JACKED88

OK, but with the axle out of tha truck how do you come up with tha correct angles? This is what I'm thinkin ..... With tha truck sitting on level ground find out what angle tha tranny output shaft is at and then with the axle on jackstands rotate it to the same angle and then level tha perches? If thats anywhere close on how to do it, what about the fact that my truck currently sits a little low in the front therefore changing the tranny angle. Should I jack tha front up till tha truck is level? Or, should I wait till I have the correct springs under tha front giving me a more perminate front lift heighth before I attempt to set-up the axle? Pete, I can see where the backing plates may not be exact but the axle flanges tha plates bolt to should be. I understand their probobly not perfect (unless I had machined um :thumbsup:) but surely they aughta be within spring perch tolerance. Also, by just throwing a tape across the axle, I think tha dif is about 5/8" off center.

Thanks Jeff. (and yeah, I intened to measure off the holes) Thanks again Pete. I was gonna do that but in case you don't remember, your tha one who told me to ask questions. :???: Again, I'm just messin with ya. Ya ever think about doin this .... :pcwhack: .... to some of us??? :rotf: Gotta go for now. More later.

LMAO!!! Great minds think alike. :thumbsup: Check out the edit I added to my previous post. :cheers: Thats a real purdy pic Pete. Now if it just had some measurements on it I'd actually do me some good. :hmm: LOL!!! Just messin with ya. :doh: I hadnt thought about doin it that way. Thanks!!! I got that 42 inch measurement from a thread "Duner" replied to back on 5-19-07 (SOA ????'s) Here's a quote from his post ...... "we had the perches cutoff and relocated to MJ specs. (44" cen to cen on the 89 XJ, 42" cen to cen on my 90 MJ) and bolted it in." If 42" isnt correct ....... now would be a good time to know.

Sorry but I don't know what you mean by "what style shaft". I didnt know there were different styles. I thought I'd be using a stock shaft or a modified version there of but that was going to be one of my next questions. What shaft will I need for an 8.25 behind an AW4/242? Will whatever shaft I need have to be modified? (cut) As for tha perches "Geonovast" is right, I don't have the MJ axle to take measurements off of. I did however find an old thread saying that the stock MJ perch location is 42 inches center to center. That measurement will work but having a measurement taken from the back side of the brake plate flange would be easier. I'll just do tha math. Overall distance between tha flanges, minus 42 inches, divided by two. 54 1/2" - 42" = 12 1/2 divided by 2 = 6 1/4" from the back side of the flanges. Their current XJ location is 5 3/8". I'll double check everything before a start makin sparks. If I'm wrong, please advise. Otherwise thats what I'm gonna set um at. Now, how bout tha angle. ?????????????

No reply on the XJ yet so lets git back to this 8.25 axle I bought. I need to know the correct measurements for relocating tha spring perches. I assume the measurements will be taken from the back side of the brake plate flanges. Also need to know how many degrees of angle the perches need to be set at for a 6 inch lift. While we're at it, how do you do it? Set the axle/dif at the correct angle and then level tha perches? Or, level the axle and then set the perches at the correct angle? (I'll be doing this with the axle out of the vehicle sitting up on jackstands) Thanks in advance. Robert

I sent my offer. Told him other than tha trans thats likely burnt up I could use a few other parts off his XJ and that those parts would cost me about $100 dollars at a j/y. That if he didnt git a buyer soon and just wanted it gone, I'd give "him" that $100 dollars instead of handing it over to some j/y. I'll let yall know how it turns out.

Well, I'm supposed to make tha big decision today. (To buy or not to buy the XJ) :dunno:

No. He bought it used in tha mid 90's. I don't know how many miles it had when he bought it. He claimed he put quite a few on it going back an forth to work in Dallas during tha late 90's. (480 miles round trip) By 2000 he was working in California leaving it parked in his back yard. He says it hasnt been driven since other than being moved so he could mow tha grass. Also used it to move his little Hobie Cat sail boat around for tha same reason. (mowing)

I think what I'm gonna do is make a low ball offer on tha XJ. I'm talkin $200 bucks. First I'll explain all tha reasons why I've decided not to buy it and my concerns about tha trans. Then I'll hesitantly offer tha guy $200 bucks just to git it out of his yard. All said and done I don't see myself givin him any more than $250 for it. If I git it ..... great. I'll figure out which way to go with it then. If I don't ..... no big deal. I'll keep lookin. As far as tha trailer hitch. Tha man claimed all he used it for was to pull his Hobie Cat to tha beach. Hobie's don't weigh crap and from where he lives thats only about a 40 mile round trip. Other than that up till it quit running he used it to move things around in his back yard. I'm more inclined to think thats how he burnt tha fluid.

