Project MyCorona

I’ve finally decided on my plan of attack for this project. I am going to fix all the mechanical issues first. Get a new engine, refresh the trans, fix the AC, etc. once all that is done I’m going to drive it a bit. Then I will get the lift and will step up to some new 489 axles from ECG.
 
Can anyone suggest a place to rebuild the AW4 trans in this thing? It has 195k miles and I figured while it was out get it refreshed. I hear the AW4 can be finicky to rebuild.
 
Well got the motor and trans out this evening. Now it’s time to start sourcing some build parts.

a0182bb0426b44288099a8e5eece2bf2.jpeg


8c2c33d54e514be6a699d6f71a5fd56c.jpeg
 
Well the PSA of the day is to change your oil from time to time. The inside of my engine looks like it was used to whip up some chocolate pudding.

Sludge was so bad I had to hunt for the head bolts.

35c3757c73ab492d8a8ce80b79910c29.jpeg


fbc0401b2d164e1a8c327391a85ee133.jpeg


#2 piston is broke all the way to the oil ring

21e6086b23164ca2bdf9f6873feb6309.jpeg
 
untchabl said:
I wouldn't mess with the aw4. Replace the filter and pan gasket and refill the fluid and let it ride. They are super reliable and rarely give any issues. I've had probably close to 30 XJ's over the years, all had the aw4 and none were ever an issue.
Click to expand...

Yea that's the plan. Was told by several knowledgeable sources that if ain't broke don't fix it, give it a new filter and pan gasket and let it go. i just pulled everything because the AC system was shot and i could inspect everything easier. More work for sure but hey nothing like taking the easy way out.

By the was i have some free chocolate pudding samples if anyone is interested..... :D
 
The AC system was completely dry when I got this thing. I wanted to get OEM stuff to go in the heater box due to the pain to replace a bad part. Only to find out some of the parts are made of unobtainium. So I ended up finding a dealership that had a brand new heater box for a TJ that used all the same parts as the XJ. Pulled the box out of it tonight and compared the two and it’s the same part! Score!!! The numbers that I could read matched the ones on the new box. Bolted it in place of the old one and the dash fit back like a charm.

I guess you can say I found some unobtainium. :D

ded3d71208ef41968551a5703ee0d6ff.jpeg


417a62de6f0e4530a5319acec81a7dab.jpeg
 
The dash is back in and all buttoned up. I removed the carpet as found rust in the passenger side floors. Is this normal to find or should I be looking for a water leak on the passenger side? I don’t think the rust has gone all the way through. Will be breaking out the wire wheel and rust killer this weekend.

3f5e13691d9547c2a9901911100c56ba.jpeg


a425c60c92f442b3b2bff84ca70b16ca.jpeg
 
Doesn’t look like anything out of the normal. Use the cheek poker 9000 and clean it up, use a rust converter and seal the shit out of it with some bed liner or heavy tractor paint and roll out!
 
Got all the rust taken care of and neutralized.

11e11f2c3e324ff093f189f54e43f881.jpeg


a58323db9e534e6085f7ae9332aff2d0.jpeg


Then I went all out and slathered everything with DynaMat. That crap will cut your fingers to pieces!

7fbb2cb34daf4a7484f9368d364d9c82.jpeg


8c3aef03a4d04c70a771fd03f348f823.jpeg


New carpet going in as well!

27e9f27fb2da4e569dc743c5b49de2e4.jpeg
 
Time to make this build more interesting.

f177e58f9195401fa9a671fb7f6b2469.jpeg


A big ol box of goodies from Novack

4084d03437a0427bb654ac5118dde525.jpeg


be47df55291343d2a44c1f36a0db0aac.jpeg


what you are looking at is a brand new AX15 and all the parts needed to adapt it to, in my case, GMs new 6.0 LS engine. I am have ordered the LS364/450 engine. By the time I am done with the tune etc I should be making 500 hp. Then the icing on the cake is the axles I am getting from Jody. Should be interesting to drive! The engine is on back order for about 8 to 10 weeks.
 
