emptypockets

Well, maybe someday I'll get some more comments on my junk.

Till then, here's some pics from today's festivities.

Jeepnfm

Looks like it's coming along, I was anti Cherokee when I got mine, just got it as a daily driver. I love it now. I did the Dakota bastard pack and love it! I made a mount out of flat steel to move my rear brake line block up 3" for the added height and suspension difference. I did lots of fender trimming too.

emptypockets

Thanks! I really can't wait till I get my bastard pack done. Right now I'm still running the stock shocks in the rear, which is limiting me a bunch, especially with the blocks. My Cherokee has practically stolen my heart, it's such a good little dd and weekend warrior! Before I had it, I ran mostly mud in my big truck since it couldn't fit down the majority of trails. With the Jeep, my options are just wide open for trail riding. One thing I did find out today is that at 3" I'm getting too tall for the trails I run. I might have to stick with my 29's for now instead of upgrading to 31's as I had planned.

emptypockets

Spent a little time working on the Cherokee today.



Leafs everywhere:


No brush painting these suckers:


Coat of graphite:


It's getting there...

Jeep450r

Looking good! I never knew that grommet was there in the firewall. Good to know!

emptypockets

Thanks!

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I didn't get to spend as much time on the Jeep as I would of liked. I did finish painting the leafs on the passenger side and slapped them together for a measurement. Right now it's sitting at 20-7/8" from the center of the hub to the bottom of the wheel flare.





Tomorrow I'll start tackling the other side and I'll need to get cracking on my 8.25 soon. Also getting the urge to start cutting and folding, but.. must.. refrain.

emptypockets

Didn't feel like messing with the other leaf pack today, so decided to finally pop in my rear JK shocks.

I was lucky and didn't have any issues with the upper shock bolts breaking:


XJ shock vs JK shock, ended up being a 2" difference eye-bolt to eye-bolt:


Both sides installed (don't mind the muffler, doing exhaust work):


Shot of my bastard pack, still needs some finishing touches:


Questioning my dinky lift at this point :


And that's it for today.

emptypockets

Shaved my 8.25 today. Not really happy with the job I did on the cover, but figured since I'll be replacing it with an aftermarket one, why not.

emptypockets

Been plugging away at the drivers side bastard pack and finally got everything painted and ready for assembly. I'll be nice and spare folks from more leaf pack pictures.

I'm getting ready to dive into the 8.25 later this week, but started gathering parts to address my front driveshaft. My GKN driveshaft (a.k.a. "stick in a can") has a couple issues. The first and most important being that it can't handle the driveline angle it's at. The second being the boot is garbage and the joint is filled with grit. I'd been on the lookout for a 2.5L m/t XJ double cardan front shaft, but wasn't having any luck. However, I was looking through my JBG catalog for some Ford parts and realized that I already have a driveshaft that should work.

Top to bottom: '86 front GKN style, '90 Bronco 302/M5OD/NP208 rear shaft, and '92 XJ 4.0/AW4/NP242 front shaft.


For the axle side I pulled the yoke off of a spare D44 front pumpkin I have for my truck. From everything I've read it should fit on the pinion of the D30, but I haven't tried it out on the Jeep yet.

D44 Ford "Big Cap" 1330 pinion yoke:


I'm still trying to see what I can dig up to make the case side also 1330 as I'd really prefer not to have to carry 1310, 1330, and 1310 to 1330 conversion joints around for spares. I'm not sure if the girth of the Bronco shaft is going to be an issue with the stock x-member yet, but where there's a welder there's a way. And that's about all I've gotten around to doing of late.

Keek007

Man it would seem you are a wizard. I dig the cheap build up. If I had the time I would do the same lol. But I'll be investing in a reg lift kit and some tires. But later when I change to full width axles I'll do some junk yard parts pick up to make it easier on my wallet

emptypockets

Thanks man. It gets interesting doing things on the cheap, but I do enjoy the challenge. Good luck with your build.

emptypockets

Got a lot more work done on the ol' heap.

Built my spring clamps today using 3/16" x 1" flat stock:


I used my vise and a bfh to bend them:


Ready for the next step:


5/16" holes were drilled in the center and a carbide deburring bit was used to recess the holes:


Ready to be cleaned and painted:


Mocked up using 5/16" tapered machine screws:



Finally farkin' finished:


Next step was taking out the D35:


Adios:


FTW, my u-bolts weren't threaded right and I had to put my damn 2" block back in for the time being :


At this point I was pissed so I don't have any pics of the 8.25 install and it's purty new paint job.

So here it is temporally on all fours:



End measurements taken from the rocker to the floor was 21" behind the front tire and 23" in front of the rear tire. So minus the 2" block and add in whatever lift I get when I do my shackles... I think she'll be sitting pretty good when all is said and done. Still a lot of work to be done, but I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for this part of the build.

LeRoy90laredo

looks like longer lCA's may be soon needed.
love the budgeting on this build!

90XJkid

Good looking budget rig. Where in IL are you?

emptypockets

Thanks! I was hoping to get some more use out of my cheapy lca's, but it may not work out that way. Time to start hitting CL to see if I can find some deals.

Thanks a lot! I live in Northern IL in the Rockford area.

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Got a little bit of work done last night, but not much.

The stock center hose was WAY to short so I picked up a Dakota hose:


Installed:


Pic of the 8.25 installed:


Tonight I'm hoping to bleed the brakes, hook up the e-brakes, install the rear driveshaft, finish the exhaust, and fill the diff. I say hope because I have a friend coming over to look at a car I'm selling and the BSing may eat up most of my night.