The Freeak's Family XJ
01-29-2011, 09:32 PM
#286
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Rapid City, SD
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Model: Cherokee
Hmm, Just spent a bit over an hour reading the thread.
Build looks good, but have you thought maybe them rear leaf sliders are causing you not to flex? Just doesn't seem like they have good fluid movement like regular hangers would have. Maybe if they were on a roller bearing, but even then I don't think they would be consistent after getting dirt and crud in them.
Plus with conventional Shackles you can throw a longer one on for a bit more lift, and a bit more travel if the springs are capable.
Just my .02
Build looks good, but have you thought maybe them rear leaf sliders are causing you not to flex? Just doesn't seem like they have good fluid movement like regular hangers would have. Maybe if they were on a roller bearing, but even then I don't think they would be consistent after getting dirt and crud in them.
Plus with conventional Shackles you can throw a longer one on for a bit more lift, and a bit more travel if the springs are capable.
Just my .02
02-06-2011, 11:08 AM
#288
Seasoned Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Posts: 271
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
This is unbelievable! I am dying to see the end product. I can't believe this is a daily driver or did i miss it somewhere down the line that is not? Great stuff man. I Love it!
02-17-2011, 03:32 PM
#290
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: In my garage, with my welder
Posts: 219
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Monday Night, 7 February, 2011:
My brother Owen and I get started on the jeep around 20:00
I weld the spring sliders, the spring mounting eye reinforcements, and the remainder of the frame rail stiffeners are welded.
He tackled the rocker tie ins; floors cut, ties fitted, and I welded them.
I cut my middle knuckle on my left hand. It bleeds profusely.
We quit around 22:30.
Tuesday was COLD.
I order my limit straps from “Billybob13” a vendor on Pirate.
I placed the order at lunch, and by 15:00 my time, he emails me to tell me that even though he’s in a last minute thrash to get to King Of The Hammers, my straps have shipped, and I should see them by the weekend.
I am incredibly happy with his service, pricing ($35 shipped for 2 20” straps, and 4 mounting brackets!) and excellent communication.
:Beer: to you sir!
A “pop up” snow squall snarls up traffic for our commute home… what should take 50 minutes takes an hour and 45.
It is cold. We are tired and frustrated.
We are not interested in freezing our a$$es off.
We do not work on the jeep.
Wednesday was COLD.
We are not interested in freezing our a$$es off.
We do not work on the jeep.
Thursday Night, 10 February, 2011:
It was a rough day at work.
Last day before vacation day.
Things were NOT running smoothly.
Left late.
The materials for the VSS close in arrived.
Two pieces of tube, 4” OD x 8” OAL, and 5” OD x 8” OAL.
Sweet.
Owen and I worked on the jeep… sort of.
We cut two gaskets for the rear shocks.
In the house.
$hit talking commenced, food and adult beverages were consumed, and strange pictures were taken.
Friday, 11 February, 2011: IT IS KOH RACE DAY!
I took off Friday to work on the jeep… and to listen / watch the KOH race on Pirate’s AWESOME coverage.
Up early, drove our daughter to my mom’s house, dropped her off for day care, and returned home as quickly as possible.
Set up laptop in garage… started working.
Quickly became apparent that my computer was NOT interested in streaming the race. AT. ALL.
After several frustrating attempts at work arounds, I gave up, and focused on the task at hand.
Got the floor closed in, installed the carpet, seats, seat belts.
My friend Jim came over and assisted with installing the rear shock seals to the body.
When that was done he built the battery hold down, but we couldn’t find any metric nuts to secure it.
Then he started going through the front suspension; making sure everything was tight, had a zerk, was greased, and all split pins were installed.
He crawled around under the jeep and double checked all the exhaust bolts, doubler bolts/nuts, trans mount, UCA bolts, etc.
He also lowered the front joint at the UCA bracket to clear the exhaust a bit better at full bump.
Thanks Jim!
He left after a few hours, then Jeorge and Budd (and his two kids) came over.
Jeorge brought food (THANK YOU!) Budd brought “entertainment” LOL!
