Jeeps during the AMC years.........

[AustinLonghorn]

ZJ was OBD I era. There were two modules - PCM and TCM. Since I have a T5 I didn't need the TCM, and even if I did, it would not have mattered. They don't care about VIN and so on.

My AC, cruise, voltage regulation for the Jeep alternator and a few other things all run through the PCM - and PDC. I have the transmission controller in a tub somewhere but have no use for it.
The Jeep cruise - embedded in the PCM, required very different inputs for control - set, resume, and so on. So I built a circuit with a relay and a couple of diodes to modify my AMC turn signal stalk mounted cruise switch signals to operate the Jeep's cruise system.
The nice thing is that when the PCM detects a radical RPM increase related to road speed, it cuts cruise, but I also put a switch on my clutch to be really sure. Pressing the clutch sends a NSS signal to the PCM stating it's in neutral, cutting the cruise as well. Plus, it starts so easy I wanted to be sure I remembered to push the clutch before trying to start it........

I used a Dakota sensor (VSS) at the speedo cable output from the transfer case. It allowed me to send the VSS signal to the PCM as well as operate my stock speedometer cable.

I put a Jeep electric fuel pump inside the stock tank without any modes to the tank itself. I used some wiring and connectors from the ZJ to make a wiring harness for the sending unit which also handles the in-tank pump.
So the PCM and PDC also handle the fuel system exactly as in a Jeep.

Aha! Was the donor ZJ a manual or an automatic? Clearly the PCM isn't freaking out about the missing TCM, if it was an auto.

Some neat hacks there, to keep the stock cruise lever and cable-driven Eagle instrument cluster (while keeping the PCM happy). I think the '96 XJ to MJ swap is quite a bit more turn-key than your ZJ to Eagle setup here.

Makes me wonder how the 392 swap people are solving some of the same issues on modern-day JTs; there's no JT-specific PCM firmware that's compatible with anything other than the Pentastar/Ecodiesel.

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[biplaneguy]

I owned a 75 DJ-5 for awhile, the previous owner bought it at a post office sale for $500 and painted it olive drab before selling it to me for the same $500. Somewhat later I had a 79 CJ-5. Both had the straight six, 258 in the CJ, don't recall whether the DJ was a 232 or 258?

My first car was a 71 AMC Hornet "Sportabout" (small station wagon, the car the Eagle was developed from). That also had the 232, with three on the tree, only one without an auto I ever saw.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Aha! Was the donor ZJ a manual or an automatic? Clearly the PCM isn't freaking out about the missing TCM, if it was an auto.

Some neat hacks there, to keep the stock cruise lever and cable-driven Eagle instrument cluster (while keeping the PCM happy). I think the '96 XJ to MJ swap is quite a bit more turn-key than your ZJ to Eagle setup here.

Makes me wonder how the 392 swap people are solving some of the same issues on modern-day JTs; there's no JT-specific PCM firmware that's compatible with anything other than the Pentastar/Ecodiesel.

The donor was an automatic. That's why I said I had the TCM from it.

 

[JeepinPete]

My first car was a Willys M38-A1, basically a military CJ-5 before the CJ-5 was introduced to the civilian market.

Second and third were Kaiser Jeeps, a '60 CJ-5 and a '67 Jeepster Commando. The CJ had a Ford 289 swap with an Atlas overdrive. Fun, but tore up T-90 transmissions left and right. Luckily they were dirt cheap at the time.

The Jeepster has a Dauntless 225, TH400, D20 transfer case, and Dana 30's front and rear. The rear even had a track-lok limited slip. The rear end didn't last long before stripping off a tooth on the ring gear. Got luck and found a Jeepster D44 in a local junkyard.

Skip forward a number of years, around 2004, bought a '89 Wagoneer. That was the worst vehicle I ever owned. Sold that off and bought a '79 Cherokee. Loved that truck, ended up doing a 5.3 LS swap with a NV3500 trans and NP241 TC, Ford high pinion D44 up front and the stock D44 in rear. Should have left well enough alone but tore it down to do a diesel swap then lost interest.

Added a '88 Wagoneer in there too, it didn't last long. Broke down pretty early on, wife was having none of it by that point

Skip ahead another decade, bought my '19 JLUR. It is light years ahead of the old rigs in every aspect.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Cool for this AMC guy to see so many appreciating the older Jeeps - including those in the original topic "the AMC years".

BTW - anyone parting out one with a 401, let me know LOL

 

[wawatusi]

I was going to do the same with my CJ-5 ( Dauntless V6). I was pricing the big ticket items back in 2008. I came up with $15k. I found the same Jeep with a topper on Ebay motors, fully restored. $20k invested but priced at $12k buy it now. It sold for $10k. I've been waiting for another deal like that, while my CJ sits in the corner in pieces.

Just put a soft top on my 2025…. I feel
Ya. Its quieter and more leak free than my cj7 hartdtop. Lol

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