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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Broken manifold mounting tab - critical?
Such fun! One more thing and one more thing and one more thing? Ya'd think I was working on a Jeep or something!
Cleaning things up to put my head back on, and find the front mounting tab on my intake manifold is broken.
If it's going to cause problems, I'd rather wait until I can get it welded up. (I have the broken piece - amazingly it was hanging around on a ledge, but the break is obviously pretty old.
Tuesday would be the absolute first time I could get it to a shop, but if that's what is needed, then that's what I'll do.
QUESTION: Is this critical, or can I just slap it back together like this?
Mark, like myself you have been around a bit. I'ts on that in a line where I wouldn't advise it, wouldn't hokey it for a paying customer, but myself, preferably with a grade 8 bolt and a nice fat washer. I might run it. Don't forget some span between exhaust and intake with less than you have there.
Ideally I might have a piece of steel I could drill for the "washer" and ether have that with a countering lump, Or fit a sawed off piece of bolt under the opposite to balance it.
With good purchase of a good bolt and a fat washer or something bigger/better, drilled, I'd d go there myself.
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thanks for the feedback, DF. I've been thinking along those lines.....
OTOH, I was chatting with a good neighbor today and he happened to mention a local welder that does really good work for him. I have seen the guys' place going to town, and it would be pretty easy to show up Monday morning and get it welded up....
Maybe it's a blessing. The once I had my manifolds off I was sort of in a hurry to have it back with my new gaskets and injectors. Had I needed to kill a day I might have cleaned more things better, even should have changed the engine mount. I didn't paint my freeze plugs or pay any attention to my throttle cable or linkage or the tb. Didn't even clean the IAT, or the steering box, or snug the pump fittings or bolts.
My older brown 90. Couple of yeas ago was changing the T-stat. Surprised to find the lower ear broken with a funky little washer and questionable bolt holding it. I suspect I'm the one who did it working on it for the PO last century! It had held for something like 14 years. (Vague memory of frustration and pressure). Finishing my T-stat job I dropped that lower washer and couldn't find it after a really good search. Finished, started it, and the belt exploded immediately, leaving me stranded up here 1/2 hr. from town. (I'm 3 miles of gravel just to get to asphalt). The washer had fallen into the Maw that put's things between the sprocket and serpentine belt. A a buddy drove me out a belt next day..... Here's more for that 15 minute T-stat job. The upper bolt was as welded, and one with the T-stat housing. Broke free and turned easy until the housing hit, then that was it. It wouldn't twist free, no room to get a blade anywhere. I forget how, but I did use "shock-waves" to tease that off without boogieing it up so I wouldn't be stuck, (yet). Gotta love this stuff!
Last edited by DFlintstone; 12-24-2016 at 09:32 PM.