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So, my buddy I bought my Jeep from told me it would need a few things, but he was going to include everything. I knew it needed trans lines, but didn't see them inside. I crawled under it, and he had put them in for me. Sweet. But I noticed a crucial part missing. The damn neutral safety switch is gone. So I reckon I gotta order one of those. On the positive side, I've gotten all the stock suspension pulled. Ready to throw my old D30 in this weekend. Hopefully selling my old AW4 this weekend, so I'll have a little extra cash to throw at the Jeep. No pictures right now. Was in a hurry to get it done. Will post pictures this weekend
Ive bee slacking on updating this thread. Been super busy working 50+ hours and trying to finish a living room remodel. But small progress is better than no progress. Got the stock suspension removed, as well as the stock crossmember. Installed the Iron Rock trans crossmember along with my Iron Rock long arms. Still need to drill and tap the unibody for the extra holes on my long arms. Also need to cut the lower control arm mounts off. Process would have been 100x easier if I had the Jeep at my shop, but I'm happy to be making headway with it. Will be putting the D30 in in the next few weeks if time allows. Still need to find a 8.25 that works for what I want. Hopefully have it "done" in the next few months.
So much room for sockets and ratchets
Not so much room for anything
Had to use the old "double wrench" technique to break the bolt loose
All the stock suspension out
Long arms are in
Looking good
Still need to finish bolting up the long arms on the unibody, but they are in there with a bolt plus a floor jack holding the cross member up
So, I've been looking for a 8.25 for the rear just to get the Jeep rolling. I plan on taking my time to build an 8.8 but want to get the Jeep off jack stands and out of the garage. I was talking to one of my customers at work and he has a 95 XJ sitting in his back lot that has front end damage. He has no desire to fix it and told me I could HAVE it. No price, just take it. All he wants is the transfer case off of it. I told him let me get it to my shop and I'd pull the case and bring it to him. Now I just need to find time to go pick it up. But I have a guy wanting the engine so I may be able to part out the 95 for a little bit of money to put into my 99. That all right now. Need to order a few parts and get the interior put back in
So, I've been slacking on updating this build. To bring everything up to speed, I got a 95 XJ for free from a customer of mine. Found that the front had some damage. Ended up having to cut the lower control arm mounts and weld in new ones. Also, the rear was a D35. So I threw the 35 and my old CAD30 in my 99 just to get it out of my garage. I've been slowly going through the 95 D30. I've done new ball joints, bushings, and swapped my locker over from my CAD D30. But it's out of my garage, and my wife is happy
My build has slowed down due to having a baby and a promotion at work. But I'm slowly plugging away trying to get this thing done. Currently looking for a 8.8 to build and put in the rear. Had a deadline set for March 1st, but I know I wont make it. Hoping to have it ready by the summer for a wheeling/camping trip
Well, working 3rd shift and having a 4 month old has a way of slowing things down. But due to weather, my shop was shut down for 2 days, so I had some garage time for the Jeep. Got everything finalized on the D30 and cleaned my garage in preparation to pull the Jeep in. Bought a battery Saturday morning since I put my old one in my 01 I sold. Checked all the fluids, put the battery in...and nothing. Will crank, but not start. So I keyed it on, and nothing from the fuel pump. Checked the rail, and have no pressure. Gas light was on, and I dont know when the last time I put gas in it was, so I put 5 gallons in figuring that would be plenty to get it started and pull in the garage. Still nothing. Looks like I gotta do a fuel pump so I can get it running and into the garage.
So I picked up a new fuel pump assembly this morning on my way home from work. I modified my floorjack to use to lower the tank. Hopefully can get it fired up and pulled in the garage to swap axles. Got a quote on some tires. I have some bald 35s on now, but I'm gonna drop to 33in MTs to run for right now. The body is too clean for me to cut the fenders. Also noticed my leaf spring shackle is vertical. Not sure what effect that has, but I'll probably drop it one hole to level the Jeep out and see how it looks then.
