97 Limited Puppy Hauler Build Thread

[19963.4lsr5]

So since my Wife's 96 got totaled by someone running a light I finally found a replacement. (I paid 800 to keep our 96 so I could get all my parts off it.)

It's a 97 Limited with 120,000 miles on it. I paid 4200 for it.

I bought it from s kid that flips cars in North Philadelphia. It was low on coolant one tire only had 18psi. No trans dipstick.....But to the TOY's credit he put 100 miles on it. It took 1 qt to top off rad and the rad cap was broken........And it made the 120 mile trip home no problems after toping off fluids.

This thread is for me to have a place to document what I've done or want to do to it.

It needs tires, shocks, struts, plugs and wires. All the stuff that's new on the 96. I'm almost done swapping over the struts and shocks. The right front sway bar bracket didn't have a rubber bushing in it and the end link fell apart when I seperate the ball joint to change the strut assembly.

It's idle is a little ruff but pulling the plugs there origins and the gaps are huge. So hopefully the other plugs and wire set will improve it.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

This afternoon I swapped out rear springs and shocks. It looks like someone used a torch to remove the drivers rear shock and cut a hole in the upper mount. That shock recently replaced. The top nut was only finger tight and I removed it with my fingers.

Tomorrow it's swap out plugs and put new Bosch wires on it change the Diff fluids and transfer case and drive it for my 5 day work stretch starting Friday.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I swap out the drivers side sparks and put my new steel core Bosch plug wires. It started raining so passenger side will have to wait. Also changed oil in rear.

There appears to be a alternator whine that gets louder when I turn on the headlights. Never experienced that before but it definatly gets louder when it's under load. AKA headlights on.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Replacing the Alternator solved the loud Whine when headlights are turned on and slight vibration is gone when whining..

been driving it to work since friday night. Seens good can't waite to see what the MPG is going to be.......I put 63 miles on per day driving all rural 2 lane roads with a few towns in between. Our 96 I got 21mpg.

Ordered a Antenna mast and True Cool trans cooler and Blazer Driving lights from Amazon. Must go in for OT daylight on thrusday. If nothing breaks it will be an easy day.

Tomorrow I will start preping the last two wheels for paint and have the local tire shop order another Cooper AT3 to replace the tire that got dammaged in the accident.

It took some research figuring what fogs/driving lights will fit in the factory spot on the 96-98 limiteds......they measure 5 3/4"x3" with a rear stud mount. I think I can make the blazers fit.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Filled up on way to work this evening. 20.93mpg. Fuel gauge calibration is like the 96. At 1/8 tank it took 14gal to fill.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

So I failed in my attempt to change the antenna mast. There is still some plastic track down in the housing somewhere. So I'll try and load the new mast into the wrecked 96 since it functions properly and then look at swapping the hole assembly. Unless it's easier to take the housing off the antenna module..........

Also ordered a "timing belt kit" from Amazon. I like the kits from the TimingBeltKit.com site and saw they had a sale for 255 dollars. So I hopped on Amazon to see the TBK price from them and it was cheeper however ProParts on amazon has the same kit from TBK for 222 dollars. So I ordered it from them. If this kit has the same parts as last one did (Asin water pump, toyota t-stat and HYD tensioner) I'll be most pleased.

I also need to figure out what to do for a rear wiper blade replacement and pull driver front door panel off and figure out why the door lock only rotates 1/2 turn when trying to unlock door.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

So today I swapped the spark plugs from the wreck to the 97 on the passenger side. The 96 had two Toyota factory coils and one coil with no markings. The 97 has three coils with PSC on them. I forgot to get pictures.

I also sprayed out the MAP sensor.

I replaced the antenna mast successfully. For no better reason I installed it with the teeth facing front instead or facing rearwards. It pulled it right in.

I also managed to remove the drivers front door lock and dissembled it. Free'd up the lock tumblers and managed to put it all back together in working order. IT Was Not Fun.

I removed the fog lights to see about retrofitting the blazer lights into to Toyota / Hella housings.

I ran out of time or I would have replaced the rear right wheel speed sensor. The wire was was burned off near the connector.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Today being in the mid to upper 70's I took a crack at the poor performing AC.

Started at 80psi static. That was in line with the pressure temp coefficient of 134a. Which means it didn't have and non condensables. (But not a indication of low charge)

Low side was 15psi at idle and high side was 100psi. Major bubbles in site glass.

Started adding 134 to it holding the engine at 1800rpm and around 30psi on the low side I stopped cause the high side was at 310.

My cooling fan was moving air but with the high side that far off what it should have been its either not enough air or the fins are clogged with bugs and dirt. High side should have been around 180psi. (100psi plus ambient pressure)

Driving home from garage at grammys I turned on AC and it got nice and cold confirming lack of air flow at a stand still.

Also removing gauges I believe I know where the leak is. The high side Schrader appears to be the culprit.

I'm going to swap clutch fans from the wreck to the 97 and see what the AC performance does.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Got the Timing Belt Kit. It's basically GMB parts with a Toyota belt tensioner and Mitsubishi (timing, and three accessory ) belts.

Also the cheep keyfob. Will try and program it soon.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Key fob programed has excellent range. Not bad for 14 dollars on Amazon. It's funny though. The fob has 4 buttons and only one is used.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Nice thread, but we need puppy pics!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Till I can get some organized
Puppy is Delilah she is kissing Mr Yokko. And we have Bella. Three of them. Baby Dee is 11 weeks old. Oh yea, also a stinker.

 

[shootmymime]

we need pictures of the truck too!!!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

we need pictures of the truck too!!!

I'll try and get a deceit picture while out at Grammys replacing a O2 sensor on the WJ.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Quickie shot. Generic Black Limited with Oak Leather interior.

I have a set of rims painted black to put the Cooper AT3 on from the wrecked 96

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Me and Baby Dee went on a trip to town to get O2 sensor for jeep, pay my fuel oil bill, and stop at lock smith to get second key code cut on the OEM blank I provided.

Topped of tank since it was at 1/8. 4 days of work commuting to work plus today's 50miles of city driving netted me 20.64mpg.

I'm pleased with the MPG. The V8 grand gets 15 in city and 20 on my work drives.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Some puppy pictures.

This is Mr Yokko

 

[19963.4lsr5]

So today I replaced the Right Rear ABS wheel sensor due to a cut cable up near the connector at the shock mount.

I did it the hard way removing the bad sensor. The easy way is to remove all the cable clamps and gain better access to the connector up at the frame.

Now I need to install the bulb in the abs indicator socket.

Edit: I also did my 4th drain and fill in the trans. I need to come up with another drain plug for the trans. Removing it the first time I noticed the threads were knife edged. I I don't have one in my motorcycle bolt trays I'll probably go to a friends motorcycle shop and get a bolt 10mm with 1.5 pitch.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Ordered a trans drain plug from the dealer. The motorcycle shop had one that needs cut down.

Dealer wants 3 dollars and I'll be in town tomorrow after lunch anyway.

Funny EBay members are selling that drain plug for 10 dollars......wonder how many they sell?

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Got rims and tires swapped over.

Also fixed ABS light. Whoever wanted to hide the Fact that the rear right cable was cut removed the bulb holder and folded up the tabs so the bulb wouldn't work.