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-   -   2 door XJ - take 2 (https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/2-door-xj-take-2-a-222961/)

kylemason 03-03-2016 08:05 PM

2 door XJ - take 2
 
So.. the last Jeep thread I had - is now my donor XJ (1996). Bought a '97+ Cherokee for $300 with a blown motor, body is nearly rust free, only a few patches of surface rust. There is a dent on the drivers door and the front fenders and bumper need replaced. I will be using the maroon fenders, front clip, and bumper I planned on using on the donor vehicle to update it to the '97+ originally.

So here is the plan: Swap in my motor and manual transmission from the donor that have 188k on them so that I can build up the engine that was in it - as long as it's worth rebuilding, of course. Possibly a stroker.

Here is the Jeep:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...dde469d419.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d1c2a403ba.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...390a0bfccc.jpg

Replacement front end:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f912d36bf9.jpg


I want to get some motor mounts, might as well while I do the engine swap, am looking at Brown Dog Ultra-Flex Rubber. Thoughts?

Here is the rest of my shopping list:
  • Driver's Glass
  • Transmission mount? might hold off and get that next engine swap.
  • Headlights
  • Taillights
  • Paint, badging, etc
I don't need anything fancy for lighting but has anyone heard anything about these housings:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/USA-FAST-SHIP-1997-2001-JEEP-CHEROKEE-XJ-DEPO-RED-SMOKE-REAR-TAIL-LIGHTS-NEW-/301876235776?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-X-6-GLASS-LENS-BLACK-SEALED-BEAM-SQUARE-WHITE-LED-HEADLIGHT-FOR-TOYOTA-MODEL-/171447214005?&_trksid=p2056016.m2518.l4276
Here is the paint color I am going to use:
Low Gloss Single Stage Wool Grey Metalc with their Low Gloss Single Stage Hot Rod Black on the bumpers, fenders, mirrors, etc.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fb1653d1f6.jpg

The mail men are going to hate me in the next few weeks...

kylemason 03-03-2016 08:07 PM

If anyone has converted an auto to a manual I'd love to hear from you! I will have the engine and trans that already go together so I'm not so much concerned with that, more so the pedal and other aspects with mounting.

kylemason 03-04-2016 05:28 PM

Just ordered my Brown Dog Motor Mounts! - make sure to use Promo Code "CF2011" for 10% off! Now all I have left is the driver's side glass and possibly a transmission mount and it'll be on the road again. Then headlights, taillights, paint, lugnuts to get it looking a little better again and we are good to go for stage one.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...8c2d70c8cf.jpg

kylemason 03-08-2016 04:50 PM

Gearing up for the weekend.
 
Picked up fluids for this weekend: 6 quarts oil, 2 gals coolant, 1 quart power steering, 1 quart of transmission fluid, oil and air filters, 2 bottles of degreaser - all for under $75. And my door pin and bushing set came in the mail today, so now I can fix my sagging doors.
Harbor Freight has a pretty good sale this weekend and I'll be picking up a 3-ton low-profile floor jack and a 1000 lb engine stand. Figure I should get the engine stand since I'll have the engine on out for a while while I build it.
Got a guy coming on Friday to pick up my doors off of the '96.

To do:
  • Remove 1996 doors from donor Jeep to sell
  • Remove fenders and front clip
  • Pull engine bay
  • Degrease engine bay
  • Sand and paint engine bay
  • Fix interior rust
  • Undercoat body and wheel wells
  • Remove 4.0 and transmission from 1996 donor Jeep
  • Clean engine
  • Install new gaskets
  • Install Brown Dog Motor Mounts
  • Reinstall engine bay
  • Install 1996 4.0
  • Convert to manual transmission
  • Fluids and first start

kylemason 03-10-2016 07:37 AM

When I was digging around in the Jeep I found the window glass among a bunch of other random stuff, but I don't know the reason why he took it apart.. So this leads to my questions - does anyone know if the 2 door's actuator is identical to the 4 door's? I know the window is bigger, therefor heavier. I don't want to get one and have the window be slow. I'll test it before buying a replacement - just looking over options.

EDIT: Found a very good explanation to the difference between the 2 door and 4 door window regulators, Basically the 2 door has a second bracket to help with the weight of the window, as long as the secondary bracket is solid there are a few different ways to fix it based on whether the primary bracket is broken or if the motor is dead.

http://www.steigerperformance.com/2door/

88whitecomanche 03-10-2016 10:25 AM

Yep...and swapping to manual regulators are a direct swap....I did this to my 98 2 door...
The only problem is finding the door panels untouched and for a cheap price....
Some go for $200+ each....

kylemason 03-12-2016 08:46 AM

Day One Engine Swap:
I got everything but the transfer case, crossmember, and motor mounts taken out.
Today I plan on getting an engine stand for when pull it out and an e12 socket to get the transmission off. Things should go smoother today as I know more what I need to do and I have less that needs to come out. More importantly here are some pictures:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c6598b6040.jpg
The A/C lines did not want to cooperate...


