00XJCO's 2000 XJ Build
 

First of all, to everyone on here that put up with me asking the same questions 10 times about lift kit advice, thank you! I went with Rubicon express and I couldn't be happier!

I also installed Treadwright 31x10.50R15's on Cragar Soft 8's with 4" backspacing. Here's some pics I took along the way.


The Goods
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03464.jpg

Harbor Freight Spring Compressor: $10, worked like a charm.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03466.jpg

New coils: A little taller and a LOT stiffer. One was about 1/4" longer than the other so I put that one on the drivers side where there where usually be more weight
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03469.jpg

New and Old Control Arms
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03478.jpg

Looks like these were about ready to be replaced
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03486.jpg

Front End Components All Installed
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03488.jpg

Relocated Track Bar
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZuoMcJh02lI/Sd...0/DSC03503.JPGhttp://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03503.jpg

What a headache. ALL 4 rear shock bolts snapped off when I started taking them out. I drilled them all out and re-tapped them to 3/8" and installed new hardware.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03531.jpg

This was about the time things started getting tricky. After the rear shock bolts that broke, everything thereafter was insanely seized up to the point that cutting was easier for things that were going to get replaced.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03534.jpg

I had to remove my trailer hitch so that I could remove the rear leaf spring bolts. The hitch bolts were also incredibly seized, to the point that with my 3 foot breaker bar I was surely going to knock the vehicle off the jack stands trying to get them loose. For $200 bucks, this electric impact wrench was well worth the money since I don't have an air compressor, but it's definitely nothing like a pneumatic impact wrench. Rated at 350 ft/lbs there were some things I still had to use the breaker bar on, but once they were loosened a little bit it zipped everything right off.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03543.jpg

New leafs weren't much taller than the old ones but much stiffer
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03547.jpg

Reaming out the center pin holes, dremel tool worked great
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03551.jpg

New Leafs in and Axle refastened
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03554.jpg

All buttoned up, I figured after already spending an unexpected $200 on the Impact Wrench I would attempt to align it myself with string lines to save some money. Look closely and you can see the string line (it's white and runs centerline to the wheels), the front ends are tied around jack stands and the rear ends were fastened to the wall with thumb tacks. Tedious and time consuming, but I got it dead on. I set the front wheels toe in to maximum factory allowable specs by setting the leading edges of the wheels inward 3/64" on each side. I'd like to go to an alignment shop just to have them double check it but I see no reason to, it drives perfect!


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03566.jpg

Wallah! Sorry about the stupid trailer, but I got finished just in time to help my girlfriend move and I wanted to get pics ASAP. With the combination of the RE 3.5" lift and 31" tires, I got a total of just over 8 inches front and rear! I also installed 2º axle shims and lowered the t-case 3/4", and ended up with only 1º off on the pinion angle and basically no vibration at all, but I forgot to take pics of those.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03559.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03561.jpg

I thought I would be able to avoid fender trimming but I unhooked the sway bar and got it flexy on a big pile of snow to find out that I was definitely going to have to trim a little bit. I used masking tape as a guide to get straight lines and a coping saw to get the rough cuts and then used my dremel tool with a sanding wheel to smooth it off. I had to trim the fender skirt thing on the inside too so it wouldn't stick out and then refastened it with zip ties, and then hand sanded where I made the cuts to make it really smooth. I also removed the plastic molding underneath the stock bumper. I'm pretty satisfied with the results, lookin good!
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03578.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...J/DSC03586.jpg


I think the total install took me about 16 hours (twice what RE suggested:)), but being my first time doing any real modification to a vehicle I think I did allright. Then it probably took me another hour and a half to align it.

I LOVE the way the jeep drives now, there's no more of that car like squishy business, it rides rough but rock solid and handles much better even though it's quite a bit higher off the ground, and I think the RE MonoTubes were a good choice for shocks. The Treadwright MT/G's are incredibly grippy and I've driven them in about a foot of snow and they rocked even in 2wd. Unfortunately none of the local trails will be open for another 6 weeks or so, but I'll make sure to bring my camera the first time I can take it out.

I hope everyone enjoys the write up and pics, more to come!

-00XJCO

only the first 2 pics work.

Try reloading? I double checked all the links and they're all good.

maybe the pictures are too big?

I show no "X" where pics would be, but it looks like you left some out based on your comments like the ones below but with no photos. There are s couple more like this throughout the post.

Looks great though. I wish I could pull the trigger on a lift like that. Dangit.

s
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZuoMcJh02lI/Sd...Q/DSC03486.JPG

well if i get properties of the ones that dont work and i get the url and type it in then go back the pic shows up

I see what you're talking about where it looks like I left some pics out, I originally had 29 photos and I deleted 9 of them and just accidentally didn't delete a few of the captions, can I go back and fix it?

Link to pictures
 

Hang tight, I figured out what's wrong and I'm working on fixing it!

-00XJCO

I can't wait to see this dude. I hope you get the pictures working!!!!!

Pictures Fixed!
 

I think everything should be working now. The pictures that were over 50kb were all not loading before, so I re-saved them all at slightly lower quality and they are ALL under 50kb now. Hope it works, if not I'll just put up a link to where I have them uploaded to so you can see them there.

-00XJCO

im not seeing any of them still...

x2

OK! I have transferred ALL of my photos from Picasa to Photobucket (seems to be what everyone else is using) and once again they all load fine on my computer. Please let me know if you can see them or not, thanks!

-00XJCO

the pics are working for me now, it looks good, i like the green and black combo.

Looks great man but did you have to take your boxers off to get the work done?

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w.../JeepNaked.jpg