Oh and the wheels have the 90 degree valve stems so filling them is easier than regular valve stems. Not bad for a $500 lowballs offer on the face page.
1989 Cherokee
- Thread starter DirtyChemist
- Start date
Picked up a 1999 Durango steering box from Pick n Pull for $80. Might give drilling and tapping for hydraulic assist a shot. YouTube makes it look easy. Pieate4x4 makes it look tedious. This thing was covered in dirt and grease. Nothing binding when I turn it lock to lock. 3 turns is what I get with some channellocks on the shaft. If I decide to rebuild the entire thing I’ll tap it for hydro. If I feel like losing $80 I’ll try drilling without taking it apart.
Milwaukee impact made easy work of taking off the pitman arm
Milwaukee impact made easy work of taking off the pitman arm
Discovered I need some new engine mounts too. Going with Brown Dog polyurethane for about $100.
It’s probably going to vibrate so much I regret my choice. With all the horsepower this thing makes it’s tearing apart rubber mounts.
It’s probably going to vibrate so much I regret my choice. With all the horsepower this thing makes it’s tearing apart rubber mounts.
Must be an aluminum vs. steel wheels. I can get a set of 40" Maxxis Trepadors on my TG beadlocks in about an hour. Removing them is another story.
You’ve probably done it more than once.
Now that I’ve done it 4 times I realize, as always, there is a reason people get paid to do this. Also why some tire shops won’t touch them. Maybe it IS an aluminum wheel thing combined with a new tire thing. Everyone on YouTube had aluminum locks with new wheels. Kick, kick, kick,DONE. I mean....it’s not like I had much else going on for the day.
Durango box installed. It is 3 turns to lock. Interestingly enough, my tires don’t run on the short arms anymore. I flushed it with a gallon of power steering fluid, installed a $23 inline filter from Oreily Auto Parts on the return line, and called it good. There was definitely a lot of BROWN fluid removed from the box. I also replaced the O ring on the low pressure line with a rubber one from a Harbor Freight kit. No I don’t remember the size and yes I should have noted it after all the research I did to try and find that piece of information.
Maybe I’ll drill and tap the stock box. 5” grade 8 bolts are a tad too long for this box to tighten up against the body. I can spin one of the washers I’m using as a spacer. Top bolt has 2 washers between it and the box, bottoms two bolts have one spacer washer. Bolts are touching the box and not letting it tighten down fully. Steering is definitely different. Almost more ‘rack and pinion’ feeling. It’s tighter and the steering wheel is now centered. Before it was pointing towards the 10:30 hour hand position even with any adjustments I could make to try to recenter it. Those adjustments resulted in the tie rod being at an angle I never felt comfortable with. It didn’t break in two trips BUT it just angled so much back I always thought I was on borrowed time.
Failed smog. Twice. First time I fixed it because one of the hoses to the EVAP canister was broken. Pressurized the gas tank enough to shoot gas at the kid testing the cap. High CO at idle and high throttle along with high HC PPM.
Second test I’m high for CO only at high throttle. After the test I discovered the idle was high while in park and it wasn’t coming down. I discovered a vacuum hose disconnected from the ‘junction box’ of vacuum connections by the air filter. I believe this cake apart when I was installing the Durango box and I never saw it because I never inspected it. Maybe I SHOULD keep getting this smog fed annually. So much can go wrong with such little things I’d never check without a smog. Imagine if Nevada had annual vehicle inspections.
Maybe I’ll drill and tap the stock box. 5” grade 8 bolts are a tad too long for this box to tighten up against the body. I can spin one of the washers I’m using as a spacer. Top bolt has 2 washers between it and the box, bottoms two bolts have one spacer washer. Bolts are touching the box and not letting it tighten down fully. Steering is definitely different. Almost more ‘rack and pinion’ feeling. It’s tighter and the steering wheel is now centered. Before it was pointing towards the 10:30 hour hand position even with any adjustments I could make to try to recenter it. Those adjustments resulted in the tie rod being at an angle I never felt comfortable with. It didn’t break in two trips BUT it just angled so much back I always thought I was on borrowed time.
Failed smog. Twice. First time I fixed it because one of the hoses to the EVAP canister was broken. Pressurized the gas tank enough to shoot gas at the kid testing the cap. High CO at idle and high throttle along with high HC PPM.
