YAY! I have parts! Nice looking stuff. It has been so long I could NOT remember where everything was supposed to go!!!! (needing a gun-to-the-head smilie). During this past month of waiting I have pulled the tranny and Tcase out of my 7, so I am on another project... sort of. I have to work this weekend, so maybe no progress to report on the LAs, but one never knows!

I plan to make the lower arms 36" long. I'm concerned this will not be right. Since I don't actually know where the front axle is supposed to be, I'm afraid it will be too long or too short (I took everything apart without doing any homework, and now I am paying for it!). It seems that many of you guys are at 36. The radius arms, I don't know yet. I don't see that as critical, but I'm thinking longer radius arms would be better than short. I have plenty of material. I will get everything tacked and mocked, then I'll post pics for comments.

Thanks, All.

 

Glad to hear your parts finally arrived. Are you going to make the arms adjustable?

 

Yep. Everything will be adjustable.

Is there any issue with having the axle an inch too far forward or rearward??

 

If you are adjustable you should be able to get it right.

Are you still looking for the front corner lenses?

 

Geeeeez, Pittman... sorry for such a delay. I haven't been on the Jeeps at all these past few weeks. I am going pretty well now, however.

I think I have the corner lenses, picked up from the JY. Do you have spares??

 

Work and life have been "in the way" for the past several weeks. I finally have time to get some Jeep work done. Fallon and I have been working at getting everything mocked-up, and we finally got done. I can't believe how complicated the Xmember/LA brackets became and just how ugly it all is compared to aftermarket stuff available! But I have ~$350 into everything at this point, and that is a lot of money saved. Please keep in mind this is mocked-up. There is MUCH trimming, welding, and finishing yet do. Corners will be rounded. It will be braced and streamlined. This is a HUGE learning curve!

So here are some pics...

Crossmember sitting on the table. Chalk marks indicate where the LA brackets will go.


Something like this.


I know... ugly stuff! But it's not done.


Center bolt threads into the crossmember.


Here...


Fallon working on brackets.


Clayton tacking joints onto tubes.


Fallon connecting the pass. side LA.


Following are some pics of it out in the yard...

 

Here it is after backing it out of the shop. It has not seen the sunlight in a long time! Have a look at these pics and tell me what you think.






I think the front axle needs to move forward a couple more inches???


A comparison of the draglink and trackbar.


Pass side coil spring... notice the angle. Another reason I think the axle needs to move forward.


Driver's side coil.


What it looks like underneath.


Some Jeep sweetness!



What do you guys think... besides it's ugly, big, and ugly! Do you think my axle needs to move? Thanks for your input.

 

Looks nice. I like the xmember but whatcha gonna do about the upper control arms?

 

It's coming along great man. It does look like it could go forward about an inch. How does it look with the spring compressed? Is the tire bumpstop centered on the spring perch then? Also, are the only bolts holding it to the frame the 3 for each side? I would look into adding some more ways to mount to the frame just for added security.

You're doing great so far. Now just complete the uppers!

 

If you really think about it, Only 4 hold the stock together and it's just sheet metal lol. I've torn the stock lower mounts all to hell

 

Yes, but those bolts are in double shear. These are in single. If he's building his own, why not add the extra support so that the chance of them shearing, or ripping out of the frame.

If you look at a lot of long arm kits, they have at least 2 bolts that run through the frame to a nut on the other side.

 

I had seen an ad locally on craigslist with leftover parts and the lenses were available. I was going to pick them up if you still needed them. The ad has since expired though. Glad you were able to find some. Good you and the boys are back at it. The Jeeps are looking good.

 

Thanks. The upper arms will be this design. can't remember what you call it!
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/a...-build-248377/

I haven't looked at it compressed, or even at the bump stops. That gives me some new angles to consider and investigate. Thanks. The xmember will wrap the frame rails on both sides with bolts passing through the rails. I just haven't gotten that far yet.


Thanks for thinking of me Pitt. I appreciate it.

 

Cool deal. You have a solid plan and it's coming along great. Keep up the good work. It'll be worth it in the end

 

Looking at it now I can see how much higher I could have fit the joints. Funny I can see that in the pictures, but I can't see it while I have it on the table!