Project: Sweetleaf
 

I started off with a 98 Auto XJ, put a lift on it and wheeled it for a year or so. I ended up breaking the trac-bar axle mount and was in search for a dana 30, when I found a great deal on a 99 XJ that came with a 3" rough country and 31XX10.5 goodyear territoy( basicly just to get me around and what not).

I kepted the 98 and am now in the mix of stripping the old lift out.
Before I get started here are some pics of the 98 and 99 as is right now.

98 has the bushwackers

The weather just got nice around here so its time to get working...

Funds are low at the moment so my plan is to strip the old lift thats still in really good shape to fund for a long arm lift.

At the same time im going to re-furbish the axle,
-change all the balljoints, they've seen better days.
-check the u-joint and wheel bearing
-and fab up a new trac-bar bracket,,,,but not sure what size of material.. I want it to be stronger but not overkill.
-paint it black

nice rigs.....are you keeping both and building the '98 as a trail rig and DD-ing the 99?

if you decide to part one of them out i need a front fender and hood and grill and it just so happens your jeep is the same color as mine.

eactly my friend, I might sell the 99 after the 98 is finished... but until then

sorry,, not any time soon

where did u get ur name from? black sabbath?

I'm off to a slow start, but with school and other things on the go (fishing hut project) and other things, its hard to find time.

So I got a little bit done yesterday.

-Remove the front axle
-Stripped the front lift
-Removed front bumper (gonna fab a new one soon enough, still havent figured out the design I want to go)


The next thing on my to do list is to:
-Remove rear lift
-Fab up new trac-bar axle mount
-Change all ball joints and paint axle (what do you guys think about sand blasting axles???)

Also removed the bushwackers. Didn't want to crack and break em'.

Everyone who owns them can vouge for me that they are expensive and very fragile

After some research, I've decided to go with Rough Country 6.5 Long Arm lift minus the shocks and trac bar. (Can't Wait!)

I plan on going with bilstein 5150's and im going to use my Pro Comp adjustable trac bar.


Until then ive decided to tackle some rust. The only parts that were really rusty was the rockers and i found some weaks spot on the floorboard.

The rockers were rotten and full of mud, so there was quite a bit of rust. I used a wired brush to clean it up and coated it with Rust Killer Primer(ment to apply over rust).

Ive decided to go with a 2X6-3/16 box tubing to replace the rockers. This will have to wait until I can roll the jeep out to my buddys place.


Also the front axle is being repaired. I decided to cut the old trac-bar/ steering stabilizer mount and fab one up. My friend will be doing all the welding cause he is more experienced then me and has the tools at home.

pictures of rockers

Today was an awesome day.

Got my front axle back from my buddys, he did a fine job at fixing the trac bar mount. Just going to change the upper control bushings while its out and paint it black.


Also my lift came in,,,,, 6.5 RC long arm.

Im very satisfied with the lift, its very beefy.

Im am selling the shocks that came with the lift and will replace them with Bilsteins 5150.

I also decided to keep the trac bar I had on because it was alot beefier and has a better joint at the frame end.

I have alot of work ahead of me, ill keep y'all posted.


I was very happy to see that rough country already fixed the problem with the trans. bolts sticking out at the crossmember. Saved me some work from fixing it.

wow a 99 and a 98 awesome!! hit the JY 2 fix up the 99 and sell it! cant wait 2 see the lift!!

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