I've debated this long and hard. I finally pulled the trigger when I realized I'm in this hobby to stay regardless what rig I currently have.
xj is unfounded the current rig. Its getting beat and mangled broken. I had to start purchasing parts that are not xj specific that can evolve on to other platforms ones with a framework or even tube chassis.

So literally a few years reading researching teaching myself about suspension geometry coilovers air shocks even ori. I had decided on ori but they are unavailable for another month or 3.

My research led me to contacting accutune, filthy motor sports and down South. I soon found most everything in 14" back orderd for months. Wtf.

Almost a month ago I weighed my jeep reconnected with accutune talked more in depth on my xj suspension ive built. Placed an order and they promptly started moving theyre shop into a new shop.. wtf again..

So after about a months wait they arrived. Valved and ready. Ive been so close to tearing into the jeep gutting the coil suspension but I stayed strong kept breaking it and running trails and having fun.

After getting a tracking number I pulled it in and started moving stuff out of the way on the passenger side.. drivers side pretty much is clear well except for the master cylinder..






They didnt come charged, have a buddy that will help me with that. That will actually come in handy for mocking up brackets without having to fight pressure.

Hopefully accutune nailed my spring rates. 200/275 springs. 275 is the is my main rail.

The two springs together before hitting slider stop to take upper spring out of the equation is like 118 so soft to firmer where i decide decgo firmer on compression. I might be way off on the spring rate.
I think two 200/200 rate springs while working together have a 100rate then jumpa to 200 oince slider stop takes upper spring out of the equation.

These are 12" shooting for 5-6" of up travel and not lifting the nose much. will set at full compression shock at full compression build brackets and cross fingers it doesnt lift more than an 1" so. If it does and spring rates are to high and have like 7-8" of shaft showing ill have to get maybe a 250 rate lower spring or whatever accutune recommends then

not sure how ill build brackets. Everyone builds shock hoops but im not every one. Ive got alot of 1/4" plate also have some 1 3/4" tube. May be a combination of both

Will update with progress later.

BTW I didn't want king shocks they just happened to be virtually the only ones available at this time and radflo prices are nearly that of fox and king but everyone I talked said they are a good knotch below
I almost did foa they even seemed like good guys to deal with on the phone and they have stock or atleast did a month ago

Anyways thats it for now

Starting on drivers side. Mock up stage

Full droop


Leaning in 10deg back a fuzz just enough to be vertical at full drooo

12\" shock is about 1" short of using every bit of my 3link droop

 

Not alot of progress but think ive nailed down upper bracket location need to adjust lower. Its putting the lower heim at more misalignment at full stuff then I like. Also need to cut more fender.
the location ive decided on won't quite clear ounce springs are on shock.

Lots more to do plating gussetting and cross tube. Haven't even really thought about where resivors are going to go.
I do think ill run a bar between shocks and two bars to the firewall all bolted .

Still crossing fingers I hit similar ride height to my previous set up.
Bump stop location popped in my head that will be the easiest part of this hole thing.

Full stuff. Everything clearing by about 1/2"

Need to tilt brackets back slightly, i think.
when other side drops out it binds. Doesnt bind but looks close.



thats alot of droop. So glad I wasn't able to buy 14s like I thought I wanted. These 12"s are perfect for the link set up.

Excited that it looks like I don't have to move the air filter. its all the little things that need done that ad up.. like plating the frame just to start. You'd think id of had that done already.

 

What was the point of adding those? Although, I wouldn't cut my Jeep like that its is kind of cool how to goes above your engine.

 

Government? I usually have no thanks for those s.o.b's.

 

True true

First test fit with a spring. Lower needs fone tuned i think it needs to not pointed at tgd upper not perpendicular to frame

 

I've tacked lower on 3 ways and can't decide whats best


Aways gets a bind at both extremes of articulation

Perpendicular to axle might be best

Moving to other things while we think on that

Faced tower

Ran out of gas putting a face on the tower, side out of site isn't welded. Also boxed in axke side. No a complete truss from C to C turdy 30. Probly adding a 100lbs just to put shocks on.

Didntvwant any suprises when i boktva wheel on

 

Drivers side is close. Still kicking around bracket orientation on axle. Have a very solid tower build from material thicker than required. Tower has to be bolted on otherwise master cylinder finds a permit home.



hopping to kinds button up drivers side tonight then move to passenger side. Work my way up from the axle. Hoping it goes much smoother since I hopefully kinda have it figured out on the drivers side.

Last will be a tieing towers together then figure out where resivors will live, frame rail or on bar tieing towers together. Passenger side tower might weld on but a bolt on bracket isn't a bad idea over there to. That way it can be easily changed

Tentative plan is charge shocks Saturday then go on a test run Sunday if all goes well.

running into coil clearance issues. Had to move lower bracket out to get get 1/8" coil to tower clearance at full articulated droop



So tedious. Im burning this bracket in finally
itl be limited strapped to. These arms have alittle more than the shocks allow.

Start of passenger side lower shock mount base these will double as bump stop pads

 

are you going to brace the towers?

 

Yes. Tie towers together and have a couple bars go to the firewall. That will be last.

 

Wow is all I've got to say. Just went on a fast rough extremely fun test run front end soaks up everything thrown at it. Crossing ruts at speed g outs. Un real the difference.
can definitely tell the rear is a dragging as turd.

Accutune hit spring rates on the money 5-6" of up travel and easily adjustable for that inch variance with little adjustment of upper nut.



Test drive was down with resivors wrapped up snug, intake needs redone and starting to picture a engine cage to tie towers together. Bridge between towers may not be needed but will give some peace of mind.


Do some cleaning regrouping and go into engine cage fabbing . Been a long week but very much worth the effort.

 

Was able to get things finished enough for a shake down run. Completely amazing set up. More stable soaks up big hits doesnt lean on the street more travel never bottoms out.
You have no idea till you try it.

have 6" up and down travel. ride height is sadly alittle higher but ill live with it.

Guessing around 4" of lift now but i dont really know.

upper tower sub frame still to go

 

Thing rides amazing and handles worlds better. Can't even explain it. Its faster and smoother through the rough stuff then a buddies razor.







I can't get over how much better it handles and rides on the trail. This thing does everything better than a bone stock xj and thats no joke have ran it side by side my buddies stock one. Rides better handles better and steers better

Slowly making progress ounce done i guess move to the rear been talking with accutune about doing theyre magic there to.

 

Another evening done.

Tomorrow resivor mounts and be done.

 

Finished for now
front end feels tighter. No popping groaning or ripping metal after about 15 miles of the most horrible trail ive been on








Everyone should do this. Well worth two weeks of peices it together

 

First time over this entire loop on the mtn its 30 miles not many utv and no jeeps connect it in tge middle. Theres some huge pucker factor switch backs over cliffs.



Pretty stoked to run these trails