Pete M

I don't take the word of someone that stands to directly gain monetarily from me believing them.

If they used a better quality steel, they shouldn't need the gusset. I remember a major manufacturer having a similar issue a few years ago.

everybody's arms look strong. That added-on gusset concerns me. They shouldn't need that.

lower control arms should be added to any lift above 2". As you lift the truck up with the stock arms, your caster changes, the axle gets pulled to the side, and the axle gets pulled backwards in the wheelwell. the longer trackbar fixes the lateral shift. The lower control arms fix the caster and rearward shift. It's not done for trail driving, it's for street driving. :thumbsup: Rubicon express is one known for their quality. fixed arms will work fine for ya, but it's not much more for the adjustable: http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Jeep/XJ/P ... art=RE3720 Oh, and drop pitmans should never be used without a corresponding dropped track bar bracket. SYEs are a good strength upgrade, but not really necessary for angles until you get above 5 or 6 inches. and in my opinion a t-case drop should not be used, period Did you do anything about the anti-sway bar?

I believe that's the guy with the built 401.

jumper cables, tire wrench, electrical tape, Super Leatherman

tire wear, tire inflation and initial tire diameter all play a role. :thumbsup:

The tires themselves are likely to be a bigger difference front to back than the gears. But the reason is still true. the front and back will likely never be exactly the same.

The ratios of which you speak come from dividing the number of ring gear teeth by the number of pinion gear teeth. Because axles come in different sizes, there are different numbers of teeth in them. For example, the Dana 30 will have 41 teeth on the ring gear and 10 teeth on the pinion, giving a 4.10000 ratio. The Dana 44 on the other hand has 45 teeth on the ring gear and 11 teeth on the pinion, giving a ratio of 4.09090. the Ford 9": has 37 and 9, giving 4.11111 Round them off and you get 4.10 and 4.09 and 4.11.

rent a dolly and borrow a truck. :thumbsup:

I would take the opportunity to get some lower arms that match your lift.

If you guys are hitting the yards again, I could really use a decent pair of MJ shackles. :(

don't do what he did. go buy some quality aftermarket arms that match your lift. :thumbsup:

plenty of states with 70. even here in Michigan. :D Out west I think there's some 75mph areas.

'Tis a question for the ages. Both have their advantages/disadvantages. I imagine it really boils down to the specific race you're running. If it's all high speed and hard-pack, then 2wd should be better. If there are soft or slow spots, than 4wd might come in handy.

My sis ran them for a good year before they fell in my lap when she had to turn in the TJ. She loved 'em. :thumbsup:

If you plow with the 92, wash it frequently. And I don't mean just the exterior, I mean the underside and the shelf above the rear flares too.

there is no way of telling what's in an 86 MJ's axles without looking. Everytime we think we've figured something out, a truck pops up that breaks the mold. Jack up one rear tire, put the trans in neutral, and spin the tire around exactly twice. the number of times the driveshaft rotates is your gear ratio. If by chance there is a posi in the rear, then jack up both tires and spin them only once.

I recommend a LOT more steel. If the frame was weak enough to break, it'll be weak in other places too. I would plan on plating the entire length in angle iron. At least on the outer/lower edge. the "body mounts" are sacrificial. hack them out of the way and rebuild them later if you must. Rossette welds are your friends. :thumbsup:

Then it should be a straight forward swap. soak everything in PB Blaster or other rust penetrant 2 or 3 times a day for a few days before you start. And take lots and lots of photos as you go. :thumbsup: Be as organized as you can possibly be. Nothing worse than not being able to find a certain bolt. Except maybe having an extra bolt in the end. :D

they are there. the tire hides most of it. It probably looks a bit odd since the shock arrangement is such to allow for a much longer shock.

both 5spds?

what's the drivetrain in the donor rig?

For a thousand dollars, you could buy a pretty nice Jeep.