Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing stock class KOH XJ build

[Red Rock-It Racing]

A gift from me to you guys (if you want it).

A Chassis Works FAB9 housing. I forgot to measure it :doh: but it's yours if you want it.

71" ?

 

[Redxj5150]

71" ?

All I can tell you is that it is wider than a cherokee.

 

[Goatman]

Here are some more pics of the finished (mostly) interior. The wiring was very quick and last minute, instead of the plan to wire the whole car, we ended up using as much of the original harness as we could to save time. It will eventually all get redone. Also, some of the dash switches will get moved, and a few other things. The plumbing is good, all the fuel and trans lines use AN and braided steel hose. We also used the trick Stinky Fab fire extinguisher mounts, thanks Dallas!

The case that's strapped down behind the fuel cell is a Ready Welder.

 

[Goatman]

Fuel lines:

Trans cooler, and the diffs, t-case, and trans vent containers:

The stock steering wheel and column are coming out and getting replaced, and we'll have a removable steering wheel.

 

[Starboard M]

The stock steering wheel and column are coming out and getting replaced, and we'll have a removable steering wheel.

But then you will lose the cruise control!



I know the car is still fairly new, but have you noticed any issues with people bumping that fire extinguisher mounted to the "center console?"
I had considered mounting one similar in my Jeep, but was afraid some numbnuts would grab that as a handle, and break the mount.

 

[Exxon Valdez Jeep]

Digging the zip tie stash, I can never find mine!

 

[Goatman]

But then you will lose the cruise control!



I know the car is still fairly new, but have you noticed any issues with people bumping that fire extinguisher mounted to the "center console?"
I had considered mounting one similar in my Jeep, but was afraid some numbnuts would grab that as a handle, and break the mount.

Well, the mount is too strong to break. We sat in the car and positioned the fire extinguisher so it was in a good place. Actually everything in the driver/pass area (except the switches) was positioned with us sitting in the car.

 

[stumpXJ]

What kind of steering column are you guys going with? Something aftermarket, or custom made?

 

[Goatman]

What kind of steering column are you guys going with? Something aftermarket, or custom made?

Just like in the buggy, pretty simple. The aftermarket steering parts, steering u-joints, coupler to the steering gear, and the quick disconnect steering wheel hub, all use 3/4" OD tubing, which are all standard race car stuff. So, get a length of 3/4" DOM and some fittings and make a column. There are 3/4" hole bulkhead fittings specifically for this that are for the firewall pass through, and one 3/4" heim joint under the dash bar to hold the column. Costs around $200 for the whole thing and you get a smaller removable steering wheel.

 

[cal]

But then you will lose the cruise control!



I know the car is still fairly new, but have you noticed any issues with people bumping that fire extinguisher mounted to the "center console?"
I had considered mounting one similar in my Jeep, but was afraid some numbnuts would grab that as a handle, and break the mount.

The fire extinguisher is on my side of the car, and i can say with absolute certainly it is not in the way. I can see over it to the gauges, reach over it to the switches fairly easily if I need to hit the horn, and never bump into it. I can even unmount it for use fairly easily - and all while strapped in race ready.

 

[nosigma]

Cal,

Very interested in the braking system. Just after the race you mentioned that you would provide some additional information on the Black Magic brake package that was put together from rig after you all got caught up on work and those other pesky things that get in the way of wheeling. When do get some time I would be very interested in seeing what was done.

John

 

[rockclimber]

Cal,

Very interested in the braking system. Just after the race you mentioned that you would provide some additional information on the Black Magic brake package that was put together from rig after you all got caught up on work and those other pesky things that get in the way of wheeling. When do get some time I would be very interested in seeing what was done.

John

I know they were running WJ rotors and calipers with black magic pads.

talk to Blaine (mrblaine), he is the king of brakes.

 

[cal]

That's about the size of it.

We wanted the strongest 5x5.5 setup availble without going to 1 ton running gear, which means the Warn 5x5.5 hub kit. Its a hardened spindle, chromo hub, 30 spline chromo stubs.. way stronger than going OEM dana 44 outer stuff, even though we're using slightly smaller d30 balljoints. (Actually, we're using Poly Performance JK balljoints).

The warn kit uses a dana 30 knuckle, CJ 7 rotor turned down, and a stock caliper. You can bolt it up to a WJ knuckle using the better WJ caliper with just some minor mill work, but the CJ rotor is a little bit thin. In the prior incarnation of this front end (my old black XJ) I managed to spit a caliper piston out on two seperate occasions.