Went and looked at that 89 XJ today. To start with I was a little disappointed to find it has more miles on it that I had expected. (173,xxx) All and all tha Jeep looks pretty solid. Tha body is straight and I couldnt find any rust other than light surface rust due to the oxidized paint. Since tha trans and t/c is what I'm mostly interested in, I checked tha fluid and found it to be slightly off color and had a slight burnt smell. That in itself is enough to make me hesitate buying it. (thats open for discussion) Everything under tha hood is in tact. The gas tank is out as is the fuel pump and sending unit. He claims he tested tha pump but it wouldnt run. I think tha motor would likely fire up with a new pump installed. As for fixin and re-selling it .......... maybe. Considering I’ll have to put a fuel pump in it and git it running to test tha trans and t.c before I put um in my truck, I might put my 2x4 trans back in it and try to sell it. If I don’t git a buyer, I’ll start listing parts for sale and give away or scrap whatever is left. Although I didn’t make tha man an offer, he said he would take less than the $500 he’s asking for it. I’m thinking I can git it for $350 or less. I have another option. I found a trans and t/c at a j/y for $250 bucks. With it I git a 30 day warrenty. This trans and t/c is out of the vehicle and sittin on a shelf and therefore I won't know how many miles it has on it nore will I git tha t/c shifter or linkage. So ……… spend at tha most $350 on the XJ that has known mileage and all tha parts I need and take a chance on tha trans being good OR move on to option #2 and go buy a trans and t/c with a 30 day warrenty for $250? (plus whatever the shifter and linkage cost me) One other thought. I'm already having trouble with tha rear end in my truck hence tha reason I bought that 8.25. Not knowing how many miles are on the axles the previous owner installed and tha fact that I have never been able to run the front due to no t/c, ................. ahhhhh, yall know where I'm going with this. If I bought the XJ, along with all the other extra parts, I'd have an extra front axle if tha one the pre owner installed craps out just like the rear is. Although I'd like to have a whole vehicle of parts and knowing it'll only cost me $100 bucks more than just a trans and t/c, I'm actually leaning toward option 2 and the j/y tranny. (less $$$, 30 day warrenty, less hastle and so on. But ....... there's always "what if". What if I need a front axle, or any other good parts the XJ has? :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: Yeah, I could really use some advise on this before I go :nuts:

I agree but I can't afford to sink much money in it just to make it sellable. I think tha best plan would be to pull the 4x4 trans and t/c out of it and put um in my truck. Then install tha 2x4 trans thats in my truck back in it. Then git it running and sell it for at least as much as I'll have in it. At least that way it doesnt git scrapped and maybe the next buyer will restore it back to 4x4 and it'll live for another 20 years.

Got it. Tha 4x4 system seems to work surprizingly well in my sons 96 ZJ. We've crawled through mud and ruts in that thing that I though surely we were gonna git stuck in. I guess I need to wait and see how well this truck does once I have a 4x4 tranny and t/c in it. Speaking of, did yall see tha pics (at tha bottom of pg 6) of that 89 Limited I want for parts? If not, go back and take a peak at it.

OK boys, This 8.25 I just bought doent have any kind of spring loaded clutch plates hence no "traction lock". Without having a t/l, are both axles gonna get power? Tha reason I ask is because when I turn tha yoke only the right axle turns. We've all seen cars/trucks that'll burn tha rubber off tha right tire but never even break tha left loose. don't tell me I'm only gonna have a 3 wheel drive truck unless I spend a bunch of money replacing tha guts in this axle.

HUH??? Whats this mean? CW it means I'm a complete idiot Thats not true.. your smart enough to have found us!! Just look at everthing you have learned here from all your brothers on CC!!! :yes: :clapping: :waving: :brows: :D I disagree. You can tell just by lookin at his avitar that tha guy is definately an idiot ................ for turning what looks like a nice MJ into a lawn mower shed??? :nuts: :nuts: :nuts: LMAO!!!

I finally recieved a couple of pics of that 89 Limited I told yall I was inquiring about for a parts doner. From what I can tell in tha pics, it actually looks pretty good other than the apparent faded paint. With the exception of tha paint it almost looks too good to part out. I had expected it to be sunk in tha mud on 4 flat tires and covered with leaves and mildew. Apparently I was wrong. Even tha leather seats look good. Might have to do as suggested by getting it running and re-sell it. I know you can't tell by lookin at a pic, but I wonder if that trailer hitch it has is that of a factory trailering package??? (gonna piss me off if it has a tow package with a 44 after just buying that 8.25) Note .... I got a feeling it doesnt actually look as good as it does it that pic. Notice tha fact that he took tha pic on the shaddy side as to not show all tha fading and oxidation like tha back hatch obviously has. Yeah, I went back and blew up tha pic. No way I'm paintin tha thing just to make it sellable. Its a $500 dollar parts vehicle that I only intend to spend about $350 on. OK, but $400 is tops. Gonna email him again to set up a time to see it.

