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Johnnie Walker's MJ project

Got my truck back today! It wasn't expected, but glad to have it home. Braking is great. Also got the lube locker gasket installed, well worth the money. Filled it up with Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-140. For the soft brake line bracket mounting, had some bolts welded to the housing and nuts secure them.
I was able to use the Exploder spring plates, as they are very similar to the MJ plates with shock mounting. Did not take any pics as my hands were dirty/covered in grease.
 
Exploder rear axle in my MJ
https://goo.gl/photos/65ToY6Dmyiu7Sk2c6

Driver side, can see how the spring plate functions.
https://goo.gl/photos/ZeDgrgbNh7pMVTSj7

Pass. side.
https://goo.gl/photos/aMLsTVF6gNgucQfF7

Failed, rusty muffler.
https://goo.gl/photos/o2dSPgEhLNceL6X29

Was not sure before what exactly was rattling. Figured it was either the cat or the muffler or both. After closer inspection, the cat looks to be good inside, the muffler, not so much. Debating on whether or not to just run a muffler with a turndown style exit. Or, chop the muffler off from the rest of the exhaust, cut out the rusty end of the tail pipe and maybe run some kind of stainless tip.

Interestingly, with cat only is not as loud as my XJ was when I removed exhaust. But I think that the inside of my XJ cat was busted up inside.
 
Last edited:
I ran a turn down for a long time.

it wasn't as annoying as one in an XJ because it's 4 feet behind the cab.
 
I ordered a single driver side ZJ park brake cable from work, should be in tomorrow. After I install it and attempt to adjust the park brake, I will see how it works with the super long Exploder passenger side cable. If it works decent I will just leave it, other wise I will buy another cable. The driver and pass side ZJ cables are the same length. The only difference I have maybe noticed from the pics is that the mounting bracket on the cables is opposite. I will buy another driver side as they are a few $ cheaper than the pass side for whatever reason.
 
So, not sure if I ever posted the fact that my driver side engine mount is busted (big surprise, right?). The passenger side is not far behind. Especially when there are reasonably priced upgrades, I do not like just buying "OE replacement" junk. Let's face it, the design of the factory engine and trans mount are not great.
Stinky Fab Racing, whom of which is a vendor over at Naxja had a sale on their products. I have been meaning to upgrade anyways, and this pushed me to do it even more. Ordered on Friday the 11th, they were at my house today when I arrived home from work.
They look amazing, and they arrive bare metal. SO I cleaned them up a bit, hit them with some primer, and have started the first coat of paint. These are the first items on my MJ that are orange. Other components will follow.

https://goo.gl/photos/H1A9Vk9RThkE1BgD8

https://goo.gl/photos/BmYY6MB867HfM2Uq6
First 2 are new out of the shipping box.

https://goo.gl/photos/Lt7UoCK1GZCGfVWH6
Primer

https://goo.gl/photos/MJijwmAMCgsspdmn7
First coat of paint.

I will do at least another coat, let them dry overnight, and then install them when I get home from work tomorrow evening.
 
SFR and Dallas are good people. I'm sure you'll be happy with his stuff.

David Bricker / SYR
 
SFR and Dallas are good people. I'm sure you'll be happy with his stuff.

David Bricker / SYR

Not sure if there is a disclaimer. But, anyone planning on running the SFR engine mounts with stock engine side brackets, prepar to modify the driver side engine bracket. I was fighting it for a while last night, then realized because of the size of the bushings that the small lip that protrudes just inside of the mounting hole interferes. Once I figured that out, and most of the dirt and stuff already fell on me, it was simple enough to swap.
 
Picked up a new heim/associated hardware for my trackbar. And also hardware for my TB bracket and brace. Ordered a set of RK adjustable UCA's from a jeepforum vendor. Best price for a set of UCA's I found. Wanted to install the lift this weekend, but do not like doing things twice. So, I will wait for the RK UCA set to arrive. At the very least, I will relocate the front brake hard line lower and figure out if I need longer lines.
I still have my 2 coil prothane coil inserts. Also, have sone circular plate and other misc stuff ordered to add to that to keep them out of the bump stop towers.
 
I have the stock rear bumper for you here in Sac. Its sitting ouside bc my garage has on space at my new house. Its quite a bit tore up from jon wheeling the MJ
 
It will be better than no bumper, I suppose. And it's free, so no complaints there. Hopefully soon I can find a way to get it. Thanks again for helping out.
 
Some more goodies.
RK Adjustable Uppers. Got a good deal from a Vendor over on JeepForum.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5GWNl5w3W72T0lPLTFONFhoSmxZR3FXeDRXOFFxZFdwbUJB/view?usp=sharing
Russ P is making me a pair of SS braided brake lines for the front.
For now, I think I will run the pair of V8 ZJ Upcountry coils I have, and an additional stock coil spring isolator. Buy the time I get home, it's typically dark-ish, so I will attempt to motivate myself to lift the front of the MJ this weekend.
 
Got the front of my MJ lifted this weekend.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EmWWNkzXVFpPVsvhyHtrt83s1H9XU1m8Ag/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sIMZOejpCC5o1q6RyPBXzD6JV09U-CiJXQ/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-e8jy-z8mNeKPrRJkE37x_ck-Pm_FDrCNw/view?usp=sharing

RE XJ coils (PN unknown), that have been cut down some. Couldn't find the ZJ coils I had.
Synergy Suspension track bar mount and brace/Unknown adjustable TB with FK heim/Synergy mis spacers.
RK adjustable UCA/Stock LCA for meow.
My old IM4x4Fab tie rod
JKUR Shocks/homebrew BPE's
Straightened out the hard brake line for more travel. Will be install some SS braided lines when they arrive.

I initially kept the stock tie rod, but it it ended up being in bad shape. Had the craziest DW I have ever personally experienced. Every time I would come back home and check toe after a test drive it was off. I made sure that the adjusters were tight, but I should have just gone with my instinct to swap my HD tie rod to begin with.

Anyways, after it is all said and done, it drives good now. Just like on my XJ, the front end feels more solid with the aftermarket TB mount/brace. The coil are on the stiffer side too, which is fine by me.
 
we've had the putco harness in the 01 now for like to years, feeding hella 100W lowbeams.

it hasn't melted yet.
 
Bought a used, external slave ax15 trans setup. Also, installed the front pair of LED cube lights I got on amazon. They are nice, white, and bright. Need more wire to install the rear lights.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Putco-230004H...pebp=1447721982942&perid=15JC7XYBTVHE7MZSQYA6

the odd relay is a honda part. so you can get it easy enough if it fails.
those and the hella housings with hella 100w bulbs is the cheapest way to get dumb amounts of light. The e codes keep it from blinding people. no one ever flashes us.
I kind of figured it would eat bulbs, but they're two years old and going strong. Spares are $11 on amazon.

edit:
price dropped on the bulbs.
http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-HLA-H83...xgy_263_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=09DR3P10P8RPPDJ5Y760
$5 a pop.

e code housings
http://www.amazon.com/Rectangular-H...pebp=1447722176458&perid=0B4RKZNY4RRJDCEBXBFH

it's the best $150 light upgrade ever.
 
Ordered these H4 conversion housings, along with some Hella 100/80 bulbs.
http://smile.amazon....ailpage_o00_s00
I figured I would give them a shot for the price, I figure if they suck I can return them to amazon.

Also, ordered a set of the RE 9900 CAD-brackets from a seller on Amazon for LESS than the RC kit!
Hopefuly I will be riding in better comfort soon.
 
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