In my endless search for thing to do to my jeep, I really started researching the wj conversion. I have read a bunch of threads and I am seriously considering it. the only problem I have is i cannot weld. it doesnt look like there is a lot of welding (spacer, track bar and sway links) and i think i could outsource that to someone for not that much. the steering is also a concern as it seems that people all use custom steering. I went on ruffstuff.com and they have a gm crossover steering set up that could work, and also jks sells tie rod and drag links as well so it seems like I could just buy stuff already made for it. I can get the knuckles, brakes, and such at the yard. Basically what i need to know is will I be in over my head if i cant weld? I am pretty well mechanically inclined and have done a ton of work to my jeep but was wondering if this is just something i should stay away from.

 

Have you seen this kit http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-st...-xj-tj-zj.html yeah its not the cheapest but the only welding it takes is the axle track bar mount and sway bar links.If your looking for bigger brakes there is a couple wilwood kits that work with the stock knuckles some are a little bit cheaper and a lot less work http://www.tandrperformance.com/braking.html

 

Those kits are like 800+ If im gonna spend that much I would like to do the steering instead of just a brake upgrade

 

There are plenty of guys who can "weld on the side" for you. Ask around at work, parts stores, church..... etc.

 

yeah i think i found a welder. next question is the steering. I see many people build their own custom steering. for me it would be better to just buy a complete kit but the only one i found is jks and they are pretty expensive. would i be better just ordering raw parts from say ruffstuff and then have someone cut and weld for me?

 

if i were to do it again i would get the one ton TRES and DOM from ruff stuff

 

I ran Serious Offroad steering for two years. It was great. I'm done with TREs. I have the Ruff stuff hiem steering waiting to be installed.

 

+1.

What I have and couldn't be happier. After having two 3/4 RS heims and two 7/8 RS heims wear on my LA's within 5k miles of STREET driving, I wouldn't trust them on any steering setup, where I live. I'm sure there's better heims though.

 

http://www.stinkyfab.com/jeep-steeri...e-kit-269.html

 

That's an insane price to pay for what it is. I could literally pay full price from each of the companies you need to piece the conversion together yourself, and pay someone for my cutting and welding and still be under. I'm in my setup, with paying someone to weld, about $650, it'd be less if I didn't need new calipers when I did it, the jy ones were toast.

-JKS knuckle spacer
-everything else from RuffStuff
-source the WJ cheap from a U-Pull

 

that's still less than the clayton kit they use to sell

and you are paying for the convenience of having all NEW parts and all in 1 kit, no chance of things not working together.

You could also go this route if you like heims vice TREs

http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-st...-xj-tj-zj.html

 

That's still a high price for convenience, I did mine with new parts and cost around $650, and that includes paying a welder. The price you're lying for that kit and still need to pay a welder..

If people just read threads already made and do a little research on these awesome forums they'd have all the info they need to do it on the cheap as well.

 

Def don't be put off by the welding OP, just ask some friends or even barter/pay someone off Craigslist, it's an awesome swap that solves two stock deficiencies, and is not hard at all.

 

yea the brakes are nice, i can actually stop the jeep for once

 

Those kits are insanely priced. I am probaably going to get things one at a time just cause being in college doesnt allow me to have that much for a jeep fund. Like you guys said i could find a welder. everything else i can do the work. so it look like ill start gathering up the pieces one at a time and hopefully have it together by the end of the summer