cdg123
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wickenburg/Flagstaff, AZ
OK guys so my 1985 XJ diesel has an issue that I noticed soon after getting it driveable. Read the bottom of the post if you want the quick "story" of this unique XJ. It drives nicely but as soon as you get it up to about 35 mph or so it will shake from side to side violently. The only way to get it to stop behaving like this is to slow down and make broad sweeping turns.
The odd news is when I did the new tires on it, the wheel bearings felt fine. There is very little play in the front end in general. The tie rods look tight and while the steering damper probably doesn't have much to give at this point I honestly can't see this as being the problem.
Here is another clue - when the jeep was shimmying like this it shook the vehicle so violently that it cracked the starter housing in the transmission. So I removed everything as required, towed the Jeep from the test lot and pushed it into a parking space at my apartment. As I had the wheel turned to back the jeep into its spot I noticed that the right wheel seems to have a "notchy" kind of feel to it. You could hear the sound like a bearing was binding up on it.
So what I am wondering is if the wheel bearing in it is either under-lubricated, if one of the axle bearings could be going bad or if the fact that the 4x4 vacuum motor isn't hooked up could be causes of this problem?
This would seem like a simple problem but I do not have a lift to work with in Flagstaff. I am attempting to fix it up enough to get it back to my Dad's fully equipped shop in Wickenburg so I can effect some of the more complicated repairs that it needs (going for a manual 4x4 conversion, some electrical wiring, upholstry work and probably prep it for paint).
To answer the other questions to come, no the '85 isn't an original diesel. It is a Renault turbo diesel that came from an '86 XJ. It was a real find as the engine and transmission only have about 72,000 miles on 'em. The chasis was a V6 '85 Pioneer that had a seized engine. I had to use the '85 transfer case (NP207) with the half CV front driveshaft (ugh). The 86 engine was given to me - it had sat in a field for over 5 years. I put fresh fuel in the tank, wired her up with a new battery and started her right up on the third try. I will never forget that. Unfortunately the '85 V6 gearing gives the little motor no balls after about 3rd gear. It pulls strong once the turbo boost gets up - a little stronger than the 4cylinder gas cherokee I remember driving a long time ago. It hasn't been driven enough to determine fuel mileage but according to the original owner I should expect about 30 with mixed driving.
Parts are a bitch to find. I'm still looking for a timing belt. I will rebuild the injector pump when this one blows from the Ultra Low Sulfer diesel. Beyond that I have a few bits and pieces to finish assembling before I call it "done" but I'm optimistic that once it stops snowing I will have the ability to finish the project.
Even with the "free" engine I paid $200 for the donor chasis. Another $1600 has gone into this project. I anticipate another $400 to make it safely drivable and easily another $2k before it's to the point that I would really want to keep it as my own. That's not too unfair considering I've seen ones with far more miles on them sell for 4 grand.
The odd news is when I did the new tires on it, the wheel bearings felt fine. There is very little play in the front end in general. The tie rods look tight and while the steering damper probably doesn't have much to give at this point I honestly can't see this as being the problem.
Here is another clue - when the jeep was shimmying like this it shook the vehicle so violently that it cracked the starter housing in the transmission. So I removed everything as required, towed the Jeep from the test lot and pushed it into a parking space at my apartment. As I had the wheel turned to back the jeep into its spot I noticed that the right wheel seems to have a "notchy" kind of feel to it. You could hear the sound like a bearing was binding up on it.
So what I am wondering is if the wheel bearing in it is either under-lubricated, if one of the axle bearings could be going bad or if the fact that the 4x4 vacuum motor isn't hooked up could be causes of this problem?
This would seem like a simple problem but I do not have a lift to work with in Flagstaff. I am attempting to fix it up enough to get it back to my Dad's fully equipped shop in Wickenburg so I can effect some of the more complicated repairs that it needs (going for a manual 4x4 conversion, some electrical wiring, upholstry work and probably prep it for paint).
To answer the other questions to come, no the '85 isn't an original diesel. It is a Renault turbo diesel that came from an '86 XJ. It was a real find as the engine and transmission only have about 72,000 miles on 'em. The chasis was a V6 '85 Pioneer that had a seized engine. I had to use the '85 transfer case (NP207) with the half CV front driveshaft (ugh). The 86 engine was given to me - it had sat in a field for over 5 years. I put fresh fuel in the tank, wired her up with a new battery and started her right up on the third try. I will never forget that. Unfortunately the '85 V6 gearing gives the little motor no balls after about 3rd gear. It pulls strong once the turbo boost gets up - a little stronger than the 4cylinder gas cherokee I remember driving a long time ago. It hasn't been driven enough to determine fuel mileage but according to the original owner I should expect about 30 with mixed driving.
Parts are a bitch to find. I'm still looking for a timing belt. I will rebuild the injector pump when this one blows from the Ultra Low Sulfer diesel. Beyond that I have a few bits and pieces to finish assembling before I call it "done" but I'm optimistic that once it stops snowing I will have the ability to finish the project.
Even with the "free" engine I paid $200 for the donor chasis. Another $1600 has gone into this project. I anticipate another $400 to make it safely drivable and easily another $2k before it's to the point that I would really want to keep it as my own. That's not too unfair considering I've seen ones with far more miles on them sell for 4 grand.
