shelbyluvv

I would toss the D35 in favor of a 8.8. The D35 has really weak tubes and with that much weight on it all the time it is a ticking time bomb.

That truck should have 4:56 gears in it. I got my axles out of a 4 banger auto XJ.

I can say that Rocky Road is garbage and the owner (Glenn Wakefield) is a crook. Stay away from them at all costs. If you can afford it BDS is about the best kit on the market for an out of the box lift. I personally prefer to build my own lift kits from different vendors.

I picked this hitch up today. I have never seen or heard of a Husky hitch for a MJ. Maybe another source for them?

Still stock piling parts. I picked this up today, I have never seen a Husky hitch before.

My XJ was a 2000. Maybe the nuts are bigger on the 97+ Jeeps.

I have a set of one off 97+ MJ rear flares that I would be willing to send as a template to help the conversion guys out. I would think you could make a mold of the badges and make them out of aluminum. I took a course in Junior high and we made ash trays and Roman horse heads. Maybe check with a HS shop that has that capability. I am sure a 16 year old kid would be more than happy to make a few bucks for his time.

You can use the bolt to cut the threads in the fender, take it out and cut the excess off, then reinstall the new shorter bolt. Here is a handy tip for anyone with the BW cutout flares, The nuts that hold the stock flare brackets on are exactly the right size to fit the screws that BW provides with the flares. I highly suggest doing it now before they fall out. The flares will vibrate and wallow out the holes. This causes the bolts to just disappear one day. A dab of Locktight will keep the nuts tight as well. The truck looks great too!

It's a bolt in. If I was running 33 or smaller tires I would dump a LP30 in my truck for $100 or less. I have a D35 in my truck with 4:56s because it was cheap and they were factory installed in the XJ it came from. I have a D44 waiting to be upgraded to 4:56 once the 5.2 eats the D35.

Brandt, Thank you sir for all the pics of the Thunder Chief. It is very cool to have someone show some compassion to our obsession of these odd ball trucks. If you ever get a few free minutes there is a truck in the WPC museum that I just love. I would like some pictures of it so I can build a clone for my personal collection. The truck in question is in this link, http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36076 Thank you again for taking the time to make our little world a happier place!

I am in love with this truck. This is what I want Betty to look like once it is done. Any chance he can get pics of it? It is in the WPC Museum.

It also has 86 badges on the fenders.

That seals the day. My next truck will be a Thunder Chief clone. The sunroof is the same one I have I was going to graft into Betty. I will hold off for a SWB to chop up. I love the seats. They remind me of the early ZJ buckets. Rob, you are a amazing man. The CC card on the truck was great. Tell him thanks from me when you get a chance.

I am glad it worked out for someone. If I had not just picked up a shell I was really debating getting a Wildernest. Enjoy it!

The front axle in a MJ is a Dana 30. Not a Dana 35, they were a Ranger thing.

The year of the truck makes a difference on how it is installed. 86s there is minor trimming required to install it. 87-92 is a bolt on.

They are 97+ XJ only. They can be hard to find but if you ask for someone to pick you up a set when they see them they only take a a little while to find.

Late 90's ZJ seats are nice. They have power lumbar and bases as an option they can be made to fit and tilt forward. It will take some work but it can be done in a couple days. http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16295

The Pukegoat is barely enough for the 4.0 in these trucks. The 360 matters too. If this is an AMC 360 you are own your own for a trans. You will have to use something from the AMC days to bolt up to it. A Magnum 5.9 is a whole other ball of wax. An AX15 is slightly stronger but will not bolt up to the block without major mods for starter and exhaust. You will have to find a V8 Dakota bell and go from there with the exhaust and starter. You could find a Ram with a 360 and a 5 speed and start the long fun road to getting it running and fitting. I am knee deep in a 5.2 conversion on my truck with an auto and it has been a fun process of figuring out the wiring and everything else.

Newer XJ and ZJ seats can be made to tilt forward. http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16295 I have done it 3 times now. The hardest parts is finding late model tilt mechanisms.

I just saw your truck on Car Fix. Jared Zimmerman was driving it. I looks good with the black wheels too.

You will need the same rail that is bent. I can't tell from the pic if it is the inner or outer rail. MJs use just the outer rails. If the inner rail is bent you will need to go to the junk yard and buy a inner rail. You will also have to replace the mounting brackets with the MJ ones. XJ and MJ floors are different and the XJ mounts will not bolt to the MJ floor.

http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/3013373723.html

I would like a pic of the title with my name in the owner block. I will be there to pick up the truck shortly. What a cool piece of MJ history.

XJ and MJ seat brackets are different. You will have to use the brackets off the bench either way to put the seats in. Do not waste your time fixing the bent up XJ seat brackets.