Kamaran

Ordered a short block rebuild kit thats .60 over for now, new bearings & bolts and stuff...Bottom end will be balanced and possibly knife edge the crank to remove some rotational weight...The plus for this are far better for what I'll be doing. Daily driving will have quicker pickup since its lighter, more mpg since its lighter..ect.
I'd like to get our 4.0 crank down to the 4.2L 4 weight crank, which is 46lbs..The 4.0 is 56lbs I believe but I'll take anything I can get...even if its only 1lbs I'll be happy lol. Also gonna use one of those bearing girdles on the 96+ 4.0s...since it bolts on and makes things "stiffer" for less NVH.
I'm gonna order valves and everything after I do some research on which & what to get..as well as a small cam possibly. I will be using a double roller timing gear as well and stocker rockers..
I'm also comtemplating using a HO head but then again I think it'd be more work that its worth...I'd need a EGR port drilled onto the HO intake manifold and add a bung to a HO header which isn't to hard...Just gotta think it through and look at everything before I spend money. I don't think the gains will be worth the cost of it...

I already have a full Renix motor so I might as well use it instead of spending another 100+ on a head, 100+ on the intake, 100+ on a HO header and more $$$ just to make it all work. I think going all RENIX is the ticket!

Kamaran

Ya pictures and everything will be posted as always!
My motor runs extremely good right now, but it looks like crap on the outside and it must be filthy to turn fresh Mobil 1 black in 18 miles..if that. Its got 250k+ on it..who knows the actually mileage or what its actually been through...odometer stopped working at 242k lol. Bill of sale was 6+ years ago and says 231k
So its probably close to 300k or more...it could use a replacement lol...not that its needed in anyway. Love these 4.0's

The motor I'll be building only has 107k lol. I am thinking about dropping the 107K motor in while I rebuild my original motor as well...I'd like if my vin numbers matched all the way around & right now they do..I'd love to keep that so I may swap in the 107k and rebuild my original motor just because of this! Hard yes but worth it in the end probably not but at least I'll be happy.

Kamaran

Updates even at 3AM. I'm hageling with someone about a 0630 head thats ported with all new but stock intake valves, stock exhaust, stock springs, stock retainers...everythings brand new, never even put on a motor...the exhaust port floors were raised a little, similar to the 0331 head...you do this to bring velocity up since our exhaust ports flow more exhaust than we actually flow...Basically exhaust gasses are to slow because of the ports being to large and you end up with revision, this robs horsepower & economy! We don't rev high enough to take advantage of their size...people have prove this with flow testing! Raising the flows actually increased flow on a flowbench because velocity increased! This is what the 0331 head was after with its smaller exhaust ports, but Chrysler failed and something went bad, so they crack! This head has that taken care of..smaller ports = high velocity and its a 0630 casting which is raved to be the best there is. And since it'll have higher exhaust velocity, that should create a slight suction, which will help pull in fresh intake charge!!! Wether this head is good enough to do that, who knows but I'm motor savy enough to understand it...and even if it doesn't create that suction, at least its a step it the right direction with higher exhaust velocity. It'll be flow benched if I get it though, just to see if theres any issues that need or should be corrected!
Its 100% ported and looks amazing. He wants $380 which isn't bad but shippings $178 which kills the deal..so I'm trying to work out a price thats fair for us both! I'd love to get it for $275 but who knows!
I will get this head though and fix what I don't like...I'll throw bigger intake valves and put a mirror finish on the chambers & exhaust ports to keep everything moving nice and fast and because smooth chambers are less prone to detenation since theres no ridges and smooth exhaust runners will keep the heat & speed up!!..Only those 3 things its missing! Then I just need to rebuild my short block!!!!! BAM baby I move quick
Guys also got great feedback..109 items sold 99% positive feedback..1 person was negative about how something wasn't shipped right and the glass broke but he got half his money returned as well..so I don't count that as negative!

