Battle

Current status as of Nov. 2022





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I guess it's time to start a build thread. Bought the old lady in May 2013 in South Florida. Completely stock 1999 Sport with a 4.0, AX15, hp30, 29 spline 8.25, 3.07s (), open diffs, working AC (thank the lord!) no cd player, electric windows and that's pretty much it. 129,000 miles and I paid too much but it had zero rust and was a 5sp. I wanted it.

My friend Coco called it Ruby, the name stuck and the Jeep thus became a girl.







Didn't do much to her except drive her and donuts in the everglades. She was my daily for a while until I came upon a craigslist ad I couldn't really pass up.



A local guy was selling his stock automatic axles from his 99 - hp30/29spline 8.25 - but with 3.55 gears of course and a rear Aussie locker. I bought them because I didn't like an open diff or 3.07 gears. Talked to him and determined, hell, I might as well lift it too.

Bought Rubicon Express's 3.5" Super Ride with twin tube shocks. Figured that would be enough...

Rented a shop with air tools on Oct. 26 (my birthday) and it took me three days to do everything. It was hell because time was actually money. Living in an apartment pretty much sucks.



Afterward, the lift seemed weird and the steering components/wheel bearings were in less good shape than I thought. I had really bad death wobble so I caved in and took it to 4wd Parts and had them inspect it, replace the axle ujoints, wheel bearings, ball joints, caster nuts and align it.

Got it back, still had brake issues and unbalanced 235s but hey, it drove straight and could go 70... barely. Launched like a stabbed rat with the gears and locker though.

Bought some Eccos with bald 31x10.5x15s for $80





Still had death wobble - it was either the unbalanced, bald tires or the oem track bar which I was still using (redrilled axle mount is sketchy) so I ordered a double shear track bar from Iron Rock and some Treadwright Guard Dogs.



Mounted and balanced tires first - went 70 on the freeway with no death wobble but a bit of a shimmy. Installed the track bar using the same shop and boom - was doing 80 plus in no time.



This was in early January. Shortly after I got the track bar and tires, I met the South Florida Dysfunctional 4X4 dudes here on CherokeeForum and was hooked.





My dad gave me a sweet, vintage TN license plate that's older than me.



I stayed in Miami for 7 months with Ruby as my only vehicle. In that time, I basically maintained her to the best of my ability. Got a K&N and some 784 injectors, and an engine skid but other than that, she stayed the same.

Got stuck.



Let freegdr drive her...



Went to a Miami off road shop grand opening and went on an RTI ramp for the first time. Scored a 570 something. Determined my stock shackles were the culprit for my stiff butt.



Got a job back home in Knoxville and moved in mid September 2014. At this point, Ruby had about 150k miles and was still the same but starting to show some neglect. One of my headlights died and my high beams stopped working as well as my turn signals. I removed my side trim because the paint was chipping and looked ugly to me. Unfortunately, now I'm stuck with that god awful adhesive which I'm having trouble getting off with Goo Gone and my hands. Need advice!


Had some homebrew rocksliders made and welded on, almost flooded her in some TN mud, recovered and have been daily driving her since...





...last weekend when I decided to do this.



So here I am now. She's officially a project! Time to break it in order to find her flaws and improve. My idea is to create a quick, kind of loud, hot rod style expedition vehicle that is prepared for anything including the apocalypse. Stay tuned.

caged

nice jeep.
looks like my 99

88whitecomanche

Man! I've always loved the way you've set up pics....
Glad your doing a build thread thread for her...
35s and cut fenders dude....hidden winch bumper...

Battle

35s ain't happen for a long time if ever. Cut fenders and hidden winch though. Oh yeah! Harbor freight has an angle grinder for $20 that I want to pick up.

I tried working on the rig yesterday. Started by actually starting her for the first time in a week. I've got a slight leak in my valve cover but the levels were fine. She started right up.

Pulled her into the car port.



My plan was to fix this:



And this:



I haven't had turn signals in a while now nor do I have high beams. I replaced the blinker/hazard relay and it didn't fix it. I figured it would be the switch itself.

