95 ZJ, My first Jeep on the cheap.
 

Found one in pretty decent shape. 200,000 miles. Runs and drives. $700.

Going with the ZJ as my son has one and we are privy to a large stash of wrecked parts vehicles.

I pick it up tomarrow. Pics to follow. As well as the sure to be long slow transformation into a wheeler.

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Squeeky, grindy noises first. Replaced rear brake pads. Looks like the previous owner did 1/2 of a brake job. Needs one cv for sure. Probly just do both unless I find a freebie. I think the bearing in the front of the rear diff. is going. Winding noise from the rear that spools up faster than the sound of a dragging brake or wheel bearing. Not sure if that is called a pinion bearing???

After that I will move to the clunky rattly sounds.

Plan on going with 31's and a minimum lift for that size tire. Homemade sliders, bumpers and roof rack is the plan. Gotta save my pennies for a welder.

Put in new CV's.

The VC in the 249 was not letting go when hot. I had the 249 (231 swap) of my sons laying in the shop. The chain in that one was stretched out beyond all recognition. I used the chain and front output out of mine as well as the planetary set and front 1/2 of my case. The back half of the case and the VC is from his 95.

A 231 is the plan if (when) this Frankencase dies.

Quick camo paint job and front bumper trim.

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Got a little mud on it. Most of it is splash from my boy in front if me. It's rough with these little stock tires tucked up under the fenders. We'll be fixing that soon enough.

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I was burning about a quart of oil every 600 miles. It would smoke pretty good at start up and a little all the time. Knowing that the 4.0 is not known for burning oil even with stupid amounts of miles on them I took action.

The valve seal on the left is typical of the dozen. The one on the right is new. Slight difference in the hole diameter.
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I used the method of putting air to the cylinder to hold the valves in place while disassembled. The hose off a compression tester worked well.
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Had to make a spring compressor for the back two cylinders as the t-handle on the Craftsman I bought would not fit under the firewall overhang. Just threaded it into the rocker arm tower and used it to leverage the spring down. Four hands would be better than two when handling this tool and the keepers. :sweatdrop:
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I have not noticed any smoke since the seal change. Took a couple of hours.

Note: If you attempt this it will make a HELL of a racket at start up even using asembly lube. I about shart myself thinking a valve had dropped or a rod bent. I went so far as shutting it down immediatly and pulling the valve cover agiain and rechecking everything. :sweatdrop:

I also switched to Rotella (high zinc content) and noticed the engine is much much quiter now.

The Hansen service manual for ZJ's is a good investment. It contradicts itself some but if you aren't a mouth breather you should be able to figure it out.

It's actually a '94. Just noticed that I had called it a '95.