Nice helmet. I wear a rx-q with my harley.

 

Yep, you can't beat Arai quality and comfort, plus it matched the bike so I had to get it, haha.

 

The ole XJ pulling my new KLR all the way to Colorado Springs from Dallas, TX.



Stock 3.55 gears on 31" tires. I'm keeping it in 3rd and staying around 2,500rpm/60mph and getting 9-10mpg with non-ethanol premium.

It's about what I figured I would get. I really need 4.56 gears and 32" tires :/

 

One of the best builds on here man. Love the jeep and love those beadlocks! Sub'd for updates

 

Hey thanks man, appreciate that. I'll have more updates coming once I get all settled in Colorado for sure.

 

So how are things going? Finally settled in CO? Looking forward to the next update.

 

X2

 

My metal cloak lift kit just arrived Via UPS. Thanks for doing this thread, its been very helpful.

You've swapped out so many suspension parts getting everything set up perfectly its getting hard to keep track of whats actually on your XJ anymore! Any chance you could give us a list of your final set up (so far)

I'd like to keep my lift at 3.5 inches front and rear. So I'll be taking out the 3rd leaf. I'm trying to decide on relocation brackets, shackle's and axle shims. Any suggestions?

Would you still get the Liquid Iron Industries relocation brackets knowing you'd need to hack them up?

 

Yep going good in Colorado, other than not being able to breathe at 6,000ft, haha. It's been crazy since I got here, getting ready for a deployment and all. Haven't done much to the XJ. But it is still running strong and will be taking a road trip back to TX for Christmas, so we'll see how that goes.

 

It's basically the Metalcloak kit plus LII relocation brackets and IRO shackles on the stock height setting. I still like the one piece welded design of the LII brackets over the bolted ones and a little cut to make them work with shorter shackles is no big deal. It's all personal preference though, other people are happy with the bolt together brackets, that don't give any lift.

I'm still sitting around 3.5" after 2 years and it rides great. I wasn't happy with the ride when I was at 4.5" on the short arms. If you are happy with 3.5", it is a great kit. Good choice!

Axle shims will depend on your Trans, Transfer case, rear end and lift height. With a AW4, NP242, C8.25 at 3.5", 4* shims from IRO seem to be about right. I didn't look right at 4.5" though, I would've needed 6* shims probably. It would be hard to tell, until it is all put together and on the ground, unless you are really good at math.

Also I highly recommend a SYE and CV rear driveshaft with any build. I favor Adam's driveshafts and had to go with a Hack'n Tap SYE from IRO, since I have the NP242.

 

Well this is what my road trip looked like back to TX...





Funny story...I couldn't see the road at one point and slid off the road, jumped 4ft in the air into a ditch/snow bank. It was definitely a butt clincher, but thank God for a well built suspension. Took a minute to drive out of the ditch, got back on the road and kept driving. The ole XJ handled it beautifully. I just wished my heater worked better at -10 degree temperatures. Wasn't a supper comfortable ride, but I did make it home in one piece, so no complaints.

 

Dude, that's intense! That's awesome that the rig took all of that without a care in the world AND got out of the ditch. Kudos for a well built truck.

On your drive, what range did you use most of the time? I would think that with a 242, you'd put it in fulltime. I had to drive in a similar storm in my Outback and thanked the car gods at the time for three differentials.

 

Yeah, that's pretty gnarly! Glad you and the XJ survived in one piece. Any build updates in the near future?

 

Yep full-time seemed to work perfect in those conditions.

 

It sure was. Next on my list whenever I get back from Korea, will probably be exhaust work and I'm going to try and fabricate my own version of a cowl snorkel. Unless I get back and my Jeep needs something else after 9 months in a garage, so we'll see.