onlyinamj Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I sold the xj (rusty midwest jeep) and got a 1987 long bed mj for free. The build is getting closer to being "done" so I figured Id throw up a build thread. I have been daily driving this for roughly a year now and just took it apart to finish the motor and do the body work. Axles Front HP 44 with warn lockouts 5.13 gears TnT customs truss and stock shafts with 760 u-joints for now SF 14 bolt with full case Detroit locker 5.13s trussed Suspension Looking for a low center of gravity and I am hoping to end up around 5 inches of lift. T&T customs y-link front SOA with stock springs and Jks shackles Drivetrain 383 Stroker all forged bottom end nastyish cam aluminum vortec heads victor jr aluminum intake and holley tbi Built 700r4 C231 Griffin aluminum radiator with Dirtbound offroad triple 10 fan kit Interior Autometer Gauges everything else stock for now Body A good start with ZERO rust going to bed rescue green bobbed the bed about 9 inches Newer style mirrors Hella housings with IPF fatboys and arb headlight harness Steering One ton steering joints with true high steer Wheels and Tires Plain jane steel wheels 37in MTRS Bumpers Tnt front housing a warn 9500ti with synthetic rope Aluminum fairlead Custom built rear with in bed tire carrier What I started with Motor and Trans donor The truck had a bad fuel pump so the bed got removed and another tank strapped into place so it could be test driven. After test driving the trucks front clip was torn off so the motor could be pulled. The best surprise of the day. Got the engine bay all cleaned up and the motor mounts installed. This thing is cleaner that I thought it was. The bottom of the body is in near showroom condition. How I drove it for roughly the past year or so. Shot of the dash Taking the bed off to start the bob Before the first cut After cut Tacked together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Bedsides trimmed New inner bedsides Flipped it back over. I used 1/4 inch rod to give me something to not only weld the inners to but it adds alot of strength to the whole side. It also gives a finished look to the bed. New LED tail lights Got it in the first coat of primer. Now to sand with 180 then reprime then sand with 320 then seal and color. Forged H beam Eagle rods and Keith Black Icon forged pistons I trimmed the rear part of the frame off and got the new cross member remade. Enough typing onto what you really came in here for. Moved the rear most bed mount Got busy with a cutoff wheel New rear crossmember A little exta bracing Mount rewelded in First shot of the bed on Shot from the rear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Got the bed tailgate and gas door all sprayed today. I also learned my lesson on using cheap paint. I had a brand new gallon of paint that had a bad toner in it and ended up have to buy a new gallon through another paint rep. Hopefully monday I can get my money back on the garbage gallon. It was a 600 dollar lesson today. There is alot more work to be done. Mostly motor work to make it drivable again. I am looking to doing the 97 up front clip and then I am also hoping to do the interior swap as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody4359 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostissues Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Wow, looking nice. did you do the TNT truss yourself? I have a set of Waggy 44s and was looking at the truss. when (if) you got the truss did you order all the mounts already on? or did you have to make your own mounts? I ask because a lot of sites that sell them have the price (base price?) but show the picture of a fully loaded one and it got me confused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Well I kinda did the one under my jeep myself with supervision from Mike @ TnT. I was lucky enough when I was at school to basically intern there. I have done maybe 5 of them after I move back to Il. I put one under a buddies xj with waggy axles about a month or so ago. If you are looking for bolt in you need the mounts. What suspension are you running or going to run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostissues Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Well I kinda did the one under my jeep myself with supervision from Mike @ TnT. I was lucky enough when I was at school to basically intern there. I have done maybe 5 of them after I move back to Il. I put one under a buddies xj with waggy axles about a month or so ago. If you are looking for bolt in you need the mounts. What suspension are you running or going to run? I have a rough country 6 inch lift, I will probably swap out the short arms for rough country long arms soon though. when they sell the truss, it is just the bare truss right? and you add all the mounts? cause on their site I got confused as to weather you add mounts to the bare truss or if the options are upgraded mounts. I am pretty sure that its bare then you add mounts but nobody that did a wright up online mentioned exactly what options they ordered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I am looking to doing the 97 up front clip and then I am also hoping to do the interior swap as well. Nah, don't do that. I won't look good at all, especially in rescue green :nuts: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H3RESQ Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meljr Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Awesome X2 - especially like the gauges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thanks the gauges were in exchange for building a jeep for a buddy over the past winter. There is about 800 bucks into them. They are all LED back lit. Here is a picture of his xj. Not trying to copy the rescue green new interior thing I have been debating the color and swap sense I got this jeep about 2 years or so ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naterenfo1 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 well you got this thing set up exactly how I want to set up mine (minus all the chevy motor/tranny parts ;) ) Definitely will be watching this build to get ideas, Nice work!!! :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 9, 2011 Author Share Posted December 9, 2011 Maybe getting some alcans for the rear. I have a buddy taking them off of his ranger and they might be close enough to fit. The best part is they are almost new and I would get them for under 200 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRodHooligan Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Wow, very similar to what I'm doing right now. LWB shortening to SWB, with a short bed that I'm going to bob about a foot out of. 44/9" with a 4.7L stroker, 97+ front end swap, and Grabber Blue paint. Digging the rig, keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 Nothing new and exciting to post. Got some more work done on the motor. Sometimes it seems like I am chasing my tail with this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 Finished building the motor and started to tear into the trans for the shift kit and corvette servo. I also just got a 2000 xj to start swapping parts over to mine from. Its a limited can you say heated leather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue88Comanche Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 :thumbsup: awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinamj Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 Got the motor in last night and started redoing some wiring that was a mess. Hoping to test fire it maybe monday then it goes to the tuner on the 9th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now