Oh This Poor MJ
 

OK...so the work has begun on the newest project. The thing is in pretty sad shape but we are making progress. Also it wouldn't be a Jeep if it didn't require all the effort and it surely would be no fun!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5...to+%281%29.JPG

Work thus far. From the scrap pile/JY...Used battery, used alternator, used serpentine belt, used relays and fuses, used Coil/ICU, used coolant tank and cap, used CCV line, used MAP line, used plugs from my XJ (maybe 3K miles)(had BOSCH Platinums (which were BLACK)).

Cleaned cap and rotor. Fresh Oil and Filter. Topped off the coolant tank. Put 5 Gallons of fresh gas and 1 can of Seafoam in the tank.

After extending cranking and a shot of carb cleaner it FINALLY started. Ouch what squealing. Not sure if it's the JY alternator, the Harmonic Balancer missing 1/4 of the rubber, the distributor (saw a couple of posts on this one) or maybe the water pump. Other issues... Leaking fuel pressure regulator. Plugged most of the open vacuum issues. It did actually idle for a short period of time and allowed me to turn it around in the driveway under it's own power.

Due this week. Complete vacuum hose assemblies from NAPA. New battery cables and connectors. New fuel filter. Start on Cruiser's list. Grounds first.

And why have both these MJs I've gotten have battery cables that look like they have taken a lightening strike?!

More day one pictures....

The family is NOT feeling this one in front of the house.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PQ...U=w930-h642-no

Whoever resprayed wasn't very tall.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/DSCF9738.JPG

Mouse House was free
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I...o/DSCF9740.JPG

Dirty but NO rust found at this point.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...o/DSCF9755.JPG

Yep, that is a zero in front. Sad huh?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...o/DSCF9735.JPG

Zero rust is a great starting point! Parts can be replaced and new paint applied, rust seems forever. Get it before it goes bad. Seeing that you aren't in the rust belt you're better off than me. Can't wait to see where this is going.

OK..running...if you want to call it that.
Installed:
Used plugs, wires,
Cleaned the OLD cap & rotor
Completed new vacuum hose set from NAPA
Replaced fuel pressure regulator lock clip and o-ring ( no leak there any longer )
Replaced pos and neg battery cables 4g attached with military style battery terminals Cleaned the ground point at oil dip stick
5 gallons of gas with TWO cans of SeaFoam

Current status:
Horrible squeal
Have only gotten it to stay idling once for about 10 mins
Feels like it had a bad miss. Engine shakes when it misses.

Pretty much decided that next step should be:
Continue with Cruiser's steps
All NEW cap, rotor, wires & plugs.
Clean IAC & Throttle body (I just thought there could be a mouse house inside there!)
Clean IAT
Have new fuel filter to install.

Again the original goal was to not pump $200 directly into it in case the motor was shot.
It's not shot but now it might be on to replacing everything since the truck obviously sat
up for some time.

Here is a video of it actually idling...with the occasional miss.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b...946[1].MOV

Tracking down wiring... SO MUCH FUN... NOT
Digging thru a copy of the 88 wiring manual I have a copy of on PDF. But hey, if you are wicked with all things under-dash. Please share your knowledge.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...o/DSCF9803.JPG
Under dash near RENIX ECU ( pink, orange/white, blue/white, black, black ABCD marked on one side and EFGH on the other.
It has what looks like a light connection near it
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/DSCF9804.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m...o/DSCF9805.JPG

Then this thing back close to the firewall to the right of the steering column.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/DSCF9811.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/DSCF9814.JPG

Really worried about these cut up near the MAP sensor because the truck is running so poorly. One of the wires is still wired into the sensor.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...o/DSCF9807.JPG

The black/wire wires runs down and is spliced into the one wire from the MAP.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...o/DSCF9808.JPG

No real other news. Had a busy family weekend so not much got done. Went thru the fuse panel again. All the fuses are correct now. Got the battery cables changed over and the dipstick Ground cleaned in the process. Pulled the throttle body and cleaned. My comment about a mouse house in their got me worried. Need to pickup and new gasket to re-install. The old one was cracked and in bad shape. Cleaned Fuel Ballast Resistor connectors. Found fused +12 wire ran off the dash wiring for fuel pump I believe. The wiring under there looks....interesting.

OK...well progress has been slow. Work basically 2.5 jobs in the summer ( long story ) and life. So..... decided I need to take a couple plans of attack. While it will run it runs like crap and the one time the fuel pressure regulator leaked the gas smelled like....well not like gas. More like varnish. Also looking at the pump under the truck the wiring was....suspect.
Got it all out. Orange cloudy gas dumped ( fire ant killer! ). And pulled the pump. Yeah... time for a new one of these and will tank the tank to the local shop this week to get it boiled out and nice and clean inside.

The nasty pump...looks to have been replaced.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2926/...a4c039_b_d.jpg

The inside of the tank
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/...6c32bc_b_d.jpg

Outside looks good. Will have it cleaned locally vs a new one from RockAuto for $100+
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/...fd8cf9_z_d.jpg

good luck man, always marvels me how you guys can bring something back from the dead. skill for sure