Damn, I would have charged more than that just to take it out. And I'm the sucker that did have to take it out!

 

 

I told you to brace yourself :P

 

Couple updates, the swap is coming along pretty good!

MJ is stripped, firewall has been reworked, dash has been fit and the tabs welded on. Heater core has been test fit too. Gas tank has been dropped and modified to accept the XJ pump.

 

Couple updates:
Dash is in, driveline is in, fuel tanks in. Still on the list, I need to find a fender and a door, finish the body wiring harness, and make a few more connections. It's close

 

Truck is mostly done. Got a few things to tinker with, align the fender gaps, put the front driveshaft back in, and have the bumpers powder coated. Road test tomorrow.

Truck was a bench seat, manual optioned stick shift, plauged with electrical issues.

Now it's a loaded 97+, automatic, power windows, locks, heated power mirrors, overhead console, and heated Mini Cooper seats. Once I finish selling off all the leftover XJ donor parts and MJ parts, the swap will have pretty much paid for itself.

Next on the list is plating the frame, building rock rails, tube bed, and eventually an exocage.

 

Wow, it looks great. Should get some Napier flares and see about a gas tank skid if you plan on wheeling it.

 

Did the later model shifter bolt right in?

 

What to you mean by "bolt right in"? The shifter plate just screws down to the trans tunnel, and the shifter is cable actuated. The plate fit the tunnel fine. I put some seam sealer under it to make sure it sealed, and zipped a few new screws in to hold it all down. The 4wd shift linkage needed a lot of screwing with though.

Side not, everything was fine with the ignition and column, until I pulled the truck out of the shop yesterday and it wouldn't give my key back! I'll be pulling the column apart today, must be that little lock cable that tells the ignition the trans is in park.

 

I was referring to the trans shifter.

 

I have the 97-up console in my XJ and the late model auto shifter was plug n pray.

 

Thanks!!

Now, I need to find out how the later shifter would work with the original console.

 

In theory it will work, But the bezel may not read correct? I think it has to do mostly with the shape/bend of the late model shifter lever. The handle will work for either. ZJ handle will work with very little/simple mod.

 

I took one out of my 88 XJ parts Jeep. I removed the little plastic inner piece and heated up and bent the lever above the line where it contact the indicator bezel. Bit by bit. Works great.