The front wheel bearings were cleaned up, hubs/ brakes were installed, drive flanges too… wheels went back on.
Budd and the boys eventually left, and Owen showed up.
My limit straps had showed up, and I set about welding the brackets onto the frame rails.
This required removing and installing the shocks AGAIN (which sucks).
At some point things were looking very good, and I was getting ready to drop it off the jack stands, when I grabbed the front driveshaft.
There was a strange wobble at the output yoke… picture the same movement as a baseball bat in a garbage can (radial run out) but on a much smaller scale.
W.T.F.? This was tight before I changed the yoke for the CV shaft…
Removed the front driveshaft to check the yoke, and discovered the shifter linkages were VERY loose…falling off actually. Gah!
But, shifter linkage doesn’t matter if the front output is fragged… so, back to that.
In the end it was determined that the output shaft bearings are PROBABLY worn, and that a new (used or rebuilt) case was in order… well… we still had ~36 hours before I had to be at Rausch Creek, and if push came to shove, I was willing to wheel it as is.
We ended up working on some odds and ends until about 22:00 when my aching knees finally said “F@*K you buddy” and I threw in the towel.
Saturday, 12 February, 2011:
Up early, registered the jeep online.
Called inspection station.
“Can you inspect my Cherokee today?”
“Yes, we’re open until 13:00.”
Out to the garage for last hour/minute/second completion of various things.
Drilled holes in the frame rails to accept locking flange nuts, welded the nuts in, and secured the brake lines to the chassis.
Reinstalled the front output yoke on the D300 (left front driveshaft out.)
Went to the hardware store (Freaked out the cashier when the bill totaled $6.66… she was “scared” so I cackled maniacally, and muttered something about blood sacrifice).
I grabbed some locking nuts for the transfer case shifters, smaller bolts to secure the brake lines to the frame rails, and 8mmx1.25 nuts for the battery hold down.
Went home, secured brake lines, battery, cleaned out all tools from under the hood, closed the hood.
It’s 12:00, the garage is open until 13:00, it’s 20 minutes away… I need to roll.
Cleaned out the whole interior of all tools, mental check… ok… we’re good… started jeep, backed out of garage.
Tried to shift out of low range… oh… the doubler “Shifter” is covered by the carpet.
Out comes the utility knife.
Doubler in high, still crawling… attempt to shift tcase into high… shifter is flopping around.
CRAP.
Run back into garage, frantically search through boxes for lock nuts… find lock nuts.
Install nuts on shifter… tug into high, back out of driveway… pull away…
Round the first corner, everything is good…. *Crash* sound of metal rattling down the road surface.
WTF fell off? Oh. Leftover Chinese and the metal fork I was using to eat it Friday night. LOL! Roll on…
About 50 yards after that there was a LOUD banging noise that coincided with the rear suspension movement.
Oh yeah… rear shock hardware is loose.
Return to house, run into garage, grab two ¾” wrenches, and secure rear shocks.
Find leftover hardware I forgot on the rear spring plates.
Started up the road AGAIN… all quiet. GOOD!
On the first long hill it becomes immediately apparent that:
1. 1. The exhaust is OBNOXIOUS (since remedied with a small resonator)
2. 2. The jeep NEEDS 5.13’s or a turbo; the hill was a 4th or 5th gear affair before, is now a 3rd gear ordeal.
3. 3. THE EXHAUST is REALLY LOUD!
A few miles later I’m really enjoying things… the front suspension sucks up bumps, the rear needs some tuning.
The alignment is a bit off, but I can deal… the brakes are AWESOME.
I need a sway bar…
Oh $hit… is that a cop? Yes… yes it is… he’s rolling past me… no staring… ok… cool… I watch the rear view… DAMMIT.
He turns around.
I pull over before he’s anywhere NEAR me.
He pulls up behind me, lights on.
I have my license and insurance card… where the hell is the temporary registration?!!
Oh… right, it’s on the printer tray in the office at home.
This should be good.
Officer: Afternoon sir. I guess you saw me coming, huh?
Me: Yup. No sense in making you chase me.
Officer: Is this vehicle registered? The inspection sticker and the plate tag are out of date (05/10!)
