just bought a Jeep!

[trj360]

Little update - Spring perches and shock mounts are now welded to the 8.8 and all the old stuff is stripped off. We discovered that all of my hard brake lines were rusty and looked on the verge of death so they are all being replaced. Also, the axle tubes were welded to the diff housing to prevent spinning a tube - something I have no experience with but a little research showed it'd be a good idea without any negative consequences of doing so.

Pics

 

[trj360]

still need to cut the ubolts and do some brake line brackets but it's done otherwise

 

[Joey P]

Yep, those u-bolts are some rock grabbers for sure! Looks great!

 

[trj360]

IT'S ALIVE!!

 

[Cozmik]

Wow, that Jeep is coming along quite nicely. I haven't been online much in the last few months, but when I do pop in its nice to familiar names doing awesome work with trucks no matter what brand. Keep up the good work Trj!!!

Any additions to the Ex at all?

 

[trj360]

Wow, that Jeep is coming along quite nicely. I haven't been online much in the last few months, but when I do pop in its nice to familiar names doing awesome work with trucks no matter what brand. Keep up the good work Trj!!!

Any additions to the Ex at all?

Thanks! I wouldn't be able to do it without my family though...my dad and all my uncles are awesome at setting gears, timing carburetors, and other stuff I have no idea how to do.

As for the Ex...actually nothing has been added and it's being kinda neglected. It's overdue for an oil change and tire rotation, my CB radio just won't turn on anymore, and the cruise control switch has been broken since I bought it (have a new one but haven't installed it.) So maybe now that I'm out of school for the summer and the Jeep is pretty much taken care of, the Ex can get some TLC that it really needs.

 

[Cozmik]

Keep upp the good work on both trucks.

I won't be wheeling my EB, but I hope to pick up an off-road toy in the near future. May be a Peej, may be another 2nd Gen Sport, who knows.

 

[trj360]

Keep upp the good work on both trucks.

I won't be wheeling my EB, but I hope to pick up an off-road toy in the near future. May be a Peej, may be another 2nd Gen Sport, who knows.

Your EB is nice, I wouldn't wheel it either. I can tell you that there is almost too much stuff to buy for jeeps. I bought mine for a grand and thought i'd just be installing a lift, tires, and maybe a locker. Didn't happen the way I pictured it, and 4 or 5 grand later, here I am with an almost rebuilt jeep. So definitely keep your budget in mind if you are considering jeeps.

 

[Cozmik]

Your EB is nice, I wouldn't wheel it either. I can tell you that there is almost too much stuff to buy for jeeps. I bought mine for a grand and thought i'd just be installing a lift, tires, and maybe a locker. Didn't happen the way I pictured it, and 4 or 5 grand later, here I am with an almost rebuilt jeep. So definitely keep your budget in mind if you are considering jeeps.

Been there, done that...twice. Once with an '88 YJ (I went as far as an FI 4.0 engine swap on that one) and a '99 XJ Cherokee. If I go the Jeep route again, it'll be more like lockers, tires, done kinda thing. Most likely I'll get a 2nd Gen Sport that's in good shape and build that. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the Blue Oval.

 

[trj360]

Been there, done that...twice. Once with an '88 YJ (I went as far as an FI 4.0 engine swap on that one) and a '99 XJ Cherokee. If I go the Jeep route again, it'll be more like lockers, tires, done kinda thing. Most likely I'll get a 2nd Gen Sport that's in good shape and build that. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the Blue Oval.

I wouldn't mind a TJ with a 2 or 3" lift and some 31s as a DD/beach cruiser type deal, keeping it basic.

 

[trj360]

Did a lot of driving today, the Jeep did great. Went back in the woods on a friends property (which they are selling ) and it was awesome. Slung mud everywhere and didn't get stuck. I put it in 4LO and just let the clutch out, not giving any gas, and it pulled a Ranger up a steep muddy hill. Plus the thing is so small I was following ATV trails.

 

[loaderopp]

I've been reading up on that - they are all full of crap. I was reading an article and one of the guys names in the group is Squeak. So Squeak is one of the people responsible. I could never meet someone named Squeak and take them seriously.


