Finally found your build! Looking great... You make me wanna get the steering spacer/reinforcement I gotta check that out. This is the first I've heard of the zj fan clutch swap. Is it all that different than the xjs?

 

I witnessed first hand an XJ rip the steering box off the frame when wheeling, and he was dead in the water. First thing I did when I got home was order up the spacer and the brace, as it should minimize the chances of that ever happening to mine. It was 100$ well spent.

As far as the ZJ clutch, its supposed to spin faster and longer then the stock XJ clutch. That said I went to get it today and the one they ordered wouldn't work, it was a different input shaft fitting. I just picked up another XJ clutch and I'll be installing that soon.

 

Cool build, man. I like the cleanliness lol

 

Thank you!

Haven't updated in awhile but I finally pulled the trigger and regeared last weekend. Very happy with the results, now I don't feel like I'm punishing it Everytime I drive it on the freeway.

Went with 4.88's and it's got me a little lower than stock, which is what I wanted. Went from 1450rpms to 2250 @ 60mph.

Also have been doing a little maintenance on it. Replaced the passenger side front hub/bearing and it was a cake walk. Funny how I've been scared to mess with the front u-joint or bearings and it was very simple. Also replaced a u-joint I toasted on my tom woods from not greasing properly (ever). Ordering up a CSF or Champion radiator in the next couple weeks, as it's been running very warm. Tried to upgrade to a ZJ fan clutch but the parts store didn't have the right one, so I just bought another standard duty XJ replacement.

In the next couple weeks I'll be replacing front u-joints, radiator, water pump, going door less and finally finishing my custom rockslider/boatsides.

The XJ will be running daily driver duty from now until early next year so any wheeling trips it goes on will be somewhat easy going, since I'll it to survive with minimal damage :-)

 

An australian jeeper used a restrictor in the thermostat to stabilize cooling temps. He's also got lots of other mods to his cooling system.

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/index.htm

This is one of my go-to manuals for homebrew mods.

 

Installed the B&M Trans temp gauge.



Turned out nice in that spot. Took my illumination power from the light in the transfer case selector, so it dims with all my other lights.

Mounted the sending unit on the output side of the transmission. The instructions say to put it on the return, post cooler, but that doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather know what the temperature coming out of the transmission is rather then after it gets cooled thirty degrees and goes back in.



Played a little at work.



Updated my stickers :-)

 

Been pretty busy with life over the past 6 months and haven't really got a chance to do much, yet alone even drive it. Working on a few different projects right now, so check back in the near future for some new goodies

 

Sweet build man! Clean machine. You're setup perfect! Makes my stock xj look like a shopping cart.

 

Well as always life has been busy so most projects on the widow have been shelved for some time, but i have managed to get a few things started (even finished one)

We'll start with what I've actually accomplished, and that's the hood vents.









Pretty happy with the outcome on those, stole the idea from MrJCRod, just substituted the grill-o-sheets with some expanded metal that was easier sourced.

I also did the door-less mod, which I'm very happy about. Get a lot of looks and compliments on a doorless XJ





Mounted, but haven't wired my rack lights. The side lights will have their own switch, but the rear lights will be fired by either shifting to reverse, or a manual switch in the cab. Just used cheap HF lights, as I figured they wouldn't last long. So far, so good.





Now on to some of the bigger stuff.

Been working on some Square tube doors, and I'm really liking how they turned out. This week i'll be finishing the fronts and painting them gloss black, and started the rears.





Went to home depot and bought some "Door-less Cherokee Tube door latches" I know, they look like regular 5$ Fence latches, but I assure you I'm more classy than that





Before the very first drive I realized that the flaw in my design was that those would rattle like a SOB, so I grabbed a piece of 1/2 air tube, drilled a couple holes in, and dropped the nut between the hose and the latch surface. No Rattles yet, and feels more like a real door when you shut them.



So now that brings me to my shamefull 2 yr old Rock slider project. I've made good head-way on this, but its still a little ways from being done. I'm hoping to have it all wrapped up in the next few weeks.

Started by removing all the factory rocker material, and then (Horribly) spot welded in some 1 1/2x1/4 Angle Iron









Then, as you can see in this mock-up, I plan on dropping in the 2x6 square tube. I'll have more to weld to with the angle on the outside, and I'll also be spot welding angle to the inside, next to the body (Not pictured here) to give me a good base to weld.



Thats probably all for now, I'll try to keep it posted better over the next couple weeks as I start to wrap up a few of the bigger projects. Next I plan on moving into the rear cargo area and building a storage solution for all my parts and anything else I'd need in the rear.

The two little ladies who take up all my spare time, we can blame them for not letting me get my projects done

 

Great progress! I like the tube doors and those are two super cute kids!
dn

 

Thanks man! I'm still loving the fenders and I send guys your way on a weekly basis

 

Hey Guys! I haven't posted in a while but I figured I'd update a little bit.

I finally got all my tube doors, spare tire holder, and sliders all built and painted. Cleaned her all up for the 4th!







Here is a better picture of the sliders. Its 2x6 3/16th SQ Tube, and 1.25x1/8" Angle, spot welded and mounted to the body. Turned out great, and hope I never have to do it again.





Here is the extra 1.25" SQ Tube that will be getting welded to the sliders for additional protection this weekend.

 

Just stumbled across your build. You still around? Still have the Jeep?

I like the mods you've done, especially the DIY - how'd the sliders turn out?

 

Only a year late to reply, the sliders have worked out great so far. Used them pretty extensively and haven't had an issue yet.

 

Nice build!!! since this thread got revived I took the time to check it out and read through it all. One thing you never did post though was the install of your relocation brackets...What brand were they again? bolt on or weld on?