Kamaran

incase anyones curious, I'd be installing SBC valves..they are 1.94", while stock is 1.91" I believe...yes yes I know its only a tiny upgrade but for $40 bucks why not lol? Also want it done because I'd have to ream the guide to 11/32 instead of the 5/16 stock. So I can get them put it at a slight angle..angled towards the exhaust, to further help the exhaust flow & hopefully get a little more of the suction action going! I want the exhaust to go out and help pull in the fresh intake charge! So its worth it in my eyes because its cheap and actually helps the motor!
I've also learned that because our exhaust ports are bigger than we need and decrease flow in stock form, theres no point in going bigger on the exhaust side unless your gonna rev to 5500+rpm or run a huge cam! For the normal daily driver stock exhaust valves are just perfect! I'll be running a stock cam so far unless I decided a upgrade is needed lol...so I don't need much more!
Decent thread on jeepstrokers.com about this info as well! Tones of flow bench work and such to prove the claims as well! I'm motor savy so I understand whats being said! So if you ever do anything like this, remember bigger isn't better & to keep the stock sized exhaust valves to keep the velocity up and flowing fast! Don't let anyone talk you out of that!

Kamaran

Just bought an AX-15I & NP231..the I is for internal slave but hey 0 miles on a fresh rebuild!
They were both rebuilt with receits and everything for proof. Guy sold the Cherokee and got a 4cyl wrangler and found the trans won't fit....duh lol.
Anyway I got it for $1000 +my old BGF at's & waggy wheels that I had sitting here. Best deal..no...decent deal? I think so..0 miles on it and it had everything needed for install! I'm very happy with my buy! Now I'm waiting on the install...pictures soon!

Kamaran

Rolling Thunder lives! Started her open header toinght
At least 4 or 5 neighbors came out like, "Wtf is that?". I told them its as good as life gets and smiled ifrom ear to ear! lol

Anyway Peugeot wouldn't go into gear, so AX-15 is going in sooner than expected! Jeep will finally be driveable again! Video and pics garunteed this weekend!!!!. Driving her with open headers to the exhaust shop. God I love how loud it is!

Got a vacuum leak somewhere, so gotta sort that out as well.

LilXJBoy

I'm really diggin your rig so far bro! I love what you did with the grille and the black and red theme already had it goin on. One question, how come you don't go a lil bigger on the lift?

Kamaran

Well the suspension hasn't changed since I bought it..it came with a 1.25" bastard pack lift in the rear when I got it..and a stock front..all it has done it no fender flares and 31's..the fenders aren't even trimmed yet...

Heres a few more reasons though...Main reason was the jeep wasn't ready to be lifted and have bigger tires! It has a D35/D30 disco that doesn't work, as well as a peugeot trans! And so many broken parts it was crazy! I haven't posted half of the problems that this thing has had....I would of done more damage lifting it higher with bigger tires at this point

So my main focus was to make this thing safe and mechanically sound! So I started to hunt for a AX-15, C8.25/D44 and a D30 non disco for the front, ZJ disk brakes for the rear & a bigger brake booster! Well I finally found my Ax-15/mp231 thats freshly rebuilt and it has 0 miles on the rebuild! Score, I payed 1000 + my old 30x9.5 BGF's & waggy wheels. The rebuild was 1800 for the trans & transfer and I got the reciets.
I got my C8.25, Zj brakes & bigger booster from the JY at 50% off day and I have a motor being rebuilt right now as well!
So I started fixing it up the right way and making sure its all done right! Then I plan to do some interior work and the go bigger on the suspension!

Anyway heres a quick rundown of how everything's played out over the last few weeks....


