Klavistata

This build is so fun to read man! I really like it so far! keep up the good work.

emptypockets

First, I want to thank my friend for getting me out to the shop to work on my XJ. Apparently driving around looking at lifted XJs for sale will motivate you to work on your own heep. Imagine that?

I know... you're thinking I already did this part.



What you don't know is that I got a good deal on another 29 spline 8.25 with a Powertrax No-Slip.

So out with the old...


and in with the new. (I'll get around to shaving it at some point...)


And finally how the Jeep sits minus the lift blocks, but without the shackles installed.


Got the brakes bled and took it for a spin. Locker worked as it should going down the road. Did a little urban flexing at a loading dock (you're wondering where the poser pics are, aren't you?) and everything looked good. I also figured out where I need to trim my leaf clamps. The overall ride quality down the road is nice in my opinion with the xj/xj bastard packs. Firm, but not overly so. I still need to get my front driveshaft ironed out... I'm currently rolling 2wd and that just won't do.

emptypockets

Forgot to quote this in the prior message but... Thanks!

emptypockets

Not much to say, just an update of sorts I suppose. I'm really enjoying my locker and haven't had to use the 4wd much at all running it. I installed my old ds for the time being, but a buddy found me a Ranger ds that should work with my setup. I'm still waiting on him to pull it off a tc... waiting, waiting, waiting.

I still have to install my JCR tc skid and shackles. I've been looking at the Liquid Iron brackets and will probably pull the trigger on that and a adj track bar after I junk my F350.

A couple pics from today:







Happy Holidays folks! Updates when I get to them...

emptypockets

I finally have some updates to add, nothing major, but worth adding.

Stepped up to 31x10.5x15 Courser MTs:


Picked up an IRO track bar to replace the stocker which was scary bad.
Not double sheer, but figure I can upgrade in the future if needed:




Still gotta tackle the tcase skid:


Also tossed on a rebuilt 2SE, which still needs to be tuned, but the heep runs a lot better now. More to come in the following weeks.

XDeadmeatX

I'm thinking about building these bastard packs. How much lift do you think they provide?

emptypockets

I'm sitting at 3" of lift in the rear with a full size spare and tools in the back.

emptypockets

Couple more updates...

T-case skid is painted and ready to go:


I picked up my sliders, little disappointed in the frame mounting:


How hilljacks paint their junk:


Sliders are painted, but my phone died on me.

Mini snowman pic in it's place:


More to come this weekend...

emptypockets

*If there are typos in here, sorry. I can't figure out how to get spell check up on this computer.

Ok, one problem those of us who own 84-86 XJs run into when lifting their Jeep is the front driveshaft. From the factory my junk came with the POS GKN style ds, which is basically a CV joint. The flaw with these are a) once the front seal goes, the joint will go bad rather quickly and b) once you lift your junk, the ds is useless bc it can't operate at much of an angle due to the design. One option is a front ds out of a 4cyl, 5spd XJ... however, they can be rather hard to find... at least, I didn't have much luck. After checking out the custom route, I decided I didn't want to spend that much money since I plan on swapping in a V8 at some point this year. So, as I mentioned earlier, my friend grabbed me an Explorer ds they had sitting at work. Though it started out as a double carden ds, I turned it into a single carden ds. I will warn those who want to attempt this, it's a lot of work.

The first step is to replace the front yoke from your NP207 with one from an NP231.


Next you want to measure from flat to flat between the yoke on your front axle to the transfer case. I measured with the vehicle on the ground and on a lift with the suspension drooped out.

After doing this I determined that the Explorer ds was going to need to be shortened. I turned the ds back over to my friend with the measurements. He used a chop saw to cut the excess, peeled the old yoke off the tubing, pressed the yoke back in, v-notced the shaft, and then the yoke was welded on. This is how it looked when he dropped it off.


Sweet! So off I went to install it. I was happy and ready for a quick install... ha, I could only be so lucky.

So the ds now fit, but my new issue was binding. So I busted out my deburring set and went to town clearancing the yokes. In the end I had to flip the ds around in order to use my u-bolt straps with the NP231 yoke and clearance the tcase yoke and both ends of the ds. All in all, I had almost 3 hours in getting it in and spinning freely.











And that's it for now...

JWG

Beautiful Jeep man!

emptypockets

Thanks!

emptypockets

After thoroughly dominating my muffler at Winterfest, I finally had it replaced today. I picked up a Magnaflow glasspack a few months back and had my buddy weld it up at work. It utilizes the stock exhaust mount so it's not just floating around under there.



Quick vid of the exhaust tone:

Couple of WF pics of the heep in action:

emptypockets

Many months later and I finally finished my leaf spring clamps. Did I mention I was a gold medal winner at the Procrastination Olympics?

Cut down and 5/16" hole drilled in 'em:


Overkill city:


5/16" x 4" bolt:


Lock nuts:


Finished product:


Little lawn flexing:


Later that night :


My dang electrical issue is back... again.... and I'm getting no power to the coil. After last time, where I found that some tech played "Let's stick the test light through the harness a billion times" and replacing a good chunk of broken and corroded wire, it's baaaaack. I'll do a little testing tonight to make sure it's not something else, but I'm starting to feel like I'm going to have to build a new ignition harness.

Did I mention it started when I got it back to the house? Typical.

xj wheeler

Looking good bud, its come a long way.

emptypockets

Thanks man! Hope your family is having a good day today and thanks for the friend request.