Yeah I have read that. I don;t like water, most of the trails I run It may see 1-2' of water once every 2 years lol. I did caut the wrapping with Silicon high head water resistant coating to limit water problems. It is an experament really, I have read a lot of good and a lot of bad with wrapping headers. I mainly want to reduce engine and intake temps which is why I am trying it... Thanks for the heads up!

 

I have their frame side mount. With it on top of the 1/4" plating onn the frame, i can assure you it wwill never move haha

 

 

SWEET build and wright-up. I've been looking it over for a few months now figuring out what to do about my axles. Always thought about the dana 44's but was sure on diamentions (what would be easiest swap). This Saturday I made my trip to my local jy and picked up my 1988 waggy 44's and some other odds and ends for my lift, $250 for everything; axles,rear dakota springs,front coils and lower control arms(aftermarket from other jeep lifted).
Your thread should be a great help making this an easy set-up. I'm a welder/fabricator so I'll be making just about all my own brackets, but will be using the ballisic lower mounts you did.
I'll be starting my own build thread but won't go into such detail (since you did such a good job) it would be like a rerun, I'll just post pics.
Thanks for all your help!!

 

it's custom.[/QUOTE]

So, that bumper is custom - care to share where one might buy one or did you fab it yourself? It fits perrrfectly and has the all important hitch.

 

No problem, I am glad it has helped. When I was looking into it I could never find the details or pics I wanted to feel 100% about how it was all going to come together. Everyone just said "I did it, its a good swap" haha, no info on steering, or pics of the brackets, or how to get around cutting the casting off the axle. That's when I decided I was going to be more **** then normal and post as much as possible to help the next guy lol

Any questions just ask, Ill do my best to help....

You can't buy it, as its a home made one off version for exactly wht I wanted lol. Someone else(metal guy) made the "skin/frame" out of 3/16ths and I added the tabs and hitch, and cleaned it up a bit. Mainly trying to get as good of a departure angle with keeping the full body. I have tried to climb a few large ledges and the hitch and bumper would hang up and keep me from getting the rear push threw.

Like here....

 

Nice picture haha don't you hate the fricking departure angle on xjs- always hangs me up, or when dropping off a ledge I always have to slide down the gas skid. Makes me want to just straight up cut a foot and half or so of the entire rear end off.

When is your engine going to be done man? Make sure you post a video when you get it running.

 

Haha yeah, worst part IMO, but to make it shorter with a good departure you would need to link the rear as the shackles hang up thats what I typically drag on going down anything bigger then 3' lol lots of work... maybe one day... once it lives on a trailer...

I am waiting on my pistons... the machine work is done. have all the parts, just need the pistons to get here... estimated delivery was mach 20th. then I got notice they are back ordered... They said they "hoped" for the 9th.... maybe tomorrow! Or maybe they will tell me tomorrow it will be June LOL. then I get get things organized and On a day off I'll get her handled lol I need to get it going and get some break in time on it before I beat it up to much... lol this season will probably be a bit of a waste for me....

either way I'll post video and a ton of pics... with all my opinions LOL

 

Cool man definitely interested to see how the engine turns out for you. And yea I guess the easiest way to fix the departure is just stretch it pretty far with a 4 link and comp cut, but I kind of like the wheelbase on xj's... I might end up turning my cherokee into some type of truggy eventually, I just smashed in my whole passenger corner panel and tail light dropping down something this weekend...haha. Have you put those corner guard protectors you have through any abuse? I am curious how well they hold up, I am probably just going to do that tuck and fold trick and make a bumper that protects that area.

 

I have come down on them before, not super hard but I have hit them. they hold up well. But it still allows the body to crumple by the upper rear window... not bad by any means, but I have small dimples on both rear 1/4's. but it saved the corners from folding/crumpling...

If I where to do it again I would cut and fold then run a 2"x2" back from the bumper the protect it...

 

On a positive note... I ordered my winch, went with the Smitty-built XRC8 based on some buddies and some reviews.

Just a pic I stole for example lol

 

Great shot!

 

Thanks, Hope fully one day I'll make it up this un-assisted, but very unlikely. let alone with anything close to how it is now lol

 

Well, Got my winch today... Got all excited and threw it on! I like it. works and everything lol. I had to chop up the grill and grill support to get it to fit.

Grill with parts removed


All installed


Doesn't stick out to far IMO, but the less the better...

 

Mainly throwing this out there to save it so I don't have to find it later... will eventually be replacing the roller with this to keep it out of the way and less likely to hit it while climbing steep ledges.... works with steel cable or syn rope...



http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WRN-73850