GOT A BUDGET!

[goodburbon]

Ok so the wife just authorized me to spend my backpay check on the jeep

I should have about 3000 after taxes so what are the opinions on what I should get. I know what I want, but I'm wondering if someone has anything I hadn't thought of.

here's what I have so far.
97 4.0 AW4 231
JCR offroad stage2 rock rails, rockratz rocker guards
d-30 with broken ring gear, HP D44 on the shelf
4.10 gears
8.8 rear with e-locker
33"MTRs
~5 inch lift

What I am thinking of

I NEED a radiator

HP 44 needs to either be re-tubed and bracketed or pass side shortened and radius arms built.
I'm thinking retube and bracketed, spool and warn hubs with all new brakes.

While im messing around with the front end I was thinking of a long arm upgrade kit.

I need a front bumper, I like the T&T unit.

I'll need another winch, the wife has my old m8000

maybe some bilstein shocks.







Anyone have any better ideas?

[Sniggs]

chop it. Radiators are so over-rated...:anon:

[Dirt]

I think you're going in the right direction. My top priority would be longarms. Then the 44. You should be able to get both those outta the way though.

[XJ Dreamin']

That's not a budget, mate - that's an allocation! I got a budget, but I got no funds: that's why the 'dreamin' in my name :laugh2:

I hope to Hell we see something in Mod or Pictures, and not just before-n-after. I need progress pics to keep my dreams alive.

We've got two year's refunds stashed. If we can get another one before something major happens, we can put the wife in a new van and I can start looking for my '97 SelectTrac. 'Till then, pictures is all I got.

[goodburbon]

i'll see what i can do for you dreamin.

[LBEXJ]

Ok so the wife just authorized me to spend my backpay check on the jeep ...

d-30 with broken ring gear, HP D44 on the shelf

I NEED a radiator ...


Kinda hard to wheel without first addressing the above items ...

Les

[BlueGerbil]

the wife just authorized me to spend my backpay check

:huh:

[goodburbon]

You're not married are you.

[BlueGerbil]

Sure, I´am.

[goodburbon]

OK I picked up an airflow snorkel for 250 (I live in south Louisiana, its not just for show)
I picked up the RC 3-link long arm upgrade for 455.
I'll be learning to re-gear myself I found front set and master install for 200 and a mini spool for 55, rear gears and master install for 230, and I will re-tube it myself.

I'm looking into the OR-fab front bumper to save a bit of jack because I will be going with a Milemarker hydraulic winch .

I have some 3"x 3"x 3/8" Angle that I will make my own frame skids out of. Should be fairly bullet proof once I get it all together.

I may go ahead and get a set of dutchman rear axles so I can match the 5x5.5 pattern of the front and bullet proof my rear in one move while I re-gear the rear.

I'll be going with 4.88's any special installation considerations for the 8.8 with e-locker?

[Ben H]

ATLAS.............oh wait............you already spent it. :D

[goodburbon]

I don't think I need an atlas at this point. I do however need a functional front axle.

[Ben H]

Yeah, but it would be nice. I always say that is what I will get, but never do. Its an expensive part.

[Starboard M]

OK I picked up an airflow snorkel for 250 (I live in south Louisiana, its not just for show)
I picked up the RC 3-link long arm upgrade for 455.
I'll be learning to re-gear myself I found front set and master install for 200 and a mini spool for 55, rear gears and master install for 230, and I will re-tube it myself.

I'm looking into the OR-fab front bumper to save a bit of jack because I will be going with a Milemarker hydraulic winch .

I have some 3"x 3"x 3/8" Angle that I will make my own frame skids out of. Should be fairly bullet proof once I get it all together.

I may go ahead and get a set of dutchman rear axles so I can match the 5x5.5 pattern of the front and bullet proof my rear in one move while I re-gear the rear.

I'll be going with 4.88's any special installation considerations for the 8.8 with e-locker?
Why do you want a hydraulic winch? Im not sure I would do that, but if you have a reason I dont know about, go for it.

[XJ Dreamin']

i'll see what i can do for you dreamin.

pictures?



We just spent $4,800 of our squirreled away refunds on the emergency acquisition of the new ZJ, so the '97 XJ is even more of a dream than before :cry:

When you get it together come on over to Huntsville for a test drive. I just put up some fresh Shiner in the spare fridge.

[yardape]

You don't want to hear this,.... put it in your kids college fund. If you don't have one, start one now.

[XJ Dreamin']

You don't want to hear this,.... put it in your kids college fund. If you don't have one, start one now.

What? The Shiner?! No kid of mine is drinkin' my Shiner. They can buy their own :D

[Weasel]

skip the spool in the front, gonna make steering a pia.