Me: Yes sir. I just registered it this morning on line. I forgot the temp paper, but I have the receipt.
Officer: Ok. Do you have any weapons in the vehicle?
Me: uh… no. (I’m confused… the cop is REALLY nice. He’s smiling, and apparently not remotely concerned about the appearance of the jeep.
Officer: Ok… let me see your insurance and license.
Me: (handing them over) uh… can I ask you a question?
Officer: sure…what is it?
Me: did you pull me over for the inspection, or the way the jeep looks?
Officer: the sticker… jeep looks good to me. Snow machine huh?
Me: Yep!
He goes back to the car, and returns in a few SECONDS.
Officer: Well Mr. Freeak, you have a good day now.
Me:….uh… thanks.
Officer: Did you build this yourself?
Me: Yes sir.
Officer: Cool!
And he walks off chuckling.
Me: …WTF just happened?
I continue on, and get the jeep inspected.
Inspection station tech is really impressed with front bumper.
Doesn’t say a word about the long arm, or the metal tube fenders…
Drive it home… pull into the garage to install the resonator…
To make an already long story incrementally shorter: I discover that the rear wheel hubs are leaking all over the rear brake rotors.
I screwed up and forgot to double check the rear spindle nuts.
They loosened up, and the calipers were the only things holding the rotor/ hub assembly on.
My brother and I spend a few hours messing around with ONE side, determine that we just ARE NOT going wheeling Sunday, and call it a night around 8PM.
Sunday, 13 February, 2011:
Get out of bed to discover that the water pressure in the house is low... like.. barely running out of the faucet.
Verify that the well pump breaker is on, the tank indicates 18 PSI.
Contacts on well pump switch are closed.
WTF.
Consult with my best friend (who happens to be a plumber)… We conclude that the well pump has died.
We draw a few gallons of water into jars/ pitchers, and turn off the breakers for the well pump and hot water heater.
My wife and I spend the rest of the day playing with our daughter, messing around on the internet, and NOT wheeling.
I do not step foot in the garage.
But I spend considerable amounts of time thinking about what I COULD be doing in the garage.
My brother Owen and I get started on the jeep around 20:00
I weld the spring sliders, the spring mounting eye reinforcements, and the remainder of the frame rail stiffeners are welded.
He tackled the rocker tie ins; floors cut, ties fitted, and I welded them.
I cut my middle knuckle on my left hand. It bleeds profusely.
We quit around 22:30.
Tuesday was COLD.
I order my limit straps from “Billybob13” a vendor on Pirate.
I placed the order at lunch, and by 15:00 my time, he emails me to tell me that even though he’s in a last minute thrash to get to King Of The Hammers, my straps have shipped, and I should see them by the weekend.
I am incredibly happy with his service, pricing ($35 shipped for 2 20” straps, and 4 mounting brackets!) and excellent communication.
:Beer: to you sir!
A “pop up” snow squall snarls up traffic for our commute home… what should take 50 minutes takes an hour and 45.
It is cold. We are tired and frustrated.
We are not interested in freezing our a$$es off.
We do not work on the jeep.
Wednesday was COLD.
We are not interested in freezing our a$$es off.
We do not work on the jeep.
Thursday Night, 10 February, 2011:
It was a rough day at work.
Last day before vacation day.
Things were NOT running smoothly.
Left late.
The materials for the VSS close in arrived.
Two pieces of tube, 4” OD x 8” OAL, and 5” OD x 8” OAL.
Sweet.
Owen and I worked on the jeep… sort of.
We cut two gaskets for the rear shocks.
In the house.
$hit talking commenced, food and adult beverages were consumed, and strange pictures were taken.
Friday, 11 February, 2011: IT IS KOH RACE DAY!
I took off Friday to work on the jeep… and to listen / watch the KOH race on Pirate’s AWESOME coverage.
Up early, drove our daughter to my mom’s house, dropped her off for day care, and returned home as quickly as possible.
Set up laptop in garage… started working.
Quickly became apparent that my computer was NOT interested in streaming the race. AT. ALL.
