dschappell

Still not back yet, but I did pick out a set of sway bar disco that I want.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-US

I am figuring that if I've got the whole wheel area apart I mine as well go ahead and finish the job.

dschappell

These

dschappell

I got the leafs off!! Gosh that was a tough job. My father in law helped out a lot. I just have to do the coils and it will be a done deal. Adding some sway bars discos later this month and figuring out the winch mount. Hey unidentifiedbomb, finally got it done!

dschappell

Lift kit done.

dschappell

Here is the pic for tie ins

dschappell

Working on the sway bars discos and rear hitch receiver today and tomorrow evening.

dschappell

So I am having a hard time posting pics from my phone to the forum. As an update on my build, I have had the jeep on jacks for the past month. I have removed the gas tank skid plate. Plan was to paint and put the hitch on. discovered that the nut strip was VERY rusted and barely holding the nuts on. Once I got all the bolts out and removed the skid plate, I worked on getting the bumper off. It was must easier than I expected. Thanks to bleepin jeep on youtube to show how to do it. I ordered new nut strips from JCR Offroad and when they get here I will put the hitch on.

I am painting the skid plate Tan to match the Jeep. Wheels and pretty much everything else bottom down will be black so I thought it might look nice to have the skids match.

While shes on jacks I am going to go ahead and replace the fluids in the diff. Once the rear is done I will complete the sway bar discos up front. (and front diff).

Future planning is to do a fender trim and upgrade to 31's.

Hopefully this will get me ready for the winter. Supposed to be a rough one!

dschappell

Got the sway bars off. The bolt was a PAIN!!! Used a propane torch for 15 minutes and got nothing. Found a write up to use a pitman arm puller. Worked like a champ. 15$ and I was done in 30 minutes. Got the teraflex bars on with the help of a BFH and WD-40.

Bucket list: sway bar Disconnects. CHECK!!

dschappell

JCR nutstrips came today. It's too dark for me to go on tonight so I'll pick up tomorrow after work. Hopefully have the hitch on Monday.

Something got my brain thinking. Anyone ever seen a xj without an antenna and mount? I.e. Use bondo and completely delete the stock antenna.

Once I get a roof rack on I'll be putting on limb risers and I want a nice clean look. I'll probably hook up a CB in the future with a CB whip on the rear like most people do.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts

dschappell

Eewwwww

Got the old nutstrips out. Over a decade of dirt and rusted bolts. Got lots of the dirt out. Looks like no actual body rust so time to clean it good and shoot with paint.

I'm trying to decide what to do next, I have the bumper off and having a hard time justifying putting back on a stock bumper when I really want a new off road ready one. There is a matching one like the front bumper. $180 shipped. I have a few days before I need to get it back on the road so I'll see.

But look at that dirt on the rear. Www

dschappell

1

dschappell

So I painted parts of the underside and inner wheel wells to eliminate all the remaining "visible" blue that the XJ once was. It now has a nice flat black color against the tan shell. And I decided to work on some other stuff. Got the new nut strips in and it works great. Had to do some minor work with the dremel but I got it. Work on a rust spot on the rocker and discovered it to be worse than I thought. I pushed with my thumb and went right through the side. I got most of the dead metal off and out to where I now have a 6" by 3/4" slot. I painted it right now to prevent further cancer but no I have a decision to make.

I'm going to bondo it because I have no welder or metal experience. I want to through armor on it like rustys offers. I also want rock sliders so I can use my hi lift on the sides, not just front and back. So should I bother with side armor and just get sliders or both? Or either?

dschappell

DEATH WOBBLE

So I was getting it up to 65, no problems and when I took my foot off the gas she started shaking bad. It legit put fear in me. I think I may have a shot steering stabilizer. I had to move it to get my new sway links on and I may have compressed it too far. I haven't discovered the problem because I haven't driven it far in a couple days/week.

I'm ordering a new steering stab tonight then I'll consider all the bushings as well.

dschappell

While working on the jeep I found a 13mm craftsman socket. It's a bit rusted on the outside but it seems to still be in decent shape. Lucky day.

rcardamone717

This wouldn't cause death wobble, jack it up and shake every front end part from steering to control arms. Hell shake the hub assembly too. Looks good so far man keep going