I wanted D-window wheels...Well I found a set from a great XJ guy and they had a set or worn 33x10.5's BFG AT's on them..Got the wheels and tires for $125..I then find out his sons a really cool kid and he had just rolled his xj...I bought the kids motor thats getting rebuilt for my jeep, 3" lift, interior...bought his whole jeep minus the shell pretty much Me and him are actually good friends now and hes been helping me at the JY's and with my jeep!
I then decided I'd rather run 31's for now and level out my jeep since it had a 1.25" rear lift when I got it! So I started looking for 31's..I found some guy the same day that was wantingto trade his 31x10.5's for 33x10.5s..Only downside is he had studded ice tires!..His wheels were D-windows and had the red/blue pin sripe still..Mine didn't and I wanted that..I hit him up and he wanted to trade, even though my tires were worn and his wheels were better/newer looking. So we traded and I got a almost new set of studded ice tires, most people didn't want them but I don't see a problem..The studs will wear just like the rubber will. So it was a win win for me. Almost new tires & nicer wheels! I chose new tires vs a bigger tire basically! My 33's were at 30-40% tread, his are 90-100%! 33's also looked to big on the jeep without lifting it...and as I said, it wasn't ready to be lifted! It had toooooo many issues!

So I had a 1" rear lift and new 31's..I then bought a used ZJ coil and new isolators and new bushings all around..Waiting for these parts to arrive so I can install my ZJ coil and level it out..I also have a ZJ tie rod thats itching to go in! Then we will trim the fenders and see what we end up with!

Also I don't plan to go to big, so I was happy starting small! I want 3" & 33's..thats it! Honestly my 31's look small and I only have a 1" and I haven't even trimmed yet. I'm into big wheels with no lifts..LCOG is where its at!! We had a 33 on the jeep and I loved the look, but theres just no room for it! So I have the 3" off my buddies jeep. Just waiting for these 31's to wear out then buy new 33's and install the 3" lift. I have a ZJ coil & new isolators for the front to level it out! But ya otherwise I haven't touched the suspension, only added the tires! 1" with trimmed fenders looks perfect with 31's...I don't really crawl or anything..its just my daily driver that will take me where I need to go..We snowboard, fish, go to the desert races, baseball/softball games..just about everything, so I wanted something aggressive and small thats still plenty capable for now!

The goal was to get a nice capable jeep going first! I wanted to fix all the problems that there was..like the 02 sensor being broke in half, cracked header, leaking steering box, *****ty transmission, missing parts, broken motor mounts & no trans mount and it breaking 24 hours after I bought it...bigger lift and tires would of made it all worse..So this setup is just to hold me over for the real deal!
So I am rebuilding the motor and got a AX-15 to replace the peugeot, so it'll be mechanically sound. Then I'm doing interior once the motor/trans are done! Then I'm doing suspension!
I have about 2000 worth of parts in the mail Stiffeners, motor parts, bushings & isolators, Fox 2.0s for all 4 corners! Almost everythings bought, just waiting for them to get here and go on! I have a Ford 8.8 with 4.56's, locker, diff cover & truss in my garage...D30's being built! Its coming..just haven't released the info yet lol.
Again I have no income at all!!!! This is money I made over the summer from working on my buddies car! So it may be slow but it will happen!

Ax-15's going in this weekend cause the damn peugeot won't go into gear..I pour 3 bottles of MT90 which are $13 each and then the damn thing won't go into gear? I was so pissed!! So ax-15's going in sooner than expected, motor is getting rebuilt shortly..then interior, then suspension lol!

Basically what I have here is a jeep xj shell with 300k or so miles and everything else it brand new pretty much

Kamaran

Such a long and un-needed post lol..but thats my story

SirLasVegas

Liking the build so far. Nice to see someone that puts the time into little detail. Fuel rail is the one thing I wish I woulda cleaned up when I had the head off, and I spaced it. Thats a nice chunk of change you had to dump into it WOW. Hopefully all comes together nicely for ya

Kamaran

Ok pics will be coming tomorrow. AX-15 is in! I had to use a 99 TJ trans mount and drill 2 new holes in my cross member because I couldn't get any other mount & bracket to work..DId a quick google search and it showed the TJ mount worked with minor modifications!
The TJ mount bolts straight to the trans, so I have no trans plate/bracket thing...Good think I needed to get my exhaust remade, because now I have no trans bracket, means I have no exhaust hanger there!

Issues:
Reverse plug is different, can't swap sensors since mine is tiny compared to this one on the AX-15...what do or should I do? I haven't found crap for info on this?
As well as no speed-o. I need to get that fixed!!!

