Project Deathwagon
 

I guess it's time to at least start my build thread. I've been kinda cruisin' the site for awhile pickin' up what i I can as I go. Done some minor things since I bought my rig, plans call for plenty more soon as funds/time allows. A little back story, I got my jeep in trade for a little commuter car that i bought for $200. I have wanted a xj since I can remember I always loved how they looked espically when built. I decided it was time to build my own. I've currently owned the rig for about 3 or 4 months and I have to say so far I love it, she has treated me pretty well. Anyways on to the pics.

When I first brought her home.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2340126_n.jpg

After fender trimming
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3260830_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7846344_n.jpg

Not stuck just an unknown issue (wouldnt start) Got pulled out ran fine afterwards.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs601...._2819484_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...0_323472_n.jpg

How she sits today:
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs262....4_656397_n.jpg

Good luck with the build up

Looks good.

Thanks guys. I'm stoked. I can't wait to start putting it together. Gotta get all my parts first. I found out I need a new tranny mount today. Hopefully that will come soon. I just picked up my new HD track bar. Not sure what to grab tomorrow, thinkin about gettin the TB drop bracket and maybe the adj. upper control arms. Any ideas or suggestions? My parts rig has adj. uppers and lowers, TB drop bracket, Acos spacers, quick disco's, black leather seats, control arm drop brackets + more.

I'd swap it all over.

Oh believe me I'm going to, just gotta find a spot to put the parts rigs first. When I get it placed i'm taking everything motor, tranny, axles, gears, tires, wheels, and suspension. I was mostly looking for like some right now for the moment upgrades. Thanks for the comments and keep 'em coming.

Took her out wheeling yesterday. She did great like always just got a cut tire (damn people who put trash in our wheeling spots) and on my way out I possibly blew my headgasket not too happy about that. Will find out for sure soon.
Pics from wheelin, not much though.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep008.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep009.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep010.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep012.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep013.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep014.jpg

Older random shots.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep001.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep002.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep003.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep004.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep005.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep007.jpg

Nice rig, and is it just me or does it look like u have no back window?

Thanks! Hahaha good call! Unfortunately it's broken out. Some hooligans decided to shoot it out with a lead ball and a slingshot.

Picked up the my Mj for parts today. Will start tearing it down tomorrow. For now enjoy!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep003-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep004-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep005-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep007-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep008-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep009-1.jpg

Nice parts rig! That cut tire blows man, I hate when people litter.

Thanks! It definitely does. Fortunately i had a stock tire sized spare so it isn't too far off from the 30's but do you think i would have an issue if i put my matching 30's from the front in the rear and the 31's off my parts rig in the front? I wouldn't be doing anything in 4wd till i got a full matching set of tires. I figure if i put them in the front it cant decrease my mileage too bad besides a bit more rolling resistance.

EDIT: Also can anyone with an Mj help me figure out roughly what size lift is on the green one. I'm thinking maybe a 4-4.5? I could be wrong though. If it helps the passenger side has 31's while the drivers side has 33's. I hope the PO didnt drive it like this :icon_eek:

It shouldn't matter as long as you don't use 4wd at all.

Looks to me like at least 4.5" maybe more.

I say it was a 4.5" kit then they added the ACOS to bump it up to 5-6

i bet that mj used to look sick, what'd the guy do roll it?

Yea, it did. Best info I got was that the e-brake was not set properly and it rolled its way down a hill.

Thanks for the replies! I got out there today to start pulling the goodies. I found out that the front springs are Rustys (ror 300 or something like that) so I'm assuming they are 3'' coils. Went ahead and threw them in as well as the acos spacers along with the 31's. Hello DW.
I plan on doing something with the rear tomorrow. As far as the UCA, LCA and Drop Bracket kit I have no idea who makes them nor my trac-bar. I never measured before and after, but I'm gonna say I'm probably close to 4.5'' with the Rusty's 3'' springs and the Acos spacers at their lowest setting.

Just the springs:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep007-2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep009-2.jpg

Springs, Acos, T.B. Drop Brkt, Adj. T.B.:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep011.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep010-1.jpg

You guys think trac-bar and steering look good? No adj, needed?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep013-1.jpg

Need a bigger picture showing where the drag link ends.

