AZRick Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Chose "Little Beast" as it sets next to the "Big Beast" (3500 Ram, Cummins dually). Picked it up about 4 years ago, its a 91, 4.0, AX-15, 4X4, with 144,000 on the clock. Looked up the VIN and it was an "Islander" package?? It does have a goofy, wave like graphic down both sides. It sat, taunting me for over 3 years, now that I have it to Stage 1, it's becoming an addiction. First to go was the ratty bench and carpet. It was a beautiful sight, there was not one speck of rust on the floor boards. It's good to live in the Southwest :) In went an AC plenum and controls from a XJ, installed new compressor, condenser, hoses and metering valve. Had the alternator rebuilt but its replacement is in shipping, not enough amps to run the AC fan on high and the headlights at the same time. Installed new padding and carpet, radio and amp. Neighbor knocked the dent out of the pax side door. Got lucky and scored bucket brackets and rear window gasket from junk yard. For now it has some scruffy XJ buckets installed with an XJ console. I filled in the brake handle slot then covered it up with a cup holder :doh: Replaced the water pump, fan clutch, radiator, fan shroud, added an electric fan. Replaced header panel up front and installed new turn/marker light assemblies. Welded up and install a JCR front bumper. Fabbed up and installed rear bumper and tailgate/tire carrier. Scrounged a roll bar from Loveland Co. Shipping cost twice as much as the roll bar :eek: Sprayed the liner in the bed, fabbed up hilift mount. Thats about it for stage one, the AC works pretty good for an R12 system running 134 in 115 degree heat. Brown Santa has been showing up daily with parts for Stage 2, springs and things... See the rust? Under the trim, the trim must go, this is the only real rust I have found. I promptly cut the bottom of the panel off and built a bumper to take it's place. O yeah, forgot... added tilt steering Louvers too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Lookin good! The tailgate is pretty neat! Good thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COFFMAN Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Like the rear bumper with the hidden reciever, cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalob Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Wow! This is really looking great. love the rear bumper and tailgate. You have a bunch of really cool design features going on with your build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biotex Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Nicely done sir! I'm also digging the tailgate. What is that buggy build in the background? Looks interesting... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Nice work! Love those bumpers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 Nicely done sir! I'm also digging the tailgate. What is that buggy build in the background? Looks interesting... :thumbsup: That's a someday project, it keeps getting pushed back by other projects like a little white Comanche that needed to be worked on. Mid travel (12" in front, 14" in the back), Subaru 2.5 married to 091 bus box, should be fun if I ever get around to finishing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Upgrades this weekend - Installed 180 alternator, replaced water pump again (napa pump leaking after 5000 miles), installed led "B" pillar lights. Next weekend it gets the brake booster upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted July 24, 2013 Author Share Posted July 24, 2013 Its been below a billion degrees in the shop so went ahead and swapped in the dual diaphragm booster, left MJ valve in place, bent up and flared new lines to said MJ distribution block, bled brakes ... no leaks, sweet. Fire up engine, step on brake pedal and there is something sucking under the dash :mad: so much for the bargain booster off craigslist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 And so it begins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knever3 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 That looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Very nice truck! and Shop for that matter! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ftpiercecracker1 Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Love the tire swing. Sooooo much prettier than mine. And that rear bumper, Jesus that thing is beefy. How much does it weigh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Love the tire swing. Sooooo much prettier than mine. And that rear bumper, Jesus that thing is beefy. How much does it weigh? Not sure, it started life as a 4'x4'x3/16" steel plate and there were not many scraps left over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 The bottom spring is from the left side, the right was sitting a bit lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 Sorry, not much on blow by blow details but here are a few pics. The pile accumulating The front diff got 4.56 gears, a lunchbox locker, JCR drag link/tie rod with 1 ton tie rod ends. knuckle reaming 101 Installed a post 95 one piece axle, which necessitated a block off plate on the vac disconnect and relocation of the oil seal. Being as the stock oil seals have a nice bevel to lift and guide the incoming through the oil seal and the replacement seal does not, I built an axle ramp. Not sure if it was needed but what's the fun if you don't do things your way. The rear got an ARB and this is the materials used to build a spreader... Pressing on a axle bearing, about the only thing not replaced were the brakes as there may be some discs in the future. The 231 lost it's slip yoke. Went with the "5.5 MJ lift" replaced the sacked out rear with new stock leafs. Which necessitated disposal of these. To be replaced by these (black wheels suck to photograph) any way 285/75/R16 Added this nice little tool box in the bed. Which I partitioned off and made the right side an electrical/air compressor bay. I ran 4 gage wire to it, built an isolated standoff to connect the compressor and painless harness to. One relay is for the ARB the other two are for the driving lights. The painless wiring harness has one hot battery circuit, it's attached to a switch at the back of the tool box to power a yet to be installed rear flood light. In the cab I installed two "Prime 4X4" switch panels. Pretty much the end of Stage 2, not sure where Stage 3 will take us or when it will get started, the wallet is deflated. I didn't put chromo shafts in, I did put drilled and slotted rotors on with ceramic pads (it stops). New clutch, rebuilt front drive shaft, new rear drive shaft, new ball and U joints and pretty much any small part that was replaceable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Sick!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zackcj7 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Looks great. What coil springs and control arms did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 Springs = RE 5.5 (http://www.nonamestudios.com/experimentalinsanity.com/vehicle/resources/mj-lift.html) LCA = Rubicon Express RE3720, I think they are going to hold up better against AZ's rocks than a stamped arm would. Plus, the ease of adjustability is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Great looking truck. I like how clean your install looks and I'm jealous of your shop tools. What vents did you put on your hood? Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Great looking truck. I like how clean your install looks and I'm jealous of your shop tools. What vents did you put on your hood? Ron Thank you. The louvers are from these guys --> http://www.hoodlouvers.com/?gclid=CPzmtsPV1rsCFdE-MgodfFYA2Q And they are a very nice product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DangerWillRbnsn Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Very nice. I'm poking around deciding on colors before I paint... laying heavily towards white, and your truck is really pushing me that direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Very nice. I'm poking around deciding on colors before I paint... laying heavily towards white, and your truck is really pushing me that direction. I like the white, mine needs new paint, I don't want to paint it, whole lot of work just to have a mesquite customize it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZRick Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Out to the desert for javelina hunting/wheeling. After bumping into the Javelina and not getting off a shot, it was time to do a little wheeling. Nothing serious cause I'm out here all alone with no cell service... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl*t Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Tucson area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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