BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I've built a rock buggy out of my last MJ and just picked up another one (2wd) to make my new daily driver. 88 MJ, 2wd, 4.0, AW4, D35... It's got a few exterior cosmetic issues that will be easily addressed, but the drivetrain is solid and running well. This thread will document the modifications, though they will likely be more simple and subtle than what I've done to my other MJ. My first two thoughts/questions: Lowering. I think I want to lower it. It's gonna be a total street truck, and I don't feel right about owning a Jeep at stock height, but I don't know if I can bring myself to lower it.... someone talk me into or out of it! Bumpers. I think I'm going to make some custom bumpers for it, but since it won't be an offroad vehicle, does anyone have examples of sturdy bumpers that still look stockish? I could make a roll-pan easy enough, but I like the idea of having a little more protection... [/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Is it really as clean as it looks?! Where the heck did you find it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Lower it... It'll look better. I had an 86 long box that the front coils shattered on it, dropping it maybe 2", and it looked awesome besides the 'problems'. Well, the rear needed to go down a bit though. Why do you need sturdy bumpers? It's not bumper cars out there... I'd take a peice of 2x6x.125 HSS and cut it into three peices, one being 33" long for the centre and the two remaining (11.5" IIRC) would be used for the area under the headlights, but they would be angled back a bit by cutting them about 15* off... Cap the ends though. You gotta tub it though. You're doing what I wanted to do, but then realized street trucks are useless in hickville, BC. That and there's no good MJs left here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Is it really as clean as it looks?! Where the heck did you find it? I found it in the classifieds here, which someone linked to on NAXJA. Drove down to Ohio on Monday and picked it up. It's pretty good, but definitely needs a little care. -There is very little rust, except for some reason it got through both sides just below/behind the doors. -Haven't decided what I'll do about that yet, either replace the sheet-metal (unlikely), do a 2x6 tube rocker replacement, or use aluminum diamond plate covers like CW did in his buildup. -The doors are also junk IMO, someone tried modifying them for a different style handle and it came out really hack. -It's rattle-can black, I'll probably paint it nicer at some point, though it doesn't look too bad -The interior is basically perfect; definitely the cleanest '88 interior I've seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Lower it... It'll look better. I had an 86 long box that the front coils shattered on it, dropping it maybe 2", and it looked awesome besides the 'problems'. Well, the rear needed to go down a bit though. Why do you need sturdy bumpers? It's not bumper cars out there... I'd take a peice of 2x6x.125 HSS and cut it into three peices, one being 33" long for the centre and the two remaining (11.5" IIRC) would be used for the area under the headlights, but they would be angled back a bit by cutting them about 15* off... Cap the ends though. You gotta tub it though. You're doing what I wanted to do, but then realized street trucks are useless in hickville, BC. That and there's no good MJs left here. I think it's gonna get lowered about 1.5 inches, cut the coils up front and build new leaf packs in the rear. -I feel the need for sturdy bumpers because I hate the idea of a small fender-bender turning into a big deal. I like the confidence of steel tube. -I think for the front I will do similar to what you said, but put the factory bumper caps on it to keep it looking stockish. I'd like a small grill-gaurd, but don't know how I could do it without it looking out of place on a lowered truck. -For the rear I'm still mildly considering making a roll-pan, it would be easy... my other choice would be to do another like my other MJ used to have with 2x4 tube recessed and 1.25" square tube welded to it's face and wider: we shall see... I'll definitely spend a lot of time doing nice interior stuff like LED interior lights, a big invertor hidden with 110v outlet on the dash, AWshifting unit, decent stereo, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Paddle shifters, eh? My experience with the stock bumpers is that they actually hold up reasonably to 'fender benders' if you can call them that. I mean, I've still got the stock rear on there, sorta. It's been through hell though. On that long 'to-do' list of things that don't get done because everything else breaks first. The stockers are basically throw away, they work once then you replace them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 man you came all the way down here and didn't post up, you probably drove right by my town. I woulda bought you lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 nice MJ but I for one completly disagree with this build. no jeep ever has or ever will look right LOWERED!. I think that you should build it up pre-runner style. You would still be able to give it your own personal touches and what not and still make a really nice truck out of it, please tell me that you have at least considered it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 see, that pic goes to show that it looks goofy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Some of us would beg to differ, but regardless, that pic shows that Jeeps can beat the snot out of the competition in 2wd or 4wd. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombat Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 ok then, for the sake of not arguing, LOL I believe that the MJ in the pic dosen't look that good. not saying it dosne't preform that good. but different stroke for different folks I reckon. :nuts: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XJ Maki Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 A roll pan style bumper like the one 87manche posted here would be slick. In the front maybe a late model XJ bumper with the front fairing and recessed fog lights, you could trim the bumper depth and push it in an inch or two to give a more flush look. Or convert the whole front end to the late model XJ and eliminate the vent window and the funky doors and get the nice power windows and locks :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I still have that roll pan, it's sitting under a tarp outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 nice MJ but I for one completly disagree with this build. no jeep ever has or ever will look right LOWERED!. I think that you should build it up pre-runner style. You would still be able to give it your own personal touches and what not and still make a really nice truck out of it, please tell me that you have at least considered it. I know a thing or two about lifted MJs as well, been there, done that... I still feel a little funny about it, but this MJ is staying on the street, so I might as well build it for that purpose. Right now I'm out in Michigan, if I were still out in Cali I would certainly build it pre-runner style, and I likely will if/when I get back out there. I hate the little rice-rocket Civics that kids will spend thousands on paint jobs, spoilers and bling rims, but not drop a dime on performance parts. This MJ will have a little show, but I will make a strong point of not making it look faster than it is. here's some street MJs that have been posted on NAXJA: Image Not Found Image Not Found I like the second better, not a fan of the ground-effects on the first one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 see i disagree, I love the look of ground affects on street machines. I had though about building a steet/strip MJ, but decided offroading is more fun and I don't have one of those. I would love to see a stroked engine be dropped into a street MJ, it could definately destroy a lot of the v*'s out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 A roll pan style bumper like the one 87manche posted here would be slick. In the front maybe a late model XJ bumper with the front fairing and recessed fog lights, you could trim the bumper depth and push it in an inch or two to give a more flush look. Or convert the whole front end to the late model XJ and eliminate the vent window and the funky doors and get the nice power windows and locks :brows: I don't like that roll pan. If I do one I'll just make it out of one sheet of metal curved to match the sides, then I'll relocate the liscense plate to the tailgate or rear window. I like the look of the 84-96, but if someone nearby was parting out a 97+ real cheap I guess I would do the conversion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbhill Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 i know ranger coils are shorter(i would get some 2wd 4.0 ext cab springs, and mite have to trim the bumps stops down) and are the same diamater, cuz ranger guys use jeep springs for a lift:D. as for the rear, you could just add a drop block if its a spring under(havnt looked at my stock mj rearend in a while) also grant customs in california will make you an all steel roll pan. bob n matt are great guys, hes gona be building me a 1off front bumper roll pan and tail light fillers for my MJ. www.grantkustoms.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 i know ranger coils are shorter(i would get some 2wd 4.0 ext cab springs, and mite have to trim the bumps stops down) and are the same diamater, cuz ranger guys use jeep springs for a lift:D. as for the rear, you could just add a drop block if its a spring under(havnt looked at my stock mj rearend in a while) also grant customs in california will make you an all steel roll pan. bob n matt are great guys, hes gona be building me a 1off front bumper roll pan and tail light fillers for my MJ. www.grantkustoms.com I know one guy with a lowered XJ was telling me he's running cut F150 springs that are about 280in/lbs, I think stock XJ is 160-180in/lbs. He says he loves the way it rides... but it sure seems like that would be too stiff. For the rear, some of the lower leafs are broken and for some reason it already has a 2" lowering block but looks stock height. I think my first attempt at the rear will be to use just the MJ main leaf and add a whole XJ pack to that including the main leaf with eyes cut off. Thanks for the advice on the roll pan, but I think I can easily handle making my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yj2mj Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I don't remeber what it looked like, but Hesco used to have a MJ shop truck, 2wd w/ blown 4.7 stroker. That would be a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 this one? http://www.hesco.us/customergallery.asp ... rdID=90227 site says it was a blown 4.9 BTW :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrettM Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 this one?http://www.hesco.us/customergallery.asp ... rdID=90227 site says it was a blown 4.9 BTW :eek: cool truck, but I'm not a fan of the body work that yellow makes me think more about how I should paint mine... what do you guys think? what color? racing stripes? two-tone? what colors hide small sheet-metal dents well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Any color that you can't see your reflection in. Like glossy black. Don't use glossy black. I hate glossy black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 use a single stage white, lol it worked cherry on the mustang to hide the body dings you still get some gloss, but kides the little imperfections quite well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 black primer. all the cool hotrod kids are doing it. plus you can use it as a chalkboard when you're measuring things and modifying :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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