Second test I’m high for CO only at high throttle. After the test I discovered the idle was high while in park and it wasn’t coming down. I discovered a vacuum hose disconnected from the ‘junction box’ of vacuum connections by the air filter. I believe this cake apart when I was installing the Durango box and I never saw it because I never inspected it. Maybe I SHOULD keep getting this smog fed annually. So much can go wrong with such little things I’d never check without a smog. Imagine if Nevada had annual vehicle inspections.
Broken EVAP hose. I saw this a while ago and didn’t think much of it. Kind of assumed since it passed smog before it would pass again. Broke off the small section and jammed it back on. Idle CO and HC PPM problem fixed. Might should replace the hose itself since it’s probably older than me at this point.
Since it still wouldn’t pass smog (high CO at high idle) I decided to tighten some bolts and create an exhaust leak. Also notified it looks like a stud is missing. So I ordered up a new exhaust gasket and some copper RTV to try and get it sealed. Hopefully there was a leak causing it to run rich and this fixes it. Also ordered an NTK oxygen sensor. Not cheap, but it’s supposed to be worth it. The cheap ones apparently don’t work well according to the experience of people on the internet.
I also noticed the thermostat I replaced (even though it worked fine in a pot of hot water) is leaking slightly out the top. In all honestly I’m shocked since I used a new gasket and super 300 permatex again after scraping it all off.
Kind of noticed it looks a little low on ATF.
New motor mounts ordered over Labor Day will be mailed out Monday. Full 16 days like Brown Dog said on their website. Might wait until those show up to replace the intake/exhaust gasket. I think I need a moving permit to go get it smogged after this. COVID 19 registration extension ended around September 13.
I also noticed the thermostat I replaced (even though it worked fine in a pot of hot water) is leaking slightly out the top. In all honestly I’m shocked since I used a new gasket and super 300 permatex again after scraping it all off.
Kind of noticed it looks a little low on ATF.
New motor mounts ordered over Labor Day will be mailed out Monday. Full 16 days like Brown Dog said on their website. Might wait until those show up to replace the intake/exhaust gasket. I think I need a moving permit to go get it smogged after this. COVID 19 registration extension ended around September 13.
Well the exhaust leak is worse. Either the exhaust manifold is warped, the gasket was crap, I didn’t put down enough copper RTV (most likely) or a combination of the 3 came together. It runs rough at idle with the new gasket and you can hear a vacuum being pulled. So off it all comes in the near future and more fun ensues. So irritating that it didn’t just magically fix itself.
Currently looking at an LS swap to be done with the 4.0 liter. Too bad swapping in a 4L60E or 80E isn’t bolt in. Lots of customization required. Maybe in the long term future since the price of the engine from pick and pull with transmission would pay for the Artex truss I’m going with.
Currently looking at an LS swap to be done with the 4.0 liter. Too bad swapping in a 4L60E or 80E isn’t bolt in. Lots of customization required. Maybe in the long term future since the price of the engine from pick and pull with transmission would pay for the Artex truss I’m going with.
Exhaust leak turned out to be the vacuum hose from the MAP sensor to the throttle body. Man was I happy to find that. The copper RTV and Victor Reinz (NOT MAHLE like the amazon order says) are holding up just fine.
Replace the motor mounts with Brown Dog Polyurethane. I notice more light vibrations. I don’t care about that because I don’t want the rubber to crack, and it’s nothing like what I expected based on other people’s reviews. Plus this is an off road toy first and daily driver second so I’m not too worried about it. I’d rather know the engine is firmly mounted into place than go back to the soft ride I have.
It wasn’t fun. Driver side went just fine. Little bit of work but nothing extensive. Passenger side required a few HOURS of work for me. The engine was twisted so that it was at the very front of the engine mount. Lifting/lowering/pushing/pulling/prying/crying in every direction from both sides and below just wouldn’t do it. Nothing seemed to work so on DAY TWO I pulled out the GoPro, lines up the holes the best I could see and shoved the bolt in. Eventually I grew the balls to try tightening the bolt through the two mounts and it started poking through. I put the bolt in backwards because the radiator side of things was giving me so many problems with not aligning I wanted to start there. Well I discovered on the Renix engine the bolt only goes one way. So our came the grinder and off came the end of the bolt.
