Dzrtcj7
Active Member
- Joined
- August 1, 2016
- Messages
- 91
- Reaction score
- 72
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 93 Explorer, 92 Ranger
I've been a forum lurker since it's inception, but somehow managed to lose my login info! I've owned close to 20 RBV's, from daily drivers to a pro desert race truck.
I've got a CJ7 that I hand built and has been my wheeler over the last 10 years, when it's running. The CJ needs a bunch of work to get it ready for the winter wheeling season, and I've got the itch for a change.
I've got a few criteria for a new build: Be able to do 500+mile backcountry trips (Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho), be capable of driving 1000 miles to NV to chase/ prerun desert races, able to wheel WA trails (Rimrock, Naches, Liberty, etc), be a decent snow wheeler and potentially get entered in to a tuff truck race or too.
To meet those goals, here are what I see as important for this rig: Reliable, reliable, reliable. Tough, proven parts (minimize custom fab on critical parts), easily replaceable parts (leave well enough along if stock is good enough), decent travel without crazy custom work, reasonably narrow (stock) track width for WA trails, protection in all the right places (diffs, rear quarters, rockers) and keeping my wife and I safe.
So, here's the build plan:
- 5.5" James Duff system w/ extended radius arms, rear springs, etc
- Aussie locker in front diff
- RuffStuff 3/8" rear diff cover
- Briansfab D35 front diff skid
- Box and plate TTB beams
- D35 c-clip eliminator
- New front brake pads, rotors, wheel bearings, seals and ball joints
- New rear drums, pads, wheel bearings and seals
- Eliminate the ABS module
- Fab rocker protection tied to cage
- Full interior cage (undecided on tying in the spring buckets and front frame)
- Fab front bumper/ winch mount
- Fab rear bumper w/ spare tire, fuel, high lift mounts
- Fab protection for rear quarter panels/ rear glass.
- 33x10.50 tires on 15x7 or 15x8 wheels (maybe got to 35's down the road)
Meet the victim of my plans:
It's a '93 Sport, 5spd, 3.73's w/ rear limited slip. Motor runs great, trans shifts good, every bushing in the suspension is shot, the brakes are junk and there is a dry-ish bearing squeal coming from one of the the axles.
Here is the progress so far:
Broken headlight bucket
Fixed
Parts are starting to arrive:
Before:
After:
Out with the old, ready for the new:
Pressing ball joints out:
I've got a CJ7 that I hand built and has been my wheeler over the last 10 years, when it's running. The CJ needs a bunch of work to get it ready for the winter wheeling season, and I've got the itch for a change.
I've got a few criteria for a new build: Be able to do 500+mile backcountry trips (Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho), be capable of driving 1000 miles to NV to chase/ prerun desert races, able to wheel WA trails (Rimrock, Naches, Liberty, etc), be a decent snow wheeler and potentially get entered in to a tuff truck race or too.
To meet those goals, here are what I see as important for this rig: Reliable, reliable, reliable. Tough, proven parts (minimize custom fab on critical parts), easily replaceable parts (leave well enough along if stock is good enough), decent travel without crazy custom work, reasonably narrow (stock) track width for WA trails, protection in all the right places (diffs, rear quarters, rockers) and keeping my wife and I safe.
So, here's the build plan:
- 5.5" James Duff system w/ extended radius arms, rear springs, etc
- Aussie locker in front diff
- RuffStuff 3/8" rear diff cover
- Briansfab D35 front diff skid
- Box and plate TTB beams
- D35 c-clip eliminator
- New front brake pads, rotors, wheel bearings, seals and ball joints
- New rear drums, pads, wheel bearings and seals
- Eliminate the ABS module
- Fab rocker protection tied to cage
- Full interior cage (undecided on tying in the spring buckets and front frame)
- Fab front bumper/ winch mount
- Fab rear bumper w/ spare tire, fuel, high lift mounts
- Fab protection for rear quarter panels/ rear glass.
- 33x10.50 tires on 15x7 or 15x8 wheels (maybe got to 35's down the road)
Meet the victim of my plans:
It's a '93 Sport, 5spd, 3.73's w/ rear limited slip. Motor runs great, trans shifts good, every bushing in the suspension is shot, the brakes are junk and there is a dry-ish bearing squeal coming from one of the the axles.
Here is the progress so far:
Broken headlight bucket
Fixed
Parts are starting to arrive:
Before:
After:
Out with the old, ready for the new:
Pressing ball joints out: