NEW to Jeeps Here's mine and a start

[jdzumwalt]

Thought I would post up my build process, Goals and any issue along the way with my XJ build.


I currently race 1450 in Snore I am leading the point in a 4link Toyota that has a 550 hp 4 cylinder.



Mines the red one.

So in a effort to cruise around the desert, and pull something with my motor home I set out to buy a Jeep.

I don't really rock crawl but I did want some thing i could take to Baja or do some local trails just not the rock busting king of the hammer style ones.

I settled on this

 

[jdzumwalt]

The XJ sat in the guys driveway for year and half and has been kinda neglected. First thing I had to do was get it registered, and in my name this meant SMOG. Six trips to the smog guy I passed.

Ultimately the issue was a Bosch o2 sensor replaced it with a factory NTK and the NOX was finally reduced to a passable level.

Motor has 170 k on it runs good trans is a auto and shifts great.

It had wicked death wobble replaced the Steering box because a bad sector shaft that helped but also noticed the Track Bar has the wrong size bolt in it.

The previous owner installed a TNT long arm kit as well as Rubicon express coils, shocks, and rear leafs. When he install the track bar he reused the factory bolt but the lower bushing requires a 1/2 bolt working on fixing this.

I also have a leaky radiator, leaky Heater core diverter valve, Seal on the Dana 30 axle tube is also leaking diff fluid.

So far this seems to be the only issue's I'm sure more problems will occur.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Here are my goals.
Jeep Prerunner while maintaining the factory comforts. Also want to be able to tow this behind my motor home for vacations with the family.

Parts On order.
12" King Bypass 2.5 short body for the front
16" King Bypass for the rear.
Deaver Front coils
Deaver custom spring under.
Rough stuff specialty's Unibody brace kit.
Rough Stuff Specialty's front dana 30 Diff cover.

Ultimately I turbo every car I own the jeep will be no different. This is a year down the road. I want to get the chassis and drive train reliable first.


I will be adding a custom ford 9" with disk brakes after the stock takes a dump. I would like to see how long it will hold up before just replacing it.

 

[DieselSJ]

Looks like a nice starting point.

2 things that should be very high on the list -

- Motor mounts - something like the full setup from Brown Dog.

- Truss that 30 or it will snap like a match stick.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Thank you I will trust the front end. Thanks for the heads up on the motor mounts. Any help is great appreciated since I'm new to the jeep thing. Trying to gather as much info as possible as not have to do it twice.

 

[xcm]

Welcome!

 

[Boostwerks.com]

Ultimately I turbo every car I own the jeep will be no different.

Awesome : )

Any more pics of the yota?

 

[jdzumwalt]

 

[jdzumwalt]

Awesome : )

Any more pics of the yota?

Love your guys turbo build. I can't wait to boost mine but I need to get the Chassis in order first.

 

[LhcAzXj]

I'm excited for this build! Artec Industries makes a very nice truss kit for the Dana 30, I installed it on mine and I love it. Also, while you're trussing that Dana 30 make sure to c-gusset it as well or else the outer C's will bend. Artec also makes a badass c-gusset kit. http://www.artecindustries.com/30_Trusses

 

[jdzumwalt]

I'm excited for this build! Artec Industries makes a very nice truss kit for the Dana 30, I installed it on mine and I love it. Also, while you're trussing that Dana 30 make sure to c-gusset it as well or else the outer C's will bend. Artec also makes a badass c-gusset kit. http://www.artecindustries.com/30_Trusses

Looks like very well thought out product. That's one thing I love about this jeep so far so many options. Everything on my Toyota is one off.

 

[Boostwerks.com]

Love your guys turbo build. I can't wait to boost mine but I need to get the Chassis in order first.

Thank you!

The XJ's chassis definitely requires some love. That's been my focus as well for the last year or so. That, and annoying auto trans issues. More than likely swapping a NV3550 in here soon.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Need a little help guys setting up Bump stops Looking for a good option for replacing the blown out factory ones.

I'm not going to install Hydro bumps, don't want to here them clunking. I've been searching but can't find anything.


Gregg

 

[iluv83vettes]

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=985677

 

[jdzumwalt]

Here are some Photo's of my front shocks setup.





Custom Short body 2.5" x 12" king single tube 2 way adjustable.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Ended up moving the front axle forward 1.5" and Cut and modified trackbar mount for more up travel.

 

[DieselSJ]

Neat idea on that upper shock mount. Definitely tie it into the cage though. Triangulation is VERY important in the front of these.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Front shocks are done tied into lower unibody.

 

[jdzumwalt]

Neat idea on that upper shock mount. Definitely tie it into the cage though. Triangulation is VERY important in the front of these.

There is no engine cage. I don't plan on beating on this thing to hard if it has issue I handle it when it comes up.

 

[Cheroskeet]

damn that looks good. Getting ready to do the same thing on mine but trying to finish the backend first. what made you mount the bypasses that way instead of ordering the shocks with the steamboat on the top like factory mounting?