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b31e33e439.jpg
Progress shot


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fbb0e7f4c6.jpg
Glamor shot


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...1e59db9b3b.jpg
Switched the two around at the end of the night. Now the 99 is in the shop and the 96 is outside waiting to get pulled.

Not very happy my Brown Dog motor mounts aren't here yet. I ordered them on the 4th. Just called them and they said they wouldn't be here until around Wednesday......

I'll have to swap those in later as long as my current mounts aren't broken.

kylemason 03-13-2016 07:44 PM

Day Two Engine Swap
A little behind schedule, day 2 I got the interior pulled in order to do some floor pan repairs and to make the alterations for the manual shifter etc. There were some other odds and ends, pulling the fuel line and power steering and transmission mounts. Ran into some set backs not having a chain big enough for the head bolts was a big issue towards getting then engine out - imagine that.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f0abd4d3aa.jpg

One of the distractions was the shop next door needing a hand lowering a semi's cranks shaft - way too heavy.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...4d7cac35d4.jpg

kylemason 03-13-2016 08:03 PM

Day Three Engine Swap
Today went well enough, got the 1999's engine out and it was quite the learning experience. Here is my advise to any first time engine swappers
  • Don't unplug all of the wires - if you are pulling both the engine and the transmission there is a wiring harness just for them
  • Don't remove the engine, trans, and torque converter out as one - the internet is a liar and it is not a walk in the park.
  • Label all of the wires.
  • Baggie all of the nuts and bolts you can't put back in right away.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...7179e9d9d6.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...f548947e32.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ad6d653a24.jpg

While I wait for my motor mounts to come in the mail I will be cleaning and sanding the engine bay, suspension, and underside of the vehicle and then painting them with Rustoleum Chassis Paint. Hopefully that will hold up well enough.

kylemason 03-14-2016 07:12 PM

Worked on cleaning/painting the engine bay, separated the engine from the transmission, and got the engine on the stand it will be on for the next year or so..

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...e77b264e0b.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...5cd119d8c8.jpg

Gonna be about a month 'til I can pull the 2nd engine because I have to clean/paint the engine bay, fix a few spots on the floor pans, undercoat the whole thing, then it should be about ready to accept the working engine.

kylemason 03-22-2016 07:36 PM

Long story short my daily driver needs new head gaskets and I dont care to spend $1500 at a shop to have them do it on a car only worth a little more than that. If you know of a good "How To" for the 4.7 grand cherokee I'd appreciate it.
But I dont have the money to get the tools to do it myself. So I'm going to get this car running instead and sell that one as is.

In the next two weeks I will:
  • pull the manual parts from the 96
  • install them on the 99
  • finish cleaning the engine bay
  • install the floor pans
  • undercoat
  • pull the engine, trans, TC, etc
  • re-gasket the 96 engine
  • test the starter, alternator, and other accessories
  • install the engine, trans, TC
  • install the engine bay
  • adjust wiring harness accordingly
  • fluid and start up

88whitecomanche 03-23-2016 06:51 AM

Great progress....sucks about your dd though...
By any chance do you know if the slots for the master cylinder for the slave cylinder holes are on the fire wall?
I have a chance to pick up a 98 2 door auto with a blown trans that I could pick up cheap but I have an nv3550 I can swap in if the swap were that easy...

kylemason 03-23-2016 06:47 PM


Originally Posted by 88whitecomanche (Post 3231125)
By any chance do you know if the slots for the master cylinder for the slave cylinder holes are on the fire wall?

Here is a picture of where the master cylinder is located on the firewall, Haven't had a chance to investigate further - I will once I pull the engine. You can see it in the upper right corner with the black cap.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...93c01c734b.jpg

Kuya 03-23-2016 07:45 PM

You are the man, Kyle! Good luck and if you were in my area, I would volunteer to help so I can learn more about my XJ.

88whitecomanche 03-24-2016 06:34 AM


Originally Posted by kylemason (Post 3231427)
Here is a picture of where the master cylinder is located on the firewall, Haven't had a chance to investigate further - I will once I pull the engine. You can see it in the upper right corner with the black cap.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...93c01c734b.jpg

Is this on the 96?
I meant on the 98...if the holes are already in location to mount the master cylinder...or do you have to drill holes into it ?


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