Rocky98

I changed the fluid in the rear end and painted the diff cover red to go with my theme. It was a bigger pain that I planed because the previous owner sprayed undercoating straight over the diff cover and bolts. It took way too long to get it down to bare metal. Also, when they had the fluid changed (utterly shocked they had it changed at all), but they didn't clean the old gasket off. So there was two layers of gasket to scrap off. Soon, I will be doing the front as well as replacing the leaky pinion seal.

Rocky98

Thank you, Steve! :-)

kuzican

just realized yours is a 98 as well. you're sitting a .5" higher though (lift wise)

Rocky98

Yep! I am hoping to put some 33s on this summer, and possibly a 1.75" shackle and an some pucks. Then the Bushwacker flat fenders and bumpers. School has me too busy to do anything anymore! I do plan on getting KM2s though....

kuzican

honestly, leave it at 3.5" with 33s. it will look BA, ask me how i know = D

the 33s on 3.5" lift will be awesome. at some point I plan on moving up to 4" and running 35s

Rocky98

Okay...how do you know?

I don't really like the look of 33s on a 3.5 lift. This is not the first jeep I've built. That's not my style. I'll save 35s for a wrangler when I pick another one up. It'd cost more than I am willing to spend to put 35s on an xj...the right way that is.

Rocky98

Also...adding extended shackles to RE leaf springs creates a better flex. I like being flexy so that is another reason for my future additions.

kuzican

understandable, to each their own. as of right now the Jeep is the only thing I really spend money on though

Rocky98

Lol. Oh to be young again and blow money on whatever you please....you should save money for a rainy day fund also. You never know when you'll need it.

But, just to clarify, its not the money stopping me from putting 35s on, its the fact that its not what I want. On a wrangler...yes...xj...no.

kuzican

yeah....well right now I only make enough for gas, insurance, and stuff for some fun. I need to plan my fun ahead of time. but I did just get a new job, once those paychecks start rollin' in I'll be saving a lot more money.

and yeah i figured. I know with 35s there's even more trimming to be done, and axle stuff...unless keep stock and keep spares, lol. plus gears....

Rocky98

Yeah...the axle stuff is what I DON'T want to really mess with. I easily dumped a good $3k into my wrangler's axles. Best upgrade I had ever done for it. But, I made sure it was done the right way. Spend a good chunk on quality, and it will take care of you. Spend on junk and you are left on the trail broken.

Fun should always be planned. Otherwise you become careless with money. Plan to save when it does roll in. You'll thank me in 10 years if you do and stick to it.

Rocky98

Well, its been a while since I have been on here. It is time for a round of upgrades though. In the next month I plan on doing the following:
-Bushwacker Flat Fenders
-33" KM2s with black wheels 3.75 backspacing
-SYE and driveshaft
-redo the headliner and install 6.5" Kickers in the rear
-Still thinking about doing a spacer and shackle to give me another inch or so.

Other Jeep news...the sound stopped working. There is still power to the radio but no sound. I checked the wiring in the door speakers and in the hinge...nothing. I need to pull the head unit but I misplaced the little tools to do that. It's driving me crazy without music!! Hopefully I can take it all apart this weekend and find the culprit.

Rocky98

After many nights of googling and searching for jeep parts, I changed my mind on the tires and wheels. I am going to go with the following instead:

-M/T Baja Lock Wheels 15x8
-M/T MTZ 33x12.5x15

I am still planning on the bushwackers and SYE as well.

Other than that, I have a huge maintenance list building. Here's what I have on the agenda for this weekend:
-oil change
-spark plugs
-clean TB
-seafoam treatment to TB and Fuel system
-tighten steering components
-Hunt for sound issue

I am debating on the crackcase because I have heard many say it clears out too much grime and leaks begin to flow. Any thoughts?

SG Mason

Before using Seafoam do a compression and a leak down test. I Seafoamed my 92 Stealth that has almost 185k miles on it. The compression test was on the high side and it held green on the leak down test. After I did the Seafoam the compression was dead on the specs, it still held green on the leak down, and it runs a lot smoother. I did the full treatment on the Stealth, 1/3 can in the tank, 1/3 can in the crankcase, 1/3 can through the brake boost vacuum line.

If either test is off on any cylinder don't Seafoam it at all, it will make things worse. Find the cause of the problem, fix it then worry about Seafoam. Most of the horror stories I have read about Seafoam the person doing it started off with a bad engine, or didn't follow the instructions properly. I suspect that the few that "say" they did it right actually didn't.

Compression and leak down tests are very useful tools that can tell you a lot about the health of your engine even if it is running properly. I still have to do them on my XJ, I lent out the testers and still haven't got them back

PocketsEmpty

Nice Jeep! I figured I'd scope your build out since you read through mine (thanks for the compliments, that must have been a lot of reading! LOL).

Looks like you have the exact same head unit as I do. Is that the DEH-6400BT? Also, did you ever trim your door panel for those speakers? I might order new 6.5's and tweeters for mine today.