My Project Truck

[xjblue]

It begins!

It's officially not a "pending" truck project anymore.

 

An oppurtunity for my MJ to test fit some goodies has come about. Here is the results so far.

 

5" lift and rockrails.

 

The soa is all bolt on, there is a bit left to do for the front end yet.

 

This is a low priority project for me, the DD Honda and XJ get priority as they get me to work/play (... then there is the 66 Mustang project going on 10 years but maybe I should sell it and buy MJ parts.... :-D)

 

I'm playing things by ear but for kicks I might just regear and auto lock that 35 and play around a bit before the 4WD conversion comes along.

[ComancheKid45]

Off 2 a great start.....Hell just startin w\ an MJ is a great start 8)

[hackedmj]

Good looking truck! I've always liked white MJs. Yea, sell the Mustang and sink it in the truck :-D

[Drahcir495]

Wow! How did I miss this post :roll: Better late then never. Looks real good-Rich

[ROADLESS]

xjblue, very nice. I am thinking about doing this to my MJ and would like to know more about how you did your SOA. I know this is a common mod, but you mentioned that yours was all bolt on?. Thanx :idea:

[Pete M]

I think he meant "bolted on". Leaf pads have to be welded on no matter what axle you choose to go with.

Jeep on!

--Pete

[ROADLESS]

Thanks Pete, I should have known it sounded TGTBT :oops: BTW, who has the best info out there on doing a SOA?

[Pete M]

Each one seems to be done a little bit differently. There is no "best" way, but there are plenty of wrong ways. The minimum you need to do is weld pads on top of your axle directly above your current ones, your rubber brake line needs to be longer (I believe it's a Dakota line that is usually used), and you'll need to work on shock mounts. I reused my factory mounts and stock shocks by slipping the mounts between the leafs and axle (with a bit of trimming to fit round the tube). I also added an extra leaf right below the main leaf to help combat springwrap. It's a main MJ leaf (with the eyes cut off) from another pack I got from the junkyard. Nows a great time to check your leafs for cracks. I found a cracked leaf in all four of the packs I had to put two good packs together. New ubolts and other hardware should be aquired. Also you should replace your driveshaft U-joints. Ujoints don't like changes in their operating angles and tend to vibrate.

photos of my setup can be found at:

picturetrail.com/petermontie

 

What size tires are you shooting for and what gear ratio will you be using?

Jeep on!

--Pete

[pingpong]

I made my own spring perches out of rectangle tubing :D I used a longer braided stainless line on mine, with a hard line extension. As for rear shock mounts.. I am not running rear shocks :shock: :twisted: For pinion angle , if you are running a SYE aim the pinion at the t-case, if not running a SYE, try and keep your pinion angle within 2* of the t-case output shaft.

 

On a side note Warrior products does offer a bolt on SOA kit, but it is designed for a YJ (same principal). I do not reccomend this as a permanent thing, but would be good enough to get you to a shop to weld it up, if you do not have the skill or tools to accomplish this.

 

 

 

Patrick

[ROADLESS]

Ultimatley, I am looking at running 33's with 4:10 gears or 3:54 gears with a Tera Low range t-case (4:1). I also need to replace the D35. Will post w/pics once i get underway.

[skimore11]

What rock rails are those? So many choices of what to do next.

[pingpong]

You don't say wether or not you have an auto or manual tranny. 33's with 4.10's for an auto is ok, but for a 5spd, expect to do lots of downshifting. I am getting ready to do 4.88's or higher cause of my current tire choice(35), and possibly going bigger later.

 

 

 

Patrick

[xjblue]

Yes I said BOLT ON. (one more mod the world MJ preservation society won't cringe too badly at eh eagle :D) here is more info. I'll post some more pics later.

 

My truck is getting test fit for a new bolt on SOA kit for MJ's. first they did a trial of the bolt on pads from a YJ SOA kit, wich fit fine but a little taller than they can match up front for now, and didn't have shock mounts incorporated. They designed and built new pads, a little shorter and to maintain the bolt on ability and re-use the stock lower shock mount/u-bolt plate. Although I think I'll go back to the other pads to run 35" in the future. Still working on front end stuff like controll arms. can't' wait for tires and then the obligatory testing phase! still plenty to do...

 

weld on systems are always better, downsides to bolt on will be the pads are designed for the D35, upside is bolt on = easier for the non welder equipped do it yourselfer, also you can unbolt the system and A; sell the stock axles still in unwelded stock form B - keep the kit and sell the vehicle in stock form etc etc...

