Building An XJ For My Wife
01-26-2017, 08:05 PM
#16
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Alright, got a little more accomplished. Ball joints in, exhaust done, knuckles and pitman arm drilled for 1 Ton steering. Hopefully, I'll find the time to get the front axle all back together.
01-28-2017, 07:58 AM
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01-28-2017, 08:01 AM
#20
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I hear that. I've been there. As a kid my Farher and I started working on cars outside. Built our first hot rod in a tent garage. When my Wife and I was looking for a house, a good sized garage was a priority.
01-28-2017, 08:59 PM
#21
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I hit a couple of stumbling blocks today, but managed to get a little more done.
First, I put the new chromoly axles together. The drivers side u joint had a couple of catchy spots in it on one side. I knocked it apart and ordered a new u joint. Looks like the XJ won't be rolling this weekend. I probably could've picked up a u joint at the parts store, but I have plenty to do while I wait for it to show up.
Next, I installed the freshly drilled knuckles on both sides. Since I couldn't put the drivers side axle in, I just put the new axle, hub assembly, rotors, calipers, and shoes on the passenger side. That all went well.
Then, I moved on to the 1 Ton steering. I put the Tie rod in to check the spacing for the poly spacers. That's when I realized that the tie rod was hitting the diff cover while turning in one direction, and the track bar mount bolt in the other direction. I emailed a Frank at Serious and he told me the after market diff covers that came on the XJ are deeper than stock. I ordered a Riddler cover to correct this issue. Im going to replace the track bar bolt with a button head.
Next, I installed the new adjustable track bar and started pulling the diff cover. This is when I found that whoever put the diff cover on stripped out two of the Allen heads. It went from a five minute job to over an hour. Somehow, I managed to get both bolts out without destroying the threads.
The u joint should be here tomorrow. Who knows when the Riddler cover will show up?Hopefully, I'll drive this thing out of the garage one of these days...
First, I put the new chromoly axles together. The drivers side u joint had a couple of catchy spots in it on one side. I knocked it apart and ordered a new u joint. Looks like the XJ won't be rolling this weekend. I probably could've picked up a u joint at the parts store, but I have plenty to do while I wait for it to show up.
Next, I installed the freshly drilled knuckles on both sides. Since I couldn't put the drivers side axle in, I just put the new axle, hub assembly, rotors, calipers, and shoes on the passenger side. That all went well.
Then, I moved on to the 1 Ton steering. I put the Tie rod in to check the spacing for the poly spacers. That's when I realized that the tie rod was hitting the diff cover while turning in one direction, and the track bar mount bolt in the other direction. I emailed a Frank at Serious and he told me the after market diff covers that came on the XJ are deeper than stock. I ordered a Riddler cover to correct this issue. Im going to replace the track bar bolt with a button head.
Next, I installed the new adjustable track bar and started pulling the diff cover. This is when I found that whoever put the diff cover on stripped out two of the Allen heads. It went from a five minute job to over an hour. Somehow, I managed to get both bolts out without destroying the threads.
The u joint should be here tomorrow. Who knows when the Riddler cover will show up?Hopefully, I'll drive this thing out of the garage one of these days...
02-05-2017, 08:05 PM
#23
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1 Ton steering in, Riddler cover installed, compressor under rear seat, air lines run to diffs. Next project is wiring the compressor and locker switches.
02-12-2017, 08:00 PM
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Pulled the seats out to run the wires for the locker switches Also rigged up a washer fluid bottle out of a small coolant reservoir. I just used a small hole saw to drill for the motor.
02-12-2017, 08:49 PM
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03-15-2017, 07:47 PM
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Cut and fold done. Bumpers, skids, frame stiffeners, sliders, truss, C reinforcements, and snorkel on the way. Trying to make Rausch Creek on the 25th. Stay tuned.
Last edited by HolyHandGrenade; 03-15-2017 at 07:49 PM.
