I placed an order with JCR since they have a 30% off sale going on...





I'm getting a nice stash of parts building up so I guess I need to get to work!

I did get some rust removal done on the driver's side floorboard and got part of the new floor in.

 

I officially have floors!



I started on the IRO Dana 44 truss as well.






Everytime I feel like I get a halfway decent weld I follow it up with a garbage one. Oh well, I'm still learning. I welded a few stitches at a time, took a 10 minute break, and then welded some more. I think it'll hold.

 

Nice progress.

Are you still welding with flux core????

 

Thanks! And nope, I got my tank exchanged.

 

I was gonna say HOLY CRAP if you were. HAHA!

 

My JCR order arrived today and I got to work welding on the truss on my front Dana 44.







I noticed for the first time that the previous owner already welded on lower control arm skids, so that's cool. That means less for me to do! The LCA skids I ordered will probably go on my '93.

 

Nice, how was welding to the housing? Keep that torch on it long?

 

It wasn't bad. I only did a few stitches at a time and then took a 10 minute break to let it cool down some.

 

Here's a shot of the TJ Rubicon locker in my front D44:



I'm not too familiar with these TJ Rubicon lockers, but from what I've read the fronts are fairly durable while the rears tend to cause problems. Currently my plan is to keep the TJ locker up front. For the rear, I'm currently planning on an OX locker. I was originally thinking about a Truetrac but the wife informed me whe wanted a selectable locker. I didn't argue!

So while I'm still a long way from building suspensions and axles, I like to plan ahead. I'm looking at either 33 or 35 spline chomoly shafts for the rear with an OX locker and JK44 gears. For the front, I'm planning on JK44 gears to go along with the TJ locker and WJ knuckles. I'm debating on using chromoly shafts or saving up and getting RCV shafts.

Also, I think I'm going to go with 385/70R16 Nitto Mud Grappler tires on my 16x8 TJ Rubicon rims. I would really prefer a Cooper STT Pro but they don't make a 37 for 16 inch rims. We'll see. I have the 33 KO2s on the rims for now, so I have time to change my mind on my final tire size. But if I do go with the 385s, that'll mean 5.13 gears.

I've never built a rig like this; my '93 4banger is essentially stock. Does anyone have any feedback on my plans? Am I overlooking anything?

 

How do you plan on using the TJ locker? Did you get the compressor unit too?

 

I do not have the compressor. I was debating either buying the OEM TJ one or trying to rig something together myself.

 

DAMN! thats a lot of work going on! awesome

 

Sorry for the lack of updates... I haven't been able to work on the Jeep much lately, until now. I recently ordered some HD Offroad No Lift Shackle Relocation brackets. I got those installed along with the new spring hanger and rear stiffeners on the driver's side. Caution, more pictures of ****ty welds!









I also ordered some Rubicon Express 3.5" Leaf Springs and some 4.5" Coil Springs. Everybody says that the RE springs give you more height than advertised, so that's why I went with the 4.5" Coils. I re-installed the stock shackles for now but eventually I will be getting aftermarket ones. I will say it feels great having at least the rear springs installed on this thing!




I ordered some new u-bolts and u-bolt plates which should be arriving tomorrow. I'm going to try to get the rear axle under the springs just to get it out of my way, and then I will be able to jack up the Jeep even higher. I don't enjoy overhead welding (and I'm not very good at it) so I want the Jeep as high as possible for when I weld in the mid-stiffeners. I may even wait until both axles are under the Jeep before I weld in the mids just for ease. I don't know, we'll see. I'm still not a very good welder (as you can see in the above pics) so installing the stiffeners has been tedious and painful. I've burnt myself several times.

I should probably change the title of this thread to "super slow build". I also noticed as I was uploading the pictures to this post that I installed the shackles backwards... Oops! Oh well.

Long arms have always been the plan for this build, but now I'm considering staying on short arms (maybe with LCA drop brackets) temporarily just to get this thing back on it's wheels as fast as possible. I've gone back and forth on what I want my final tire size to be (and thus gearing) so maybe I'll just roll with the 33s I have for the time being. Of course, my axles are two different ratios right now so I would have to drive in 2wd.

 

That's an awesome setup you have in the rear. So much adjustability, you could easily run longer more flexible leaf springs without moving stretching the wheelbase now. I wonder if chevy leaf springs would work in the stock wheelbase with that?

 

Thanks! I didn't even think of that when I was ordering leaf springs. I do have the leafs set up for a two inch wheelbase stretch right now, which I believe I read is the most you can do before you hit the gas tank. I'm sure I'll adjust everything once or twice more before I'm happy.