This is the coolest, old-school XJ around. There's just something about it.

Can't wait to see the engine swap process. Sub'd.

 

Thanks!

I'm dragging the engine into my basement over the winter to work on it. The plan right now is to get the 231 swap finished, long arms with more lift, 3.4 swap, and some axle work. It has definitely come a long way from being a little stocker.

 

just read your whole thread I got mad respect for ya . And the hybrid cage is sick.Keep up the great work.

 

lookin AWESOME!

 

Thanks guys!

Ordered the last piece I needed for my 231. Fingers crossed it works. If all goes well I should have my tcase build going very soon.

 

The last piece I needed for my case was waiting for me today when I got home. The drive sprocket is out of a NP233c, which is found in 92-97 4.3L powered S10/Blazer/Jimmy/Sonoma. You need to watch the years since they came with a 1" chain after 97 according to my research. I'm not sure if 97 was an odd switch over year, so I'd shoot for an earlier case to pillage parts from.

L. 233C drive sprocket vs R. 231J drive sprocket


JB Conversion mainshaft vs stock 231J mainshaft

 

A little update.

Wide chain pieces together.
R. 233C drive sprocket L. 231D (Ram 1500) front output


Mainshaft assembled.


Went wheeling on New Years Day. Under the snow was ice and lots of it.

The woods, snow, and Jeeps. Who could ask for more?


Tried Carnage, but the trail was ****ty. If Jerry gets stuck, you know it's bad.


A broken D44 shaft on Mud Turtles trail ended my friends day.


He had to winch out of the trail. Getting him back to the parking lot was interesting.


Silverbacks shakedown run


Hey there Rattletrap!


I let my buddy have some seat time... and this happened.


Thanks bro!

The aftermath






So that's what it's supposed to look like!


He was paranoid that I was pissed, but I just found it funny as hell.
All it does is give me an excuse to do some mods that I had planned to do in the future.

 

nice group of jeeps there. atleast you caught the carnage on tape lol.

 

There were two more vehicles not pictured, a bult XJ waggy and a ZJ. They stuck around to help recover my buddy after he broke. When we headed back to the parking lot they stayed out and he ended up breaking a shaft on the Waggy as well. Then Jerrys air line to his front competition locker got ice in it and froze open. Just one of those days. I think we spent the majority of the time on the trail winching and pulling vs driving under our own power.

I just spent a bunch of money on the XJ a few minutes ago. I'm feeling a little sick from my last purchase.

I'm getting close to having it how I've wanted it for so long... and I know in the back of mind I'll want more when I get there.

Edit: Added a crappy pic of the Waggy

 

Nice cage, didn't know you had that. What are the specs and details on that?

I would never let my friends drive.

What'd you buy?

 

It's 1-3/4" .120 wall Dom. If you go back a few pages I have pics of the entire cage.

This is the second time I've let him drive it. First time was at the Badlands and he did really well with it. I don't mind letting him have some seat time, as he's helped me out a bunch with this build.

I sprung for a Clayton's long arm upgrade kit. I know people are going to wonder why I went radius arm over 3 link. I thought it over and read till my head felt like it was going to explode. I also wheel with a guy who runs them and I've always been impressed by them. I think for what I'm doing with this they'll work great.

This was my first XJ build and I've learned a lot from it. When I go bigger it'll be on a later year XJ. I like the early years, but it's a lot of work working around their differences.

 

Dirtbound DIY kit came in yesterday. It's missing once piece, but I'll make it, no biggie.


It's been too cold to work in the garage. So I decided to finish building my tcase in the kitchen.


Input and planetary installed


New pads


Shift rod cut down to specified length




Just about done!


I'm taking a break from the case right now and I'll probably finish it up tonight. I have one little project I want to attempt when I install the 231, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Hopefully it goes well!

 

RE 4.5" coils came in today. Picked these up from Serious Offroad.



Still waiting on a package from the east coast, but it's stuck out there with the crappy weather. I was hoping to get stuff done this weekend, but it's just not going to happen.

 

Finished my case up today after a little oversight on my part. Swapped everything over to the front half of the YJ case since it has a vacuum switch. I wasn't even thinking about that initially, but a friend kindly pointed it out to me. When I get around to swapping the front axle I'll cap the ports and call it a day.

 

Sweet mother of mary that's an awesome shot.