[Pete M]

Pics! Pics! Pics! :D :D :D

[pingpong]

From experience, reusing the under the axle, and in front of the axle tube shock mount can be a bad thing. I tried that, and it didnt work to well, so I am not running any rear shocks at the moment :shock: As soon as I pull the bed and build my exo-cage (here in the next few weeks) I plan on incorparating a new shock x-memeber.

 

BTW the reason why I say it didnt work too good is on the drivers side my shock kept hitting the gas tank at full drop :?

[Pete M]

No problem here. My shocks are behind the axle. :D

Jeep on!

--Pete

 

[xjblue]

useful Update (pictures)! - sorry for the wait

 

 

got to like fresh powdercoat

 

the new setup installed

 

testing some 265/75's (still stock cntrl arms etc)

 

not too shabby

[ComancheKid45]

Looks Great 8) ....I want some snow 2 :x

[xjblue]

my truck is some time from being "done" (are they ever?) but the lift kit is official as they began to take orders http://www.rocky-road.com/comanche.html

 

skimore11 Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:21 pm Post subject:

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

What rock rails are those?

 

And the rockrails also.

http://www.rocky-road.com/xjrockrail.html

 

Hopefully new front springs and drop brackets won't be much longer.

In the mean time I'll be saving up for things like power steering, front axle parts, AW4, np231, gears, lockers, driveshafts, yikes it adds up fast.... TNT longarm, CB radio, recovery equipment, trail tools, raised steering.

 

questions; tranny and T-case:

I'm thinking keep it light(er) so stay with the 2.5 liter and stock axles to run 33's. If I understand correctly easiest thing would be find an aw4/np231 out of a 2.5l? what gearing with that combo? 4:88 would be my guess

[pingpong]

Most of the AW4's came behind the 4.0's I think the tranny that came behind the 2.5's wasthe TF909. but I am not sure. If you plan on being happy with your fuel economy and performance with that 4 popper, I would have to look at a gear chart, and figuure out what my engine speed (rpm) would be, with this or that gear and what ever tire you plan on running. Check the tire makers website to get the auctaul tire size, not the advertised size.

[DirtyComanche]

There was rare factory 2.5/AW4 combos that had 4.56 gears, I think. Sadly, no D44 was avaliable. However, you can use one of them as a cheap donor for a front axle/tcase/tranny and get a decent rear and regear it.

[mr4x4]

i whent down to 4wheel parts and bought my mounts for 20$

their 2in. wide anti wrap perches

some new u bolts and i fliped my shock mount to the top(you have to switch sides as well)

then you don't have to knotch them out for the axle and you can use stock size shocks for a cherokee as long as there eye to eye

[87manche]

XJblue:

So I'm a bit confused, I read the page. The whole kit with new trackbar and everything is $449? That's just crazy talk. SOA is so cheap.

You need another test mule? :D

As soon as it's mechanically sound I'm ordering one of these up.

A few questions.

Any welding required? I lack a welder.

Do you have the info or part numbers on new shocks needed, or are they included with the kit?

A question about the rockrails too.

Possible to get them in a longbed version. I can take measurements. I also understand that there's a bit more steel. So if they turn out a little bit more $ then that's understandable.

[mjeff87]

There was rare factory 2.5/AW4 combos that had 4.56 gears, I think. Sadly, no D44 was avaliable. However, you can use one of them as a cheap donor for a front axle/tcase/tranny and get a decent rear and regear it.

 

Ultra rare, but I saw one in the 'yard last month. It only came in 87-89, and had 4.56's stock in the D30/35. I snagged the 30, and am regearing a D44 I got to match after the new year's hoopla settles out.

Jeff

[xjblue]

XJblue:

So I'm a bit confused, I read the page. The whole kit with new trackbar and everything is $449? That's just crazy talk. SOA is so cheap.

You need another test mule? :D

As soon as it's mechanically sound I'm ordering one of these up.

A few questions.

Any welding required? I lack a welder.

Do you have the info or part numbers on new shocks needed, or are they included with the kit?

A question about the rockrails too.

Possible to get them in a longbed version. I can take measurements. I also understand that there's a bit more steel. So if they turn out a little bit more $ then that's understandable.

 

No welding, Bolt On! fits d35s perfectly and wraps over the axle to contact the stock perch.

they might take another test mule on, esp if you have a stock D44.

I have DT shock part numbers DT3350 up front and DT3368 in back for a nice long shock. Shocks are optional, add $155 for all 4 DT's

I was wondering about how much longer on longbed rockrails, I was told the short bed rails are the longest they make so far. I'll pass along any measurments you take.