the motor oil and checked the rest of the fluids.
Figured out how to use my parking brake without a release button.

 

Good stuff to do. What oil filter did you use?

 

Cheapo Fram and Walmart oil. Running some ATF in there with the oil to see if it will clean up a bit better. It's not too bad inside, I'd just like it a bit cleaner.
R&R ed the window regulator and put the door back together. Still needs a few things but I thinks it's ready to hit the ice rink, I mean highway.
Needs shocks, the lift gate supports, and wiper blades.

 

Get rid of the Fram POS ASAP. That's your weak link in the equation.

 

Been running Fram filters for decades (5 of them) and will continue to do so. I've cut open and inspected most of them, aircraft mechanics do that. Never seen a problem, seen a lot of defective aircraft filters though. Scarey thought, ah.

 

You're not gonna SEE that the anti-drainback valves are inop and have detrimental effects on our Jeeps with sideways and upside-down oil filters.

 

That's strange. I made a special sheet metal channel to direct the oil in the filter into the drain pan instead of all over my suspension arm. Anti drainback valve seems to work as advertised. Mine always has oil in it even after sitting a few days/weeks, including the previous 2 XJs I owned. Maybe people are putting the wrong filter on.
I've had too many years of experience with Fram filter and this is an argument that will never be won with me.

 

Rest assured they are not the filter they were years ago.

 

Yesterday, I put on a set of shocks and a pair of tail gate supports. Got tired of hitting the broom handle and getting hit on the head. Also put on some new wiper blades.
Drove it the 50 miles home today in -10°F temps. Nary a glitch, good heat output. I do need to find and plug all the drafts though. I also think my cat may be plugged up. Kinda doggy on the hills.

 

TEST for a restricted exhaust:



CRUISER’S VACUUM TEST FOR EXHAUST RESTRICTION

Your vacuum gauge should come with an instruction booklet outlining the procedure. Hook the vacuum gauge up to a source on the intake manifold. Start the engine and note the vacuum reading. Usually 17 to 21 inches of vacuum. Throttle the engine up to 2,000 to 2,500 RPM for 20 seconds or so and the vacuum reading should stabilize to the same reading you got at idle. Let the throttle snap shut. The vacuum reading should shoot up about 5 inches of vacuum higher for a second and then come quickly down to the original reading. If the vacuum reading stays high and comes down slowly with jerky needle movements, you have an exhaust restriction.

 

The more I drive it the better it gets. It no longer leaves a black spot behind the tail pipe in its parking spot. Don't have to mash the peddle to the floor to hold speed on a hill now, but won't accelerate on the hill either.
Got to do something about the cross member, can't find a replacement up here so I guess I will have to get it welded or something.