looks good!...and very clean too. keep up the good work

 

Ordered yesterday:



Diff cover from Ruff Stuff. This cements my decision to stay with my Dana 35. With the light tires, my old man (some would say... granny) driving style and finally being wise enough to "go around".... I think I can make it last. I will be adding chromo shafts and probably a spartan locker hopefully before summer.

John

 

Clean XJ. Semper FI

 

great choice i just ordered a slightly used one for my 8.25 they are literally bullet proof

 

Nice cover, looks strong. Paint it so we can see it under the the rig.

Are you still driving the LP D30 in the front?

I am debating, with 31" tires and no locker it should be strong enough, but in the back of my head I am thinking selectable locker like the E-Locker for my LP d30 when I re-gear to 4.11. What do you think?

Just asking someone that won't give me the "PUT A D60 UP THERE" answer. This is my DD too.

 

Nice looking XJ, I am slowly building on my rig. Just gotta ease the wife into it.

 

I have no plans to replace my d30 up front. I have never had an issue running 33's on a d30, locked, geared, no chromo shafts, etc. When I stepped up to 35's I broke a couple ujoints, but to me that is not a big concern, easy trail fix if you are ready for it. For this build with light 33x10.50 tires, I will eventually go with chromo shafts, but it is not a priority for me. I think it is more about the driver and experience. Think about it. It is about choosing appropriate trails for your rig and abilities and then choosing appropriate lines on those trails. Trails like the oness in your build thread... you are out there, beautiful trail, beautiful scenery, a few interesting obstacles... having a great time in a relatively stock vehicle. Kudos.

I am not sure if I will lock the front or not. Definitely will do the rear. I'd like to regear also, but that has to wait a bit.

In my opinion, keep the d30, save up for the cash... regear and go selectable locker or detroit tru trac at thesame time, and then add the chromo axle shafts when you can. In the meantime, be careful when you wheel... no bouncing, light foot on the pedal.

Also, since I am on my soapbox, I'd say Armor is the priority, over all the above mentioned axle work, especially for those of us who DD our vehicles.

Best of luck Skipper, I'll be watching your thread.

John

 

Yes, over the years my wife has grown to understand what I mean when I say... "I'm expecting a delivery today"...

She got tired of me hashing and rehashing how I'd like to modify vehicles, so we don't really talk about it anymore... I just do it as I have the spare coin.

 

Thanks and Semper Fi. Greatest brotherhood in the world.

 

Thanks John, I really do appreciate the input.

I have never heard of someone blowing up a LP front end. I am sure it has happened but more that HP's? This tells me with all the Wangler's around you would see everyone dumping the LP for a HP but that is not the case.

I am going to get the 31"s and re gear this spring. Until then I will get some more armor for the under carriage. Transfer case skid is needed next.

I love having to drive the heck out of the thing instead of being so built everything is too easy.

 

New spark plugs tonight, sea foam in the crankcase, preparing for oil change in tomorrow...

Just trying to baby her a little bit.

John

 

OK, no pics, cause no work yet, but an update for you. I have a few things ordered and coming over the next few weeks:

Stock Spare tire carrier. It is not complete but was a deal (bought from a member here) and I think I can fab up a way to mount it.

Spartan Locker for rear - New but bought used, saved some money. Bought from a member of another forum.

Superior Axle shafts - Bought from Quadratec, using the connection with Joe on this forum to get with no shipping. Item is backordered, but expected in a few weeks.

All this, plus my Ruff Stuff Rear Diff cover will have me putting in a few hours of work a few weekends for now. Really looking forward to the locker install, as it will be my first.

Family and I going camping this weekend, which will be the first time pulling the pop up with the Cherokee, so looking forwad to that. I will report in after that trip.

Wish I could get the heat working...

John

 

Extended my lower control arms out to 17" this evening. I won't get to road test it until tomorrow, but it will give me about another inch of wheelbase. We'll see. I can always dial it back if needed.

John

 

Changed my axle order to some Alloy USA from Serious off road. That and locker should be here in time for install first week in Feb, I think.

John

 

Finally back to it tonight. Put in my Spartan Locker, Alloy USA shafts and RuffStuff diff cover. Pictures follow. Took me about 3.5 hours cause I well... am an idiot.My idiocy is further evidenced by the fact that I screwed up this post. The next post will show the pics from the beginning, there are from the end...

Took off diff cover and drained oil. Then jacked up and removed wheels.
Attachment 97024
Attachment 97023

This is the inside of the diff
Attachment 97026

Carrier with out cross shaft
Attachment 97028

Out come the c clips
Attachment 97032

Out come the gears
Attachment 97033

Out come the old axle shafts...
Attachment 97034
Pretty...
Attachment 97035
In goes the spartan...

OK so this is where I screwed up. Just after this picture was taken I installed the locker without putting the clips back in. Let's just say a bit of cussing, a half hour of wrestling with the springs and finally... it is in


On goes the Ruff Stuff diff cover. Grade 8 bolts and honestly not so impressed with the lack of attention to detail on the cover. It is beefy for sure, but for the money thought they would have deburred holes, etc



Test drive and proof in the grass that the locker is working.


Ahhhh. Victory