Neither am I. (a hard core wheeler) I'm thinkin stock geometry would be fine for the wheeling I do. (a few muddy ruts and pot holes) Tha way I see it, its been doin tha job for most drivers under moderate conditions for years and will likely continue to do so for me. What tha heck. I'll try um. Thanks for tha help. Robert

YUP!! Then I added a "HELP" shelf shock mount!! I have done this on a number of axles. I have even made a few for guys here on the board!! I neede d just a bit more legnth on my MJ so a coupel short pieces of "C" channel added to the existing mounts worked very nicely!! CW Now see, there ya go stealin my ideas again. :fs1: LOL!!! I thought about channel too. I'd keep me from having to split tha square tubing. I was thinkin I'd use 3"x 2" x 1/4" material. One pc cut 3 1/2" long to be weld horizontally to the axle and another pc of undertermined lenghth to be welded vertically for drop if needed. (although I don't think I'll need tha drops for tha kind of wheelin I do.) Plannin to fab me some tortion bar drops. They'll be made outa 4"x 2"x 1/4" channel. I met with Matt and picked up the 8.25. Really nice guy. Gave me an unbeatable deal on the axle. Drum to drum plus lines and cables for $100 bucks. He even threw in tha front driveshaft I had previously told him I wanted but decided to wait on. What more can I say other than Thanks Matt!!! I really appreciate what you did for me. Robert OK guys, James (CRF136N) has offer to pick me up some MJ plates at his local j/y and ship um to me. In a nutshell, Are using MJ plates tha best way for me to mount shocks on my SOA set-up? I'm not talkin ease of instalation although it is appealing. I'm talkin whats gonna be tha best set-up? Stock MJ's or some fashion of weld ons weather store bought or home grown? If it matters, I don't really wanna have to mount um under my axle. I prefer tha clean look of haveing just the u-bolts under it. Although I don't 4 wheel very hard, another consideration would be if my travel would be limited too much having the MJ plates mounted on top of the axle. Yall should already know where I'm going with this. What would you do??? One more consideration, what about if later I decide to lower this thing about 2 inches. In other words, go back to a SUA set-up and then add back say 3-4 inches of lift. Oh hell, let me find out how much he thinks they'll cost. Shipping can't be that bad so I may go ahead and git um weather I use um or not. (just in case)

Fabbing a set of shock mounts is a no brainer. Looks like you used a pc of square tubing split in half. I was considering doing tha same thing using some thick wall trailer hitch receiver material. Gotta go. Matt (comanche09) is waitin on me and its a half hour drive. I'll be bock.

Yeah, and everything else that comes between tha bumpers.I think for as little perches cost it'd be easier to work with new ones. I've seen some of those universal weld on shock mounts while searching for MJ plates (without any luck) and am considering going that route as well. There again, instead of cutting off and re-using the XJ mounts, tha new weld ons would be easier to work with. Did any of you see my question in the classifieds on the CJ and YJ rear plates? If not .......... Can anybody tell me what the difference is in MJ plates compaired 76-86 CJ and 87-95 YJ rear plates? Actually, nevermind what tha difference is. All I need to know is if either will work for me? Fixin to leave to go meet comanche09 and pick up my 8.25. More L8R!!! Robert

:offtopic: I think I may have found myself a doner vehicle for my trans and t/c. (plus all the other parts it'll have) http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/1444349302.html I've been waiting for tha guy to reply on some questions I ask and finally got this .............. history on the jeep --- i bought it used back in the mid 90's to pull my hobie onto the beach --- in 2000 i went to california for a job so the jeep was put into the back yard and just started up every once in a while when i came back to texas --- a couple of years ago i had it running in the back yard when it just stopped --- i thought it ran out of gas but it had gas i noticed that the fuel pump wasnt running --- so i suspect the fuel pump ???? --- i removed it but never checked it as i seem to have other priorities/projects and this was low on my list --- it is an automatic transmission and the tranny and 4x4 were working the last time i took it to the beach which had to be back in the mid 90's --- i'll make some pics and send later today when i get off work or tomorrow ---- and i'll get the mileage at that time --- aloha g ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- :dunno: Sounds to me like it aughta be a low mileage vehicle considering it hasnt been driven in nearly 15 years. Hope he does as he says he'll do and sends mileage info and pix. I think its definately worth lookin into.

