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5.3L MJ D44 and Junk.

X

xj+rcks

NAXJA Forum User
Location
New Hampshire
Hello all, I just acquired an MJ. My two door XJ is getting rusty and I stumbled upon a solid Comanche for the right price so I plan on swapping my good parts into the truck. I have an AX15 with a Novak adapter and a Chevy bellhousing to use a 5.3L. I have a RX7 that I swapped a 5.3 into and I love the motors. Nothing wrong with the 4.0, but the truck came without a motor and if I am going to swap something in, might as well lose some weight in the process.

30431_517820742411_149000144_30748522_3951740_n.jpg

Here is the XJ in action. Waggy's RK long arm, blaa blaaa... I want to do a prerunnerish build on the MJ with good street driveability.

429733_547623203041_149000144_31097865_481121387_n.jpg

:wrench:
421328_547366657161_149000144_31097125_599080660_n.jpg


429918_547623282881_149000144_31097867_1395802528_n.jpg

Homemade press brake
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407355_547623312821_149000144_31097869_790678282_n.jpg


425306_547623322801_149000144_31097870_482829756_n.jpg


I hate fixing rotted floors. :mad:



425737_548209108881_149000144_31099939_407679898_n.jpg


Rocker protection.
 
Looking good so far!

Got an interest in photography too, i'm guessing? ;)
 
Work is slow, so I have more time to work on the ol MJ.

419220_549690405351_149000144_31106061_166768664_n.jpg


Can't resist a dimple die.

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Welded a plate onto the end of the cut framerail. I use the term frame loosely.

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Artsy junk photo

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Welded up the driver's motor mount and powdered them.

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Threw the bed back on to see how much I am going to cut. Looks like plenty.
 
A little off-topic, but what kind of mileage do you get with the 5.3?

My 4.0L isn't going to last forever, and i always debate about the 4.8. They're super-cheap.
 
Better question - how much mileage *could* you get with the 5.3? Just TRY and keep your foot out of the pedal.

Guys who swap in V8s will have trouble driving them slowly. Just guessing - mine is a 4.0 with bolt ons.
 
John D said:
Good start... Gonna put a bed on it? Plan to run the TB and Cheby PCM?
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I am going to have some questions along the way. I guess I forgot to put up the photos of the cut frame, I cut 11" off the frame to get rid of the silly overhang. I plan on bobbing the bed to fit. I like trucks with beds on them. I plan on running a cable TB and I have a PCM already tuned with VATS, EGR, catalyst and downstream O2's shut off.


Porch951 said:
A little off-topic, but what kind of mileage do you get with the 5.3?

My 4.0L isn't going to last forever, and i always debate about the 4.8. They're super-cheap.
Click to expand...

My RX7 gets 26MPG with the 5.3L, but I know the MJ won't be quite that, haha.

393470_542289920981_1829025215_n.jpg


Here's a photo with the XJ in the background.


John D said:
Maybe 5 mpg...
Click to expand...

yossarian19 said:
Better question - how much mileage *could* you get with the 5.3? Just TRY and keep your foot out of the pedal.

Guys who swap in V8s will have trouble driving them slowly. Just guessing - mine is a 4.0 with bolt ons.
Click to expand...

I know I have no problem keeping the skinny pedal on the floor now, more power can only help.
 
xj+rcks said:
Thanks man, I am going to have some questions along the way. I guess I forgot to put up the photos of the cut frame, I cut 11" off the frame to get rid of the silly overhang. I plan on bobbing the bed to fit. I like trucks with beds on them. I plan on running a cable TB and I have a PCM already tuned with VATS, EGR, catalyst and downstream O2's shut off.



My RX7 gets 26MPG with the 5.3L, but I know the MJ won't be quite that, haha.



I know I have no problem keeping the skinny pedal on the floor now, more power can only help.
Click to expand...

What year is the 5.3 and PCM? Besides the things you mentioned I also tuned mine for 91+ octane, it made a nice difference.

I really have no idea what I get for mileage, but that was never my point. I drive about 3k miles a year on the road. There are a million articles about how it should get 18-21 mpg.
 
The PCM is a newer style gen III with the faster processor, and I plan on using the 2001 LM7 out of my RX7 when I upgrade it's motor. The motor that's mounted in the Jeep is just a mockup.
 
xj+rcks said:
Oh I have the harness that goes with the PCM.
Click to expand...

Are you going to send out the harness or do it yourself? I did my own, it takes some time but it's perfect. I took a big piece of card board and drew my engine compartment with the 5.3L and all the sensors then built the harness to match. It looks like it belongs in there :)

Brendan at www.lt1swap.com has all the info you need to do your harness. It's a great website for learning this stuff and he was really gracious in answering any questions I had.
 
hubs97xj said:
Cool projects. Got a build thread on that RX anywhere? That has to be ridiculously fun to drive.
Click to expand...

http://www.norotors.com/index.php?topic=3830.msg51309#msg51309

It's a blast!

John D said:
Are you going to send out the harness or do it yourself? I did my own, it takes some time but it's perfect. I took a big piece of card board and drew my engine compartment with the 5.3L and all the sensors then built the harness to match. It looks like it belongs in there :)

Brendan at www.lt1swap.com has all the info you need to do your harness. It's a great website for learning this stuff and he was really gracious in answering any questions I had.
Click to expand...

I plan on probably modding the stock harness, it does take forever but thats ok. This is how I did the RX.

5577985749_36d5d0c9f6.jpg
 
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