Kamaran

Alright guys its been awhile. I feel like a stranger

But Updates as promises!
This is now the 6th time I've had to drop & install the trans in this jeep. First 4 were because the slave kept bursting whenever we blead the clutch & got pressure..Fixed that issue by getting a metal one at Napa vs the plastic at vatozone.
The 5th time was because the puegoet only had 4th & reverse...don't know what happened but it won't go into anything but 4th and reverse!
So now we got the Jeep running with the AX-15 in but I have no clutch, it won't sustain pressure..We bleed it and its super stiff, then it goes away..fixing this issue currently! So the fight continues Rolling Thunder 6, Kamaran 0




Heres a few video's with open headers, the popping is because I was burping the throttle...I enjoyed the sound. I'm sure everyone will have their own opinions though!

From the end of the driveway.


View from under the jeep. Cool flames bro


View from inside my messy jeep.




Interior updates:
I started having weird grease stains pop up everywhere. I think the PO steam cleaned the jeep to make it look so clean..that was a big selling point for me and of course, it was just another cover up. And it didn't have a headliner..but no biggy. Cause I wanted a nice black headliner!

Here you can see how dirty the interior became after roughly 3 weeks. Idk why or how but it was spotless before I was pissed! Carpet was a huge disappointment, but alot of the carpet is my fault Seats & door panels were the PO's fault..I think it was steam cleaned or something.
Oh and I found a lovely surprise under the drivers seat...a nice dried puddle of puke! Yes puke..someone hurdled and I guess it was never cleaned

See the huge grease stain on the door panel?


So I started tearing everything out. Started with cleaning my front seats.


Finished product. I scrubbed them down some more after these pictures and all stains are gone except for the quarter sized one thats at the very back part of the seat..right where the bottom & top connect!


Next was the headliner..no pics of the process but here she is. The material is sort of like suade..but still normal headliner material! I like it! No wrinkles or ruffles anywhere.



Broke my center console when I removed it, so I got a replacement. As well as the sony explode speakers for the front door.
Thinking about painting it black...still haven't decided yet...advice?



I then decided I wanted a different look with the gauges. So I broke out the sharpie. Did the needles red and all the embloms red. So whatever was that orang-ish color is now vividly red...such as the KPH, water, temp and better symbol.. Also colored my normal cruising speed red..thought it was cool. About 50mph in town and 65mph on the highway!


Since I was into painting/coloring things. I decided all the trim from the windows up would look better in black instead of grey..So from the window line up will be black to match the headliner and the bottom half will be grey to match the seats and carpet!
So heres my black trim!




I then started hunting craigslist for any parts I thought would be useful.
Now onto the better updates in my mind

Went to the junkyard for 50% off day..I got a little of this & that!
Like this 29spline C8.25 with 3.55's. Open diff though.

Also got this 2000 jeep xj brake booster, master & proportioning valve. I'll probably pull a ZJ proportioning valve though because I plan to do ZJ rear disks.

Also pulled this ZJ tire rod & ZJ coil springs. New TRE on tire rod as well.


Heres the new brakes for the front of my jeep. As well as the ZJ calipers. Also have the disks and ebrake cables. Just need backing plates and then I'll do the swap! Also my new rubicon front shocks
Those are a jeep dealership scrap pile score..got them for free



I then started hunting craigslist for anything I though would be useful. I found a set of Courser AT2's..about 80% treadlife, with 2 worn on the outer shoulders..about 60% there. The came on some American Racing wheels that I plan to clean up and sell!
Oh ya I got them for $150, then the guy came back and bought a intake manifold and bored throttle body for his HighOutput jeep for $75..so I scored these suckers for $75 and parts I couldn't use on my renix


I ordered some more parts as well
Frame stiffy's
Steering box brace (inner&outter..currently waiting for these)
D30 Spartan locker
New bushings & coil isolators all around. (still waiting..stupid quadratec) Its been almost 3 weeks now
Hella 500ff's
magnaflow muffler

No pics of the magnaflow..gave my jeep to a friend. Hes gonna try and get the clutch sorted out, and weld up my exhaust! So exhaust videos soon.
Oh that checkered speaker bar is now black just like the headliner as well. Did that with the left over material!
Hella 500FF's..I think these are the "driving" lights though...All the fogs I've seen had a yellow tint to them...either way I'm happy! These will replace the Jeep lights on my bumper!