Blaine said that he would help us with that. I know the intent had been to try and use a dodge 1500 rotor and some custom work on the knuckle, but that didn't work out really well for him. Eventually he ended up setting us up with a WJ rotor on the WJ knuckle (I know, groundbreaking, right?). It took a lot of machine work on his part.

I am really pleased with the results, but I can't say that I would suggest this setup for anyone else - the hat depth on a WJ rotor is really deep, and it puts the rotor and caliper very close to everything. At full right turn lock, we have 1/8th clearnace or less between the caliper and trackbar bolt, caliper and shock mount, break line and shock mount, caliper and lca bolt. If we had realized this when putting the axle together, we could have moved the LCA inboard some for space, but the shocks really can't go inboard any more without hitting the frame up above. I'm a little concerned how close it will get as the pads wear.

I hope that someone comes up with a reasonable 5x5.5 unit bearing setup we can switch to, but this will work really well for us now. I cannot thank Mr. Blaine and Black Magic Brakes enough for their excellent support on this car - these brakes work just as well as our Bishop-Buehl racing engine does - which is to say effin amazing.

 

[cal]

Modified WJ knuckle

Teflon spindle bearing replacement.

30 spline 4340 stub shafts.

Spindle setup.

Going together.

Gigantic dual piston calipers.

We're running a WJ master/booster with this, ZJ prop valve, and Ford Explorer rear brakes. I realize that we're only on 35's, but we can lock them the hell up at will.

 

[cal]

We're running Warn 30 spline hubs right now, with 300m drive gear replacements. As I'm sure you read, we had problems with that during the race and fell behind the pack troubleshooting it.

Before the next event we'll go to Yukon 30 spline drive slugs. We really liked the idea of the hubs as a fuse, but they have already been more trouble than they are worth.

 

[cal]

Black Magic FTW

 

[rockclimber]

We're running Warn 30 spline hubs right now, with 300m drive gear replacements. As I'm sure you read, we had problems with that during the race and fell behind the pack troubleshooting it.

Before the next event we'll go to Yukon 30 spline drive slugs. We really liked the idea of the hubs as a fuse, but they have already been more trouble than they are worth.

talk to blaine about having a "fuse"... I already had that conversation... I'd post it up, but I'd hate to deprive you of a good berating... :roflmao:

 

[Starboard M]

Just like in the buggy, pretty simple. The aftermarket steering parts, steering u-joints, coupler to the steering gear, and the quick disconnect steering wheel hub, all use 3/4" OD tubing, which are all standard race car stuff. So, get a length of 3/4" DOM and some fittings and make a column. There are 3/4" hole bulkhead fittings specifically for this that are for the firewall pass through, and one 3/4" heim joint under the dash bar to hold the column. Costs around $200 for the whole thing and you get a smaller removable steering wheel.

When you get around to doing it, please post up the details.

The fire extinguisher is on my side of the car, and i can say with absolute certainly it is not in the way. I can see over it to the gauges, reach over it to the switches fairly easily if I need to hit the horn, and never bump into it. I can even unmount it for use fairly easily - and all while strapped in race ready.

Thats good to know. I will have to look into mounting one there. Sure beats tucked under the seat!

Cant say I have ever seen a panhard mounted like that. Genius!

 

[cal]

We can't take credit for that.. That idea came from Blaine at Black Magic Brakes too.

Genius, that guy..

 

[cal]

talk to blaine about having a "fuse"... I already had that conversation... I'd post it up, but I'd hate to deprive you of a good berating... :roflmao:

Oh, don't think I didn't get that lecture before KOH 2 or 3 times, and then to really drive it home, got the call again during his drive home from KOH.

I don't always follow Blaines advice the first time. One of the many things I respect about him is that after you discard his advice and really screw up, he's still there to help you fix it for the cost of a verbal whipping.

That said, the hubs did not break. I *CLEARLY* assembled something wrong when I was installing them, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell went awry. They came out unbroken, and the replacements went in exactly the same way - and held up fine.

We had 4 wheel drive, and then didn't, and then had it again, and then lost it again .. all with the hubs locked. Maybe I put the shift collars in 180 or had a spring in the wrong place? Who knows. I didn't sleep much the last few weeks before the race.