81 SX/4 Project

[Mechanic]

Well...... i figured I may as well start a project thread now so I can start asking opinions.... Something has to happen this summer with my SX/4. At very very least the engine has to come out and the rear main has to be replaced, rockers have to be finished(both sides) and the heater core has to be done.

Ideally, I want a 4.0 upgrade hopefully a full fuel injection swap as well, I little front end work(ball joints mostly), MAYBE a ford 8.8 rear Axel If I can find one with the same gear ratio for a decent price, Np 242, 229, or other such 2 speed Tcase (I do have a problem with the 229 as I don't have any of the vacuum engage stuff on the SX cause it's full time 4X4, but I do have a 129 case already split and ready to go when I ever got a 229), both rockers, Heater core, repair or recover front seats(they were perfect when I bought the car, but since then the driver and passenger seat has ripped down the seems), both door bushings, new rear springs or at very least a helper spring, and some mild body work and rust controll.

A fairly tall order, and I only have about 2 grand in witch to accomplish it.

And then of course the Idea of a 360 popped into my head yesterday.......

So, what direction do all of you guys think I should go?? I'm going for reliable daily driver, but with just a tad more oomph than what I got now. not a street machine. I just want to get up to highway speed in less than 30 seconds

I've also got 2 other 258 engines sitting in two other eagles that I could rebuild(they both run, but I would at very least want to seal them before dropping them in.)

I'm open to any and every suggestion. this has to be done (somewhat) on the cheap. but it can't be half A$$'ed, if I'm gona do it, I'm gona do it right.

thoughts??

[mojobean]

mine somehow only takes about 15 seconds to highway speed. i only know this as its a really short ramp and its mainly semi's i'm trying to merge into.  258 auto/NP119 running on about 300,000 miles. what color are the seats?

[Mechanic]

mine somehow only takes about 15 seconds to highway speed. i only know this as its a really short ramp and its mainly semi's I'm trying to merge into.  258 auto/NP119 running on about 300,000 miles. what color are the seats?

Well...... 30's a bit of an exaggeration.... But not much of one. I'm running the exact same set up as you and am probably at low to mid 20 second range from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour. It used to do it much faster though around the 15 second mark. I've never timed it though, just guessing.

Here are the seat colors.

This is what they looked like when I bought the car, about half a year ago. now from being a daily driver(I'm not particularly hard on my vehicles. mechanically I'm hard on them. but I'm a bit of a neat freak and tend to try and keep my car looking nice) the seats have split down each of the faint lines going length wise, and it's driving me crazy.

[thereverendbill]

you could go for an injected 4.7 stroker 6 keep it light and agile then

[Mechanic]

If it can be done without an expensive computor like megasquirt or something, I'm all ears.

seriosly, any and all sugestions would be helpfull. i just don't know witch way to go with this guy.

[thereverendbill]

http://www.ajeepthing.com/stroker-motor.html check out that page for info on building a stroker, they give different build ups

[Pat]

I want a 360 mainly because I've never been fond of " 6 in a row ". Too old maybe, I've always felt " V-8 makes it great ".A lot of people have built their 6 & are happy with the results.

[mojobean]

pretty seats!! I was going to snag KevinCoughlin's seat covers to use for patching... but i don't necessarily need to have them. they are the same material/color as yours. Maybe in better shape? or you could use them for patching/reinforcing yours?

[Mechanic]

pretty seats!! I was going to snag KevinCoughlin's seat covers to use for patching... but i don't necessarily need to have them. they are the same material/color as yours. Maybe in better shape? or you could use them for patching/reinforcing yours?

So there is actually fabric out there like the stuff I have?? I don't necessarily need those seat covers either. But if I can find some of that exact fabric I would probably just end up replacing the whole bottom seat portion. and if I can't I'll probably just end up trying to sew it together.

Do you have a picture of the seat covers??

[mojobean]

i dont. and his photobucket seems to be gone. you could PM him and see if he could send you some. i think the passenger and rears were in good shape, and the drivers had a split seam? but i figured they'd work well for patching. i DO know that they are the same material, as thats exactly what i have in the kammback.

