Funny sticker.

 

Isn't it fun when things don't work out like you hope? lol!

Agreed!

I ended up not running any lining. I just make sure to keep up on washing everything out and it hasn't been a problem. I hope you get your rig together how you want it before WF!

I like the Clayton kit a lot. The biggest reason I went with Clayton was the crossmember. Its already come in handy when I had to fix the transmission linkage. I also wheel with a guy who runs their kit and I've always been impressed by the quality.

Not that it effects your build, but looking back I wouldn't of had them cut so much off the arms. It works, but I'd like the axle pushed a little more forward. So, I guess it's good info for any guys running a 2.8L.

I'm not sure what height I'm sitting at. I read the RE coils are more like 5.5" and the leaf springs with the shackle adjusted right is pretty dang even, maybe a hair higher in the rear. I'm probably in the 5" or so range with the weight of the cage, bumpers, winch, etc.

Hope that answers all your questions. I have my 4 year old niece over here trying to tear my house apart.

I get a chuckle out of it.

 

Got two more things out of the way on the old girl.

With the fuel cell going in the back, I needed to relocate my spare tire. After messing around with different locations, I settled on having it standing up against the roll bar. Next, was figuring out an easy way to mount it up.

I think this ended up being a pretty good route, 1.75" muffler clamps and an economy spare tire holder for a trailer. The muffler clamps were slightly notched to fit the profile of the tire holder u-bolt. I still need to cut the u-bolt down for ease of removal when the fuel cell is installed. Total cost was under $15.





After that we tackled mounting the reservoirs for the shocks. Again, muffler clamps were used, this time in the 2" HD flavor. Total cost, under $5.







So there you go, two projects for under $20. Tackling some more stuff tomorrow and waiting for more parts to come in. I'll spill the beans on those goodies when they arrive.

Updated list:

1. Figure out rear drive shaft
2. Figure out front drive shaft
3. Install limit straps for front
4. Re-do bumpstops
5. Check fluids
6. Shake down suspension
7. Fix caster
8. Install steering
9. Install fuel cell
10. Mount rear shock reservoirs
11. Install Novak shifter

 

Got a couple of things done on Saturday. Not as much as I would of liked, but the shifter took a lot longer to get to work with the '86. The bracket had to be cut down and then clearanced for the transmission shifter.



Much easier to shift the tcase now.




Also got the steering welded up and installed.


I'm hoping I can get everything done in time. I'm kind of freaking out since there's still a bunch to do. Fingers crossed.

 

Im sure u will man. I got the rest of my lift done and trac bar and front brake lines in this weekend

Good luck tho

 

Thanks man! How much more do you need to get done or are you finished?

 

I gotta do my rear brake line, mount my cb n spare, alignment n i think thts it lol but theres little stuff thtll come up but i got the main stuff outta the way

 

Not bad. This snow isn't helping anyone with getting stuff done!

 

Not at all i have to wait to use my friends garages to do my stuff so i got lucky this weekend that my gfs parents went outta town n let me use there garage

 

Got my Prothanes in the mail today.


Also ordered my rear ds from Tom Woods. I'm still hoping the old front ds will work, I just need to set the caster and install my limit straps to be sure.

 

Nice progress! Great ideas with the muffler clamps!

I did end up getting my bumpstops in, used a 2x4 and a jack to press them right in. But, I need to trim them and still put pucks in to even it out. Always something to fine-tune!

 

Thanks man!

Glad you got them working out! Seems like they were a total PITA though, lol.

Got more work done tonight, but no pictures yet. I'll snap a few tomorrow.

 

Spent last night working on getting the fuel cell installed. I still have to finish up my vent, but it's running off the cell now.

It was pretty simple to do. I went with eye bolts through the floor and some tie down straps.


I used a grommet to run the hose through the floor. I went with a glass tube filter mainly for the hose step down.


And here's a daytime shot of the empty void left behind. I'm going to make a flat skid that goes from rail to rail in the future.


I got some more stuff ordered up and hopefully they'll be arriving soon. I was planning on regearing before WF, but the money I had set aside went to a rebuilt trans for my truck. Apparently, my truck got jealous of all the new parts the Jeep got and wanted some of it's own. Oh well.

 

I didn't get to the shop this weekend, but it was nice enough outside to work on the trailer. The biggest thing was getting the front end setup properly. I have the limit straps half installed, but I'm going to wait till I install the Prothenes to finish installing them. It's looking good with the front driveshaft, but I won't know for sure till I flex it out to see if it binds.


I also finished the fuel cell install by finishing up the vent.


Had this waiting for me on the back porch today.


I can't wait to get these installed. Sadly, it won't be before Winterfest.


One of the guys I wheel with bought a set of these and I was really impressed with their approach to anti-coning rings. If you look at the inner rings, you can see the tabs that will be bent up and welded. You can check out TMI here: https://totalmetalinnovations.com/


Tomorrow I'm hoping my Tom Woods driveshaft comes in for the rear. Things are really humming along now and hopefully the rest goes smoothly.

 

Stepped away from the Jeep world for a while. I have enjoyed getting caught up on your build. Wouldn't mind trying to wheel with ya this year. When are you doing Moab?