Cyriac

Specifically, what should I do before modding it?

My old XJ is the white, lifted one: a 90 2.1 TD. It's tired and battered, so I was looking for a 4.0 for clean build. I am counting on transferring the lift as well as axles (stock 4.11s!) and tires.

It's by chance that I found this black 2-door, 5-speed for a real bargain.



Bought it for $1600 on sunday, it's really clean and drives well, the axles are well rusted but not the body. I drove it home without any issues except for the big fuel gauge needle going all the way past the redline all of a sudden when it was 3/4s full! Started it the day after and it got back to a correct reading... The side indicators stopped working while driving it back but the warning lights still work...!

Some friends suggested I flush all fluids but I wanted to know which ones exactly, ALL of them?

Also, it's a 1989 and there's a slight oil leak covering the whole of the underside of the engine, don't now how long this has been going on but on the road it didn't lose much, if any, at all. The oil is very dark, however, nearly black like a diesel, What should I do, is this normal? My 97 5.2L ZJ's oil is very clear...


Finally, I was thinking about getting a cheap HO XJ and dropping in the whole engine and gauges. Mine currently has 124k miles on the clock so I suppose it's young, but is it tired? What would you experts do?

Bustedback

Drive it.

andrewmp6

Yes change all the fluids and drive it.124k is nothing for the 4.0 a lot of members have 200k plus and going.I wouldn't swap in a ho unless you blow the engine its not worth the work for the little power difference between the two.

Cyriac

Okay, understood about the HO swap. What about the dark oil, do you think it's just because it's old?

What do you mean by simply saying "drive it"?

Lowrange2

lol, You looked for a 4.0. We LOOK for the 2.1 TD.

I'd love to find one with the TD in it.

Cyriac

Know what? It's excellent as a DD or an easy trail cruiser. Not with a lift and tires larger than stock... I had enough of it really! lol Fortunately a friend of mine might buy it from me so it's got going to trash. :-)

Cherokee89

For the oil under the engine, check the bolts that hold the oil sump, and then check for oil leak from valve cover and from oil filter adapter.
And start doing all the Renix tips from Crusier54.

andrewmp6

If the oil is just dark its probably just never been changed in a long time.Unless the oil smells like gas or has coolant in it should be fine with a oil change.