After several frustrating attempts at work arounds, I gave up, and focused on the task at hand.
Got the floor closed in, installed the carpet, seats, seat belts.
My friend Jim came over and assisted with installing the rear shock seals to the body.
When that was done he built the battery hold down, but we couldn’t find any metric nuts to secure it.
Then he started going through the front suspension; making sure everything was tight, had a zerk, was greased, and all split pins were installed.
He crawled around under the jeep and double checked all the exhaust bolts, doubler bolts/nuts, trans mount, UCA bolts, etc.
He also lowered the front joint at the UCA bracket to clear the exhaust a bit better at full bump.
Thanks Jim!
He left after a few hours, then Jeorge and Budd (and his two kids) came over.
Jeorge brought food (THANK YOU!) Budd brought “entertainment” LOL!
The front wheel bearings were cleaned up, hubs/ brakes were installed, drive flanges too… wheels went back on.
Budd and the boys eventually left, and Owen showed up.
My limit straps had showed up, and I set about welding the brackets onto the frame rails.
This required removing and installing the shocks AGAIN (which sucks).
At some point things were looking very good, and I was getting ready to drop it off the jack stands, when I grabbed the front driveshaft.
There was a strange wobble at the output yoke… picture the same movement as a baseball bat in a garbage can (radial run out) but on a much smaller scale.
W.T.F.? This was tight before I changed the yoke for the CV shaft…
Removed the front driveshaft to check the yoke, and discovered the shifter linkages were VERY loose…falling off actually. Gah!
But, shifter linkage doesn’t matter if the front output is fragged… so, back to that.
In the end it was determined that the output shaft bearings are PROBABLY worn, and that a new (used or rebuilt) case was in order… well… we still had ~36 hours before I had to be at Rausch Creek, and if push came to shove, I was willing to wheel it as is.
We ended up working on some odds and ends until about 22:00 when my aching knees finally said “F@*K you buddy” and I threw in the towel.
Saturday, 12 February, 2011:
Up early, registered the jeep online.
Called inspection station.
“Can you inspect my Cherokee today?”
“Yes, we’re open until 13:00.”
Out to the garage for last hour/minute/second completion of various things.
Drilled holes in the frame rails to accept locking flange nuts, welded the nuts in, and secured the brake lines to the chassis.
Reinstalled the front output yoke on the D300 (left front driveshaft out.)
Went to the hardware store (Freaked out the cashier when the bill totaled $6.66… she was “scared” so I cackled maniacally, and muttered something about blood sacrifice).
I grabbed some locking nuts for the transfer case shifters, smaller bolts to secure the brake lines to the frame rails, and 8mmx1.25 nuts for the battery hold down.
Went home, secured brake lines, battery, cleaned out all tools from under the hood, closed the hood.
It’s 12:00, the garage is open until 13:00, it’s 20 minutes away… I need to roll.
Cleaned out the whole interior of all tools, mental check… ok… we’re good… started jeep, backed out of garage.
Tried to shift out of low range… oh… the doubler “Shifter” is covered by the carpet.
Out comes the utility knife.
Doubler in high, still crawling… attempt to shift tcase into high… shifter is flopping around.
CRAP.
Run back into garage, frantically search through boxes for lock nuts… find lock nuts.
Install nuts on shifter… tug into high, back out of driveway… pull away…
Round the first corner, everything is good…. *Crash* sound of metal rattling down the road surface.
WTF fell off? Oh. Leftover Chinese and the metal fork I was using to eat it Friday night. LOL! Roll on…
About 50 yards after that there was a LOUD banging noise that coincided with the rear suspension movement.
Oh yeah… rear shock hardware is loose.
Return to house, run into garage, grab two ¾” wrenches, and secure rear shocks.
Find leftover hardware I forgot on the rear spring plates.
Started up the road AGAIN… all quiet. GOOD!
On the first long hill it becomes immediately apparent that:
1. 1. The exhaust is OBNOXIOUS (since remedied with a small resonator)
2. 2. The jeep NEEDS 5.13’s or a turbo; the hill was a 4th or 5th gear affair before, is now a 3rd gear ordeal.
