It is finally out of the garage!

[dirtclod]

After months (yeah, with little kids, my time is limited) the jeep finally emerges from the garage! Actually it has been out for a week and made a successful trip to Moab. Ran Metal Masher on friday and Poison Spider on Saturday. I did "rock chucker" obstacle and tried "widowmaker". Widowmaker is about 8 to 9 feet tall now that the bottom is all dug out. Just couldn't get up it. Did all the other obstacles with no problems (aside from pulling upholstery out of my rear....)

Anyway, stats are as follows:
Front axle: HP D44, full width, 4.88, aussie locker, minor shaving, high steer, custom cover guard, chevy disk brakes, radius arms...
Rear axle: Ford 9" full width, 31 spline, detroit, 4.88, shaved, trussed, drain plug, disk brakes....
E350 master cyl to run the 1/2 ton disk brakes...
Custom sliders and "frame" plating....
swapped battery to drivers side, installed remote oil filter, thottle body spacer...
lots of seals: tcase, rear main, oil pan, etc...
TJ flares from a Sahara.....
More...

It is sitting at about 5 to 6 inches of lift and on 35" MTRs. I still need to tweak it a little, but I am pretty happy.

This is the first set of axles I have ever done. I set up the gears and did all the fab work myself. (damn proud of myself too!)

Pics can be seen HERE (http://community.webshots.com/album/199773370yCuCxX)

Guess I need to change my signature now..... ;)

[massxj]

nice job have fun

[Culinary_Hooligan]

All I can say is NICE...

looking at the pics from under hood....
I have a few questions...
you have the airfilter ending just above the exhaust manifold.... not exactly good for cold air... does it cause any power problems? How did you mount battery on the opposite side of the engine compartment?

how hard was it to relocate the Oil flilter? I've been planning on doing that myself... Chrysler wasnt too intelligent on mounting an easily breakable sending unit right beside it... i've broken my fair share of em...

[ChicksDigWagons]

Looks good man. Beware of the weld nazis though. Booger welds like that will surely get people to talk! I personally think it adds that home-grown flavor. :cool:

[sportsguy]

I think that looks great! Nice work on the TJ flares going white - post up how you did the color change and how it's working.


As for the air filter question above - I did a similar thing and can honestly say I felt zero difference. Mine was an under-hood snorkel idea that ran the intake tube to just above the master cylinder - you couldn't notice any difference after I did this.

I think your welds are fine - but I'd be proud to be able to weld at all...LOL

Looks like a well built rig with tough gear, yet still able to tackle daily driving if needed.

Great work man. Enjoy!

[offroadman83]

So from looking at it you are running chevy flat tops for high steer, and you have extended the radius arms. How much If I may ask? Is your mount for the end of the radius arm just that little bracket that is welded on to the plated unibody? Havy any flex pics? Sorry for all the questions, but the more I get to see peoples radius arm pics with a dana 44 and 9" rear the more I get ideas so I can do mine. I already have the 9" and am just waiting for my friend to put the front 60 in his Bronco so I can get his 44.-------Kyle

[dirtclod]

Hooligan- no problems with the air filter. Actually been running it that way for over a year and it is much better than the airbox. I do get a whistle at certain thottle positions, but nothing that bothers me much. Battery, you can get a left hand battery tray for a deisel, but I just used the stocker, cut a corner off and drilled new holes through the fender. Used welding lead to extend the cables to the other side. Oil filter, the kit is a Mr. Gasket for a YJ with the 4.0. There is no kit I could find for the XJ. The one I used did not have enough hose and I had to fab a bracket to attach it to the fender. Alot easier to reach, can use the BIG filter and adds about a quart of oil to the system.

ChicksDigWagons- Is that a nice way to dig me on welds? Hey, I learned to weld on this project! Started with a wire mig and advanced to a 220 stick. I got some help from a buddy to do the welding on cast. The paint I used makes the welds look worse in the pics than they are. I was chasing leaks on the rear axle for a while, got tired grinding them back down. So to anyone who wants to tag me on my welding.... if I wanted a booger weld discussion, I would post on Pirate. :flipoff

Sportsguy- Flares were white when I got them, but badly scratched. I splurged on a can of white Fusion paint (ya know, for plastic). Seems to work pretty well.

And yes. This is my DD.

Offroadman- High steer uses parts from a pre77 chevy 44 (small bearing). You need the knuckle, caliper mount and spindle. Rest is ford. Had a local wheeler/machinist grind/drill/tap the knuckles for the big studs and used PSC arms and 1ton TREs. The radius arms are only slightly extended to allow a threaded bung and a boulder bushing to mount it. so only about 5 inches longer than stock. I plated the arms in with 1/2" both sides after seeing a buddy's get bent when he came down on a rock. I wacked mine pretty hard at moab with no effect, so I guess that plating worked.