Well, I got her running. Came home from working all night. The wife wanted to go get her nails done, so I got to have some one-on-one time with my daughter for a little bit. It was much enjoyed. Even for a 4 month old, we have some fun. Wife came home and we had lunch, then I retired to the garage. I had pretty good luck with a pass-through socket set removing the J bolts for the tank, but the bolts still twisted from the force. Went ahead and replaced with new ones. Got the tank out and it had about 10 gallons in it, even though the gauge said E. Cleaned all the fuel out of the tank, installed new pump, ran to the parts store to try and pick up filler and vent hoses since they looked like they've seen better days. Got everything back in, filled with 5 gallons, primed, and she fired right up.
I have to add, my wife had just gotten her nails done, and had plans to go shopping with her mom. Instead, she came out and helped me. Even got on the creeper and hooked up the fuel lines. Now she understands the Jeep mentality a little better. But enough talking. How about some pictures?
I used plywood to support the tank while it was coming down
Got all the old gas drained out of the tank
Dont think it's supposed to look like this...
The pump has obliviously seen better days...
I'll have to figure out how to upload a video, but shes running
Well, I sat down at work during lunch and put together sort of a punch list to keep myself in check. I'll cross things off as they are completed
Front End: Quick Disconnects - Done
Lube Locker and fill diff - Done
Brakes/Rotors - Done
JCR 1 Ton UTK Steering - Done
RE Track Bar Rough Country Extended Brake Lines - Done
Final torque
Interior:
Clean carpet
Mount switch panel New console bracket - Done
New headliner
Install all interior pieces
LEDs from OneWayLighting
Viair 2on2 Compressor System in rear
Engine/Drivetrain: Full service front to back - Done
SYE (Havent decided what brand. Input would be much appreciated)
XJ Wonders Cables
THOR Intake
Painless Dual Battery Kit
704 Injectors
Bored Throttle Body Trans Cooler and Temp Gauge - Done
My buddy offered me a 231 for $150. Might pick it up so I can take my time and do an SYE on the bench without having to rush through it. After this is complete (for the most part), I will give everything a full shakedown. I have set a MINIMUM of 1 month DDing the Jeep around town and to work just to make sure everything is good before I take it on any trails. Since my trailer is not finished yet, I dont want to risk breaking something and having to call a towtruck.
But more work is planned for this weekend. My wife actually asked if we were swapping axles this weekend. She helps one time, and she's got the bug. I'll update when more exciting stuff happens...
Also, any opinions of things I should add/take away/not even bother with, please let me know. I'm always open to ideas
Man I wish I could get my wife out to help me with the Jeep perhaps she would enjoy its company more too! It's cool though we have a mutual understanding but if she had it her way I'm sure she would be gone with it.
One day I will get her hooked, perhaps when she can drive it and then she will be like I want one
Man I wish I could get my wife out to help me with the Jeep perhaps she would enjoy its company more too! It's cool though we have a mutual understanding but if she had it her way I'm sure she would be gone with it.
One day I will get her hooked, perhaps when she can drive it and then she will be like I want one
My wife has been wheeling with me before when I had my Ranger. And we've went with a group I was part of. She enjoys it. It's just the work that leads up to it that she hasn't been a big fan of (mostly the cost) but she's finally coming around.
My Lube Locker and quick disconnects came in. Waiting on my injectors to show up. Didn't get the Jeep in the garage this weekend due to trying to organize and working on my side business. Hopefully getting it in the garage this week sometime
Finally cleared out some room in the garage to pull the Jeep in. Its about time, cause parts keep piling up. I ordered a set of Teraflex front and rear BPEs that should be here tomorrow. Have all the paint to go ahead and paint my inner fenders while the axle is out. Also thinking about picking up a trans cooler. Been looking at this one:
Not sure if it will fit, but I can always swap it out for the next size smaller. Also plan on running a trans temp gauge. Just need to find one I like. Hopefully the rain holds off this week and I can pull the Jeep in and start tearing into it again. Really wanna get this thing on the road
Looks good.
How are the rocker and floor pans?
What gears you end up with for the 33's ?
Slack
From what I remember, the body is pretty solid. Nothing too bad. And I'm gonna stick with 3.55s for right now. May end up regearing down the line, but we'll see
09-06-2016, 12:24 PM
