Well I found this forum site yesterday and instantly decided to become a member. So why not dive right in and start a build thread since I'm in the middle of building my 89 XJ now.

I just want to warn you all that I am a newbie to the 4X4 world and this is my first Jeep, so feel free to comment on anything you see. I may or may not take your advice. I have done a few things that may surprise you and so far I have not seen another build like this one. I'll let yall try to figure out what I'm talking about.

So now to a few pictures.


This is what I started with. I bought this 89 XJ on ebay for $1100.00




It has a Chevy 350 with MT heads and a heavy cam. Edelbrock intake and 4bbl 750 carb. I may change this to fuel injected one day when money is not so tight.



Next I searched the Junk yards around town and found my axles. I wanted a Dana 60 but did not find one in my price range. What I did find was a chevy 10 bolt with 456 Yukon gears and chrome moly axle shafts for $200.00 and a 14 bolt corp for $150.00 ( 373 gears). I now have to get 456 gears for the 14 bolt.



First thing I did was clean them both up and grind the lip off the bottom of the 14 bolt.


I welded a 1/4" plate to the bottom of the housing to act as a skid plate and primed it.



Then I painted it and installed the disk brakes.



Well I think I'll leave here for now and post some more tomorrow if I can.
So critique away folks.

 

Seems like its going to be an awesome jeep. I cant wait to see more!

 

Awesome Jeep!
GO SOONERS!

 

i hope u got plans for frame stiffeners and a cage or that 350 will tear that unibody apart

 

im excited to see it.

 

Funny you bring that up.

So, remember my first post when I said I have not seen a another build like mine on here or any other forum for that matter? (not to say I'm plowing new ground here because I do know of 2 other rigs built like mine. They are guys I know well.)
So here it goes...........

I searched and found a 78 Scout II frame and will be setting the XJ body on that.
Here it is when I got it to the shop.


I used a wire wheel ( 4 wire wheels to be exact) and primed then painted it.


I'm sure there will be a few of you out there scratching your heads as to why I would do this. I am on a very tight budget for this build and wanted to build it with leaf springs and make it strong enough to withstand my heavy right foot. And yes I do plan on a full cage before it gets wheeled anywhere.

Here are the front shackles I built out of scrap 1/4".


Here it is with the front axle



With the front tires on it



Here I just set the tires up where I think the wheel base will end up. Looks like around 118"




I will post more as I go. Keep the comments coming. I can use any advise you want to throw out there.

 

 

Can't wait to see this one! Looks like a fun toy!

 

looken good man

 

Good looking project...

 

Looks good man. What part of Oklahoma are you in?

 

haha this thing is getting better with every post......i love those shackles, they look beast mode

 

I have been busy. I finally got time to move it in the shop and start tear down.



I don't have a lift anymore so I made my own.







More to come soon.

 

I'm in OKC.

 

Well so am I. If you need any help, just shoot me a PM. Always up for meeting new wheeling buddies.