88 Anytime Wheeler

[SW86]

finally got my gussets in. sheesh...took awhile.. here's a pic for you guys or anyone searching the net on these.

 

Artec gussets. they are meant for a TJ but will work on Mj, Xj etc etc. you will have to do a little grinding on the top brackets but not much. if i had my tools here at home they'd be on but you can only do so much with a bench grinder. so in the pic they are not on completely. just thrown on for reference. the bottom brackets fit perfect. no issues what so ever.

 

 

 

[SW86]

had to get the locker out of the current axle, so i figured id just rip that mother @#$%er down..

 

 

 

 

i have new joints for the long arms coming but i had the bushings. slapped those hoes in. also pulled the front driveshaft as well. half @$$ broke it down but called it a night. covered lots of little things but doesnt seem like it in the greater scheme

[hawkswag1]

What did you paint your truck with?

[SW86]

That high dollar spray paint (krylon) and a good bit of sanding. I can't even remember how many cans I went through. It was sand, wash, paint, sand, wash, paint, sand, wash. Way overkill but that's how I like it. You know, more work than its worth LOL

[hawkswag1]

Id like to put a rattle can job on mine to save money. Do you think you remember how much it costed?

[SW86]

ill guess 100 to 120 bucks. take or give. plus cash for masking tape. i went all out for it. almost like actually painting the truck. I'm sure you could go a lot cheaper.

 

 

 

on a build thread note, just dropped off the new front axle for welding and gears :banana:

[hawkswag1]

Thats not bad. You said krylon. What type of krylon exactly? I know theres several types. I used krylon fusion to paint my flares and stripes.

[SW86]

since the MJ is in a nice warm garage, ive been looking for anything to do just to work on it.

decided since the front axle isnt back yet, i could start something on the rear. so i shaved the 8.25 up a good bit. mainly got rid of that pesky lip hanging down and rounded the front side a little. no pic but I'm sure you can figure out what it looks like

 

 

 

 

Thats not bad. You said krylon. What type of krylon exactly? I know theres several types. I used krylon fusion to paint my flares and stripes.

 

 

it was just the primer white and regular (or maybe gloss) sun yellow. nothing special about them.

[SW86]

Finally got my new krawler joints in and some hockey pucks for the el cheapo bump stops

 

 

[SW86]

got another piece to the puzzle today :)

 

[SW86]

install kit for the rear gears and ball joints showed up :banana:

 

still waiting to hear back on my front axle. the g2 gear set i bought was screwed up somehow but 4WP covered it. new set should be in this week and hopefully get the front back in, so the rear can come out. though i think ill give it a shot at regearing it instead of someone else doing for me.

[SW86]

got the axle back. 4.88 gears, jks mini skids, synergy sleeves, artec C gussets. I'm trying to round out things left to do today but it doesnt look like ill get it all done :dunno:

 

 

 

 

sorry for the crappy pics :peek:

[jbain]

Most people just don't understand just how much work goes in to what you've done.... looks great.... your gonna love those gears.....

[SW86]

i know it.. or about how much money actually goes into doing stuff like this. it adds up quick.

 

i did more work to it after those pics. i FINALLY got those bottom ball joints out. i had to heat the knuckle to cherry red to even get them to budge. then the press plus tons of beating with a hammer was done to get them to drop :shake:  

sway bar links are cut down to the buckets. i don't run a sway bar anyway.

having fitment issues with the coils and the gussets. a little more grinding and i should be good to go. itll be nice to have it back installed.

[Bornindesert]

I'd like to do my next D30 axle just like yours, looks like it'll take a beating for sure. Are you keeping the steering set up or changing it up?

[SW86]

for right now until i get the rear axle done, its staying the same. hell really, ive got all the parts for the rear, i might just go on and pull the trigger on it... this is what I'm going with. of course, waiting for the 20% code ;)

 

 

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/34STEER.html

[SW86]

Mucho better.

 

 

 

Throwing it in, then finishing it all up :)

[jbain]

Might have missed it earlier but are you going 3 link?  I also notice a Jonny joint on your UCA above the diff....... I ran 3 link for about a year and it wasn't so bad.... when I built the new front axle I went back to 4 link and the only thing I really noticed was it had much better road manners at high speed..... didn't drift quite as much.  Looks good though I really like the white.....

[SW86]

I've been running a 3 link long arm for about two years now. Since this is mainly a trail rig it doesn't see high speeds at all but it handles alright. Although no sway bar has its fun moments at highway speeds lol

[jbain]

Yea.... I was told when I bought my MJ that you can't run them at highway speed without swaybars....... was told that they are "Softer" than my old XJ and I'd have to buy links...... so I cut off the mounts, hung the front axle and drove it straight down the road........ then I decided to add Beadlocks to the mix...... lets just say you gotta stay focused when driving..... lol

[SW86]

Front installed and rear removed, broke down and ready for the gear install tomorrow

 

 

[SW86]

Well 7 hours and two pizzas later, we got the gears in. It's not a huge job but the right tools and some patience go a long way. The 8.25 surprised us with a few things. Over tight bolts, reverse threaded ring gear bolts, bearings that wouldnt let go and those carrier bearing adjusters. We had to rig up a tool for those adjusters. Ill get the rest of the pics later but here's the only one I took.

 

 

[SW86]

back in and almost done! i need to put the cover back on, fill it up and bleed the brakes. then its done! :banana:

 

 

also shaved the 8.25. that little lip @#$%ing sucks!

 

before (after i cut most of the little lip off. you can see that little hump i left in the middle)

 

 

 

after (cut up to the lube locker)

 

 

 

look ma! a d35! :rotfl2:

 

[SW86]

for right now until i get the rear axle done, its staying the same. hell really, ive got all the parts for the rear, i might just go on and pull the trigger on it... this is what I'm going with. of course, waiting for the 20% code ;)

 

 

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/34STEER.html

 

 

this just happened.. :brows:

 

 

drove the jeep for the first time since the swap and I'm loving the gears. the best part is the transmission actually shifts when its supposed to! :rotfl2:

[SW86]

got new tags for it. 9 dollars and I'm good for the rest of my MJs life! :yes:

 

 

a teaser for you ;)