shelbyluvv

Buy the DBs used and save some coin for future projects. They never really wear out. I have bought used sets of DBs for $50. I would piece together the lift. It seems like the best bang for the buck. The only parts I would buy new for the front would be shocks and brake lines.

Are your plans for a 97+ conversion? If so keep the donor around until you are finished with the project. It will make life much easier in the future.

Read and enjoy! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... ORS%3A1123

I am digging the "Chocolate Chip" pattern on the outside. It brings up some fond memories of my first deployment. The Army "Digital" on the interior not so much. It does work well with the factory gray pieces though. It would be perfect (I my eyes) with the "Chocolate Chip" carried into the interior with factory tan interior pieces. Great job on the truck either way. It is a nice twist on an over used camo job!

Don, you could get the D44 in 88s as well. They were just more readily available in the 87s. To the OP. Your truck might have 4:10s stock. Most 2.5's came with them. Yours could be some weird duck though because of the AX4. My truck was a 2.5 with the AX4 and it had 4:10s from the factory. Sadly some clown swapped them out for 3:07s. :thwak:

This one Bo? :cheers: That would be the one Don.

My 1st MJ was an 86 Starline conversion that I drug back from PA to GA. I had it for 3 months and never did a thing to it. It just sat in my driveway and rusted. I sold it to a guy in Indy and forgot about it. Betty is truely my first MJ I ever bought, restored, and drove. Even with the 2.5 she got me hooked. It killed my soul to let her go but I had no choice. I watched her like a hawk as she changed owners, got impounded, and was sold to a buddy of mine. I had to have her back and was finally able to talk the new owner into letting me buy it back. I am glad I did. It is an awesome truck and she will be with me until the day I can no longer climb in the cab.

The Gen I kit was a horrible design. It had a special weld on axle bracket that can't be reused. The frame mounts for the control arms are week and a bad design as well. I would use the Gen II kit as my basis.

You will have to cut a LOT of fender for them to fit but it can be done. See my old XJ build here. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=961170

Really KC? You cross posted this to at least 3 boards? You are getting pretty much the same answers on all of them. Basically it was your fault. It is in your best interest to post some detailed pics (macro) pics of the bar, hiem, where the jam nut was sitting when it failed, and probably a reciept for the "new" track bar and bracket. I personally think you bought a second hand set up and the prior owner swapped out the hiem for a cheap overseas one or he sold you the wrong set up. The ball is in your court at this point. It is only your reputation at stake... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1065500 http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/rock-krawler-almost-killed-me-1233168/ EDIT: You posted this on Pirate too? http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=989774

I just went through your build thread. The track bar and bracket look used. The drop bracket is clearly dirty where it was mounted on a previous Jeep. The track bar is a little harder to tell if it was used or not. My guess is it was too. With the 7" Skyjacker coils your joint is almost at it's limit and the axle is still not centered correctly. In your newest pics in this thread you are running a longer cRusty's spring on an already too short track bar. It is possible that you have the wrong track bar. It could be for a 4.5"-6" lift. Are you positive the guy who sold you the track bar and bracket was correct in it's length?

I am pretty sure you are the first person I have ever heard of having an issue with a RK TB. The hiems and bushings go bad from time to time. But a failure like you are discribing? I would put odds on one of two things. They track bar was too short for your application or the jam nut was loose. I have had my own problems with Rockkrawler years ago with their Gen I XJ tri-link. I moved up to the Gen II kit and never looked back. I wheeled that XJ extremly hard and never had a problem with the suspension. It is still on the trails to this day and it was built in 2003. Post up some pictures of the track bar, jam nut, hiem, and the drop bracket. I would like to see where it failed.

That is just crazy! I can't imagine how hard the roll was to crush the roof like that. I am astounded that she only has minor injuries. I am wondering how the driver side 1/4 glass did not shatter? She is going to be sore as hell tomorrow. You got a few long days of taking care of her every wish now. Wish her a speedy recovery from me! :cheers: Bo

It is brake, not break. I am not ragging on you at all. I am trying to keep you from looking foolish.

Glad she is ok. What was she towing when this happened?

Do not throw that hose away. You will fail the visual part of the smog test without it. Most parts houses have that stuff in a few different lengths.

Calling Pete! Can you get a small CC sticker over to the Zone guys?

I thought it was the 00-01 XJ with the 0331 head issues?

You guys should rock a ComancheClub.com banner on this thing. Not that we had much involvement but it would help others out there know this little slice of the web is out there. I can't wait to see how the MJ does on the UA trip. I know it is all huss huss, but have they hinted around to what trails you will be running this year?

I used the APN header and a Thrush welded muffler on Onyx. It was pretty quite and had better throttle response than the stock system. I retained the 98 XJ down pipe and cat. I needed to pick up two pieces of 2' extension pipe and four 2 1/2" muffler clamps from Autozone to make up the difference in the length from the stock muffler to the shorter Thrush. For the tail pipe my stocker was perfect and I retained it. Questions about exhaust is just as bad as asking if Chevy, Ford, or Dodge is the best 3/4 ton diesel. Weather you want it or not you are going to get peoples opinions on which one is the best. BTW: Cummins FTW!!!

I am in the middle of the desert in 29 Palms Ca.

I ran Pennzoil Synchromesh in my AX-5. It made it shift like butta.

If this is the truck I am thinking it is buyer beware. There are 2 really nasty cracks in the cab from the real window corners to the drip rail moldings.

I can't see pics at work but my guess on the rubbing issue is that the PO did not put a new track bar on it. At 3" of lift the stock track bar will pull the axle towards the drivers side. Ramming the sway bar into the spring.

I have seen people get 1"+ out of standard V8 ZJ coils and others get 1" or less out of UC coils. I guess it all depends on the mileage of the donor. :dunno: