My 94 2.5L Low Output

smgager

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
65
Location
Wilmington, NC
IMG_20190615_113737.jpg
 
This YJ fell into my lap when a neighbor decided to move to Raleigh two years ago. She was sitting outside his house under a tarp with non-functioning breaks and homemade spring linkages that were so short that the leaf spring bushing eyes were touching the frame bushing eyes. This meant that the spring could not flex at all. She drove like crap. She is also the bare bones model. 2.5L with no power steering from the factory. That said no rust a 2.5” lift, nice rims, and a great running motor at $1,200.00 seemed like a great place to start.

I wanted something I could take to the beach or Uwharrie’s trails and still drive around town with the doors off in the summer. Here is the list of stuff I’ve done to date. As of now I consider her done so I don’t have any future upgrade plans.

  • I replaced the break lines and the front calipers that were locked up.
  • I replaced the shackles with tow shackles up front and boomerangs in back.
  • I added power steering.
  • I replaced the shocks and steering stabilizer.
  • I added a cheap stereo.
  • I cursed the previous owners overuse of wire cutters.
  • I removed the trackbars. The sway bar was long gone.
  • I put in the correct speedometer gear for the balding 31x10.5s that were on the jeep.
  • I got stuck in the mud.
  • I got stuck in the sand.
  • I got a Harbor Freight winch.
  • I replaced the exhaust when half of it fell off.
  • I bought a top when the first winter came.
  • I bought new tires. 31x10.5 Milestar Patagonia M/Ts. I highly recommend them.
  • I regeared to 4.56 to bring her back into line with a factory 2.5L considering the difference in tires.
  • I added a Sparten autolocker in the front and an Eaton limited slip in back when I regeared.
  • I got a Tom Woods driveshaft because the front autolocker spins the front shaft all the time and the factory one was an unbalanced bent POS.
  • I got really really stuck because I have better traction now and I make bad decisions sometimes.
  • I used the winch some more. Fun fact it works while underwater.
  • I put in the correct speedometer gear for the change in gears.
  • I lied to my wife and told her I wouldn’t spend any more money on the Jeep.
 
Last edited:
This YJ fell into my lap when a neighbor decided to move to Raleigh two years ago. She was sitting outside his house under a tarp with non-functioning breaks and homemade spring linkages that were so short that the leaf spring bushing eyes were touching the frame bushing eyes. This meant that the spring could not flex at all. She drove like crap. She is also the bare bones model. 2.5L with no power steering from the factory. That said no rust a 2.5” lift, nice rims, and a great running motor at $1,200.00 seemed like a great place to start.

I wanted something I could take to the beach or Uwharrie’s trails and still drive around town with the doors off in the summer. Here is the list of stuff I’ve done to date. As of now I consider her done so I don’t have any future upgrade plans.

  • I replaced the break lines and the front calipers that were locked up.
  • I replaced the shackles with tow shekels up front and boomerangs in back.
  • I replaced the shocks and steering stabilizer.
  • I added a cheap stereo.
  • I cursed the previous owners overuse of wire cutters.
  • I removed the trackbars. The sway bar was long gone.
  • I put in the correct speedometer gear for the balding 31x10.5s that were on the jeep.
  • I got stuck in the mud.
  • I got stuck in the sand.
  • I got a Harbor Freight winch.
  • I replace the exhaust when half of it fell off.
  • I bought a top when the first winter came.
  • I bought new tires. 31x10.5 Milestar Patagonia M/Ts. I highly recommend them.
  • I regeared to 4.56 to bring her back into line with a factory 2.5L considering the difference in tires.
  • I added a Sparten autolocker in the front and an Eaton limited slip in back when I regeared.
  • I got a Tom Woods driveshaft because the front autolocker spins the front shaft all the time and the factory one was an unbalanced bent POS.
  • I got really really stuck because I have better traction now and I make bad decisions sometimes.
  • I used the winch some more. Fun fact it works while underwater.
  • I put in the correct speedometer gear for the change in gears.
  • I lied to my wife and told her I wouldn’t spend any more money on the Jeep.
Almost forgot. I added power steering right after the new shackles.
 
So the YJ went into the shop today after a u joint flew apart in the rear due to the need for a slip yoke eliminator to go with my lift. When I get the jeep back I will have added CV shafts front and back, a slip yoke eliminator, and a shift selector plate in the NP231 from a TJ giving me a true transfer case neutral. I'll also have new seals, bearings, and chain in the transfer case and I'm having them reroute the exhaust so it wont rub the front driveshaft.
 
Not going to spend any more money on the Jeep? Don't let her find out it's the "Other woman"!

It's always one thing leading to another isn't it?
I've been 2 steps forward, 1 step back from day one.
Fix one thing, find another, go back and fix the first thing Again.

Got mine on my buddy's lift to replace the O2 sensor, coil, fuel pump, install the SYE and new driveshaft(s).
All I needed to buy was the rear shaft.
Turned into a new fuel system, tank was broken (5th time was charm on that debacle).
Complete new exhaust system to fix the exhaust rattle (cat converter with a turbo muffler welded to it).
New clutch, since pulling the t-case I was only 14 bolts away from a new one.
Added a new front shaft too seeing your post about front auto-lockers.
And just to add insult to injury, discovered I had bent the D35...and not even playing rough, on the only trip I've had it on.

Now it's a $3200 axle upgrade, sure as hell not putting a D35 back in if it bent that easily!
I was already $1000 over budget even before I ordered the shafts, I HAD budgeted $400 for just the rear.
Went in looking to spend about $400 and ended up spending about 11 times that.
Aaargh...

Just Empty Every Pocket
 
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