Here my arts photo..everyones got one so I felt left out



Now more updates are coming, as well as updated pictures..these are about a week or so old. My new stereo is in, as well as black trim/dash bezel! Pics & videos of the exhaust are coming! I need to get a D30 HP non disco with 3.55's & ZJ backing plates. SO I'll be at the junkyard on the 17th or 18th getting that stuff.
Pics of her washed & waxed with black trim is coming. Also finished interior pics.
Theres alot of progress being made! So keep your on eyes on Rolling Thunder, its a struggle but she'll be beautiful once shes done!

Kamaran

Forgot to add rebuilding motors on the back burner...I wanna get the jeep up and going and running right first..I want her to have good axles under her and get her cleaned up & finish what I already started!

So I have everything for the rebuild, its juts gonna get put on hold so I can focus on what I already have!

Kamaran

Man no love for Rolling Thunder huh? Well updates anyway!

Alright we've got updates....finally!

Lets start with the before. Jeep was sunk in the Majove river in May sometime, I got it in June and the padding material under the carpet was still wet..thats now 4 months later and it was still wet...Eww:down:
It had filthy carpet & seats and grease stained door panels, no headliner, stock rear speakers and a Elcheapo deck!


Puke under the drivers seat was a nice find.

Pulled the rear seat to find my OEM jack inplace! A little rusty but otherwise in decent shape. Also the carpet under the rear bench didn't look to bad, other than the food and dried up mossy crap from the river. Its the stringy looking crap but my seat belt buckles!

I managed to find 1 clean spot at least.


I also had no headliner, so I decided to fix that. Before I put the headliner in I wanted to add some kind of sound deadener and insulation to the roof since there was nothing at all. I also put foam inbetween the braces to take care of the popping roof sound. It did the job so I'm happy.
I went to Lowes and picked up this role of insulation for about $13 bucks. Its sorta like the sun visor material, but thicker! I'm hoping it'll keep the wind noise down!
The role was big enough to do 2 layers.

It does keep the temps down some. Before it was added the jeep would get so hot you could bearly stand to sit in it, now that this is on there its at least bearable! I can feel a difference!


Carpet & most of everything else stripped out. New & old carpet laying out. Should of got comparison pictures.

My jeep was a storage unit since I'm not currently driving it. I was surprised to see how much actually came out of it. This is close to 1/2 of what was in it lol.


Now that it was all stripped, I found some spot rust and ALOT of mold growing on my floor. So I took a sander to it and got it roughed up and cleaned up. Then I started laying down some bedliner!
Rustoleum from Wally World.
First layer

Third layer


I was getting very frustrated and thought I wasted my money, because if you look at the pictures, theres no texture or thickness to it. It was going on like paint. So I look into the gallon of paint and see all the rubber stuck to the bottom of the can. So I grabbed a brush and started scooping it out and brushing it on vs just rolling it on!
4th layer

Fifth layer This is still wet.

Now we were getting some texture. I believe this was the last layer I layed down. I let it sit for roughly 36 hours. It became extremely hard and quite rough. I was pleased! I took a screw driver to it and tryed scratching it and it didn't really scratch or chip unless I put a **** load of pressure on it.

This is after it had dryed up. You can see it became a little more dull looking.

By the E-brake handle you can see some "shiny" patches. Thats where theres no texture, just for reference!


Next was to install the newer steam cleaned carpet. I scrubbed the carpet and used a shampooer until the water was coming out clear! Once that happened I knew it was clean:wootsign:
If you look in the quarter panels you can also see the sound deadener/ foam material I added. Its the same stuff thats under the carpets, you can grab a roll from Napa for 20 bucks or so.
I just kept cutting 12" squares and folding it up and stuffing it in untill no more fit! They were bear metal before, so its better than nothing. If you haven't noticed I don't want a loud rattling interior, especially since I have a baby riding with me!

