The rims I have now are 4". I think it should be OK.

 

Some other updates I forgot to mention.

The XJ has been running a bit hot lately (don't they all!), around 220* on these hot summer days in PA. I recently installed a ZJ heavy duty fan clutch from Napa. It's definitely helped, but she's still running pretty warm. In more efforts to battle this heat, I finally broke down and ordered hood vents from Marine Supply.



I'm a bit scared to cut into the hood, but as long as I measure 50 times before cutting, I should be good, right? I figured on using a Dremel for more precision in the job. It doesn't come with screws, so I'm going to invest in some stainless steel ones when they arrive.

I'm looking into wiring the E-fan to a switch in the cab. Looking at following a guide on NAXJA to use a relay to "trick" the factory wiring as not to trigger a CEL.

I also recharged the A/C and vacuumed it down now that I have all the tools for that job. I reloaded it with EnviroSafe R12a refrigerant. I only put one little 6oz can in so far and that was enough to get it decently cold, but the system calls for 1.25lb of R134a and the equivalent is two cans of this stuff. More on that later!

 

i don't get a cel on my e fan switch. I use it continuously since the last Rausch trip.

 

Hmm, maybe I should just try and rig it up that way and see if I do get the CEL.

 

Updates...Jeep has sat for a week since puking coolant everywhere and consistently running around 220*. I got a new Napa water pump and inlet tube to go in this weekend along with a full system flush, and also hoping to get the hood vents installed this weekend as well!



Last week, I scored an overhead console and a pair of the seemingly rare factory tweeter option for the doors, complete with wiring harness and everything for 80 bucks. More on that later!

 

Dude hood vents do some magic for these XJs abd heating problems. I have no problem running my 93 in this suffocating 110℉ weather and it stays right at 190. I manually turn the e fan on via switch abd relay for peace of mind now. My 2000 XJ was constantly in the 220 range and was so damn frustrating. But that's someone else's problem now lol

 

that's about where mine was running. Can't wait to get some fresh green in there and this stuff installed and see how she does.

 

All right, so this weekend has been very busy! My girlfriend and I worked together on the water pump. Before removing, we flushed the system with NAPA brand "Fast Radiator Flush" 1500. The old pump looked to be in like-new condition (much to my surprise). The flush did a good job, and I likely would use it again. it overheated after a short drive around the block. I was fearing the worst (head gasket) but today, I added more coolant, and it has been doing fine. Must have just been a big air pocket in it somewhere. Today I was busy getting my hood vents in.

First things first, I wanted to put window screening on the bottom of the vents to prevent crud from getting into the engine bay. I cut some out of some leftover window screening, and drilled and used self-tapping screws to fasten it to the bottom of the vents.


I made cardboard cutouts of the inner portion of the vents to help with positioning. I was convinced that a Dremel would be the right tool for the job, but I was wrong...ended up using the angle grinder for it, and the Dremel just to de-burr and clean up the edges.


Making the cuts was pretty nerve-racking! When I was done, I hit the edges with some Flat Black for some basic rust protection. I'm going to do the portion under the hood as well.


I drilled 1/8" holes and used stainless steel self-tapping screws to fasten the vents to the hood to produce the final product!




For the short time I've driven it since finishing up install, the 4.0 has been running perfectly around 203-206 degrees F.

 

Some random updates.

First up...per suggestion of another XJer from a Facebook group, I found some magnetic sheeting a local A.C. Moore craft shop to cover up the vents when I'm not driving and inclement weather is expected. They work very well. They don't fit perfectly but good enough that water won't get in.



In regards to my cooling woes, the hood vents have not really helped much with my engine running hot. I thought that perhaps the 20 dollar coolant temp sensor I got from NAPA was lying to me...but the IR thermometer verfies it's surprisingly accurate. Not pictured was 170 degrees coming out of the upper hose, which seemed good. Doing a compression test later to see if the head gasket is the problem...thing is, there are no bubbles in the coolant, I haven't lost a drop as far as I can tell from driving around a bunch yesterday.

Another thing I'm getting a closer look at...I believe my exhaust manifold may be cracked. Not sure that has much to do with running hot, but it may explain my terrible mileage. More to come...I hate when the build involves fixing and not upgrading or modding! Part of the game though...

 

Ehhh shouldn't the upper hose be the same temperature as your coolant? Could the thermostat be restricting flow?

 

The water pump pushes the hot coolant through the bottom hose, and the cooled stuff returns back via the upper hose.

 

lol derp. Fine then, your radiator sucks.

 

Told ya, devan!

 

I'm not convinced, lol.

Updates: yesterday I ordered my new Courser Mastercraft MXT 33x12.50x15 tires and they should be arriving tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to get them mounted.

Last night I followed this thread on NAXJA to add a switch for my electric fan using a relay.

My notes on the wiring. I used a NAPA


Not the prettiest wiring job, but I worked with what I had


Simple toggle that supplies ground to the relay.


So far, this works well and does not trigger a CEL (yet). But, there is still something not quite right as the fan will not come on automagically when the A/C is turned on now (with switch in OFF position). I'll find out later today if it even kicks on at 218 like normal. I suspect I may need to move a ground or something....more to come.

 

Only if u did what I did..... No CEL