So this past weekend I got my shackle relocation brackets installed. It took longer than expected because I had to drop my hitch to get the brackets on, but I finished it up in one night.

Heres some finished pics.

These ones show the shackle angle fairly well.. Its angled a little too much for my liking at the moment.




I had to chop off the end of my exhaust to clear my shackle bolt.


Im very surprised that the rear sits only a little bit higher than it was. I guess the angle of the shackle is flattening the spring out a bit.








So this next weekend if I make it home, I need to fine tune my shackle angle, and cut the back half of the bracket off so the shackle doesn't hit it during compression.

Next, I will have to find someone with a fork lift so I can cycle the suspension and measure for shocks and see if I will need an SYE or not.

Once I'm done with that, the plan is to install my T&T custom's frame stiffeners that I won at a raffle, and then build a crossmember for some long arms I bought off of a buddy. I guess I should fix my overheating problem too... but I wont be driving it much until winter anyways.

Keep the comments coming! I can always use the motivation!

holy hell. You're Jeep looks so good. Where did you get your rear bumper? Is it custom or did you buy it online? And by the way, I'm almost absolutely sure you're gonna need an sye now. I'm on the BRINK. I'm getting one from someone out here probably.

Thanks! I made both front and rear bumpers myself. I have a few pics of the rear on the page before this, and a whole bunch of the front.

I know Ill be pushing the limits of the SYE but I'm hoping these springs will sag down a little bit, to the point where I can just get by without it. Im hoping to get a few more runs in before the winter weather hits.

I have a line on a H&T SYE for cheap... But idk what shaft to use in the rear. Its a 96 (which I believe requires a longer shaft to begin with) and also a manual, which will require an even longer shaft. So I doubt a front auto xj shaft will fit.. Any ideas on what to use?

what transfer case do you use?
check this out. http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=XDT

Im running a NP231.

This is what I was afraid of "Fits vehicles that have the AX-5/AX-15 manual trans. A custom shaft could be necessary in these vehicles."

Well it looks like I may be able to get away with a hack n tap SYE as long as I tap the output shaft from its original length (no hack, just tap), or have a driveshaft shop extend a stock auto driveshaft. Not sure which one Im going to do yet, but I will most likely just keep my output shaft the same length and tap it.


Heres a video from the "Stair Steps" at the end of the Slick Rock trail. Its from earlier this summer when I still have 3.07 gears and 31's.

Heres a few pics my buddy took from earlier this summer. Credit goes to Jeepme from Naxja.





The other weekend I got the shackle angle fine tuned at just over 45*

Heres my list for the next weekend I'm home:
*Adjust rear shackle angle - DONE
*Install rear brake line - If needed
*Install front brake lines - If needed
*Bleed brakes - If needed
*Change diff fluid F&R
*Check Backlash F&R
*Make sure Slip yoke wont slip out.

Im hoping to wrap that all up next weekend and finish off the summer with a trip to the Rubicon soon after.

The winter plans (as of now) are:

*Prep frame for stiffeners
*Drill holes in stiffeners - DONE-
*Weld on stiffeners
*Buy angle iron
*Make crossmembers
*Install long arms
*Measure for shock lengths
*Build shock cage
*Install SYE and shaft

And possssssibly:
*231/231 doubler clocked for a flat belly (~130:1 crawl ratio!)

Any comments, ideas, and criticism are appreciated!

Quote of the week:
I was volunteering at my church when it was announced over the microphone that, "Whoever drives the greenish Jeep Hero left their lights on." I was confused because I had never heard of a Jeep Hero before, so I figured it was just the latest Jeep model.

It hit me a minute or two later, and I looked outside the window and my Jeep Hero's lights were on :P

Hopefully going wheeling this weekend. Ill post this past weekends updates another time though.

Love what you did with both your front and rear bumpers. I am not a big fan of tube bumper but yours look good. Waiting to see if you were going to put some plate steel on the front. Kinda thought that it would act like a skid and foil some air on the freeway.

I still don't get the hockey puck bump stop thing though. I think what I am missing is do you need to remove your front springs?

Anyway just read the build and like what you have done so far.

Hey man sweet Jeep! I love the bumpers. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the compliment on the bumpers. I never thought of adding a plate there... very good idea though, I might just do that lol.

As for the hockey pucks, I did it that way because there is no need to remove the coils. They just slide in through the spring coils and drop down. Ever since I let them properly cure, they havent broken loose and actually work quite well!

Thanks! Ill probably try to fit one or two more wheeling trips in before I tear it apart for the winter.

Until then, here is another video from wheeling slick rock last weekend! I love that trail!


Enjoy!

Good run up stair case, glad you didn't listen the the video guy.

Got snowed out of Slick Rock this year. Top of the list next year for sure. I love the high mountains.

"As for the hockey pucks, I did it that way because there is no need to remove the coils. They just slide in through the spring coils and drop down. Ever since I let them properly cure, they havent broken loose and actually work quite well!"

I get it ... the hocky puck sits at the bottom, inside the spring and the bump stop hits them.

OK then!

Thanks!
My family has a cabin up at Lake Alpine. Assuming the snow doesn't crush it this winter, I plan on spending a lot of time up there this summer. Be sure to let me know when you head up, I'd love to tag along!

Not much of an update.. But I was able to pull 18.83 mpg (gas station to gas station. 100 miles) coming home from school. Not too shabby!

Aside from that, Ive had some weird vibrations on the freeway and noticed that my pinion angle was off. So I switched out my 2" lift shackles for the stockers, which brought a nice pinion angle back and lowered the read down a bit.. I still have some vibes, but not nearly as much.

Back home in 2.5 weeks, and thats when the tear down begins!