I was also happy to ditch the old rear carpet because I had chrome strips on my carpet..it came from the factory like that...I didn't like it.

This is how I left her on day 1. All the carpet it and spotless. Then I had to toss crap in it because it started raining...stupid weather:taz:


I retreated to the messy *** clutered garage to finish painting my interior panels!

The garage looked like that..sometimes worse, sometimes better for 3 days lol.
Inthe picture above you can see my new tires, headliner, air compressor..
Also you can see the rear seat covers off because they were being shampooed and steam cleaned. Its nasty to seat 20+ years of sweat, dirt & grit leave your seats!

I've been a busy busy boy!

Kamaran

Continued:

The door panels came off and were all shampooed and steam cleaned to remove as many stains as possible. The nastiness that came out of them..that came out of everything in my jeep was disgusting! I can't believe it was so filthy!
No comparison pics other than this..
Before Look at the passenger side door panel, the driver side was even worse!

After this looks so much better! No more stains!

You can also see where I painted all the chrome trimmings black! It was a last minute decision and it came out great!


While the door panels were off I put in my little 5 1/4" Sony Explode speakers. I took out some 6 1/2" performance technique from the front doors. They sounded good but didn't provide the sound I like! I like highs & mids, I like a good clean, crisp sound. I'm not into bass at all!
When I installed the speakers I glued some of that foam material inside the door's as well. I put 2 layers in the fronts and 1 layer in the rears. I did it mainly to avoid rattling but also as insulation and hoping to get a cleaner sound from the speakers.
No pictures of this though. Sorry guys.

After that USPS decided to show up with a Quadratec package. I payed them on August 7th and received my package on September 16th I think. They told me it shipped 2 days after I bought it but I never received a tracking number at all..ever! I called them 6x's and they still couldn't give me answers. But at least I got my package. I'll never deal with Quadratec again. I dislike them and every customer service rep dislikes me now lol.

That long of a wait for a few bushings and 2 isolators is unecpectable, especially when you tell me its shipped and it takes another 6 weeks to get to me. And then never provide a tracking number! :down:

My next project was the rear hatch speakers & installing my sound bar...I wanted 6 speakers all together but soon ditched the sound bar idea after speaking with a few forum members. I didn't want to deal with the hassle!
So heres the Factory rear speakers that aren't blow. I was very surprised!!!

And heres the Sony Explodes with some of that foam stuff glued behind them to prevent rattling and hopfully get a cleaner sound from them.


I put the stock speaker covers over them to "hide" them. Looks almost identical to the OEM speakers!

After I finished the speakers up I ate and played with my daughter..Shes just starting to walk! The plans I had for my jeep before we knew about Kenzie, was to have a caged daily driver jeepspeed..5" and 33's...ect! Now my plans are 3" and 31's cause I need something smaller and practical that can still hold its own!
Anyway heres my beautiful daughter. Kenzie Taylor Wain!

Nap time lol.


My daughter and our dog.


After play time and nap time I came back out and installed a few pieces of trim to get an idea of how it would look. Needless to say I was pleased with the out come!


After I got a glimpse of what my interior would look like once it was all buttoned up I was very eager to finish it. The next day I was up at 8AM and waiting for the courtesy hour of 9o'clock. As soon as it hit I was out there wrenching away!
In about an hour I ended up with this!





I also was extremely surprised with my battery. I was running my radio for 3 days straight without ever turning the jeep on. And I left my lights on 1 night lol and it never ran out of juice. Wasn't ever hard to start or anything! Good thing I saved my $250 bucks and bought a locker instead right?

Thats all the pictures of the interior I have for now. I had to take a few peices of trim back off because of scratches! I wanted it to be perfect, so I'll have some pictures with the seats in and everything for you guys today. And I'll have them uploaded for your viewing pleasure!