Tha shocks are mounted to tha stock XJ mounts with the driver side mount relocated to the back side of the axle. Tha previous owner never got around to it so cutting off and relocating that shock mount was tha first thing I did to this truck. Improperly done is an understatement. Sure I can take some pix but basicly this is what he did. NOTHING!!! He just rolled the XJ axle under tha truck and bolted it in. SOA. Other than hookin up tha drive shaft, brake lines and e/cable, thats it. But thats OOOOO-K. I aint mad at tha previous owner. I do however think he aughta be shot for tha half @$$ job he did attempting to convert this truck to a 4x4. Again thats OOOOO-K. I'll set it up correctly with tha 8.25 comanche09 generously offered to me. I'm meeting him to pick it up this evening. Not only did he offer it to me, he has also been kind enough to load up in his Liberty and bring it with him all tha way from AL. to Houston. Now he told me on the phone he was x-military but thats definately going above and beyond tha call of duty. Thanks Matt. Hopefully I can repay tha favor some day. Robert

Fabbing what? The shock mount studs on the MJ are not on the axle, they are on the spring plates that the U-bolts go through. I understand that but I don't have a MJ axle and therefore don't have any MJ spring plates. The previous owner removed the MJ axle and installed a 35 axle out of a 1988 XJ. For whatever reason tha dumb @$$ didnt keep or use the MJ plates. So yes, I need to fab or purchase a set. I found a pic of a stock MJ plate. Also found this pic of an aftermarket plate from RockyRoad. http://www.rocky-road.com/comanche.html Nice lookin plate but weather stock or aftermarket, at least now I know what one looks like.

Very informitive and to top it off understandable too. I give it a thumbs up on tha step by step "how to frickin do it scale". LMAO!!! Seriously. Thats great info. Thank you. I don't see how it really matters what shock mounts you use so long their positioned properly on the axle? All your really after is an anchor point. I'll go to Ruffstuff and see what they have to offer although I don't have a problem with building my own. If MJ plates will work for a SOA on this 8.25 I'm gittin, it would make fabbing some a little easier if somebody would post a pic and general measurements of one. Back later. Thanks again. Robert

Good deal. I'm buyin comanche09's 8.25. That takes care of tha axle but I still gotta have some of the hardware. (MJ lower shock mounts/plates and the prefered new spring preches) I placed a "wanted" add in tha classifieds but I'm gonna check Mopar Perf as suggested. Can anydody tell me how long tha shocks will need to be for that 8.25 in a COA set-up? Damn, I hadnt though about tha fact that my truck is fixin to sit even higher in tha rear with the larger diameter axle tubes. Good lord this truck is gittin tall!!! I'm gonna end up needin a pair of those little steps to climb in it. Over 6 inches of lift is gittin up there. I guess those 6.5 fronts from R/C are gonna end up bein just right. I don't need 6 inches of lift. Three or four on 33's would be more than enough. But 6+ inches plus 33's??? We're talkin what, damn near 9 inches? That doesnt sound like that much till ya try to climb in it or wanna put something in tha bed. I'll have to have 10 foot ramps to put my 4-wheeler in it. Speaking of, you know when you put your atv in your truck and when tha front tires go over the fender wells it puts tha front bumper damn near through your back window? Yeah, I've gotta solution for that and you don't even really have to build anything. OK, I lied. You have to cut wood. Find yourself two pcs of 8"x 8" lumber about 28" long. (R/R ties will do but their kinda messy) Cut one end of both pcs at an angle to match the front angle of your fender well. Your almost done. Now, on the drivers side of an MJ, notch out as needed where your gas filler makes that hump in the bed and for that other little hump that in front of tha fender well. Your done. Paint/seal as desired. Made a set of those about 5-6 years ago for a Ford Ranger and havent broken a window since. :roll: More later. Robert

:thwak: No grasshopper. That waggin finger is supposed to mean "no, no" :no: As in "no" :no: private numbers git answered around here. Caller ID technology gooooood. :thumbsup: Private number technology baaaaaad. :no: comanche09 and I are just fine. In fact, we're gonna meet next week. :cheers: Sorry if some of yall took it as if I was yankin comanche09's chain or wasting his time. Hopefully by the explanation above yall know that wasnt my intention. Just to make sure we're clear, this; :no: does not mean "F-you". (although it does have a striking resemblance) See ya. :waving: (this one is WAVING as in hello or in this case goodbye. (Just messin with ya) L8R!!!