So I don't believe I have the plate that bolts behind the engine but I from of the bell housing that the dust cover slips into is that part a critical part ?

 

I would deem that part critical. It keeps the starter motor in place for one. would expose your torque converter to all kinds of nasty stuff. I'm sure that would carry over into the back of the engine as well.

 

On one of my 90's I've been running without the dust cover for years. Actually I think I lost it or made it into something else. If I find it I'll maybe put it back, harmless insurance that something doesn't get in there somehow.

 

Is this the plate you are talking about (behind the flexplate)?

It's called a spacer.


Current name is Shim-Converter. Part number 53004907AB - Discontinued Part.


Check the bone yards.

You need it.

 

Flint, are you talking about the dust cover down below? Or the spacer?

 

I am talking about the upper half. The lower half I have.

 

All my Cherokees were missing the lower cover. This engine is going into a hot rod so I don't have to really worry about dirt or things building up on the flywheel or getting into the clutch

 

Dust cover. My fault, I got tangled up in the phone text. Looking again it was decipherable enough. Agreed with Ken, the starter and things might need that plate in there for proper clearance.

 

I just looked on the shelves of parts I have for renix cherokees and I found the plate and got it cleaned up. Thank you for the input

 

Wait...a 4.0L going into a hot rod? Do explain. Was I the only one that caught this?

I have an extra short block sitting around that I'm trying to figure out what to do with....

 

I grabbed up a complete aside from harness and computer. 4.0 out of a 90 and a external slave ax15 for 100$. I needed a new crank. I got a new crank slapped it together replacing what I needed where I needed it. It's gunna be a stock rebuild just from a price stand point. It's going into a 1921 mode t of some sort haven't settled on what body I'm going to run. I got a harness and computer. I will reduce and tuck the harness down to bare minimum

 

No kidding! Functioning Renix "guts," transplanted into a 1921 Ford Model T. Suppose you won't need to smog it! Will you need to pass inspection? Don't forget the switch on the brake petal that unlocks the TC. Keeping the Ford original, or a Renix gauge cluster? Ha! How about the Jeep-GM tilt column?

WWWaaaiiiitt a minute 2WD or 4WD. What are you doing there? Run a wench with the front drive-line? Water pump from a fire truck? You could throw your water pickup in the lake and cool down the whole crowd on a hot day.