Well... probably however long it takes US Steel manufacturers to open plants back up here stateside, then recover from the cost of re-opening, staffing, training, etc.

Years, I would assume. I think it will be a good thing in the long run though.

So Trump only 'threatens' (He has NOT done it) to raise tariffs on imported Chinese Steel and Aluminum and other products, So China, in advance, raises their prices of goods they export and the US imports.

I thought the bill that just passed included the tarrif raise

Last night I had a bit of time so I made brake lines.

To start with, I bought a rear brake hose for a 93 Dodge Dakota.

Bolted that on the axle so that way I can have accurate lengths from wheel cylinders to the tee.

It was easy to make up the drivers side line. However as for the passenger side, I really had no idea how to do it so I just went along with it. Not bad for my first time bending brake lines. In hindsight. I should have not used 90 degree bends in certain spots.

My OCD slowly is setting in... I may remove those and redo it someday.





Gonna buy the shoes & hardware, then this axle basically is ready to go. The front axle is next to prep and finish.

I already had knuckles with new ball joints pressed into it that I bought for $20 at a swap meet (pretty good score considering those ball joints are $120).

So I just gotta get front inner & outer wheel bearings for the hub rotors on the spindle, I also need to get the spindle bearing kit for the axle shaft into the spindle. Need to buy new calipers, pads, brake hoses.

The axle will get same paint scheme as the rear axle.

Not a bad looking brake line. Use a piece of stiff wire to plan the route for your lines. Bend it by hand to fit well, then use that as a template for your tubing.

Oh that's a good idea. I ll have to do that next time

A GOOD pair of tubing benders makes a real difference too. I fit pipe for a living, love my Rigid benders. For something like brake lines, not too critical. But on something like the fuel line (long run, many bends), a good set of benders does a great job. Easier to make accurate bends.

Well what bender would u suggest?

In that picture you can see the bender I borrowed from my coworker. Is that similar to what you would use?

Hard to tell from the picture. I like the Rigid 400 Series Instrument Benders, each size tubing requires a specific size bender. These benders are nice because they have marks for 90 degree bends, 45s, and right hand bends (labeled 'R' on the bender). Benders of this type are designed to work from left to right, measuring center to center of bends. Sometimes you need to bend the tubing from the right hand side due to clearance. If you bend the tubing from the right hand side on the 90 mark then measurements will be thrown off.

The MJ died on me while I was driving home at 2 am. Luckily my wife was driving her van behind me.

Pushed it to a parking lot and left it there.

No warnings or anything. It simply died.

I think I did try starting it few times and gave up.

Next morning I came back and took a look at stuff

Swapped starters. The old one look sketchy

Attachment 402498

Attachment 402497

Still wouldnt start. So took the starter relay apart and cleaned all the internal contacts on the contactors and the external connections.

Improved a bit and started cranking.

Fiddled around with various connections in the engine bay.

Then walked to get my lunch

Came back, managed to fire it up

Quickly drove it home & got a ride back to get my XJ back home.

Tested fuel pressure, 28 psi.

Discovered that MJs had external fuel filters so I replaced it, but before I did. I bypassed it with a piece of hose and re-tested the fuel pressure without the inline filter in the way. Still 28 psi.

Started draining the tank and siphoning everything into the XJ.

Found out that the fuel pump is mounted on the side of the tank. Yay. No need to drop the tank.

Removed that, everything looks good but I don't trust the pump. I know the check valve has been toasted for long time.

Went to Napa and bought a pump motor for a 88 XJ. Will be arriving today so I gotta pick up after work.

Wow what a great mishap at 2am.

So I don't know if it's just my profile or what, but your pics are showing up as URLs and when I click on them, I get this...

"Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator"

Not just you

What he said.