That is such a funny name.
Squeak

http://www.tu.org/site/c.kkLRJ7MSKtH/b.3205851/apps/s/content.asp?ct=6816443

Then get a can of WD-40 and take care of the problem (grin)

 

[trj360]

I think I forgot to post this earlier but here is my $20 CV driveshaft.

All it is, is a front drive shaft from a cherokee cut to fit the jeep. It was less than $20 at the junk yard and they guy who welded my stuff for me charged $150 for the whole rear axle, and the cut & weld on the drive shaft. Works great so far. I did not get it balanced and have experienced no vibrations in 2 days of driving, both off-road and highway.

So that brings my total driveline modifications to....about $60. I picked up my NP231 with slip yoke eliminator for $20 a few months ago.

 

[trj360]

All cleaned up

 

[ed060784]

dude the jeep looks great especially for the year it is.......now i wanted to ask u how is that front locker working for u??? i mean, is it hard to turn while driving ?? how is it on the highway and stuff like that cuz im about inch away (well more like a hair away) of buying the Aussie locker for the Dana 35 (for my front half axle) and some people say its not good to put a diff locker on a regular driver and wat not that i should put an ARB air locker or something of that nature but the thing is $250 for an Aussie against $800+ for an ARB on so i wanted to hear the way it felt from someone who owns one.......
thanks


97 XLT AWD w/bw 4406 swap-33x12.50x15 BFG mud t- TT & shackles

 

[trj360]

dude the jeep looks great especially for the year it is.......now i wanted to ask u how is that front locker working for u??? i mean, is it hard to turn while driving ?? how is it on the highway and stuff like that cuz im about inch away (well more like a hair away) of buying the Aussie locker for the Dana 35 (for my front half axle) and some people say its not good to put a diff locker on a regular driver and wat not that i should put an ARB air locker or something of that nature but the thing is $250 for an Aussie against $800+ for an ARB on so i wanted to hear the way it felt from someone who owns one.......
thanks


97 XLT AWD w/bw 4406 swap-33x12.50x15 BFG mud t- TT & shackles

I have front and rear aussie lockers on both my explorer and jeep, and i like them. definitely worth the money and they are easy to get accustomed to. on the highway you don't even know they are there. sometimes (in the rear) they will make a loud clank or squeal tires around tight corners but nothing too serious. a front aussie is completely unlocked until you put it in 4wd. it does not affect driving at all.

 

[ed060784]

thanks for the reply man cuz i just bought the front set from Aussie and i was just gonna go for it .......but from wat ur saying i guess it shouldn't be that much of an issue to put the set in and keep driving the truck as a regular driver .......
By the way how long have u had the ones on you X ?? have they give u any problems?? and also i cant find any threads showing how put the damn things on and i was planning to do this at home but i have no clue into how do it.....anyways thanks once again for any comments or suggestions


97 XLT AWD V8/ BW 4406 T-CASE SWAP 2" TT & SHACKLES / BFG MUD T 32X11.50X15

 

[trj360]

By the way how long have u had the ones on you X ?? have they give u any problems?? and also i cant find any threads showing how put the damn things on and i was planning to do this at home but i have no clue into how do it.....anyways thanks once again for any comments or suggestions

January of 08 is when they were installed and it's my daily driver. No problems so far. The actual down-and-dirty installation of my locker was done by my uncle in the shop he worked at, I just took everything apart. They come with good instructions.

 

[trj360]

The Jeep is getting an AX15, a 4.0 head, and engine rebuild this winter! Oh and it now has a warn M8000 sitting comfortably on the front bumper. After all that work I only need a few more skidplates and I'll almost be where I want with it.

 

[trj360]

The Jeep is getting an AX15, a 4.0 head, and engine rebuild this winter! Oh and it now has a warn M8000 sitting comfortably on the front bumper. After all that work I only need a few more skidplates and I'll almost be where I want with it.

Slight change of plans...small block chevy and a 700r4!