My Jeep YJ build thread

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, it always made me laugh seeing a Wagoneer with an AMC engine, Ford carb & ignition system, and a GM transmission...somehow they were pretty reliable vehicles and that is kind of amazing.

Kinda puts "American" in American Motors. It took everybody lol.

 

[Uncle Gump]

AMC... All Makes Combined

I worked a couple years at an AMC Jeep Renault dealer in the early 80's.

Imagine how bad the SUCK was walking into that F-in mess everyday.

 

[ryan]

I had that same issue with the shift forks on my CJ and my YJ. Neither were really high mileage either, they just wear like crazy

 

[Shran]

It's fixed - fingers crossed but I am not seeing anything leaking past the rear main, the transmission/clutch works great, and the 4wd works!!!

Rear output on the t-case is leaking a bit, I maybe should have replaced the bushing in the tailhousing. Fortunately that is a very easy fix.

I had that same issue with the shift forks on my CJ and my YJ. Neither were really high mileage either, they just wear like crazy

I'm wondering if it's somewhat caused by the shift linkage and the shifter boot. I get a nice solid engagement but the boot is so stiff that it will push the shifter around. Thinking that the mode fork can't really float on its collar because of that. It's always being pushed against the collar. The t-case itself seems really well designed, it was very easy to rebuild compared to a BW 1350/4.

 

[ryan]

I'm wondering if it's somewhat caused by the shift linkage and the shifter boot. I get a nice solid engagement but the boot is so stiff that it will push the shifter around. Thinking that the mode fork can't really float on its collar because of that. It's always being pushed against the collar. The t-case itself seems really well designed, it was very easy to rebuild compared to a BW 1350/4.

I agree - there should be some kind of bushing to allow a little play in it to keep it from wearing as hard. I'd bet there probably is some kind of aftermarket part that does knowing how much jeep support there is, but it's been decades since I had a manual wrangler so I've never checked.

 

[Shran]

I'm finding that I can buy just about anything for these Jeeps and it's ridiculously cheap. Unbelievable really, no wonder people like them so much.

I spent $140 last week and that bought me a new radiator, radiator cap, a gasket for one of the rear side windows, and a shifter boot. Just the shifter boot alone was worth it, WOW does it shift better in cold weather, I don't have to hold it in gear any more!!!

We took it out on a club run last weekend and my wife has been driving it around a bit, still have a few things left to fix on it but am really pleased with it now, great little beater rig.

 

[Shran]

Had to pull the exhaust & intake manifolds off this rig a couple months ago, the exhaust gasket totally blew out on #6 and got very loud. I'm kind of thinking it's happening again, it starts as a really light ticking sound and gets worse as more of the gasket gets blown out. Aftermarket headers on these engines suck. The ports on mine are no longer flat and one of the other local guys just had a Banks header totally come apart on his XJ. I feel like maybe I will be going to a stock manifold at some point.

Another stupid maintenance item was the starter, it started turning over really slow only when hot and then all the time. Cheap fix though! $65!

My most recent fix was the AC. Shockingly, I was able to add ONE can of refrigerant and the AC blows ice cold. It is very weird having working AC in a Jeep from 1992. I noticed a long time ago that the compressor turns on when you turn the AC on but it just never got cold... it had retrofit fittings on it so I figured what the hell, maybe it was just low. It was!

 

[ryan]

Had to pull the exhaust & intake manifolds off this rig a couple months ago, the exhaust gasket totally blew out on #6 and got very loud. I'm kind of thinking it's happening again, it starts as a really light ticking sound and gets worse as more of the gasket gets blown out. Aftermarket headers on these engines suck. The ports on mine are no longer flat and one of the other local guys just had a Banks header totally come apart on his XJ. I feel like maybe I will be going to a stock manifold at some point.

Another stupid maintenance item was the starter, it started turning over really slow only when hot and then all the time. Cheap fix though! $65!

My most recent fix was the AC. Shockingly, I was able to add ONE can of refrigerant and the AC blows ice cold. It is very weird having working AC in a Jeep from 1992. I noticed a long time ago that the compressor turns on when you turn the AC on but it just never got cold... it had retrofit fittings on it so I figured what the hell, maybe it was just low. It was!

I've still got everything from my motor laying around if you end up needing parts

 

[MISWFL]

AMC... All Makes Combined

I worked a couple years at an AMC Jeep Renault dealer in the early 80's.

Imagine how bad the SUCK was walking into that F-in mess everyday.

They used a Audi/Porsche/VW ex tractor based 4 cylinder engine in the mail jeeps for a few years. I saw one of them in a wrecking yard.