I suppose that's true. What's your thoughts about u-bolts on an exhaust holding the pipes together. If I went that route I imagine I could install it myself and save some bucks for me fun stuff.

Haven't done a ton lately because I've been busy with life and it's getting dark too early for me to get much wrench time. I did manage to get the rusty trailer hitch bracket off yesterday. Out of the 6 bolts holding it to the rail, I had to split 3 with a nut-splitter, one snapped off, one I used the sawzall on and another had pulled through the rail. Apparently the PO damaged it pretty good pulling stumps out of the ground, so now I have to get it cleaned up to see what I'm dealing with as far as what's left. I've got an idea in my head how to get it fixed back up, but I have to get it all cleaned up to see what's left.

I also found some more carpet in the cargo area, the bad part about that is that I found it from the outside of the vehicle. I fully expect the carpet to be doing the brunt of the work and playing the part of "floor" in my XJ.

I got some cash too so now I'm prioritizing what I buy. The wife put the brakes on me buying new tires/wheels right now because she wants to make sure that this thing runs before I drop a grand on that stuff, which probably makes sense.

Tonight after work I want to get the other rear "helper" leaf off and see how it rides. Tomorrow I'm going to go to the DMV and get it titled and licenensed and drop come comprehensive insurance on it so at least I'll be able to get it out on the road and see how it runs.

I've also decided that I hate Craigslist. I've emailed no fewer than 5 people about parts and left a voicemail with another and ZERO response? Why try to sell something and then don't get back to interested parties. GRRRRR

Short list of purchases in the near future are:

APN Header
Muffler and tailpipe
Leaf springs and front coils, hopefully from a junkyard so I don't have to spend $600 on a lift kit.

Then I guess we see how she drives to see what else it needs. Getting closer to getting her on the road though!! Exciting times for my boring life

 

If your wanting to do your own nonwelded exhaust system use these. After cleaning the area where the clamp goes(I used brake cleaner)I forced hi-temp rtv into each joint before installing each clamp. Keep the rtv at the seam only so the clamp gets a good grip.




Strap Band Clamps
Stainless and Aluminized steel construction. Stainless material resists corrosion and both withstand higher temperatures. Unique design won't crush pipes for smoother exhaust flow. Pre-attached Grade 8 bolts included for easy installation.

Features: Stainless steel material withstands high temperatures and provides better looks.
Aluminized steel material withstands high temperatures.
Easier to install than competitive styles.
Pre-attached hardware for easy installation.
Grade 8 bolts for high temperature durability.
Unique design won't crush pipes

 

U clamps are fine, just get them good and tight.

You could always drag it all by me and I'll weld it for you.

 

That'll work.

 

Those clamps look pretty slick. I'll probably know shortly what I'm going to need to make the exhaust not give me a headache. I can deal with the tailpipe rusted off and gone from the muffler, it's the up front leak that is irritating as all get-out.

Any feelings on using something like an APN Header vs. stock manifold? Just curious because I want to say the APN is somewhere around $160 and I can get other ones for under $100

 

I've got an apn and love it. Replace and upgrade!

 

Got Ol' Rusty back together again and took her for a little spin around the neighborhood. Tried out 4WD for the first time. Went straight fine, but when I was taking corners around a parking lot the front end was clunking when I would turn the wheel. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is the u-joints, but who knows. I will do some more digging. If I can get plates and title and stuff tomorrow, I might take it to work on Friday so the PO can take it for a spin and see what he thinks.

 

I always built my own exhausts, and always use u-bolts. They don't seal perfectly or exactly, but they can - in theory - be removed when necessary. I try to put the pointy ends up, or sideways, lest I grab everything I drive over. But the clamp above looks like a way better way.

That can cause problems, too. Some idiot previous owner backed my old Wrangler over something and shortened the exhaust, which then sprayed a cone of hot gasses - its job - all over the rear shackle and gas tank shield. Both rusted very quickly, and plus, you know, hot gas on gas tank. So I can't recommend enough that you get that exhaust pipe all the way past the end of the Jeep, even if it means waiting a bit to get new tires.

You're not driving a part-time 4WD XJ on dry pavement and trying to turn corners in 4WD mode, are you? 'Cause you really shouldn't do that. That'll definitely cause clunking, yes, before things break that you don't want to have to replace. If you've got the full-time 4WD system - look at the 4WD shifter handle labels - that's fine, but most of us have the part-time system, and it's only meant to be used in low-traction situations.

 

That's exactly what I was doing. I talked to my friend and he basically told me I was a moron. LOL This is my first 4x4, so lesson learned I guess. I guess I'll have to figure out winter driving where there's snow, but basically the roads might be fine a majority of the time.

 

Bah, now I can't find an APN header for sale online (for what I've seen them for earlier)

Guess I'll keep looking.

 

http://www.ineedparts.com/apn-jeep-e...-manifold.html

Google is you friend

 

Yeah, I found that one earlier and ordered it, I had just seen them popping around for a little cheaper, I think it was ebay, but nothing was listed this morning.

Went to the glorious DMV today and got Rusty titled and plates ordered for the grand total of $166.50. I also ordered some 703 injectors from someone on here. Might as well work on that when I have to pull the intake manifold off to get the new exhaust header installed.

 

Did the same thing when I bought my first Cherokee.

Well, the thing is, the 4x4 in the Jeep really is "part time." The idea is that you'd turn it on just before you needed it, and turn it back off. Some people just leave it on the whole time they're on gravel, dirt, or snow, but besides just causing more wear, this hurts your cornering, because just as you've seen when driving on pavement, the wheels have to break traction as you turn in order to "catch up" to the wheels going a longer distance in the turn. You don't want to lose traction in a turn in winter, lest you understeer your rig into the ditch. So mostly you're going to use it for traction in a straight line, and know that you'll give up some of that traction when turning.

If you want extra traction all the time, you're looking at new diffs, and/or the full-time system, but honestly, for winter, good tires and a bit of driver skill will save you thousands of dollars in diffs and transfer cases. :-)

 

Oh I get the 4x4 thing on dry pavement, now to try to get my wife to understand it. I think she's happy to have a 4x4 for when she has to drive to work in the winter.

Here's the latest updates:

Got the trailer hitch free of as much rust as I could and it's been rattled with Rust Converter or something from Rustoleum. Now to rattle it black with some gloss black that I just picked up. Then I need to figure out if I have enough rail left to mount it back up. I don't necessarily NEED a trailer hitch on it, but since I have it already, might as well try.

703 injectors are on order
APN header is on order
99+ intake is on order

I need to crawl under it and see what I can salvage on the existing exhaust if anything, and also see what size pipe is on there currently. I can source some Wagner stuff locally, but it's not 2.5" like I wanted, so I might need to do some hunting.

I was going to drive it to work today, but I have to do some volunteer bartending after work this evening and if I have a beer or two while working I figured the Jeep with temporary plates and no rear bumper probably wasn't the vehicle to drive in that situation.

Still trying to hunt down my cheap lift. If any of the junkyards or jerkwads I've contacted on Craigslist would ever get back to me, I'd be closer to figuring that out.

 

Just for grins checked the tracking number on my header and it's out for delivery!

Not that it's going on any time soon, but pretty soon I will have that pile of parts in the dining room that is the bane of so many wives.