I'll get that tomorrow. A little update, I went back out today and pulled the rear springs, left the main leaf there as it's 3'' too long for my xj. My plans are to just do a B.P. with the lift leafs any my OG main. I was fortunate enough to be greeted with some DW today at about 45 (roughly. i dont have a working speedometer.) so for now I'm just gonna keep it under 45. My thoughts are throwing the drop brackets on with the adj. C.A.'s should fix my problem once I get my caster set correctly. In the meantime I'm really diggin my "Pre-runner" look hahaha

EDIT: Does anyone know if the tranny mount out of the MJ will work? It seems that the crossmember has been pushed back about an inch on the MJ and it uses a bracket that houses a different style mount. I looked under my rig and found that I have the holes for it, I just wanted to make sure before i go trying to put it in to find out it doesnt work.

Is this better?

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep001-3.jpg

Got an early start this morn, threw the rear together. I actually measured this time and it I gained about 4.5'' of lift for the rear. Gonna have to find some new shocks or relocate my shock mounts on the axle. So far no vibes so I'm happy.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep002-2.jpg

Got the drop brackets and adj. c.a.'s on today and it's much better! I can finally go up to about 60 (couldn't take her any faster, was on a public road). I really only have one issue, I have no idea who makes my upper c.a.'s and I need the two spacers that go on the outside of the joint so it sits evenly in the middle of my drop brackets. Other than that I'm all set and pretty dang happy with how she feels overall. I gotta put my extended brake lines on soon too.

EDIT:
Just in case:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep003-2.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5288136_n.jpg

Looks good to me.

I thought so. I just wanted to double check.

EDIT: I have one issue, When I put my drop brackets on I had to remove my front shaft as it was too short. Anyone else experience this?

I don't see why putting drop brackets on would make the driveshaft too short. It shouldn't change anything except the CA angles.

Nice XJ and good find on the parts MJ!!!i wish i lived closer so that i could come buy that roll bar off of you!and maybe a couple of other pieces lol

Well I left the lengths of the c.a.'s exactly the same as they came off the MJ. I figured he must have had it pretty dialed since it was his DD, it pushed my axle forward about 2-3'' though. It rides a ton better all the way up to 65 (so far) it still kinda feels like when the dw is starting to come around 45-65 but no matter what it never shows up. Could be a rear D-line vibe though, or my front tires could be outta balance. I'm gonna get that checked next.


EDIT: Was just thinking, When the Acos were on the Mj they were adjusted about 2'' taller than what I'm running. Could that much of a height difference mean the c.a.'s need to be re-adjusted? I'm running them at their lowest setting.

For reference: http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...eep007edit.jpg


Thanks man! I myself am surprised it hasn't gone faster, guess there just isn't enough people around me to get it sold. I was thinkin about posting it on that comanche club site but I don't want to join just to sell my roll bar. I would feel it would kinda be a misuse.

Well I haven't gotten much done lately, been busy at work. I have done misc. things such as whip up some spacers till I can get to my lathe to make some nice ones. I also found out my front shaft was NOT too short, just seized due to p/o neglect to grease. Which brings me to a question of, how high can I go on a stock front shaft? What about the rear? 4.5? Other that i got plans to get started on my rear bumper soon, and a t case drop for now. Oh and do any locals wanna trade a pair of 31 10.50 15 for 30 9.50 15 s? lol Or for the right price some to buy.

Get an SYE and a front driveshaft for the rear, and the front should be fine.

Those are a tad pricey at my $9 an hour wage, that's the only reason I'm doin the drop.

Get a hack n tap. IRO has one for 200 bucks and it comes with a rebuilt front shaft.

I'll check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

No problem.

Found a jeep on blocks in an alley the other day, I was able to talk to the owner who had already pulled the motor/trans/t case and he said $40 and I could pull what I wanted. I walked away with a hatch, 3 doors (2 great), all int. door panels, all seats, some plastics, a metal gas tank skid, a tranny x-member, and what I'm assuming is a t case skid just cant figure out where it mounts.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep054.jpg

Otherwise.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep044.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...fe/jeep042.jpg

No input on the skid?
Went back today.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep002-3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep003-3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../jeep007-3.jpg

The skid mounts to the Tranny crossmember with the holes on the left of the picture and the unibody frame rail on the right.

PICS
http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...0/DSC01073.jpg
http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...0/DSC01074.jpg
http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/l...0/DSC01076.jpg

Wicked sick. Thanks a ton man!

not a problem and Intall it before you drop the crossmember its much easier...trust me

Hahaha alright. I really want to go 33's but I don't even have gears I could put up with. Anyone got any 4.10's? haha

you can run 33's on 3.55's just wont be very peppy i do it and find it fine...but i also live in michigan where its mostly flat

I don't even have 3.55's. 3.07 baby! haha

Aircruiser runs 35s on 3.07s and he said it aint too bad.

oops lol