When you get done with this project, let me know. I'll probably want to buy it :D
 
I actually found a set of pedals out of a 2000 XJ on eBay the other day. I’ve ordered some new pads and bushings for it. A quick trip to the blast cabinet makes a huge different. That and some Eastwood rust inhibitor paint.

b2a21a701c5d4354970522a44e00c4f8.jpeg


123bbd86a92240038ac0f32920bad756.jpeg


46d53a45f1884e87a824ef08937e0e2a.jpeg
 
tlucier said:
And then it will promptly be put on jack stands, never to be seen on the road or the trails again...
Click to expand...
Hey check out this new emoji Shawn added::flipoff2:
 
We are also wading into the wide world of wiring. With the help of BigHolley we have removed all the wires for the PCM and dash gauges. I wanted this to have a clean OEM look to the final product and not have a bunch of harnesses laying around. Very scary to start hacking on a perfectly good harness. It is a pain to figure out how to get these wires to release from the connectors.

5858a50ff5644b83949a1529f8144cc2.jpeg


c851207cb2614ef7bd867ef2f838c2a1.jpeg


Cluster of release tools....

22c60b7ea3ee4e48a9897c8d6fc7a110.jpeg
 
I'm curious to see how the novak ax15 handles the ls power. I've been considering turbo-ing mine, or swapping a 4.8 in but worried the trans, even though novak claims they are stronger than the original jeep ax15s, won't like all the torque
 
Buddy_Holly said:
I'm curious to see how the novak ax15 handles the ls power. I've been considering turbo-ing mine, or swapping a 4.8 in but worried the trans, even though novak claims they are stronger than the original jeep ax15s, won't like all the torque
Click to expand...

According to the guys at Novak they say it will handle up to 500 HP. The version I bought is made by them with their improvements done to it. It is the only "stock" transmission they say doesn't have to be replaced.

Now for my day of SPECTACULAR news!!!! followed by major bring the suck!

Got a call first thing yesterday morning from the Chevy dealership I ordered my LS from. Hey man your engine is here!! I almost didn't know what to say other then you're sh!t'n me. Was supposed to take another 9 weeks to come in. So yesterday afternoon grab @BigHolley and we head over happy as can be. I proudly watch my new power plant get loaded. And that is when the suck parade struck!!! The engine was severely damaged. It looked like somebody kicked it off the back of a truck and it landed on the back of the engine. There was wood pressed so far into one of the head bolts that you couldn't pry it out with a knife. Then I noticed the engine had leaked all its oil out into the bag and the driver side dowel pin was driven about 3/4" further into the block. All I can say is this thing was hit HARD. I did try to convince the guys to swap it all out with a resident LSX454 but they didn't see ting my way.

As the saying goes... "Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory!" o_O

The day did end on somewhat of a good note. I got the parts to put my pedals back together.
 
Buffy said:
According to the guys at Novak they say it will handle up to 500 HP. The version I bought is made by them with their improvements done to it. It is the only "stock" transmission they say doesn't have to be replaced.
Click to expand...

That’s very interesting they told you that. I bought one from them in June, and when I asked what the improvements were they didn’t really have a great answer, or they weren’t able to rattle off any parts that were specifically upgraded over an original ax15. I would expect to handle 500hp it would have cryoed gears, or maybe a stronger input, but they said it had neither when I asked that. Factory torque rating for the original ax15 IIRC was around 300lb/ft.

That sucks about the engine. Hopefully they make it right
 
Buddy_Holly said:
That sucks about the engine. Hopefully they make it right
Click to expand...

They were nice about the whole thing as was I. I had to pay up front before they would order it so they have my money. Now if they don't make it right then my next visit to their dealership will have a more asshole attitude about it. May would bring the wife to add a dash of bitch to the mix. But I am hoping they will hook me up and all ends well.
 
I'm very interested to see how this turns out. :bounce:
 
Spent some quality time with a power washer, degreaser and brushes this weekend getting the engine bay ready of its transplant.

de54d9954d524180b15fdd44f491de1e.jpeg


Also got the frame stiffeners ground to fit and a nice coat of weld through primer on them.

945cfdc0999946368667df7da2b4f05d.jpeg


ff812bc09d114823ac88b2d47d8cad95.jpeg


8588ea9aa09546d986b38e5b3ba7bf44.jpeg


Also spent quite a bit of time with a propane torch scraping a healthy dose of under coating off the frame rails. Almost got the driver side done but still a long way to go.
 
Buddy_Holly said:
I'm curious to see how the novak ax15 handles the ls power. I've been considering turbo-ing mine, or swapping a 4.8 in but worried the trans, even though novak claims they are stronger than the original jeep ax15s, won't like all the torque
Click to expand...

The NSG370 6 speeds are a little beefier. I'd trust one of those behind an LS.
 
Back
Top