Logan got a Jeep

Sounds like a fun project for you and your son.

Just a quick update on the Cherokee battles.

We got, well I got "Logan's" 92 Cherokee running good now. Head resurfaced and installed. Good tune-up, and purrs like a kitten. Will smog it next week after I am sure it will pass. Lift kit to be installed after it is licensed. Oh, and the all important stereo wiring has been fixed... Oh how I "HATE" people that cut the factory wires to install an aftermarket stereo. Please, buy a harness for $10. I am colorblind, so figuring out the colors, in a tiny hole, and not one cheat-sheet had the right colors listed for his. That's was 4 hours I will never get back 💥

His buddy who bought the 89 and 90, again, I got the 90 running fairly good as well. Slight knock when cold at an idle. He put 5W-30 in a motor with 280K. I added some Lucas to quiet it down a bit. Casey just wants to go, go, go, and not take the time to fix it right. Several vacuum leaks fixed, dirty contacts from the coil to the ICU (that was a bugger to find), a good tune-up, and it runs pretty good. This was all after Casey swapped in the fuel tank from the 89. The original tank was rusted inside, and has a hole in the bottom. Upon filling the tank, Casey learned why the rubber O-Ring is so important where the fuel pump installs. The cooling system has been upgraded to an open type. The Renix system has its quirks, like cranking for 3 seconds before adding spark (I remember that from the 88 I had years ago). Transmission cooling line has popped off at the radiator twice now. Is has a plastic clip that is supposed to hold it in. "I" need to take a closer look, as yesterday the fluid hit the heat mat on the bottom of the hood and eventually flamed up. No major damage, just another set-back. After he gets this to pass smog , he will install the short arm kit from the lifted 92. 🔥

Motors from the spare Cherokees will be pulled and overhauled / rebuilt this summer. Oh the joys of wrenching 🎉

Well the latest is not the greatest of news.

I got a call from Logan Saturday evening that there was no oil in the engine. While on my way, he texts that the Transmission is separated from the Engine. I arrive and start looking things over. Transmission to the block looks fine, just a little oily. Find that there is quite a bit of oil slung around on the divers side toward the rear of the motor... Tilt the flashlight just so and just below the intake is the #6 connecting rod poking out the side of the block. I found why he was low on oil.

Seriously?

Spent last night getting ready to pull the spare motor / Transmission / Transfer Case (with SYE). Got it down to just the mounts and bolt between the transmission and block. Guess I need a tall transmission jack for my pit. I know I cannot lift one like that anymore.

That doesn't sound good.

If you can pull the engine and tranny as a unit that is better.  Else you will learn why XJ owners own 3ft+ of 3/8" drive extensions and lots of wobbly joints.  Those top bell-housing bolts are tough to get to.

kris_olof said If you can pull the engine and tranny as a unit that is better.  Else you will learn why XJ owners own 3ft+ of 3/8" drive extensions and lots of wobbly joints.  Those top bell-housing bolts are tough to get to.  

I agree. Watched a couple of videos on youtube. Top bolts are an E12... What the heck is an E12? Something else to add to the toolbox is what it is... From what I saw, if the motor mounts are wasted, then the transfer case drops low enough to actually see those top E12 bell housing bolts.

I think we are going to try and pull it out complete. Needed to swap the transfer cases anyways. I think it is going to be a long 4 day weekend in the garage.

BLTJeep said

I think we are going to try and pull it out complete. Needed to swap the transfer cases anyways. I think it is going to be a long 4 day weekend in the garage.  

Wait 4 day weekend!!! What the heck I'm working at the wrong place....

BLTJeep said

What the heck is an E12? 

 

External Torx... I wish I were joking

Mike G said

Wait 4 day weekend!!! What the heck I'm working at the wrong place....

💥😠  

Me too...I only have a one day weekend this weekend...😭

Gregulator said

Me too...I only have a one day weekend this weekend...😭  

WAH!😱

Update on what we are calling Cherokee Building 101

We have the old lifted 92 stripped of just about everything. Motor-Trans-Transfer came out in one LONNNNG unit. Easy enough to do when the Jeep is lifted 7 1/2 inches. WHAT, did I say 7 1/2 inches???  It is a RE 5 1/2 inch short arm kit with 2 inch JKS Spacers up front and 2 inch blocks in the rear. No wonder the hood was like a foot taller than my TJ. After the motor, all the lifts and axles came out. Doors are off, just need to pull a few hoses, and cut the rest up for scrap.

Anyways, pulled the head on the "good" pulled motor, odometer read 225K, pistons are stamped 50. So at some point, motor was rebuilt and bored 50 over... Freshening it up with new gaskets all around, it should be good to go in as soon as we get the blown motor out. The plan is to install the lift and axles first, to get it raised up enough to pull the junk out in one piece again. It made life very easy. Will probably do the short arm kit first to just get it going (no cutting and welding), then eventually put the long arm kit on it.

Opened up the Ford 8.8 rear to check out what is inside. 4.88 gears and a stock limited slip unit. Good to go for him I guess.

BLTJeep said  Will probably do the short arm kit first to just get it going (no cutting and welding), then eventually put the long arm kit on it.

Put the long arm kit in. Build it once. You can thank me later. 

Update for May 1:

Casey's Cherokee is lifted and running! Installed the short arm kit on his 1990. New fuel pump to fix the random loss of power, mainly on a hills. Running pretty good, but has a slight rod knock. He has the spare motor from the 1989 pulled, and is freshening it up. It sounded good when we drove it home, so just a good cleaning and some new gaskets. Going to shake it down as is for now and put some miles on it. Will do the motor swap in a month or three after we finish Logans.

Speaking of Logan, we have the long arm kit mostly installed. We are waiting on a friend to help us swap the front end gears (4.8😎 from the wrecked axle to the good one. Once the gears are installed (this week), we will put the axle in. Then we will be able to move it around again and get it into the shop to do the motor swap. The lifted wrecked one has been stripped down to a shell.

The rainy weather slowed us down quite a bit. Now with the sun, work gets done.

Lots of progress on Cherokee Ranch. Here is a shot of Logan and Casey's Jeeps:

Logan's is on the left. Finally got the front end all together, installed, and OUT OF MY GARAGE. Now it is time for the engine swap.

Casey is currently cutting holes in his hood for the louvered panels he has. He has been up to the Rubicon several time already and is enjoying his ride.

Boys and their Jeeps... Awesome!

I got another Cherokee just because. Its a 1989 Jeep Cherokee xj. It has a Dana 44 in the rear, brand new 35s, 4.5 Rubicon express short arm kit,rock sliders, rock bumpers, tire carier, roof rack, light bars.

I took the sway bars off for more flex, and took it to the Rubicon for weekend i had it. made it to spider and the fuel pump went out. It did great was pretty impressed for how well it did.

We need pictures man...

The Toyos are just my daily driver tires.

That's a nice looking XJ. Congrats.

JohnDF said That's a nice looking XJ. Congrats.  

Thanks

Lookin good

Logan Larson said The Toyos are just my daily driver tires.       

Nice setup!

Thanks!

Tony45 said

Nice setup!