eggdashure

More wheelin' pics!
We dropped the kids off with the grandparents on Sunday and headed for Crystal Mill. It's a fun trail, but not when you miss the turn sign and start heading up Lead King Basin (Second shot).

Otherwise it was a good time. Started to notice the Jeep sounded as though it was running rich after we stopped and shut 'er down for a while. Not sure what's going on there, but I'll be investigating.

greedyg76

As far as Control Arm Drop brackets go, I would have to recommend RRO CAD system.

http://rocky-road.com/xjcad.html

I have installed both RC and RRO and I gotta say the 1 piece upper/lower design of the RRO brackets is a way easier install and just visual stronger looking. Plus, everything you need is included, rear support braces, all hardware and even new alignment shoes.

eggdashure

Does the RRO CAD system move the lower mounts forward? Looks like it in the pics anyway. Just a question for ya since it sounds like you've installed them before...are they held in only by the one bolt through the old lower mount? *Obviously the braces too...but just curious.

The alignment shoe's would be nice, I busted a bolt on mine recently while trying to gain some caster. Too lazy to drill it out and replace with a bolt. I knew it was coming, the bolt was bent all to hell and thus the threads were all messed up.

snowboard3r411

why do you want drop brackets? i hate those things just more to drag and break.

eggdashure

Jeep rides like a brick, yea I know it's a Jeep...but I've heard people getting nice results in terms of ride. More droop up front as well. I'm not going to be hitting 21 rd anytime soon!

greedyg76

Exactly, for a daily driven XJ the control arm drops were one of the best mods I've done. Ignoring ride quality (which is night & day), a short arm that is already at a 45* angle at ride height can't droop much more than that. By bringing the control arms back closer to stock angles, near horizontal, with drop brackets, the axle has much more useable down travel. As far as something else to drag and break, with larger tires they almost cover the bracket anyway. But if they do come down on a rock, mine have, the RRO one piece design is made of 1/4 steel so I doubt my 3600# XJ is gonna do any damage. Did I mention the ride quality....?

The RRO brackets move the mounting point straight down. The reason it looks like they move the mounting forward, is just because the upper hole no longer needs adjustment so it is just a round hole that mounts in the rear of the sloted hole in the stock LCA bracket. I think alignment shoes are a necessary for this mod since I have never tried to adjust caster w/o breaking or stripping one of those studs....

eggdashure

Been a while since I've done anything to the Heep. Wish I had some cash to throw at mods...but no such luck. So I broke out the trusty rattle can and went to work!

Here's what I started with...

ALsCheroKEE

nice build you got there. dose the E-85 convert work well for you i have heard that the E-85 dose not get good MPG's like gasoline

eggdashure

Thanks!
Your correct about the mileage being less. E85 has less "energy" in it than gasoline. For me it's about which fuel is cheaper per mile.
Example:
Gas at $3 a gallon and 16 MPG = .1875 or almost 19 cents a mile.
E85 at $2.20 a gallon and 13 MPG = .169 or close to 17 cents a mile.

That said: gas at $2.40 a gallon and 16 MPG = .15 or 15 cents a mile.

These calculations may be off a bit, but you get the idea. The Ethanol also has a little more "ummph" off the line since the octane is rated at 110.

When I bought my kit, gas was close to $4 a gallon...so I was seeing a good ROI. When gas came back down, I switched back. The E85 conversion kit makes the necessary changes to the computer to run any combo of the two fuels. It's a nice insurance policy on gas prices.

Honestly though...gas prices would have to go much higher to pay for the cost of the conversion. Just my two pennies.

And a wheelin' pic from this weekend.

7urtle

i have a class mate with 01 and he gets about the same as you.nice build

eggdashure

I'm assuming he runs E85?
Thanks BTW!

eggdashure

Took all summer, but I finally have a set of Control Arm Drop Brackets on the way. Scored a set of Rubicon Express DB's with the braces for $100 shipped off Craigslist. I've heard they are not the easiest to install, but should work perfectly with my lift! My hope is that they will take some of the harshness out of my daily driver. Maybe this spring I will splurge on some shackle relocation brackets for the rear, which should make for a flexy and nice riding Heep!

eggdashure

Preparation of the Drop Brackets for installation.

These guys were pretty rusty and had lost almost all of their original paint. So I cleaned off as much of the old flaky paint as I could and then hit everything with a thick coat of hammered Rustoleum. Here's some pics.

eggdashure

Passenger side is almost done. Biggest problems came from attaching the braces to the crossmember. I couldn't get the stud out, I tried a bolt extractor, two nuts together, heating it. The Effing thing wouldn't budge! It eventually snapped off, so I'm going to have to drill and tap it now, too.

I wanted to get the passenger side done before moving on to the drivers. So I put the bolt in to the crossmember and tightened it up and of course I hear a SNAP!!! Broke off the welded nut in the frame. That was all I could take for last night.

Here's some before and after pictures of the angles.

greedyg76

lookin good, you're gonna love them