XJIrish4x4

Oh don't you start with me with that Dodge Ford crap lol.....but let me put it to you straight since we are on this subject. It is not Dodge who did it right it is Cummins. So it is a never ending battle between a powerstroke and cummins. Further more Ford did not design my motor International did and then Dodge did not design Cummins motor nor do they own that anymore. (Technically they never owned them it was a partnership) For the record they are RAM now not Dodge.

Interesting enough if you go back in history the Cummins powerplant have poppd up in the Ford truck line.

Bugout4x4

Lol... I stand corrected. It is the Cummins that is reliable not Dodge and you are absolutely right. But Dodge was the only one who offered this option in smaller trucks. But remember I do this for a living and full well know and understand the differences between them all in design and engineering.

And the 12 valve Cummins is better than the rest hands down even over their own 24 valve engine. The main problem with the Fords is the glow plug issues. I have no clue why they refused to follow suit with Cummins and implement a manifold heater instead. It would have cured all these problems.

And if the discussion is about power... Get a load of this...

1150 HP and 2000 ft lbs of torque...


http://www.dieselarmy.com/news/1150-...a-5-9-cummins/

XJIrish4x4

No doubt the Cummins is a much more reliable power plant. However; I will argue that a Powerstroke even 6.0 properly built will out perform a Cummins. I favor my PS, but I do apprieciate the power the 6 cyl can push out compared to a 8cyl. Hands down I love them both but the PS is just one that is poor design and even worse once they put the emissions nonsense on it. Comparing apples to oranges here so some of this might be just be my personal experience and lack the factual information!

XJIrish4x4

Alright brought the red jeep back home today. On my way home I decided to go to my normal flex spot and try to climb a cement block. Didn't seem to work so I put jeep in reverse to back up and suddenly I hear a grinding. Uh oh!!! Immediately I was like oh **** not my Xfer case. Well I took it out of part time and decided to drive over a grass hill and it seemed fine. At this point i knew my kids were home and I needed to go home. Mind you I'm only about a mile from the house. I pulled out of parking lot started driving down road and not even 500 feet that grinding comes back and would not stop so I pulled over into first driveway I could find.

After messing with it trying to find something wrong I figured it sounds like my Xfer case half way between engaging and nor engaging which it should be not engaging because shifter is all the way forward in cab. The guy who owned the driveway I was in, helped me back it out on the road in neutral and so I could coast back down to parking lot to lock it and go home until I sort it out.

Okay so it grinds while in 2wd and transmission in any gear. In neutral or park it will not grind. Also it will not engage into gear so when I put it in drive and it starts making a grinding noise the jeep won't move. Same with reverse.

I'm still thinking Xfer case but not exactly sure what's going on. Help!

CantDrive55

Did you check your rear driveshaft ujoints?

CantDrive55

Maybe your shift linkage could've not engaged correctly and the transfer case is stuck in neutral? I would also check your t-case fluid for metal bits just to be safe as well.

XJIrish4x4

Rear driveshaft u joints are good. Once I get Jeep home I can check fluid for metal shavings.

I'm thinking its just not shifting properly. However hoping its not the internal gears, etc toast. I got a guy local to me who has a 242 Xfer case $90 works perfect so worse case I drop mine and swap them out.

XJIrish4x4

Okay good news is I got jeep home. Something is most certainly off on the shift setup for transfer case. Right now my shifter in cab is about half way back just before it slides to the right and then back more. That seemed to be the sweet spot to no grinding and to get it home. No lights on dash indicating its engaged and didn't feel like it either.

When I first left parking lot shift was all the way forward, part time light was on (which shouldn't be when fully forward that should be 2WD). I started to drive home and could feel that jeep like it was in 4wd so I said screw it let's go its moving. Got a little bit up the road had to stop got the dreaded grinding noise again.

At that point I wiggled the transfer case shifter around and got it to that sweet spot, light went off and I drove it home. Hopefully the little bit of that grinding didn't cause issues today but at least its home.

I think its time to figure out this boostwerks kit now and maybe that will fix my issue.

CantDrive55

Glad to hear you dodged a bullet and it's nothing horrible (knock on wood). My linkage vibrates bad when I am idling in traffic unless I hold it down, so now you got me worried lol. Boostwerks is simple and cheap and the route I'll be going.

It's always one thing after another it seems, but that's the way of the XJ!

XJIrish4x4

Although I was irritated I'm glad its doing that now so I have a little time to sort out the issue before my trip. What would have been worse for this to happen on the trails ultimately running a day of fun!

The problem I still face with the installation of boostwerks kit is that shift lever on my Xfer case that has the 14mm nut on it needs to come off to install kit. Mine doesn't want to come off so I have no idea what I'm going to do. I often thought about cutting the nut but didn't know if I'll have room to do that and I don't want to mess anything up and cut too far into it to get it off.

CantDrive55

If PB Blaster and a propane torch won't do it then i'm not sure what else will

XJIrish4x4

Alright well I'm not 100% for certain but I think something happened to my Tcase. I managed to finally get that nut off Tcase tab and installed my boostwerks kit.

Oddly enough my boostwerks kit was adjusted to the fully closed position I almost had no more to go to get it to fit and I know it was installed correctly. I have tons of adjustment to open up that linkage so unless something is wrong idk.

Either way I got it back together was able to shift through the different gears going from 2HI to 4lo like a breeze shifts smooth like a babies bottom lol.

Bad though its still grinding. Only time I could get it stop is when shifter was near the neutral position. Was able to put jeep in drive abs move it.

I think its hosed at least I hope that's all it is and not my Transmission. Luckily I found a 242 locally got the guy to $80 so probably going to grab that tomorrow and defiantly not looking forward to tearing this down again.

I want to light it on fire at this point I really do.

CantDrive55

I have had those days of wanting to set it on fire, roll it down a hill, beat it with a baseball bat... Good luck.

XJIrish4x4

Well everyone it has been real fun and real hanging out with you guys! The time did finally come where I tossed in the towel and let my XJ go. I gave up wrenching on it 24/7 as I had some other things to be concerned with. Here I thought I would have never been at the cross roads wondering which path to take and if I made the right choice. I think I did and I sold the RED XJ. Time to move on and maybe one day I will get another.

*On a side note I still have a Jeep (JK) and actually got to take it out last weekend to Browns Camp OHV in Tillamook Forest, Oregon. Had a blast I will post some photos up soon. I will then retire my build page. Until next time! Thanks everyone for your support and I will continue to come here and support you all and offer any advice I have to the new guys.

CantDrive55

I forgive you. One day I'll have a brand new JL when I can afford it lol. If you start a build for your new one send me a link!