[Mechanic]

Thought I would give a little update on this, I haven't driven the car in over a month now, trying to keep it from degrading any further.

And, thank you thereverendbill!! that's an awesome link!

The latest and greatest plan for the beastly is a complete 4.0 swap from a 91 to 95 jeep with the auto and 4.0.  complete with 2 speed T-case, 4 speed auto, and fuel injected 4.0. unfortunately this will need the modification of driveshaft lengths but i'm good with that.

I'm also hopping to do the 4.5 stroker if I have time,

4.5L Low-buck simple stroker

~ Jeep 4.2L 3.895" stroke crank
~ Jeep 4.2L 5.875" rods
~ Jeep 4.0L 3.875" standard bore pistons
9.7:1 CR
~ CompCams #68-231-4 206/214 degree camshaft
~ Ported HO 1.91"/1.50" cylinder head
~ Stock 0.051" head gasket
~ 0.081" quench height
~ Ford 24lb/hr injectors with adjustable FPR or MAP adjuster for '87-'95 engines, Ford 24lb/hr injectors with stock 49psi FPR for '96 and later engines
~ 260hp @ 4850rpm, 321lbft @ 3500rpm

It shouldn't const me a whole lot of cash I have have all the parts needed except gaskets, cam, and the 4.0. Ideally I get a 4.0 that doesn't need a whole lot of machine work done to it. I've also got a gift card for MoPac that should cover the camshaft.

I am also very actively looking for a jeep with the 4.0 and auto tranny. preferably rolled over, rear ended, or otherwise trashed, i don't need the diffs, body, interior or anything else besides the wiring harness, 4.0, tranny, T-case, and then any other misc parts you may or may not need for the swap that come from the engine bay.

I really don't want to spend much more than 500 on the jeep though, unless it's REALY low K's.

[hemlokk]

So you're going for the whole Jeep Cherokee engine/drivetrain swap, not just the 4.0L head?   I'm still interested in upgrading my '82 wagon to the 4.0L head if you're not going to be using it anymore. 

I wouldn't worry about the seats!  Go to Crappy Tire and buy a set of 'cabbie beads', it will cover it up, add comfort and increase durability.

When are you done exams? This weekend OK for you to take a look at the body work on the '84?  You've gotta know whether it's over your head or not...although doesn't sound like you'll have much time for that job if you're talkin complete rebuild on your SX/4

[Desert Eagle]

hemlokk , i see ur a daft punk fan, so am i, u near NY?

[hemlokk]

hemlokk , i see ur a daft punk fan, so am i, u near NY?

I wish I were near NY, or I'd be hitting up concerts left right and centre.

[Mechanic]

So you're going for the whole Jeep Cherokee engine/drivetrain swap, not just the 4.0L head?  I'm still interested in upgrading my '82 wagon to the 4.0L head if you're not going to be using it anymore. 

I wouldn't worry about the seats!  Go to Crappy Tire and buy a set of 'cabbie beads', it will cover it up, add comfort and increase durability.

When are you done exams? This weekend OK for you to take a look at the body work on the '84?  You've gotta know whether it's over your head or not...although doesn't sound like you'll have much time for that job if you're talkin complete rebuild on your SX/4

I'm willing, this weekend does sound like as good a time as any to take a look at your wee beastly. Jared will be over on Saturday to maybe we can both head out to take a look at it. We can talk more about doing the 4.0 head swap to your eagle at the same time to.

[Whuntmore]

Actually, I was just gonna post that...  I'm gonna try to get down and spend some time with Pat, and give him a hand on his cars - Which ever one he needs attending to first.  If not Saturday, then Sunday. 

Be warned- Pat isn't an early riser, so don't bother showing up too early.  Now me, I'd be down for something like 7-8, but Pat would probably kill me for getting him up too early.  We don't want him to lose any beauty sleep!!!   

[hemlokk]

Saturday sounds good to me. Pat, just give us the word.

[Mechanic]

Awsome!

