Basslicks

Actually, 235/75r15 is one of the few size they DO make the authority in. Largest size they come in on a 15" wheels is a 31" though.

RegularGuy

this is getting annoying.
every time i think i'm getting close, it needs drilled more. plus i keep occasionally snapping bits so eventually i may need to buy more

I know this is a boring thread so far but really getting these wheels swapped is the thing keeping me from getting extra cash to fix this thing up.

LACK

What kind of tire are you looking for? A lot of road driving and minimal offroad? 50/50 mix? What type of offroad terrain?

RegularGuy

The Jeep's my only vehicle and i drive 30 miles to work every weekday.
however were i live also has a lot of gravel and/or unimproved roads. I don't do quite as much wheeling as id like and its not super wild terrain when i do.

I like the Coursers, and i wouldn't mind having them again, even if they don't look as 'cool' as some of the other tires. But i think ive heard the Grabber AT2s and BFG ATs rubber is a lot softer so they wouldn't last as long on tarmac.

LACK

Ive ran a couple sets of BFG AT's, they lasted 45-50k miles on the truck I had them on. Dont have any experience with the grabbers.

RegularGuy

Tiny update. Bought a chisel from Rural Kind. proceeded to bend chisel on the remains of the stud. Hooked up ratchet strap to wheel and tugged on it pretty gud but it didn't get me anywhere, i was hoping the leverage would snap the remaining material off.

Pulled off the roof rack cross members. I notice that the "short" rack has different shaped ends, angled on one side and looks sleeker. im thinking for shigs and gigs that i might try and find one in a junkyard to put as the first crossmember.

Im going to go back outside and attempt to measure the sway bars on both the new XJ and the wrecked one. I doubt either have the big one from the V8 ZJ but its worth a look see. Regardless I'm thinking i might hop over to the junkyard Friday and get prices for said ZJ sway bar as well as the tie rod from one.

Probably going to do an oil change this weekend. I wont seafoam it this time (ive never done it before) but i may the next change.

RegularGuy

Here's a pic i went and snapped of the accursed thing.

When its of, im either going to leave the little nicks and scratches around the socket as-is, as sort of a 'earned trophy' or somesuch, or try sanding the area down and painting/plastidiping the Grizzlies all black.

Also, it would appear, according to my set of calipers, that the wrecked jeep (96 country) has a 26mm sway bar, and this one (98 Sport) has the 25mm.
The V8 ZJ is supposedly a 28mm so i'll see if i can score one cheap this weekend. I'll need to decide on poly or rubber bushings though.

Basslicks

Honestly, unless you find one in the JY that's in pristine condition, it's almost worth it to spend the +/- $100 for a new Tie rod and end. You can rob the adjuster sleeve from a JY Jeep if you want, but I'd get a new rod & end just so I wouldn't have to replace it again in a few months. I've never had any good luck finding linkages without worn out ends in the JY though.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...e+rod+end,7428

The Moog ES3096L is 23.79 right now and the Moog DS1312 is 42.79

Then you could get an adjuster sleeve from the JY, go with a $3 one from quick steer (ES2079S), or if you really wanna stay with MOOG stuff, spend $13.14 on the MOOG ES2079S.

RegularGuy

oh, i dont need a tie rod or ends, i was just considering the cheap "upgrade" to the solid one from the V8 ZJ. Im not going to make it to the JY today anyway on account of this rain. Though i have to say buying a brand new one for 40 dollars isnt that bad a prospect.

Still going to see if i can find a 28mm sway bar though.
and buying yet more dill bits today since all the smaller ones have broken. Fingers crossed for having it off this weekend!
its seriously holding back my plans!!

Basslicks

Ah ok... Yes, the V8 ZJ sway bar is thicker, but it's also shaped differently. Not sure if it's a detrimental difference or not. I think Dukie564 tried that on his, but I can't remember if he kept it or not. Look up his build, it's called "Project Danger Cart".

RegularGuy

Ah, the danger cart thread. I'll check into it.

I DID make more progress in a sorts. i fixed my "rocking chair" seat. pics are hard to take of the area but i managed to put a couple washers on there and bolt it down. rock solid... so far. we will see how it lasts on these bumpy AF backwoods roads here in SE ohio.

RegularGuy

I think im going to give up on the Grizzlies. Just sell that jeep the way it is.

Current plan is to find a matching 5 spoke wheel, clean them all down and paint them satin or gloss black, then swap over the three tires that i can get off the white XJ and just buy the fourth that i CANT remove. THEN in a few months, buy a new set of four and move the "new" wheel to the spare.

Im itching to get rid of the white one now, i may loose the spare parts but it would seem a neighbor has kindly "borrowed" the cat from it without asking. I wondered why the muffler was hanging down and looked to find it has been cut.
aside from raising questions of home security, it makes me want to get rid of it before someone takes everything off it.

RegularGuy

FINALLY got the oil changed. Poured a cheap quart through it after i drained it all out to make sure i got as much of the old gunk out as possible. Looked black and awful, but no metal shavings that i saw

I saw some more creative wiring that the PO seemed to have placed in, and wasnt sure what it went to. it connects to that plug, which goes into the harness, so im not sure what its for.

I also checked the neighbor's parts jeep and it indeed has the 28mm sway bar. so if its salvageable (has some rust on it) i should be swapping that in sometime soonish.

This thing will look nice once im motivated enough to hand wash and wax it! just kinda hard to justify while the wheels issue is up in the air. A guy i know might have a lead on a matching grizzly wheel but hes not sure if the guy wants to sell it or not.

LACK

That splice is for the electric fan. Theres typically a 2 prong plug there and it usually breaks. Only issue you may run into is if you try to take the fan out, youll have to cut and re-splice.

You can get 2 prong replacements here if you want to add another plug.


They wont have the exact 2 prong that came with the jeep, but theres plenty of other options.

http://connectorexperts.com/

RegularGuy

Thanks, Lack. I actually found the electric fran from that parts jeep i found the sway bar on, so if ever in the future i want to run two electric fans, i have that option.

Too bad i cant find the front or transfer case skids on that thing. Its just difficult sinc practically all non-motor parts, including dash, center console, bumper, ect are all in a jumbled pile inside the thing.


As for an update, i got an O2 sensor but it is STUUUUCK. whats with all these stuck bolts finding me?
I let the jeep run for a while after soaking in blaster but still stuck. vice grips still wouldnt get it to move. I'll try and get a torch tonight and just heat the bung and try that.

Also pulled the wiper arms off, sanded and repainted. XJ wiper arms are super simple and easy to remove/replace, if any of you have never done it. Just pull the tab out that keeps the wipers off the windshield when at rest (like if its cold and you dont want them to freeze to the windshield) and then just grab both ends of the base of the wiper and pull up. with a little wiggling it will come off.

I also pulled the body moldings since they were coming off and catching on the doors. im not sure if i like it without them, but i have repainted them and plan on sticking them back on today with mounting foam. I also want to get the faded fender flares and the grill/headlight bezels painted.

Should be some nice pictures later this evening!