Hey thanks! You are correct. I was just kind of typing stream-of-consciousness there, trying to strategize what to focus on next.

 

Well look what the Dodge dragged home...



My Jeep's twin!

 

Uh oh!

 

Does it have a 4.0L in it?

 

Yessir. It's a '90 4.0L with the AW4. 4x4 of course.

 

Nice! Plans for it?

 

I'm not sure yet. It's really rusty and has been sitting since 2010. It has some parts I could use and I'm debating if I just want to use it for parts or if I want to try and bring it back to life.

 

Well you could just take out the 4.0 and put it in your current rig

 

X2. Use it as a donor and swap engines over. Your 4 cyl XJ is super clean and would be even nicer with the 4.0. You would enjoy driving it a lot more.

 

I am definitely considering that. I would want to locate an AX15 first as I like having a manual and this one is an automatic. The previous owner said the reason this '90 XJ was parked was it developed an overheating issue. I'm betting it just needs a thorough radiator flush and new thermostat. If I can get it running strong then I may indeed swap the drivetrain to my '93...

OR I may try to weld in some new floor pans and 2x6 rockers and bring this XJ back from the dead. My wife has mentioned wanting her own Jeep and this could be a nice project for me to learn how to weld.

We'll see. I only purchased this '90 for $300 so I don't have any huge expectations for it. Worse case scenario is I can scavenge what I want off of it and then resell it as-is and probably get my money back. Time will tell!

 

I'd keep the 2.5/ax-5 drivetrain - too much work to "fix" something that clearly works well.

Plate the hell out of that 4.0 2dr and drop that stroker in.

 

I like the way you think.

 

My starter went out again today. This one only lasted two months. O'Rielly's is going to warranty it out, so that's good I guess. This is the third starter I've gone through in two years. I don't understand why they keep failing... Am I just having bad luck with defective parts or is something else going on?

In talking with Outlaw Star, he's wondering if it's because O'Riellys has been selling me remaned starters. I'm considering buying another starter off of RockAuto and keeping it in the XJ as a spare so I don't get stranded anywhere, since I go on a lot of road trips.

In other news, the '90 I6 XJ is still sitting on the trailer in my back yard.








The reason for that is I was having trouble getting it registered in my name. I wasn't going to put a dime into it if it wasn't legally mine. Today I finally got that all straightened out.

I have power washed it all over so I can actually see what I'm dealing with. As you can see above, the rockers are completely gone, as well as the rear quarter panels. I'm considering welding in some 2x6 sliders and doing a cut & fold of the rear quarters.

I believe it needs a new fuel pump. It has spark and air, but I can only get it to turn over by spraying starting fluid in the air intake. I can't hear the fuel pump like I can on my '93, so as soon as I push this thing into the garage I'll have the pleasure of dropping the gas tank.

 

The "new" starter came today. I got that installed.



I also decided to change the spark plugs and wires.



Nothing fancy, just Champion Coppers and basic wires.

The old plugs didn't look terrible but they were out of gap and I figured after ~20,000 miles it couldn't hurt.

 

Great Thread. just read the whole thing. Before you get to building on the 90, do a little research on the Renix sytems. They are a bit different than the Chrysler system like on your 93. I have two of the Renix jeeps and love them. Lots of data on the net about them. If you keep that jeep you will get to know the name Cruiser54 really well. As a matter of fact, his website will help you get it running. As a matter of fact, look up the part on the ground wire for the fuel pump. Its under the cargo area panel on the drivers side. Known issue with these and it could be causing the fuel pump issue.