BriansCJ

My other MJ has been taking longer than I thought it would, and I wanted something to wheel over Christmas break while all of my friends are home from college.
A buddy sent me a link to this jeep for sale on Facebook.
About 2 hours later, it was on my trailer on the way home behind my friends truck.
Here's the jeep when I got it. 1988 MJ LWB 4.0 AX15, soa rear with a stock XJ dana 30. Stacked coil spacers in the front and some weird shock extenders on the bottom of the shock. Had some half decent 33s on it, with a spare.
Here's the jeep when I got it.

BriansCJ

The first thing I did was clean it out. I filled 2 trash cans from the compost pile in the bed and trash in the cab. I did find some used straps that I can still get some life out of.
Then these came up pretty cheap. A Rear 60 with a Grizzly, and a front LP44. Both had 5.13s. I also got brand new boggers on wheels, springs, shocks, steering, and driveshaft.
Then I ordered some ruffstuff parts, and ripped the rear axle out.

I took apart the stock rear to sell the 3.55s from it. I found a lockrite inside.

My Compass(in the background) towed home the new axles, wheels, and tires.

BriansCJ

I added a cut down ram 1500 main leaf to each pack, because thats what I had laying around. I also cut 2 ram overloads down to the length of the ruffstuff perch to act as a .75" block.
Centering the axle and tacking the perches

Then I welded in the perches and disk brake brackets



And finally on its own weight.

BriansCJ

I could only get one shaft in to drive it out, the locker worked fine. Once it was outside, I put the other shaft in.
Here it is next to my friends TJ on 38s.

I turned it around to work on the front.
Living in the northeast, the quickest way to get the front axle out of a jeep is to cut. You can also see the rigged up shock extenders in this pic.

Anyone need a dana 30? I really need to clean up the garage.

You can see the stacked coil spacers in this pic.

Theres no going back now

BriansCJ

Made a new front crossmember to be a bumper, winch mount, and leaf mounts. Frame tie ins are 2x4 and crossmember is 2x6, both 3/16.


Axles in. I used stock YJ springs.



I have to get some lift springs. I think im gonna get 2.5" YJ springs. I wanted to get the stockers in and measure what lift I need.

BriansCJ

I took her out to test. I think it went very well for a test run. My shortened rear driveshaft worked. I exploded the slip joint on the front though, so I made a new one from square tube.
To do still is front lift and shocks, upgrade the brakes, rear shock mounts, and finish the bumpers.


Also spent some time making a bumper for my friends dodge. He bent his hitch, trying to pull me out after my front driveshaft took a ****. The good news is my front crossmember held up to a 30' strap and a 5.9L.

BriansCJ

Got some 2.5" RE YJ springs for the front. Also i got rid of that gay roll bar in the bed. I also put in an open style radiator and zip tied my header panel back on.


Here, you can see the front stretch.

BriansCJ

Now, Im up to date. Current plans are to do the brakes, shocks, and re do the rear bumper that came on it. The welds are cracked so im gonna strip it to a bare piece of 2x6, clean it up and make some better mounts for it.

EUGENE the JEEP

looking good

huntingman2706217

Axles swaps are a lot of work for sure!

Rogue4x4

Awesome build, that thing is gonna be a beast!

Atmos

how do you find the time to update this thread on 4 different forums lol

is it just JF and here? I feel like I see this thing everywhere

BriansCJ

Its not really that bad.
Type once, use photobucket links, and then copy and paste.

Stuck-n-mud

That's the most beautifully/ ugly ( in a good way )I've seen in a while. I love those MJ's standing tall

unidentifiedbomb

Love the build, how's the ride with those springs over coils?