Backdraft

I also installed Bilstein 5100s in the front and 5125s in the rear. Installed JKS quicker disconnects, YJ front brake lines, as well as a pair of 1.75 inch coil spacers. The spacers seemed to have done a perfect job of leveling the truck out. After installing the disconnects, I believe my swaybar is bent. The drivers side is about an inch higher than the passenger side. It looks like its time for another run to the junkyard to pick up a V8 ZJ swaybar for a little upgrade. And I'm waiting for another little surprise from UPS. Should be here tomorrow. Mike

Also got the rear bushwhackers on. I started on the front bushwhackers and got to the point of drilling the holes until the bit caught just right and pulled itself through before I could react. The result was punching a hole into the windshield washer reservoir. After I pulled my head out of my butt I figured it was a good time to stop. Oh well, I guess the fender wanted to come off one more time! Mike

Alright guys and gals, time for a few updates of the progress so far. I finally got some time to get the long arms installed and start working on the bushwhackers. My shocks also finally came in as well as some other little odds and ends. Getting started with the crossmember/skid under the truck. The exterior brace for the crossmember. Crossmember/skid installed Drivers side LCA in. And in. I only had an oxy/acet torch to get the oem lca mounts cut off with. My angle grinder took a dump and i was out of sawzall blades. I plan to carry it to a welding shope and let them clean those mounts up for me. Mike

25 shipped and theyre yours. Mike

Are you talking about the black plastic vents on the sides of the cab? If so, i have a spare set. Mike

can't wait to see some pics of this thing when he paints it. I vote for the black stickers also. Reflective would be pretty cool as well. Mike

This is EXACTLY why I love this club. Way to go! Mike

Congratulations. A well deserved achievement. Your truck is one of the very few that has inspired me to build mine. Mike

Thanks Don, its the rear cables i'm interested in. Actually my ultimate question is what cables to use/will work. I did the ZJ disc brake conversion on my D44, and I'd like to find cables to use without having to cut ends off and put cable clamps on, etc. I was guessing using ZJ or even KJ cables but I wanted the length of the stock ones so I could compare with the others. Mike

Short bed Mike

Does anyone know off the top of their head what the length of the emergency brake cables are under the bed? Or can anyone throw a tape measure on theirs? The ones from the splitter bracket underneath to the wheels. I'm guessing around 3 feet, but don't have any to measure. Thanks. Mike

Also, I dragged out the TnT long arms for a couple gratuitous photos. I'm really jonesing to get these things on here. Mike

I thought id toss up some teaser pics. won't get a chance to do anything with the MJ for another week or so. I laid the bushwhackers against the truck to get an idea of what they would look like. Mike

The rear is SOA. The front is rubicon express 4.5 springs and rubicon express fixed lcas. The fenders need some trimming to clear 33s. Shameless plug.....the lcas will be for sale! Very good condition. Mike

Oops. Sorry for my misinformation. I used the 97+ fenders as well. Mike

It fit just fine. Kind of a pain locating the bolt holes and cutting the carpet for the xj seats, but the carpet stretched over it well enough. Mike

The carpet was from the MJ. It is black carpet that is not original. Looks like it may have come from jc whitney. Mike

Glad I'm not the only one that feels that way........ghey! Mike

Nope. They work. Mike

Thanks Nick! I just read your build thread over again this morning. Truck is awesome! I'm taking the weekend off but should be back on it getting the long arms under in the next week or so. The bushwhackers came in today so I'm still sitting and staring at a pile of parts. Oh well, all in due time I guess. Just as a little update, I got a scanner and the only code that was thrown was for the NSS. I feel lucky I only had one. Truck still has to go to the dealership to check out the airbag light and program the key fob. After that, a quick trip the the muffler shop, then to the body shop for some adjustments and touchup work. Mike

Wow, I didnt think my spelling sucked that badly. Sorry, I was typing that on my phone, in a movie theater, right when Thor was starting! Mike

Well Ryan, I couldnt stand it. I hunted everywhere I could think of for flares and came up short. So, I broke down and ordered the Bushwhackers. I didnt really want to because of cost and them being a bit cliché, but I didnt see a viable alternative. However, the rear shock mounts came in, as well as the TnT long arm upgrade. I'm still waiting on the shocks to show up so I can install them all at the same time. On a lower note, I jacked my back up the other day at work and now have a compressed disc at T5. I guess its a sign to slow down some cause I'm getting older! Maybe Ill dope up on painkillers and install the long arms! Mike

Jusy a suggestion, but I was thinking about tucking mine as far uo as I could ge the just have it turn down behind the rear bumper. I don't care for it turning out behind the tire or pointing straight out under the bumper. Just hiding it I guess. Mike

They're very expensive. But other than those, I don't know of very many choices. Mike

Ryan, I prefer the shape of the fronts and rears to match. The only option I see is getting the bushwhackers. I could paint the rear to match the front, but the fact that they aren't shaped the same will drive me insane. Mike