Biotex Posted May 30, 2013 Author Share Posted May 30, 2013 Sitting on 31's during a test drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share Posted June 2, 2013 Today I mounted the 31's onto the factory turbine rims and had them balanced.Then I brought Maura into the shop and started with the fender flares install.First I cut out some metal, and let me tell you that was a hard thing to bring myself to do. Then I bolted on the Napier flares. I bought the textured ones with the edge guard and stainless steel hardware. Awesome product. Then I started on the front bumper so I could install the front flares. Before: After: Side shot: I'll install the front flares tomorrow. I'm wore out... :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1987Comanche Posted June 2, 2013 Share Posted June 2, 2013 She looks good! Where did you get the bumpers? I assume you are going for new '31s after replacing the ball joints? Cutting away sheet metal you just repaired is always painful...like denting a fender or door you just replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 2, 2013 Author Share Posted June 2, 2013 She looks good! Where did you get the bumpers? I assume you are going for new '31s after replacing the ball joints? Cutting away sheet metal you just repaired is always painful...like denting a fender or door you just replaced. Got the bumpers from a fellow CC member. He shipped them to me, and they bolted in place perfectly. Yeah, cutting the fenders was painful, but only way to get the look I'm after and the clearance I need. The way I see it, it is something the factory should have done to begin with. The ball joints tested ok, my death wobble was induced by the tires being out of balance, and those heavy steel rims. With the aluminum rims, and a good balancing, it appears fixed. I haven't really tested it too much yet, but so far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92tanMJ Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Those rear flares don't touch the bottom did they send you the wrong ones? Like for a 2door xj? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 No, they are the correct ones. Leaves room for sliders if nothing else. Once I bedline the rockers, it won't be so noticeable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 3, 2013 Author Share Posted June 3, 2013 Here is a better side shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Looks awesome love the flares...can't wait to see the bedliner on the rokers etc. how high up on the body are you going? and are you going to coat the flares too? That is my game plan on Bucky.... Had a chat with bushwacker last week about flat top rears for our trucks...... Jury is still out on that one. (but they have e-mailed me twice and asked for a second batch of photos showing the fittment issues) Fingers crossed.... Your truck looks spectacular...I am very jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Looks awesome love the flares...can't wait to see the bedliner on the rokers etc. how high up on the body are you going? and are you going to coat the flares too? That is my game plan on Bucky.... Had a chat with bushwacker last week about flat top rears for our trucks...... Jury is still out on that one. (but they have e-mailed me twice and asked for a second batch of photos showing the fittment issues) Fingers crossed.... Your truck looks spectacular...I am very jealous. At first, I was going to bedline the sides up to the last contour line. Then I backed down one notch thinking there would be too much black. Now, with the flares installed, I'm thinking I will just to the very first contour, leaving the wide flat area white. It is far easier to add more bedliner than to remove it. I have no plans to coat the flares. I paid extra for the textured ones, and they look fine to me. I definitely like the flat flare look. Don't see many of them. Thanks for your comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 looking forward to the bed liner going on. agree with you that the (visual only) flare issue will not even be noticed. What bedliner brand you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 I'm going with U-Pol Rapter sprayed on. Pre tinted black. I wish I could afford the Linex product. I just can't justify the cost when I can do-it-myself for around $150. I'm really tring to push the build so I can make the MOAB trip in Sept. That's the only reason the noisy rear D35 bothers me so much. If I install the 8.8 I already have, then I will have to regear the front. More $$$$, so I may have to decide to let the bedliner go till after. I spent too much on my shop add on last month, so trying to save back up. Unless I buy some used D30 gears in a 3.54 ratio!