3. 3. THE EXHAUST is REALLY LOUD!
A few miles later I’m really enjoying things… the front suspension sucks up bumps, the rear needs some tuning.
The alignment is a bit off, but I can deal… the brakes are AWESOME.
I need a sway bar…
Oh $hit… is that a cop? Yes… yes it is… he’s rolling past me… no staring… ok… cool… I watch the rear view… DAMMIT.
He turns around.
I pull over before he’s anywhere NEAR me.
He pulls up behind me, lights on.
I have my license and insurance card… where the hell is the temporary registration?!!
Oh… right, it’s on the printer tray in the office at home.
This should be good.
Officer: Afternoon sir. I guess you saw me coming, huh?
Me: Yup. No sense in making you chase me.
Officer: Is this vehicle registered? The inspection sticker and the plate tag are out of date (05/10!)
Me: Yes sir. I just registered it this morning on line. I forgot the temp paper, but I have the receipt.
Officer: Ok. Do you have any weapons in the vehicle?
Me: uh… no. (I’m confused… the cop is REALLY nice. He’s smiling, and apparently not remotely concerned about the appearance of the jeep.
Officer: Ok… let me see your insurance and license.
Me: (handing them over) uh… can I ask you a question?
Officer: sure…what is it?
Me: did you pull me over for the inspection, or the way the jeep looks?
Officer: the sticker… jeep looks good to me. Snow machine huh?
Me: Yep!
He goes back to the car, and returns in a few SECONDS.
Officer: Well Mr. Freeak, you have a good day now.
Me:….uh… thanks.
Officer: Did you build this yourself?
Me: Yes sir.
Officer: Cool!
And he walks off chuckling.
Me: …WTF just happened?
I continue on, and get the jeep inspected.
Inspection station tech is really impressed with front bumper.
Doesn’t say a word about the long arm, or the metal tube fenders…
Drive it home… pull into the garage to install the resonator…
To make an already long story incrementally shorter: I discover that the rear wheel hubs are leaking all over the rear brake rotors.
I screwed up and forgot to double check the rear spindle nuts.
They loosened up, and the calipers were the only things holding the rotor/ hub assembly on.
My brother and I spend a few hours messing around with ONE side, determine that we just ARE NOT going wheeling Sunday, and call it a night around 8PM.
Sunday, 13 February, 2011:
Get out of bed to discover that the water pressure in the house is low... like.. barely running out of the faucet.
Verify that the well pump breaker is on, the tank indicates 18 PSI.
Contacts on well pump switch are closed.
WTF.
Consult with my best friend (who happens to be a plumber)… We conclude that the well pump has died.
We draw a few gallons of water into jars/ pitchers, and turn off the breakers for the well pump and hot water heater.
My wife and I spend the rest of the day playing with our daughter, messing around on the internet, and NOT wheeling.
I do not step foot in the garage.
But I spend considerable amounts of time thinking about what I COULD be doing in the garage.
02-17-2011, 04:34 PM
#291
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,383
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Year: 1988 limited
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 litre
You spent some time with the family that is good.
Be glad that the hubs loosened up BEFORE you hit the trails... chances were you wouldn't have noticed the oil before it was too late.
Be glad that the hubs loosened up BEFORE you hit the trails... chances were you wouldn't have noticed the oil before it was too late.
03-10-2011, 11:59 AM
#293
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Douglassville/Altoona, Pa
Posts: 381
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Wow sounds like you had quite the week! Sucks that you couldn't go wheeling, but its pretty cool about the cop letting you go.
03-10-2011, 10:26 PM
#294
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 136
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Year: '00
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
this is what its all about right here!! sweet build man, keep it up..
yep. yep i think i did. yep i did... i just did it.. yep. *peter griffin voice* haha
yep. yep i think i did. yep i did... i just did it.. yep. *peter griffin voice* haha
04-29-2011, 02:16 PM
#299
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Glo Pt,VA/Stewartstown,PA
Posts: 211
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Very nice rig! Awesome/very entertaining thread! Glad everything has worked out in the end. Could we see some final shots from front to back?
Thanks!
Thanks!