Brambles Built Hunting XJ
 

Hello everyone, I thought I'd post up a Jeep build thread now that I've started work on it.

It all started because my new truck is WAY to frikken low to the ground and I lost interest in pushing alder with it on the local forest service roads.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...7/IMG_0706.jpg

And it will be a while before I'm done the restoration on my other truck

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...7/IMG_0949.jpg

And the other other truck doesn't have enough cab space for my kids and gear yadda yadda yadda!

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Ugggggghhhhhh.....those trucks are my wet dream. Especially the crew cab oldie. The things I would to for one of those!

I'm looking forward to seeing more of both builds!

So I bought a cheap beater XJ. Better on fuel, 4 doors, more maneuverable and I really don't care if I scratch the paint.

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The bill for the new tires that I found in the glove compartment was for more than I paid for the jeep.

1993 Cherokee country
AX-15
Dana 30/35 W/3.07

It has some rust, but apparently the paint is still shiney enough to offer a decent reflection....lol

Drivers side was a fair bit worse.

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so I built my Triple Threat rocker sliders. No affiliation to Rock Krawler Triple Threat suspension.

Because I'm sticking to a strict budget and I didn't have any 2x6 tubing I used the 2x2 I had on hand and built my own 2x6. Pretty much uncrushable superman sliders.

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Each ones tips the scales at 53lbs

love the start, those sliders are on beast mode status

Drivers side installed. Didn't have to remove much rocker panel, it was pretty much toasted.

Removed the fender flares and did a minor trim job

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The rear was GONE as well so I did the cut and fold......however there wan't anything to cut OR fold.

I made and extension that I welded to the outside of the quarter panel and pre bent it so it followed the factory angle.

Still gotta smooth over the weld with a little filler but it worked out very well. Splashed it with a little etching primer but the ol airline dragged over it while it was still wet, do-over.....


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While doing the cut and fold I found out where all the road noise was coming in from, I thought it was a rear door seal but...NOPE. Big holes.

I HAD to do something about it so I made the commitment to slowly work my way around the jeep removing all the rust.


After I pulled the gas tank filler bucket this is what I had to deal with.

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I don't have a lot of sheetmetal tools, but I do have some body hammers, throatless shear, bead roller, hand shears. I really want a sheatmetal brake but its not in the budget right now. So for now I clamp two pieces of angle iron together and use a body hammer to make my angles. Had to hammer and dolly the radius for the filler port, didn't want any chances of the gaslines getting cut and it added a little more rigidity.

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I left an inspection port in each rear frame rail, this allows me to PB blast the threads on each spring hanger bolt when I do my lift. I'll rivet it closed when I'm done with it.


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By the rust in drivers side I thought I was gonna be in trouble on the floor but it wasn't bad at all. The jute backing was a little wet and started corroding the spot welds but I sanded them all down and spot primed them. Been running a heater in the jeep for a while to dry everything out, Jute is good and dry now.

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Made my way over to the other side with high hopes. While not as bad as the drivers side I still hade to remove the rear post brace to get at the rust

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Being as this is all gonna get covered by trim and carpet I didn't spend too much time making it all pretty.

I keep thinking how enjoyable it is to work on a vehicle that you intend to BEAT on.


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Final result

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