[QUOTE=xjfanatic;1081238]Finally got a chance to do some real wheeling out there in Arizona...Man is it great to be back where there are actually rocks. I went with n_a_i_w from here on the forum. It was a lot of fun...we need to get a group of people from the forum here to make a huge run. Here are a few pics that really don't do the trail justice.

i live in AZ and i wana go offroading but need to find a lift first. but when i do lets get a group together and go mobb!

 

Nice XJ man, just got my first XJ and using yours as my inspiration!

 

I know this is a from a while back but you had a crack near your collector on your exhaust, did this affect the way it ran or started up? I have a similar crack on mine and I wanted to get someone's opinion on it that had a crack before I actually tore into it.
By the way I love the progress. Awesome Jeep.

 

For sure man...I'm still getting to know people in this area and trying to find groups to go with...hit me up

It definitely affected the way it ran. I noticed a huge increase in throttle response and it cleared up a rough idle after I replaced it...my best advice is to take your time with the job. Make sure to label everything you remove, there is a lot especially when it comes to the electrical connections, but it is not a very difficult job and totally worth it.

Let me know if you have any more questions about it.

 

Thanks for the compliment...let me know if you have any questions and good luck with your new xj!

 

alright man sounds good. i have a couple buddies that will go to. i just need to find a dam lift thats good and cheap

 

Hey man, Cage was a bit of a pain.But Im sure its well worth it. Should have mine up this week. I tried to crank it wensday night. Not getting any fuel. I think I need to trace the wires back to the fuel pump. I will keep you posted

 

It's been quite a while since I've made any updates, but its also been a while since I have had time to work on the jeep. I have gotten motivated again and have a few large projects on the way. I pulled the transmission and replaced the burned up clutch from Easter Jeep Safari last year.




Also got a steal of a deal on a Ford 8.8. It is the 31 spline with disk brakes and a limited slip. The internals have all been removed and I am currently sourcing all the parts to rebuild it. So far I already have new calipers, rotors, pads, ebrake shoes, and flange adapter. In the mail is the IRO mount kit with truss, and I am waiting to hear from a few connections on either an ARB or Detroit locker (not sure which I am going with yet) and a set of gears. I will post pics as I make progress on the axle. Plan is to have it in and running by early March.


Also will be completely redoing the front suspension. I am happy with the lift height, but the handling is terrible with the Teraflex kit and the single upper mount isn't holding up to the stress well. Plans are to custom make some radius arms out of the existing Teraflex long LCAs and convert all the current mounts to Johnny Joints. Will post pics as I make progress there.

 

Also made the doors removable. Now that it is fully caged, I am comfortable doing some wheeling doorless and won't be worried about structural issues.

I hammered out the original door pins and picked up some pins from home depot that are just slightly smaller than the original ones, so now all I have to do to take the doors off is pull out the pin. All the front wires have plugs behind the kick panels and the rear wires I cut and put trailer plugs in the middle to make them easily removed.






So far this is one of my favorite modifications. The looks you get going down the highway are priceless.

 

in love, i start building my jeep to become a trail soon and was wondering how i was gonna do a cage, rock hard 4X4 it is

 

Looks good doorless! You got the right weather for it.

 

That thing is sick bro. hope one day mine gets to that level haha.

 

Well I finally have her running and am just waiting on new shocks to have it trail ready again. Unfortunately my rancho rs9000xl shocks are a little too long for the new high clearance shock mounts. It is street able but they bottom out on big bumps. I am waiting on some Rancho RS7000 monotube shocks that should be here next week. Ended up going with rustys high clearance long arms and bolted my current adjustable uppers to them and used the long arm frame mounts I already had...sorry no pics of the new suspension.

I also finished the rear axle and got it bolted in. Went with ARB air locker, 4.56 gears, and it has a full axle truss with the tubes welded also. Here are some pics of the progress and final product.

 

Well done sah! I am peanut butter and jealous!

 

I don't think this guy is around anymore.