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I used the u-pol raptor.....also in Black. good sh*t looks great. Good thing they give you a "gun" to use. I would not want to shoot anything that gloppy through a good gun. I also shot the bumpers, sliders, roll bar, bed rail caps etc. etc Time will tell how well it holds up, and if I made a good choice. Wish I had a shop let alone an add on...can't fault you on that expenditure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 I remember reading your build when you sprayed everything. IIRC you purchased 4 bottles? I'm going to attempt it with 2 bottles. Mistake? Just the bed, bed rails, lower rocker panels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Had a chat with bushwacker last week about flat top rears for our trucks...... Jury is still out on that one. (but they have e-mailed me twice and asked for a second batch of photos showing the fittment issues) Fingers crossed.... I selfishly hope they don't produce Comanche specific rear flares. I think they look better and I've already cut mine for the pocket style flares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 5, 2013 Author Share Posted June 5, 2013 Just won an E-bay bid for some front 3.55 gears. Looks like my next task will be to swap in my 8.8 disc brake axle, and set up the front to match. Looks like I have enough cash left to go ahead and order the U-pol raptor, so that will happen real soon also. I will need to order some spyder-trax wheel spacers for the rear also. IIRC the 8.8 is around 5/8" to 1" narrower. I need to fill those wide flares anyways... I've got a brand new set of 5 BFG Mud terrains (12.5 x 33) mounted on a set on Moab rims. Once the 8.8 is installed, I'll be more comfortable running them in Sept. for the Moab trip. Anyone have a roll bar for sale? I have a bender and some tube, but only have 1 3/4" dies. I think that would look too funny. 2" DOM minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepmarine312 Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 i got a roll bar for a full size truck, if you want to cut and bend you could. make one unique for you lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 Aren't 33s going to be a little much for 3.55 gears? I had 3.55 gears in mine with 31s and would have liked 4.10s. I upgraded to 4.56s when I added 33s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 Aren't 33s going to be a little much for 3.55 gears? I had 3.55 gears in mine with 31s and would have liked 4.10s. I upgraded to 4.56s when I added 33s. Yes, they will. I will only put them on for slow speed offroading. Not ideal, but I believe I can make them work just for the MOAB trip. My thoughts are that I would rather have the clearance than the gearing on that trip. What do you think? Better to leave the 31's on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 i got a roll bar for a full size truck, if you want to cut and bend you could. make one unique for you lol Not sure what you're saying.... You have a rollbar that you want to sell, or you just saying I should look around for one and modify it like you did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Aren't 33s going to be a little much for 3.55 gears? I had 3.55 gears in mine with 31s and would have liked 4.10s. I upgraded to 4.56s when I added 33s. Yes, they will. I will only put them on for slow speed offroading. Not ideal, but I believe I can make them work just for the MOAB trip. My thoughts are that I would rather have the clearance than the gearing on that trip. What do you think? Better to leave the 31's on? No, I'd leave as much clearance as possible as well. Are you gearing your front to match the back? I was just thinking if you were going to regear, to only do it once with what you're going to need. I wheeled quite often in my TJ on 33s with 3.73 gears. It wasn't ideal, but it certainly got the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88MJXLS Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 A roll bar from a Ford Ranger will fit ours (without modification IIRC) That's what's on mine, an '88 SWB, just an idea since there may be more of those laying around than ones specifically for the MJ's :thumbsup: Great build by the way, looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 6, 2013 Author Share Posted June 6, 2013 Aren't 33s going to be a little much for 3.55 gears? I had 3.55 gears in mine with 31s and would have liked 4.10s. I upgraded to 4.56s when I added 33s. Yes, they will. I will only put them on for slow speed offroading. Not ideal, but I believe I can make them work just for the MOAB trip. My thoughts are that I would rather have the clearance than the gearing on that trip. What do you think? Better to leave the 31's on? No, I'd leave as much clearance as possible as well. Are you gearing your front to match the back? I was just thinking if you were going to regear, to only do it once with what you're going to need. I wheeled quite often in my TJ on 33s with 3.73 gears. It wasn't ideal, but it certainly got the job done. The 8.8 already has the 3.55 ratio, so to keep it simple and cheap, thought I'd just regear the front to match. I found a nice set of D30 matching gears for $45, so no big deal If I decide later to install some new 4.10's. I'm probably going to have to consider some sort of a locker anyways, otherwise Moab will be just a scenic drive I'm afraid.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted June 14, 2013 Author Share Posted June 14, 2013 Getting ready to spray some bed liner down. Also received my emblems. Stand by.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Gotta love a product with a dinosaur on the box...... You are gonna love that $#!&. Getting ready to spray some bed liner down. Also received my emblems. Stand by.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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