Replacement was easy:



But of course, that didn't fix it. I have reason to believe I have a wiring issue. The turn signals stopped working after I cracked a tail light and I only have one head light so the plan is to get a new housing, new tail light bulbs and do an H4 conversion with a new harness.

I cleaned the back, consolidated my tools and secured my high lift jack and went off the junkyard. My plan was simple - get a housing and see if they had a trunk lid for my Civic. I was not prepared to find a my beloved but rusted Subaru.



I took the car's drivetrain out and sold the shell to a different local yard because our Pull-a-part wouldn't buy my car without an engine. The yard I sold it too told me a few days earlier that the car was crushed when I called about buying the suspension back as it was in good condition and I could sell it. I sighed and went on with life until I stumbled upon the big lug sitting pretty. Took the suspension out:



And drove the Jeep home. I forget sometimes how much fun the XJ is. Next up is order the H4s and harness, replace my tail light housing and bulbs and try my best to get turn signals back.

I also found a set of 31x10.5x15 Geolander ATs on Gambler ten holes I want to get. I'm honestly not too impressed with the Treadwrights and I don't really like the ECCOs when they're black. I had Geolanders on my Subaru and they were amazing in the rain, snow and slick mud. If I get them, I'll keep the Treadwrights and do a side by side comparo at Windrock.

XJwonders

Nice progress! I'm particular fond of 97-99 with ax15's

ehall

Good way to get rid of the adhesive is with the just put it in the drill and rub that junk

Also mineral spirits on lint-free paper towel can go a long way to just degunking stuff

Warm soapy water and a non-scratch brush too

Battle

Right! Thanks man! It makes a difference for sure.

Thank you! That's awesome. I'll pick one of those up and get to work.

BNJeepsta

You really don't like the guard dogs?? I've had 3 sets of them now and the only beef I have with them is that they don't come in a 35" flavor for 15's. I live in NW Pennsylvania so, I don't have a lot of experience with them in sand or lots of rocks but, they are great for what I use them for. Plus, they are the bomb in deep snow! Nice rig btw, love them 5 speeds

88whitecomanche

What's up Logan!!!
You know you can get a coupon for the cut off wheel for $10....
I got a few of them in the tool box...

I wanted to ask how is that rear Aussie treating you?

Battle

I'm meh on the Guard Dogs. I've only had them in Florida mud, gravel, and wet&dry pavement so I don't want to pass judgement on them until I get them up to Windrock and air them down. They do pretty well in the mud and gravel but are downright dangerous on wet pavement. I've experienced Geolanders in snow and rain plenty of times and was super impressed. I think I'll pick up those this week and do a comparo next weekend.

Stay tuned. Here's what they look like:





What up Walt!!! I know - I saw the coupon and got excited. I need that tool in my life.

The Aussie is fine - still clunky as hell but lots of fun when provoked. Even with its crudeness, I wouldn't trade it for an open diff ever.

88whitecomanche

Sweet! I just received mine for the comanche...
Hope to have as much fun as you did and not get stuck lol...

Battle

Sweet! And yeah, that not getting stuck thing... haha! Good thing you've got Workhorse for recovery.

I'm still considering 33s but I'd like to find some 4.10 axles before I make the switch.

BNJeepsta

I'm surprised you had problems with them on wet roads, mine are great, even in heavy rain. To each his own I guess.

Battle

Bought and mounted the Geolanders. I only took the rig down the road to get gas - went about 45 with no issue.

First impressions. I ADORE the look of the Gamblers. So much better than the blacked out ECCOs in my opinion. The Geolanders/Gamblers are also lighter and SO MUCH quieter.

I'll have to report back when I drive it more. Taking the Civic to Memphis this weekend so Ruby will have to sit tight for a bit.

88whitecomanche

Loving the look!!! It has a nice stance....
But those aren't gamblers...their just called 10hole rims(unfortunately)
Me and jeep diva call them sun-dial rims lol...