You have to break the bead just like a normal wheel, before you can separate the wheel halves. And with the rubber beadlock insert on the inside of the tire bead, I could imagine it would not be easy trying to do yourself. But luckily we have a shop on post that soldiers can use, so I took them down there and used a hydraulic bead breaker, just like a tire shop has and they popped loose without a fit. I also sprayed around the bead with soapy water to help it out as well.

 

Went to change my transfer case fluid and stripped my fill plug, like so many have done before me. So I had to drill it out and the extract it, while trying to keep as many shavings as possible from going into the case. Got it all done and replaced them with M22x1.5 drain plugs that a 3/8 ratchet can fit into.



I was pretty sure my valve cover gasket was leaking, so I took the time to inspect the top end and check torque specs.


Picked up some LEDs from wal-mart that are suppose to be for truck beds and wired them into the factory light housing so that they will turn on and off with the raising of the hood, like factory. I just hope they last offroad and engine heat.


Then I painted my fuel rail and throttle body Cast Iron Ceramic.


Cleaned, prepped and painted the valve cover with high heat cast iron ceramic. I thought about doing it yellow to match the motor mounts and other suspension pieces, but I decided to keep the engine bay low key.

 

I like the color choice. I may do that on next jeep

 

Love the flares. I plan on running them as well. Yet again you beat me to it with your build! My Metalcloak kit is going on this month (it's been sitting in my garage since July. I really want to run Duratrac's so I'm stuck deciding between 31's and 33's. 32's would be perfect but they don't make them.

Any chance I can get a shot like the below with the new flares? I'm curious what they'd look like with 31's.

 

my $.02 get the 33's, duratracs run small, and you will be cutting to fit the new flares.

 

This is the best I've got for now, I'll see about getting a straight side shot for ya.



IMO with the Metalcloak lift, 32x11.50 on a 15x8 wheel with 3.75" BS with Napier V2 flares would be perfect. I am still going to run 32x11.50 STT Pro's after I regear probably, but they will stick out just a tad more than I would have liked and probably will require trimming back the inside flare edge because of my 3.625" BS. 33x10.50 are another option I am considering, I just wish they had more availability in that size.

EDIT: Also keep in mind, I'm sitting somewhere around 4.25" of lift right now too.

 

That looks great man!. The wheels I want are also 3.625" BS. I spent months looking at wheels and fell in love with these.



I'm not joking... your build has been like looking into the future. I was considering the Metalcloak kit, you already had it with a great write up. I wanted to know what 3.65 BS wheels looked liked, you just finished installing some. I was planning on Napier flares, you just installed yours. LOL

I want to run 32's.... But I cant find anything better reviewed for all conditions (mud, rock, sand, and so on) than the Duratracs. The Duratrac's are also very light, the 33 Duratrac's are the same weight as a 32" BFG AT.
I might be able to get away with the 4.10 gears I have in the axle I'm swapping in.

 

Those are sharp looking wheels! That's awesome, I'm glad it is helping someone out. I did a lot of picture hunting myself, before I made my decisions. Although I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for in my build.

I am considering 4.10 gears when I go to 32s, but I'm leaning more towards 4.56 the more I think about it. If they are already in the axle, then yeah I wouldn't swap them out, but I plan on getting fully built HP30 & 8.8 axles from ECGS and will probably select 4.56 when the time comes. Only because once bumpers, winch, spare, skids, roof rack, frame stiffeners, water tank, storage system and possibly an ARB fridge go in, she is gonna be a heavy sonofagun and I will want the gears to push it around. That is just distant planning though.

 

Nice build.
Seeing the attention to detail you are putting into your XJ makes this old grunt and Drill Sgt proud. ;-) Didn't catch the Jeep bug (or is it an illness) myself until long after I retired.

 

I love your spare no expenses approach, it's typically the route I go with cars, guns, and so on. I'm trying to not do that this time tho... But it's inevitable. I had $20k in aftermarket parts in my last project car...

I was going to get a ford 8.8 just like you, but discovered you loose quite a bit of clearance. Double check but I think you give up 1.5" from the bottom of the diferential.

 

Hooah! It is an illness that can only be cured with new parts, haha.

 

I'm kinda the opposite, I've built cars/trucks the cheap way before and made my own parts or bought the discount parts and I still had fun doing it. But this is the first time, I have decided to go all out.

Yeah I think you are right and my plans are always subject to change as I come across new information. I might just keep my 8.25 and throw a locker/gears in that. I just wish I could find some chromoly axles for it at least.

 

 

like these

http://www.alloyusa.com/alloy-usa-21118.html

 

Well I'll be darned, yep that would work. Maybe I will keep the ole 8.25 after all, thanks man.