XJ owners pleas help! Brady's 99 XJ build... getting started

[RedRocketXJ]

I am going to make it next saturday to the desert but Id like to go test it out before that. heres a few shots of it flexed (as much as i could on the little dirt mound by my softball field) It still rubs in the back (just barley) and Ive trimmed as much as i can. the kit didnt come with rear shackles so i was thinking about picking up a new set so i can get that extra inch and a half.  Also ive still got those budget lift spacers that were on the front that i could put back in to keep it all even. what do yall think?

[SNOTROCKET]

wendsay. whatever time braddy gets out of work. were gonna head up there.

not going unless we get atleast another rig.

braddy will post up what time were gonna head out. 

[RedRocketXJ]

I've had a crazy few months and wheeling has taken a back seat. work has been insane and me and my fiance have been learning the ropes of parenthood with our 7 month old madelyn. I'm sure everyone has had those periods of time where theyve got to take some time off. Well, things are settling down so its time to get back in the game. Ive got a decent bonus headed my way next month (thanks to everyone who pays their taxes) so its time to take care of a jeep that hasnt gotten much attention lately.

The XJ is running pretty rough due to being my daily driver. Im a real dummy when it comes to under the hood but here is what I know is going on... The motor has an internal 'squeek' that comes and goes. usually it goes away after its warmed up. also it seems to be running rich. I understand that the inline 6 isn't very powerful but it REALLY sturggles. Im barley doing 60 on the interstate. Im running 33s with stock gears so i get that re gearing will help and thats in the plans. I want to go over everything under the hood and get her running healthy so anyone that knows that motor well or knows a reliable garage, that would be helpful.

Other stuff that Id like to take care of... regear and a locker on the rear. finish the sliders that are half done and collecting some rust on my back porch. stronger axleshafts. stronger steeing (seems like a weak point).

It will be good to get wheeling again and any help/advice that anyone can share will be appreciated!

[wiebewagon]

make sure your calipers are all bolted down good  have you ever done a compression test by chance? probably not related to the noise but it is usually a good tell of if you have any more serious problems looming in the distance.

[SNOTROCKET]

you shuld take those sliders over to steves. im sure with his help you guys could get them all burned in.

i can help in any other way but i dont quite have a garage any more. well its there i just cant put anythign else in it. so whatever gets done gets done in the neighbors driveway.

[JustChad]

The 4.0 is a pretty simple motor.  When I had mine it started to get sluggish.  The best thing you can do is clean the Mass Air Flow sensor, EGR valve and O2 sensor.  When they get dirty and plugged up the computer gets confused on how much air it's getting and starts to freak out, causing it to run rich and lose power.

[moorehouse77]

Check the idler pulley for the squeak.  As far as underpower there isn't much to those motors.  I would do the plugs wires distributor cap and rotor.  Also make sure the cat isn't clogged up.  Check that all the vacuum lines are conected and not split.  You should be able to do more than 60 even with 33's.


Dave.

[moorehouse77]

Not sure I remember right but I don't think those motors have an egr.


dave.

[99xj]

Brady,

Bring it out to my house and we can take a look at a couple of common issues that may be causing the noise. Idler pulley is a possibility, but if it's running poorly it may be the distributor. I had a loud squealing noise that was coming from the distributor. I caught it early and repaired it, but if it running that bad you may have to replace it.

Let me know when you want to come out.

Steve

[99xj]

The squealing noise was coming from two different places. We adjusted the belt and that got rid of one squeal. Pulled the distributor, disassembled it and cleaned up the bushings and shaft. Lube it up and reinstalled, that squeal was gone. Cleaned the air filter.
So we went to fire it up and it wont run for $&*#. After messing with it for a while we pulled #1 spark plug and got it to TDC. Found that the timing was way off. We got that taken care of and now I hope it runs better than it did.

So Brady....Does it run any better??

[Chief Gunner]

Cool, it is always fun to pull something apart and figure out what an issue was.  That is one cool thing about my beast.  She gives me LOTS of opportunities to figure out whats wrong.