PingPong

Well I figured I would detail the build of my Mj. This build started back in 2003, when ther was very lil aftermarket support for the xj.. let alone the MJ. Now this rig is a truggy undergoing another build, but a lot of the things I did apply to xj's as well.

Stock with 31x10.5. The front tires rubbed on hard turns.




I figured that 31's did all right I would fit 33's with trimming and a 2" BB




This was the first "fab work" I ever did. Looking at it now.. I am ashamed to say I built it.


So after I realized this wasnt going to work.. I went on a quest to find a used lift kit. What I found was a used set of RE drop Brackets, with HD trac bar, a chevy drop shackle, and some other stuff all for 260 bucks




This is what it looked like with the lift installed.. man was I a happy camper. The rear was still SUA






Then I took it out wheeling for the first time man was I hooked. When I got home the wifey was like it doesnt look to bad.. then I washed the mud off and she said" can you put the mud back in it". Here are some pics of the damage.





after I washed the mud off





Thats when I decide my rig was going to become flat black

PingPong

I ended up making me a "rear"bumper too. I also fabbed up some"ghetto" tail light guards. Basically it was some 1/8 expanded metal that I sheetmetal screwed to my rig. Believe it or not this was a strong setup, that actually supported the whole weight of the rig at Tellcio.



BY now I decided I needed a winch and a few other things to make it a true capable wheeler. I did the SOA swap, using another d35 added a winch and a CO2 tank.


I remounted the Hilift jack to the inside of the bed using sway bar mounts for brackets. HOw about the cool Skull tint



This was the next major wheeling trip I went on after the mods I made. Remeber those tail light guards.



not bad flex for stock control arms on drop brackets with stock leaf springs.


That trip made me rethink my wheeling. I ended up breaking a lock right beninding my d35C axle, burning up my alt.. and then still had a 10 hour drive home Made it to about 40 miles from the home then had to call a buddy to come put my rig on a trailer and get me the rest f the way.

Then the first rebuild was on


Here is the front axle. I reenforced the upper mount as wel as the LCA's




I also swapped the rear axle out for an 8.8



For the front I ended up going with the Terra flex Long arm kit, with Re adj uppers. This was a downgrade in flex compared to what I had.



I also did the Terra knuckle conversion. The Knuckle worked great, but the aluminum steering sucked



For the rear suspension I ended up ordering a set of custom Alcan springs. Man these are nice. flexed really well.



Here is a pic of it back on the ground. I ended up buying a used set of BFG MT's and putting them on my rig.



I ended up adding rear sliders as well. I also pulled the doors. This is the far right line on CJ5 hill at Oak Ridge Estates. Dont go that way there is a stump that will cut your tire.

PingPong

well the next trip I went on was to Paragon PA (now closed)







Will post pics of the next part tommorow.

99XJDad

Keep the pics, captions and story bits coming!!!!!

89eliminator

it dont look like that anymore!

ShortyzKustomz

Where in Va you from?

99XJDad

New request for pics where you ventured into truggy-land with the MJ.

JakeWI

awesome pics.

PingPong

Middlesex VA... basicly it has been described as in the middle of no where VA. As the crow flies I am about a 1/4 mile from the Cheasapeake bay

PingPong

You are absolutely right.


Middlesex VA. I am out in the middle of nowhere.

PingPong

Time to venture inot why Pong ended up being a truggy. I went to Crozet VA In November with the Jeep club I belong too. Well I got denied on a lot of obstacles cause my LSD lived up to its name. Limited traction was all I had. Well some camp fire talk later, and the guy that rode with me was backing my rig up to the shop... we welded my gears that sunday morning.. and I didnt get denied anymore cause of lack of traction That same guy was spotting for me.. and I almost flopped so I knew my wheeling had reached the level of needing a cage.

Also from the time I went to Paragon I had gone to 35" tires that i got for a deal.
this is what I was working with before



Thats when I conacted Independent4X for a consultation. After we decided a front Exo cage would work better due to the limited space inside the cab. here is what I drove away with in 7 days


To me the rig looked awesome.. but I decided to ditch the bed.. since by no means was this going to be street legal with the windshield bars.




So it went back to Matt. Where since my work schedule is what it is.. I went up on my off days and helped where I could. Matt did 90% of the work himself with me just coming up to help.
















Here is what it looked liked before we decided the back of the cab needed a mod





LOts of ppl take it this far and then for reasons that I cant understand reuse the stock gas tank I wasnt going to do that.



Of course you have to have rear tow points. Matt took some 2x2x1/4 tubing and made a gusset slash tow point mount. He used some 3/4 nut serts.



Here you see the node for the side.. nicely tied in and gusseted



IN case I ever went out west or somewhere where the inspection standards were less Matt used RV tail lights



A look from the rear



Of course stock seats were not going to cut it. I went with a set Of PRP seats and RCI harnesses



Getting ready to head up to Crozet for its Maiden trip.

PingPong

Well On the maiden voyage I went to Crozet. I kinda did a couple of slow speed flops they al happened on Body Shop... this obstacle is great to test out someones ability to take dents.

This is the entrance. The great thing about Crozet and Chris Packard's place is even leser rigs can watch the more built rigs flog it.



THis is running it backwards.. needless to say I went over a couple of times right in that area.

99XJDad

The front leaf mounts are very creative. Sick sick MJ.

offroadnut36

DUDE...awesome rig. how much did the whole cage and bed cost you?

*91limited-xj

you are one crazy son of a *****.
very nice rig man