It probably deserves an like change now and maybe some more ATF since THAT seems to be low and I swear I added enough when I reinstalled the transmission. I’ll try to remember to post photos of the engine bolt I cut. Nothing eventful on the driver side.
I also scored some locking hubs for $150. Thankfully these WERE NOT on the book of faces because they would have been GONE. Guy was even cool enough to hold them until I showed up with a second offer standing in front of him buying more parts. Yeah. Karma is a thing. I listed his advertisement in some local groups and i WOULD have bought the 38” boogers on 16” aluminum Eagle alloy beadlocks if they were 17s. Yeah they looked like a few trips old and definitely not destroyed.
Replace the motor mounts with Brown Dog Polyurethane. I notice more light vibrations. I don’t care about that because I don’t want the rubber to crack, and it’s nothing like what I expected based on other people’s reviews. Plus this is an off road toy first and daily driver second so I’m not too worried about it. I’d rather know the engine is firmly mounted into place than go back to the soft ride I have.
It wasn’t fun. Driver side went just fine. Little bit of work but nothing extensive. Passenger side required a few HOURS of work for me. The engine was twisted so that it was at the very front of the engine mount. Lifting/lowering/pushing/pulling/prying/crying in every direction from both sides and below just wouldn’t do it. Nothing seemed to work so on DAY TWO I pulled out the GoPro, lines up the holes the best I could see and shoved the bolt in. Eventually I grew the balls to try tightening the bolt through the two mounts and it started poking through. I put the bolt in backwards because the radiator side of things was giving me so many problems with not aligning I wanted to start there. Well I discovered on the Renix engine the bolt only goes one way. So our came the grinder and off came the end of the bolt.
It probably deserves an like change now and maybe some more ATF since THAT seems to be low and I swear I added enough when I reinstalled the transmission. I’ll try to remember to post photos of the engine bolt I cut. Nothing eventful on the driver side.
I also scored some locking hubs for $150. Thankfully these WERE NOT on the book of faces because they would have been GONE. Guy was even cool enough to hold them until I showed up with a second offer standing in front of him buying more parts. Yeah. Karma is a thing. I listed his advertisement in some local groups and i WOULD have bought the 38” boogers on 16” aluminum Eagle alloy beadlocks if they were 17s. Yeah they looked like a few trips old and definitely not destroyed.
Friend ended up getting me some well used 40s. They’ll work for getting axles under it and driving around or spares I think. His friend was replacing them, he had them at his place and when he told me to get all my stuff out they came with delivery so I just mounted them on beadlocks.
The Jeep now has death wobble.
I tightened the track bar bracket up. It was VERY loose. It improved things but the death wobble still exists. I really don’t want to spend $450 on new ball joints and tie rods for this thing. Seems like a waste with an upcoming axle swap, and also it’s a Dana 30 under a Jeep Cherokee. It’s not a 3/4 ton truck. Wtf makes them so expensive ?
I tightened the track bar bracket up. It was VERY loose. It improved things but the death wobble still exists. I really don’t want to spend $450 on new ball joints and tie rods for this thing. Seems like a waste with an upcoming axle swap, and also it’s a Dana 30 under a Jeep Cherokee. It’s not a 3/4 ton truck. Wtf makes them so expensive ?
Bought my Artec truss. I've pretty much given up on the death wobble situation because the amount of time, money, and effort I could put towards it would be better spent on doing the axle swap. New ball joints were around $400 so I spent the money on the Artec TJ One Ton Dana 60 truss. Should make installing the front axle much easier than fabricating something I don't understand with skills I don't have. Supposedly all I need to do is weld this on, deal with some bowed coil springs, and make three link bars followed by a track bar. Steering will be needed too. Right now I'm thinking about ditching the 40s and finding some cheap 33s or 35s for a 17 inch wheel just because it would be drivable then.
I still never smogged it after swapping the oxygen sensor and replacing the intake/exhaust manifold gasket. The NGK crank position sensor can NOT be bumped forward for advanced timing contrary to what the internet says. It WILL crack/break the plastic housing. I need to swap THAT in, along with figuring out why my speedometer doesn't work, at some point just to make sure it works. Always good to have a spare CPS for one of these from what I hear. Unless you have an LS swap.