The front end is 1000% better on the highway, smooth as glass. Driving the mountains is a little swayey with the detroit in the rear. But I don't drive the mountains often.

[XJ_ranger]

i hate links to pictures, so ill post your here:

http://community.webshots.com/s/image19/7/72/39/199777239QHUmrl_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/7/94/86/199779486vDluDk_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image23/7/97/70/199779770OIQhvN_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image19/7/99/44/199779944aFrVtx_ph.jpg

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http://community.webshots.com/s/image20/8/42/99/199784299wqJduF_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/8/45/24/199784524aMITOc_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image18/8/49/89/199784989LSkVcp_ph.jpg

thats most of them, more in link

good times, looks cool. Wish i could find time to swap in the 8.8 rear with 4.56 and detroit... need to stop tempting fate with my d35...

[FitchVA]

i hate links to pictures, so ill post your here:

http://community.webshots.com/s/image19/7/72/39/199777239QHUmrl_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/7/94/86/199779486vDluDk_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image23/7/97/70/199779770OIQhvN_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image19/7/99/44/199779944aFrVtx_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image22/8/2/95/199780295NuRFkq_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image22/8/35/27/199783527gjVuqx_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image20/8/42/99/199784299wqJduF_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image21/8/45/24/199784524aMITOc_ph.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image18/8/49/89/199784989LSkVcp_ph.jpg

thats most of them, more in link

good times, looks cool. Wish i could find time to swap in the 8.8 rear with 4.56 and detroit... need to stop tempting fate with my d35...

i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can't use webshots to host images like that. they show up as a bunch of red x's

[scottsxj]

yeah thats def really nice. i especially like the tj flares.

[XJ_ranger]

what the funk? hmm i = lastara

[dirtclod]

I don't care for links either, but I haven't found a free place to host them and I am too cheap to pay monthly for the few that I post up. :roll: :laugh2: :spin1: :looser:

[dirtclod]

HEY! Xman posted pics of the Metal Masher run! Thanks to Xman! If the pic links aren't working, try http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?showSlide=true&Uc=egv472l.1a180s75&Uy=-pbgkf6&Ux=1
There are a ton of photos but about 40 fo them are my rig.


http://images.ofoto.com/photos825/1/27/49/24/93/6/693244927105_0_ALB.jpg
Rock Chucker

http://images.ofoto.com/photos825/1/27/49/24/14/7/714244927105_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.ofoto.com/photos825/1/27/49/57/3/9/903574927105_0_ALB.jpg
Widowmaker

http://images.ofoto.com/photos825/1/27/49/57/23/4/423574927105_0_SM.jpg
Why Revolvers SUCK! :mad: They are coming off the rig. To anyone else thinking of using them..... :nono: !

[dirtclod]

OK, links aren't working right. If you don't want to surf all Xman's pics to see how my rig performed, try HERE (http://client.webshots.com/album/200388599XNRgjH) , a condensed version of Xman's photos. All photography credit goes to Xman!

[Kejtar]

Why Revolvers SUCK! :mad: They are coming off the rig. To anyone else thinking of using them..... :nono: !
Yeah... when I saw all those rigs having trouble going up I almost gave up myself. I think the problem was that most people stepped on gas a bit too late and the top ledge held them down.
Anyways, did you get the leaf spack replaced? Did the manufacturer warranty it?

[xj_punk]

dude someone wiped boogers all over your rig! :nono:

[dirtclod]

dude someone wiped boogers all over your rig! :nono:

Hey thanks! I'm pretty proud of it! (pirate schmuck!)

[dirtclod]

Yeah... when I saw all those rigs having trouble going up I almost gave up myself. I think the problem was that most people stepped on gas a bit too late and the top ledge held them down.

Yeah, I only got one shot before I sat on that rock and my axle swung away. :cry: I think if I had followed Rule No. 1 from Remy's School of Driving, I might have made it. Or at least made a really cool cloud of smoke! :D I'll get the revolvers swapped out to boomerangs and give it another shot next time I am there.

Anyways, did you get the leaf spack replaced? Did the manufacturer warranty it?

Welllllll, they are old Rusty's leaf packs. They are now nice and soft and I like em. They didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't in right mind ask for replacements. It was all due to revolvers.

They seem to have straightened out pretty well. Well they were rearched slightly, but not enough to bother me. Truck just sits a tad higher on that side. I am going to keep an eye on them and run them for awhile.

[dirtclod]

Guess I need to change my signature now..... ;)

Done!

[Kejtar]

Yeah, I only got one shot before I sat on that rock and my axle swung away. :cry: I think if I had followed Rule No. 1 from Remy's School of Driving, I might have made it. Or at least made a really cool cloud of smoke! :D I'll get the revolvers swapped out to boomerangs and give it another shot next time I am there.
hahaha..... Rule No. 1: if you can push the pedal any further that means you aren't pushing hard enough!

