Grunt's 93 YJ

GRUNT · #1 03-19-2010

ADMINISTRATORS:
Can I use code in vBulletin to resize my images? I am at work and cannot physiccally edit them from here. I apologize and will edit from home sometime tomorrow unless we can do it here.

Why:
I had a technical malfunction :

while wheeling the Cinders OHV park in Flagstaff, AZ. Instead of putting money into clutch repair, I am swapping out my 4 cylinder for a 8 cylinder. This is because while the 4 gets me where I need to go, I found that my rig loaded with expedition supplies, gear, parts and people cannot keep speed on the highway, and it is even worse towing my M-101 trailer. I have done research with 6 vs 8, just getting a new jeep, etc... JP magazine recently wrote an artivle on teh LT-1 swap into a YJ with all part numbers listed. I also had a coworker with an LT-1 and 4L60E for me. Thus, I went the LT-1 route. I purchased the YJ new while in the Marines back in 93 so I have a sentimental bond and will not sell it. I look at this as an excellent opportunity to work on it with my father(recently retired,) and my son.

The YJ new:
2.5L motor, AX-5 five speed tranny, NP-231, Dana 30 and 35 axles with 4.10 gears. Rolling large on, if I remember correctly, 27 inch tires.

The recent YJ:
TeraLow 4-to-1 & 2-Lo, Alloy axles, ARB lockers and 4.56 gears front and rear. 33 inch tires.

The future YJ:
LT-1 Chevy motor, 4L60E Auto tranny, Change input gear and add HD chain to 231, and swap in a Dana-44 rear axle.

Resources:
I have all the drivetrain and almost all other parts needed with the exception of a shifter for the tranny. I will be using local Arizona shops for my T-case work, Axle internals and radiator work.
I would like to thank the following for their technical advice provided thus far:
OB1jeeper(VJC, JEO, ORP), Joe Daro of Absolute Offroad, Andrew of Letzroll Offroad, Curly(JEO), Ademster(VJC), 5.7YJ(Jeepforum) and 1tonYJ(Jeepforum)

3-18-10
2 years ago...

2 months ago...

Last night... My father came over to start our project. We started by placing the Dana-44, sourced from a Cherokee, under the rear end. The 44 is only bolted in place as we cannot set the pinion angle until the drivetrain is in. I will have a write-up on the axle when we get to it. As for the rest of the jeep, we removed the red-top as well as engine and cooling components. We also removed the wiring harness that ran the front end lights.The ARB compressor and associated relays where boxed up and placed on the shelf. Then we removed the grill and right fender, but then stopped to visit with family that came by the house.

With other projects, I found that when finished I always had parts left over and wiring terminals that have no home. I thought, this time I will label everything. Overkill some may say, but I believe the 5 seconds it take to tag something will save me hours of heartache in the end. The tags were $1.00 for 100 at Staples. I also bought some RubberMain bins of various sizes at Home Depot and an assortment of Zip-locks to store parts. I figure this will take over a month and heck, my memory does not last more than a few days so this will help me remember what goes to what! Once removed, everything was labelled and secured for ease of use when used again or for ease of install by whomever buys what I sell.

This is as far as we got. I spent the evening cleaning the kitty-litter used on the coolant overflow from draining the radiator as well as 17 years of earth accumilated on my jeep which came as if from no where while disassembling the body parts. I am sure there is some sand from the Jersey Shore to the 4-corners to California. Hopefully we will have the old drivetrain out by this week. I also need to get the T-case over to Absolute Offroad.

More to come.

K7VZ · #2 03-19-2010

Holy Huge Pictures. They are freezing up my computer. hahaha.

gearhead · #3 03-19-2010

cool!

keep up posted.....

very smart idea to 'bag and tag' all of your small parts, bolts, etc.

azscout · #4 03-19-2010

I wish you would have told me about your swap. I have a Chevy 350 set for fuel injection and a turbo 350 tranny sitting in my storage in Mesa I would have sold you for a great deal.