I still never smogged it after swapping the oxygen sensor and replacing the intake/exhaust manifold gasket. The NGK crank position sensor can NOT be bumped forward for advanced timing contrary to what the internet says. It WILL crack/break the plastic housing. I need to swap THAT in, along with figuring out why my speedometer doesn't work, at some point just to make sure it works. Always good to have a spare CPS for one of these from what I hear. Unless you have an LS swap.
Apparently every photo I’ve uploaded has now crapped out. (EDIT: apparently it's only on tapatalk).
Should be getting some 35 spline Yukon chromoly outer shafts for $180 tomorrow or next week. Another note on Facebook’ find.
At this point I think I need rear leaf spring perched and a drive shaft, front track bar and frame side mount (if I can’t reuse the Rough Country one), steering linkage, and tube to make my three link. Oh and a front drive shaft.
Passed on buying a Rubicon NP241OR case because my transmission is a 21 spline. I’d need a new transmission so the $1,650 on the case becomes $18-1900. I could buy a blackbox doubler for around that I think, or for around $2,900 (yeah only $1,000ish more) get a two speed Atlas. The Rubicon case would need a 1350 yoke when the Sterling 10.25 goes in so it just becomes easier and easier to justify saving for an atlas and doing it once.
Should be getting some 35 spline Yukon chromoly outer shafts for $180 tomorrow or next week. Another note on Facebook’ find.
At this point I think I need rear leaf spring perched and a drive shaft, front track bar and frame side mount (if I can’t reuse the Rough Country one), steering linkage, and tube to make my three link. Oh and a front drive shaft.
Passed on buying a Rubicon NP241OR case because my transmission is a 21 spline. I’d need a new transmission so the $1,650 on the case becomes $18-1900. I could buy a blackbox doubler for around that I think, or for around $2,900 (yeah only $1,000ish more) get a two speed Atlas. The Rubicon case would need a 1350 yoke when the Sterling 10.25 goes in so it just becomes easier and easier to justify saving for an atlas and doing it once.
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Yeah me too. It was just an odd moment where they all appeared broken.
Wired up 220 to the garage. Hooked up the welder with some flux core and tested it on a bed frame I had laying around. Some say flux core is better than Mig. Some say Mig is better than flux core. I haven’t run enough of either and YouTube mixed with opinions is where I’m at. Just because one professional can do it better at the same setting, or some amateur doesn’t want to buy a bottle doesn’t convince me.
I have a healthy fear/hate of electrical work.
First welds. Somewhere between 15 and 19 volts with 0.035 e71 flux core wire. Bottom to top. Left to right. Just like how I read.
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Looking forward to the second semester of welding class at TMCC. I don’t want to play with this too much and develop bad habits I have to break later. The welder I have takes Binzel nozzles and series 15 tips so either I buy those online (haven’t checked locally) or I buy the Tweco gun with Euro connection on Amazon for $100 and run Lincoln/Tweco parts. I’m very ‘inclined’ to buy the Tweco gun for the ‘bling’ factor of telling people I have a Tweco gun.
I have a healthy fear/hate of electrical work.
First welds. Somewhere between 15 and 19 volts with 0.035 e71 flux core wire. Bottom to top. Left to right. Just like how I read.
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Looking forward to the second semester of welding class at TMCC. I don’t want to play with this too much and develop bad habits I have to break later. The welder I have takes Binzel nozzles and series 15 tips so either I buy those online (haven’t checked locally) or I buy the Tweco gun with Euro connection on Amazon for $100 and run Lincoln/Tweco parts. I’m very ‘inclined’ to buy the Tweco gun for the ‘bling’ factor of telling people I have a Tweco gun.
Yeah flux core seems like it’s SMAW meets GMAW. Honestly I wouldn’t know the difference between the two without cutting some pieces apart and even then it’s probably more ‘poor welding experience’ than one being better than the other.
Should be picking up a bottle to swap for GMAW shortly. Maybe I’ll just go ‘dual shielded flux core’ and have the best of both worlds. Either way, it’s one step closer in getting this build moving along.
Should be picking up a bottle to swap for GMAW shortly. Maybe I’ll just go ‘dual shielded flux core’ and have the best of both worlds. Either way, it’s one step closer in getting this build moving along.