Btw, last year I did same exact thing as you did (with the esception of bending the spring). I started more or less where you were at and then when I tried going up it shifted me so I let go. This year, knowing that I can't really go off the side (rocks on each side) I tried shifting back (if you remember I shifted from side to side I think twice) while giving it all I had (plus I was in 2nd instead of 1st). Anyways when I got to the point I was at I was afraid that if I let go I'd fall into that hole belowe and bounce back onto my roof.... so that gave me ample motivation to push it harder. I know that I'll be visiting it again next year :D

[dirtclod]

yup. up the center with alot of skinny pedal!

It is too bad that obstacle is getting dug out so badly. It won't be long before the only ones who can get up the thing without a winch will be too busy in the Proving Grounds to run the trail. If you look in the trail book for Moab, there is a picture of it about 3 to 4 feet tall and a discription that says rock chucker is harder. WELL NOT ANYMORE! Widowmaker is a B!+ch!

I would be up for doing some resto work on the bottom to stabilize the approach and keep it from getting dug out. But I guess it is just the normal progression of time with certain obstacles that they become harder and harder. Kanes Creek is listed as relatively easy, but that rocky climb near the end is no piece of cake. Dump Bump gets taller every year.....

Ah well.

[Kejtar]

Dump Bump gets taller every year.....

Ah well.
Yeah... I got a bone to pick with Dump Bump. Hopefully next year I'll make it up :D
I hear what you're saying about the damage to the trails. In a way it's a natural progression and in a way it's not. Natural would be what happened to JV (Johnson Valley): plenty water and rain and bad weather and they got really hard in a matter of a weekend, while this is primarily us digging the sand while trying to get up.
In any case, maybe red rock four wheelers will do some work on it sooner or later cause it's a really fun obstacle but as you'd said, the direction it's going it's going to become too hard for no winch attempt (and unless you get a rig up top, there is no winch point)

[jammerjamesharmon]

OK I got you covered, and NICE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!! :worship:

Give me a few days and I will have you on my site here:

http://www.geocities.com/jammerjamesharmon/XJ_other_stuff.html



http://img97.exs.cx/img97/3003/199776431npwpzA_ph.jpg
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[Alaskaflyr]

Very nice! I just put mine in the garage and I'm hoping it will be out by February. Once again nice job!!!

[BillR]

Wow, that thing looks familar...
Like I said many times, AWESOME JOB!

[dirtclod]

Thanks for all the compliments! I spent 5 or 6 months prepping the axles and fabbing parts for the install. It still took almost 2 months in the garage to get them installed. I did spend extra time on side projects that I just wanted to get done and out of the way (ie remote oil filter, sliders, etc). I have three kids, so teh only time I have to work is from around 8pm to 11 or 12 on weeknights and sometimes a friday or saturday evening.

Thanks to jammerjamesharmon for posting/hosting pics for me! Much appreciated!
:cheers:

[Cutch]

Looks like a well built rig with tough gear, yet still able to tackle daily driving if needed.



I agree...real good job.

Hopefully my XJ will look like that next year at this time.

One thing at a time.

[MrShoeBoy]

Very nice rig, thats pretty much what I want mine to look like. Full widths and 35s and still be streetable.

What size and backspacing are the rims? Do you have a good pick from the front or rear showing how far the tires stick out past the TJ flares?

AARON

[dirtclod]

Rims are 8" wide, and I think 4" bs. Not real sure on that, I will try to measure soon. As for a picture of wheel stickout, I will get one posted up tonite or tomorrow.

[dirtclod]

I managed to get a picture even sooner than I thought. Pic of tire stickout (http://community.webshots.com/photo/199773370/203213776zYaTtC)

There are a few others and comparisons to a buddies rig (dark blue). He has the same axles but used the black steelies at 7" wide and 37" MTRs. The flares are older Xenons. Pics here (http://community.webshots.com/album/199773370yCuCxX/1) Look at the end of the album. :wave1:

[DARKFLY]

ok i like those tj flares but on the rear why did you mount them so far forward?

[dirtclod]

The problem I had was with the door. If you try to put them on the body alone, they are really far back, look silly and there isn't much room to attach them. When you move them partially on the door, you have to move them forward to provide enough room to attach. Ideally, right on the door edge is centered, but you can't attach it there. If i were really anal about centering them, I might have been able to scoot them back about half inch, but for attachment purposes, the location used just worked out the best. I imagine it would be alot easier on a 2 door model since you would have more room ahead of the wheel well for attachment.

With full width axles, you have to have flares of some sort. When I pulled the stock flares off to do the TJ Sahara ones, the truck looked really goofy. Almost the entire tire is outside of the fender. The bushwackers may fit the situation better. But those are 300+ dollars, and I don't like the way the interior is formed. I got the TJ flares used for $50 and spent less than $10 on hardware. I am happy the way it came out. I may change to something else later, but for the price, it works.