And, it's a for sure go on saterday, and most likely sunday so whatever works best for you. Weather rain, shine, sleet, or hail it's gona happen(ohhhh how I LOVE a nice big heated garage!!)

It's true though, I need my beauty sleep . I might wake up early on saterday so I can clean the shop some before jared gets there. but that'll be around 9 maybe 9:30.

[Whuntmore]

Awsome!

And, it's a for sure go on saterday, and most likely sunday so whatever works best for you. Weather rain, shine, sleet, or hail it's gona happen(ohhhh how I LOVE a nice big heated garage!!)

It's true though, I need my beauty sleep . I might wake up early on saterday so I can clean the shop some before jared gets there. but that'll be around 9 maybe 9:30.

That would be really great.  Sorry if I'm getting you outta bed earlier then usual, but my time on Saturday is gonna be slim, and we've been talking about this for sooooooo long (ok, ok, just a few months) that you'd get more outta me - The earlier the better.

Don't worry too much, I still gotta git me wife outta bed (as she's a late sleeper also) and get her to her sister's place.  So if I'm running behind, well, "IT'S ALL HER FAULT!!!"  (j/k)   

[hemlokk]

I'll be up to watch the Netherlands vs Japan game at 5:30am on Saturday anyway, so 9 or 9:30 would be perfect for me.

[Whuntmore]

Keep me posted if you're done early on Friday (Today) and you want me to come down... Say after supper...  Up to you... If not, I'll see ya tomorrow.  I sent you a PM with my home number on it.

[hemlokk]

9:00 is pretty early come to think of it, but I hope to be by some time before noon.  I'll bring the '82 wagon and then we can go out and check out the wounded '84

[Whuntmore]

9:00 is pretty early come to think of it, but I hope to be by some time before noon.  I'll bring the '82 wagon and then we can go out and check out the wounded '84

To be honest, I'd like to be down around 9, but I doubt if I'll be able to actually make that time.  Probably around 10 am or so.  So don't sweat it, Pat will probably be just getting up.

[Mechanic]

Nope, I just got up now actually lol

Come over whenever. just note Ian, around 1:30 well be gone for about an hour.

[Whuntmore]

well, we got a lot done - Pat (Mechanic) and I ripped off the entire back to his large truck.  The wood was completely rotten.  be alot easier to get at the rear axle now.  and he's gonna redo the back to the truck.

I'll have to post some pics soon.

He's probably gonna make some kind of carrier out of it.  At least I think that's the plan.


Update:

Here's some of the pictures of the work we did:

first one is the truck bed with the bottom of the bed gone, but all the frame and sides still on it.
second one is Mechanic cutting around a Carriage bolt, to cut it off.
third pic is the wooden bed, sides and the rest of the rotten wooden frame completely gone.

[Mechanic]

Alright, time to revive this thread as summer is approaching and the list of things to fix on the SX/4 has grown considerably as of my little meeting with a mud puddle(Another.......... let's say not so splended idea ) and so have my thought of what I plan to do with it.

Because I am now driving a 2000 Toyota 4runner as a DD I can actualy build this beast back to stock. Hopefully eventually show condition.

Anyways, a new and improved list as to what needs doing ASAP, and what needs doing in the future.

ASAP
-ALL fluids must be changed and flushed
-a thoughough cleaning of the inside
-driver side caliper needs to be replaced along with both front rotors(never just replace one side when it comes to breaks)
-a goodly amount of engine molases(it might have a slight....... Quietly loud low down knock when you fire it up....)
-fix or replace rear bumper(might have been crushed slightly by some chain or other)
-revamp exhaust

Eventually...
-new carpets
-new cargo area carpets
-seats re-apolstered
-strip whole car down(possibly Leave drivetrain in) fix any rust/rockers PROPERLY, or in otherwoords, 17 years worth of work
-strip all paint and re-paint original coulor with spoiler.
-rebuld stock engine and tranny
-restore exhaust to original

[Mechanic]

Work will start on the ASAP within the next week or so, although it will be slow going till middle of June when i'm done diplomas.

[Whuntmore]

As usual, I am willing to help you with any repairs I can.