NatetheOgre

Also got a stereo wired into the jeep, a pioneer as well as replaced the speakers n the sound bar.


My c-rok spacer and m.o.r.e steering brace as well


Stock spacer compared to the c-rok one as well.

made a huge difference as to the steering as well, much tighter. i might add as well that the stock spacer is so flimsy that I broke it in my hand messing with it. The new one will be much stronger and hopefully save my subframe as well.

And what the MORE looks like installed



Will be hopefully taking the jeep out soon on her first wheeling adventure as well.

NatetheOgre

Finally got the lift on over the weekend, after a two day battle with the bolts that run through the leaf spring into the subframe. The bolts were rusted stuck into the bushing sleeves. After A LOT of penetrating oil, torching and eventually cutting they came out. New ones were bathed in anti-seize too.

But in the end It is sitting much taller than expected so I will need a longer track bar and bracket, drop pitman arm, and control arms asap.

As well as maybe a shackle relocation because the angle is terrible right now, I am hoping as the leafs settle it won't be as bad though.

SYE I will try to install tomorrow A.M and run to the local junk yard for a front shaft thursday in the morning. As well as the locker this weekend.

Now for a few pics






Still a lot to do. Need to clean up the glue from the old moldings on the driver side as well as longer e-brake lines. I already bought a pair of yj passenger cables and those will be on hopefully this weekend too.

A few other things I am adding to the list of to-do's are
-Iron Rock Off roads from recovery point system
-Nate's 4x4 rear bumper with d ring attachments and hitch

A LOT as the list never seems to end and one thing leads to another haha

NatetheOgre

I have not updated in a bit.
I got the front locker in and my blue torch fab front diff cover on.

And I decided I am going to go long arms instead of short, as it will cost me almost the same to get adjustable control arms. The IRO long arm kit is what I am going to be picking up after I save up for a bit.

Other things I am ordering up are a new track bar, as the rough country one is too short and I would like to switch to a double sheer possibly if I can find a company that makes a bracket with no drop, as I want to avoid a drop pitman arm.

Also going to get on the wait list for lead foots low profile shackle relocation as my angle is terrible in the rear now.

Still need to get recovery points as well. I was going to find o.e tow hooks but my front frame rails are not too straight from the P.O rear ending someone. So that is not going to happen.

I have my eye on the rubicon express track bar, bracket and brace as well. I am going to do some measure to see if a drop is needed with their kit.

NatetheOgre

After doing my rear diff fluid I realized I have an 8.25 chrysler rear end.
Not a dana 35.

Still need to extrac broken bolts from the a/c removal and tomorrow after work I will get started on my sye and set my pinion angle. As well as figure out what I am going to do for a rear driveline.

RE track bar, bracket, and brace showed up as well. So this weekend will be doing that and also picked up some jks mini skids to weld on the lower control arm brackets.

Hopefully my IRO recovery point system for the front will arrive soon as well

Also ordered a rear hitch and putco headlight wiring system. Will be ordering a low profile shackle relocation too.

And all while moving soon, so progress will be even slower and little in between while I find a new place to live.

NatetheOgre

Some more progress finally today, I got my valve cover gasket swapped out. About 90% of the bolts I took off with my fingers, and the gasket I pulled out was a very very thin piece of rubber.


I replaced it with a nice thick rubber fel pro gasket.

Also relocated my vacuum canister from the bumper to under the hood and threw out my old broken windshield washer resevoir, I will make a new one sometime soon.



And with no more cruise, and a/c there is alot more room under the hood.



Also got my RE track bar in. And roughly adjusted. but no chance to drive it yet. I also need to figure out control arms as mine are WAY too short and bending the springs back as well.

letsgomuddin

So what lift heivht did you end up with?

NatetheOgre

It is currently about 5.5" or maybe closer to 6".

I put the 3.5" RE rear springs with 1.5" shackles and it was almost two inches higher than the front. So I but a 1.25" spacer and the 4.5" springs up front. (rear is still a bit taller.)

The RE stuff lifts a bit taller than they advertise, and since I have no armor or bumpers it doesn't sag.

Since the rear is still sitting a bit taller, so I am going to get low pro shackle relocation brackets to level it out and give me a nice ride again.

NatetheOgre

Finally got the SYE in yesterday. As well as found a leaking seal in the front axle and loosing gear oil out the end of the driver side axle tube.





I took my front shaft to run it in the rear, and I beliieve it is a bit too short. It is 31" shafy and u-joint to u-joint is about 33" on the jeep. I dont know how much further the splines can go before it pops out. So I will hit up the local junk yard for a Grand cherokee shaft.

NatetheOgre

Did some more adjusting on the track bar, and picked up the inner seal and tools to get it swapped out. I will hopefully be doing that this weekend.

As well as my IRO front recovery system should be delivered on monday.

Progress will be coming to a halt because I am going to be moving much sooner than I expected. After I move I will see how my funds look and hopefully order up the IRO long arm kit.

mtbfreak612

can you use the grand cherokee front shafts in the rear? are they longer? do you know what year grands to look for to get a front ds from?

NatetheOgre

The front grand cherokee shaft should work fine, I believe that the v8 4x4 has a shaft about an inch longer. There is a chart somewhere that will show you models to length of shaft if you search "front shaft lengths" or something similar.

The grand cherokee uses the same style shaft as well as same size u-joint as well.

I am going to do a little more research before I get another shaft and figure out exactly what lengths I need though.

NatetheOgre

I hit up the local pick and pull this week and scored, I ended up getting a front shaft to replace my missing one, now in the rear.

Also got a stock fuel tank skid, transfer case skid, and new battery tray as well. And spent less than a hundred bucks.

Also finished up my putco headlight wiring install as well as new battery terminals.

Got my new aux fan in too, and threw away my broken one.

Also started the front install of my IRO tow hooks. I ran into a problem though, I couldn't find a 2x4 to flatten the body seams



Just need to make that small lip flat and drill a 1/2" hole for the last mounting spot.

Also picked up a hitch for the rear and I will get that, my fuel skid and I am ordering shackle relocations and new nut strips too. So all of that is going in at once.

NatetheOgre

Trimmed up the front bumper a bit too


And some pics of the putco install, it was super easy.

Mounted relays next to the battery


Ran the wiring behind the grill all nice and tucked away.

All I had to do was plug in the connectors and clean a few spots up for solid grounds.

Aljay

Nice build .

89cherokee2gtmudy

Sweet xj. You'd be surprised how a xj handles Hollister hills. My stock 89 did quite well with non functioning 4lo and I still drove her home.