Budget build

jjmat3 · Jan 13, 2008

Spent yesterday budget lifting a friends XJ. Over the last several months we have been gathering used donated parts and a couple cheap purchases. All told I think he has under $200 in this about 3" lift and that includes 4 new shocks and new rear shackles.

Pics:
Before

After

Home made rear bar pin eliminator (upper shock mount) using stock rear sway bar bracket.

Relocated front brake lines to lengthen them and keep tire from hitting.
Before

After

Added a cheap front diff guard
Before

After

Proud owner. (4x4Fish)

I had donated my time and a set of 5 used 245/75 MTR's, LOST member Nolan (hoku5) donated a set of stock KJ wheels, guys on NAXJA

donated leaf pack w/ AAL, coil springs, sway bar discos, ZJ steering, front tow hooks, etc.
This should improve the off road prowess of the rig and it sure came out looking good.

RyanM · Jan 13, 2008

Thats how a budget lift is suppose to be done. Nice job guys. Now go trim that junk from the front fender/under bumper!!!!!!

jjmat3 · Jan 13, 2008

RyanM said:
Thats how a budget lift is suppose to be done. Nice job guys. Now go trim that junk from the front fender/under bumper!!!!!!

Luckily, it stuffs the tires nicely and only hits a couple plastic spots. The only thing bad right now is the tire rub on the lower control arm on both sides when turning sharp. Stock back spaced wheels and wider rubber didn't help that. I told him to live w/ it for now as it is only during full lock turns that it happens and is livable for now. Probably wouldn't even be an issue w/ a less agressive tire but the side lugs on the MTR's grab the arms.

irish44j · Jan 13, 2008

that looks great. Good to hear your local XJ'ers are so generous with their secondhand stuff!

WVUwheeler · Jan 14, 2008

Looks good. I really like the look of those wheels painted black

Skwerly · Jan 14, 2008

LOL way to go, I thoroughly enjoy when someone pulls something like that off. That thing will go anywhere you point it now, the next step is rails so you don't cave the bottom in, and yer all set!! Excellent work.

Crusher16 · Jan 14, 2008

Sweet job. Looks awesome.

jjmat3 · Jan 17, 2008

I didn't realize that non-paying members couldn't post in here. Anyhow, 4x4fish is a poor school boy and not able to join right now so here is what he pm'd me to pass on to the forum:

4x4fish said:
Thanks for posting the pics. Oh yeah everyone at school thinks my Jeep is awesome, its the new monster truck in the parking lot! Thanks! Matt

lesabre400 · Jan 17, 2008

That looks great. I love budget builds.

Using the rear swaybar brackets as BPEs and bending/re-mounting the front brake lines are two of the best tricks I've learned about on NAXJA

.

Your next step might be to get some front swaybar disconnects. They can be done cheaply too but it's also an area where a failure could lead to disaster on the highway. I'd suggest good ones like JKS (Christmas is only 11 months away).

Nice job.

bigbadwolf54 · Jan 17, 2008

What do you mean by failure of the sway-bar causing disaster?

jjmat3 · Jan 17, 2008

lesabre400 said:
That looks great. I love budget builds.

Using the rear swaybar brackets as BPEs and bending/re-mounting the front brake lines are two of the best tricks I've learned about on .

Your next step might be to get some front swaybar disconnects. They can be done cheaply too but it's also an area where a failure could lead to disaster on the highway. I'd suggest good ones like JKS (Christmas is only 11 months away).

Nice job.

Got the discos but they are crappy ones that we will upgrade in near future if we can find a good deal on used ones. It actually flexes pretty well w/ them connected.

Ba-Riedo · Jan 17, 2008

bigbadwolf54 said:
What do you mean by failure of the sway-bar causing disaster?

So lets say your going 75 mph and you havta swerve to avoid something and your swaybar is not attached, your probably going to end up in a ditch, with the sway bar attached your going to be able to move safer.

-Alex

RyanM · Jan 17, 2008

I forgot to mention, that is one of the cleanest undersides I've ever seen on an XJ!!

You'll be fine with no sway bar up there, just take some time to get used to it. Curvy roads will be different.

bigbadwolf54 · Jan 18, 2008

I call bullshit at 75 if u swerve you are most likely going to roll. I just got back from the hospital because i rolled my dads 07 taco going 45 bc i swerved to miss someone. At 75 swaybars mean very little.

SOUTHTEXASXJ · Jan 19, 2008

nice budget build!!

XJMK · Jan 27, 2008

bigbadwolf54 said:
I call bullshit at 75 if u swerve you are most likely going to roll. I just got back from the hospital because i rolled my dads 07 taco going 45 bc i swerved to miss someone. At 75 swaybars mean very little.

I agree, I just put my swaybar back on after maybe 2 years. I can tell its back on and it feels tighter, but if you're going that fast and you have to swerve, you weren't paying attention or you were going way too fast. Plus I don't even think mine can push 75!

X2 on the clean budget build

Budget build

jjmat3

NAXJA Forum User

RyanM

NAXJA Forum User

jjmat3

NAXJA Forum User

irish44j

NAXJA Forum User

WVUwheeler

NAXJA Forum User

Skwerly

NAXJA Forum User

Crusher16

RRC President

jjmat3

NAXJA Forum User

lesabre400

NAXJA Forum User

bigbadwolf54

NAXJA Forum User

jjmat3

NAXJA Forum User

Ba-Riedo

has frame envy

RyanM

NAXJA Forum User

bigbadwolf54

NAXJA Forum User

SOUTHTEXASXJ

NAXJA Forum User

XJMK

aka boredchimp

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