Well looks like I am changing directions a little. I found a "brand new" 2.8 complete engine. It has everything on it, intake, TBI, distributor, water pump, plugs, wires, oil pan, valve covers, flywheel etc, and is ready to be dropped in as soon as I get the old one out. Not remaned, but actually new with a warranty. At $1550 I could not resist. This is my first engine swap, I figure this might be more manageable than the 3.4 I will save that for the next one if and when it needs it....
See, I found another Trooper and brought it home. An 89 LS loaded with 122000 one owner miles. This one is in really good condition inside and out. Everything seems to work as it should. It has fairly new Mich LTX M&S tires and nice working CD player. Kind of wish I had found it before the other one, but hey having a two Trooper II family
has a nice ring. The remarkable thing was the price. I only paid $800 for it.
It has been mostly sitting for the last 3 years. Any tips on what I should before putting it back in regular service full time? I drove it home last night. Seems to have decent power. Runs fairly smooth. Sounds like it might have an exhaust leak and it idles high on start up and then still kind of high at times when warmed-up. I plan to go through and change all the fluids first thing, run a compression check, change the plugs etc.
The one really noticeable thing is what feels like excessive driveline slop. Any suggestions on what to look at?
My wife thinks I am starting a repair and recovery program for wayward Troopers.... she might be right
Have your radiator cleaned at a radiator shop. NO sense in wasting a new engine by getting it overheated from a clogged up radiator. I would flush all the fluids out of the different systems while I was at it. Brake fluids, power steering fluids, 5 speed tranny fluid.... yadda yadda yadda.
It just makes good insurance.
Best of luck with it!
Curtis J
Oh, and I can't remember if you said or not. But, if your Trooper has an automatic tranny, change the tranny fluid over time, not all at once. There is varnish build up in old trannys that will wash off with new fluid and clog up the check valves. If it a standard 5 speed then you have nothing to worry about. On a high mileage auto trannys you want to do a filter change and just replace the fluid that falls out. Do several of them over time and that will help wash the varnish out slowly. It usually takes at least three changes to get it all clean again. DO NOT go to a Jiffy Lube and let them tap into your tranny coolant lines and flush your system. That will cause more headaches than you want. Just do a gradual fluid swap on the Auto Tranny and your chances will be better it will keep working. That or don't do it at all and keep your fingers crossed. On newer low mileage auto trannys varnish is not as big a problem. BTY, the 4wd auto tranny for the 2.8 are rare and hard to rebuild and make live long. Hope this makes sense?
