DESERTXJ206

Has anyone tackled this recently? My questions are this:

Ivy got a 4x4 1990 4.0l and AW4 transmission.


What special tools will be needed?
How long did it take you to complete it?
Where did you buy the freeze plug dealer or auto parts store?


Thanks for the help, should be tackling this in early July.

cruiser54

My tip: Unbolt the two top bolts first. They are E12 socket type.

Trev1006

And replace them with regular bolts ! Unbolt the x member and let trans down with a jack to make the bolts easier to get at.

Trev1006

Any Napa will have a free plug assortment.

DESERTXJ206

How long does it take to drop the trans? Does all the interior linkage need to be disconnected or does it pull through the floor?

DFlintstone

The auto trans will have linkage you disconnect, it's the manual that goes up through. I put "transmission removal" in the search in wright-ups and this was right on top, there must be more....also you might google it and look at U-tube. I guess going to the library and printing it isn't necessary any more...hope this helps>>>https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/au...emoval-121763/

I might shove a dry rag or something down behind the head and make sure it comes up dry. It would be just my luck to pull the trany, then find it was a plug in the back of the head or the head gasket or something.

Firestorm500

Well, they're not "free".

Trev1006

Sorry, meant freeze, lol.

DESERTXJ206

I'm almost 100% positive that its the freeze plug, IV cleaned around the flexplate cover and have watched it while running and it starts to drip slowly out the gap in the cover and trans bell housing. I do plan on doing my headgasket also. Just for ****s and giggles cus I'm draping out the head behind the distributer very small amount of oil at times.

DFlintstone

Yea...it will drip from the bottom from anywhere above is all. Seeing and reaching there behind the head is pretty tough. Was just thinking I might wire a rag on a stick, (or whatever it takes), to make sure there isn't wetness anywhere above the bell-housing. (I believe there IS a plug in the back of the head). Or you might waste 10 minutes finding out it's dry up there! (or that rearmost plug on the side as well, just be darn sure!!)

You are sure oil is dripping out of the head gasket behind the distributor? Wowa! That's.....uh....there is no oil under pressure there....You mean the valve cover? I'd clean that well and have another look.

DESERTXJ206

Yeah I gotcha. The leak is getting worse though. IV held my hand under the leak after I shut the engine off and it looks like a mixutre of oil and coolant. But I do not have coolant in my oil. It could be because the coolant is running over caked on oil on the engine???

I checked the side freeze plugs and all looked fine no leaks, also to a mirror on the rear freeze plug but that was kind of hard to see. Ill investigate more before I tear into it.

DFlintstone

Yea, I guess that's the reason I posted in this thread at all. You can't reach it, you can't see it, at least it's really tough. I was thinking it might work to take a diaper or a tampon or something (lol), and get it down in there behind the head. If anything comes back with coolant on it, you might put off pulling the t-case and trany.

Firestorm500

Before I went to all that work, I would be darn sure where the leak is coming from.