[goodburbon]

I'm goin hydraulic for reliability reasons. I have stalled my warn M-8000 on simple pulls. I Want the water-proof operation to accompany my snorkel, and I Can't see any reason to go with electric, since they over tax your electrical system, and don't pull what they advertise.

I am going with a spool because I will have a locking hubs on the 44, I can't see spending an extra 200 on a limited budget for a lunchbox locker, and I definately can't see spending money on a selectable, when I only need the front to operate offroad.

The kids college fund is getting handled as well as the house down payment and I am now debt free, not to worry. :D

[goodburbon]

Oh and no pics yet because I am still in Turkey. Parts are piling up at the house and I will begin assembly this winter sometime, hopefully around Christmas.

[Kittrell]

I'm looking into the OR-fab front bumper to save a bit of jack because I will be going with a Milemarker hydraulic winch.

Three piece design that sticks out like a fat lip and only mounts to the stock bumper locations. Don't do it burbon!!!!

[XJ Dreamin']

Oh and no pics yet because I am still in Turkey. Parts are piling up at the house and I will begin assembly this winter sometime, hopefully around Christmas.

Well, I noticed that you're location hadn't changed :D

Just givin' some chit :looney: I'm really quite patient - seeing as I have no other option Hasta

[XJ_ranger]

soppled front end? yikes...

expect to spend all 3k on that front 44 if it came from a junkyard...

1000 for good alloys
400 for good u-joints
200 gears/install
200 aussie locker
200 flat top knuckles / steering arms
100 for wheel bearings
100 for rotors/pads/calipers
150 for a set of warn premiums
250 for a new front driveshaft

its not the purchase price... its the add ons...

[goodburbon]

soppled front end? yikes...

expect to spend all 3k on that front 44 if it came from a junkyard...

1000 for good alloys
400 for good u-joints
200 gears/install
200 aussie locker
200 flat top knuckles / steering arms
100 for wheel bearings
100 for rotors/pads/calipers
150 for a set of warn premiums
250 for a new front driveshaft

its not the purchase price... its the add ons...

:huh:

Please splain yourself.

I'll need a new front driveshaft? That never appeared in all of the searches I have done

1000 for alloys? 100 for bearings? 400 for u-joints? aussie locker? flat top knuckles?

I'm upgrading size at this time, not really worrying about upgrading steering yet, and I am sure as hell not spending 3000 to put an axle under this jeep, I could have ordered a damn currie for that much. I'm just gonna re-gear re-brake and mini spool with stock locking hubs and maybe alloys. I may even put my tie rods in from the top, but thats it.

And I saw pictures of that bumper and it looked as though it mounted in more than just the stock locations.

http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/reader-rigs/albums/Random-Pics/ORF_Bumper_0051.sized.jpg

looks like it ties into steering box mounts too.

and the 3 piece design doesn't bother me. Approach angle is better than I had before and I was never hitting, it's all about driver skill.

[xjj33p3r]

An interior cage would be a great idea. Most people don't get around to it because of the big chunk of change it costs ya to put one in, but in your case, you should really think about it.

[XJ_ranger]

I'll need a new front driveshaft? That never appeared in all of the searches I have done
My front driveshaft needed to be 2" shorter after putting in the HP44... (from 29.5" static length to 26.75" static)


1000 for alloys? 100 for bearings? 400 for u-joints? aussie locker? flat top knuckles?
you can buy Yukon alloys for 400 sure... but if you do that, and think you have alloys, they'll break... I am right now battling my budget to buy WARN axle shafts... retail at 950 for warn axles, and a set of warn premiums...
wheel bearings? you arent going to use the junkyard bearing are you?
Good u-joints are like 150-200 a piece... www.ctmracing.com www.longfieldsuperaxles.com they arent cheep...
My aussie locker has served me VERY well, and I would highly reccomend that over a spool... putting my rig into 2wd allows the front locker to ratchet in turns even when in 4 low... a front spool wouldnt like that one bit...
Flat top knuckles to get your steering up... the ONLY advantages that a 44 has over a 30 are: Stronger Ring and Pinion, Bigger Brakes, true Hi-Steer... the OEM 19 spline stubs are actually weaker than d30 stub shafts... the u-joints are the same size, and while the inner shafts are supposed to be stronger, Ive broken 4 of them and have yet to break a hub...


I'm upgrading size at this time, not really worrying about upgrading steering yet, and I am sure as hell not spending 3000 to put an axle under this jeep, I could have ordered a damn currie for that much. I'm just gonna re-gear re-brake and mini spool with stock locking hubs and maybe alloys. I may even put my tie rods in from the top, but thats it.


youre going to have to make a new steering system anyway... doesnt it make sense to make a low steer (I did it that way, it sucks) and then try to put together cash to go high steer...

Its not the purchase price... its the little shit that adds up...