Got the rear suspension out and the broken shackle mount and both lower shock mounts fixed up.

 

Cuss, torch, break, Cuss a lot, hardware store, Cuss again, get it fixed, let out a few happy obsenities... One side is done and in!

 

Rear is all in, bumper bolts in the shackle boxes still need to be ground off but that'should about it.



These are my ghetto fab upper shock mount fix tools. Bailing wire in a Dunkin' Donuts straw with vice grips and a wrench welded to some bent rebar.

 

Nice !

I have a drawer full of "specialty" tools... usually one time use...

Looking good.


I still think you should replace the rockers with stock steel.

Looks SO much cleaner IMO.

how bout a side shot...

Edit:
what lift is that?

 

Side shot I'll get tomorrow for sure when I spin it around to start on the front, just ran out of time today. It's sitting 6.75" taller then it was which is roughly 5.25" over stock. It's Rubicon Express 3.5" leafs, JKS Boomerang shackles and the RE Monotubes for a 4.5" lift. I'm hoping the *** settles another 1" or so.

 

Rear is more or less all set. Some shackle greasing and a second torqueing of all the bolts is necessary. Still sitting on its old crappy 8.25 but the 8.8 is almost ready. Just wanted to get it in and get some weight on it all. Starting on the front today.

 

My little helper today in this 15 degree weather

 

Looks great! and glad to see you saved it from being sent to the crusher!!

 

Front is under way. Looking like it's only going to get lifted on to the beat old Dana 30 for the time being. Just want it to sit as correct as possible and be semi-driveable.



Mutilating bolts to get them out again, the front is going better then the rear though.

 

Subbed. Love that you saved an XJ from the scrapper. Good job with the build so far. Can't wait for more updates!

 

What's wrong with the 8.25? That 8.8 on 32s isn't worth the work and will drag like baggy pants on a rainy day.

 

Lift is in! Aligning, greasing, torqueing is next.


Freshy parts, like polishing a turd

 

The 8.25 is a whirry, rotted, boat anchor and the Dana 30 has rotted buckets and shock mounts. They are both junk, not worth putting a dime into. I already have an 8.8 with the correct mounts, needs brakes and a u joint and it's good to go

 

Did you wait to tighten everything down until you had it on the ground and on it's own weight? The shackle looks to be pulled inward?

If that's the case, some shackle relocation brackets and the right shackle angle, would probably bring the back end down and would definitely soften the ride.

 

Yep tightened on its own weight. I also noticed the left leaf kicked out the bottom most leaf and is a little crooked. I'm thinking about eventually going to the no lift relocaters, seeing if it squats enough to pull the 3/4" spacers out of the front to keep it levelish or raked to the front