rockhardzj Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Well, I might as well get started on the thread. Current Stats: 1988 MJ $500, 2-3yrs ago 2wd Ghetto 4" RE drop bracket lift from about 14yrs ago. Whats in the works: 10yr upgrade, including the following: Seats Dash Engine Transmission (Possibly a 231/300 doubler) Transfer case Wiring Front clip - 97+XJ style Taillights - 97+XJ style Bumpers - Custom Upper/Lower Adjustable Control Arms "Cab extension" Rims/tires Sound system Light Bar (KJ style. I got the idea from someone on here, or on cardomain) Roof Rack Some pics can be found here, a few months after I bought it. More pics can be found here, as it sits now. More pictures will be coming as time/mods happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I remeber that MJ being forsale. Glade someone rescued it. Keep us posted, sounds like a big project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 I rescued it, after a guy tried to have me fix a few things, convert to 4x4, and he even wanted me to sell it to him for $500 bucks, well under the $1300 or so I had invested in new parts. I'll upload some pics in a little bit of it, as it sits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted June 14, 2007 Author Share Posted June 14, 2007 So the pics are now up, located here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 Got it turned around, pulled it out to the street with the YJ, had my sister help push it in the street to turn it around, and pushed it back in Got the dash about half out. Eye exam in the AM, then, if it's not raining when I get back, I'll finish gutting the interior. Then, I'm going to pull nearly all the wiring, and if I'm lucky, maybe even some mechanical stuff will be on it's way out. The 35rear will probably sit in it for another few months, and I'm going to take my front axle over to my buddy's to get newer beefier lower control arm brackets fabbed and mounted. The goal is to have it completely gutted by Sunday night, with a date thrown in there somewhere too. By Tuesday at noon, I want to have the engine bay, and underside completely cleaned and degreased so I can toss on a coat or two of paint, and make it look half decent when its put back together. I'll paint the rest of it once I upgrade my doors to 98+ style. Then, spend a week and 2-3 days putting it all back together with all the 98 XJ's goodies, and from then until August 3, debugging, and inspection/registration. I know, such a short time span, but my goal is to have it all ready to go down to PA without needing to be trailered. If it gets down to the last minute, I'll just strap it on the trailer, and tow it. Either way, I want this beast ready for the trails the first weekend of August. I may just load it, and all the junk onto the trailer, and lug it to my buddies house, and bring the tools, and throw two damn wrenching parties to get it done in time. One to strip it, clean the engine bay, and underside, then paint them, and the other to get all the new stuff bolted in and working on another day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 pics of the truck please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 pics of the truck please?They will come.It started raining, so I got all packed up, and then came in and showered all the sticky crap off my arms and hands... I'll try to get some tomorrow, but it's not much of a sight right now. Just your run of the mill 2wd dark metallic blue short box MJ with a mis-matched half out interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 pics of the truck please?They will come.It started raining, so I got all packed up, and then came in and showered all the sticky crap off my arms and hands... I'll try to get some tomorrow, but it's not much of a sight right now. Just your run of the mill 2wd dark metallic blue short box MJ with a mis-matched half out interior. :needpics: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 I'll see if I can dig any up from a few months ago in a very similar state as it looks now... Damn rain again, so I'm shut out of working on it till tomorrow at least right now I am... Plan is to have it DD-able in about a month tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 13, 2007 Author Share Posted July 13, 2007 http://swatoffroad.com/images/mj/ Not up to date, but this damn rain shuts off, and then I'm ready to go out and work and then it starts again.... It's pissing me off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted July 13, 2007 Share Posted July 13, 2007 I tried to look it up... sayd your site is having a security issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 Fissed. It's I don't have my permanent security server root certificate in place yet, so the temporary root certificate doesn't work with what your browser's existing certs are. If you selected OK, or whatever, it would have downloaded the current certificate, and you wouldn't have had any issues anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 This rain is downright pissing me off! It's April showers bring May flowers, damn it! not July showers bring August whatevers! This is 3 days destroyed by the rain now! Getting way too far behind schedual... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 This rain is downright pissing me off! I wish it would rain. I have garage, but it's too hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 This rain is downright pissing me off! I wish it would rain. I have garage, but it's too hot. I have a garage, but theres already half a rig in there, and a bunch of other crap, so theres no room to work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 Well, interior is damn near almost completely gutted. been spraying some spots of black spray paint here and there on the truck as I go, it's my only defense to the damn bees... eventually it will see new paint anyways, so spots don't concern me. its enough that its a little noticeable, but it rids the bees... On another note, I am about half way through peeling my carpet back, and the rust is much better than I was thinking it would be. I know theres a hole on the outer foot well on the driver side, but that seems to be the worst of it. the rest, so far seems to be like spots and specs of rust the size of grains of coarse sand, so it's really in good shape, which I'm pretty happy about. The wiring, steering column, and the heater box and the front half of the carpet is about all thats left to come out. I'm leaving the trim in for right now, except where it meets the carpet, thats out. Anyways, came in to update, get a drink, and talk to someone for a few mins on the phone, and it's getting to be time to go back out. Pictures to come later on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 As promised, pictures: http://swatoffroad.com/images/mj/071607/ They are a bit bigger, so dial up beware! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogetemturbo Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 How are you planning on doing the cab extension? I did the late model swap as well, you'll be very happy with it, I am with mine. I've just been jonesing for an extended cab or crew cab... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 The cab extension will essentially get a floor made, and be bolted on the front of the bed, so the rear window can be reached through, for more storage space. It's a simple idea if you think about it, nothing special. I had Wildman come over today, we got the engine, and the entire wiring harness out, and a few other doo-dads. We loaded it all into the back of his van, so now the MJ sits with another 3-4 inches of "lift" up front. Tomorrow, I'll begin cleaning engine bay, and underside, get it in tip top shape. Paint what needs to be painted in the engine bay, and under the MJ. I didn't get a chance for pics today, I'll try to get some before working on it in the AM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 New pictures: http://swatoffroad.com/images/mj/071707 Going to figure out the best way to go about cleaning all the grease and oil off it to I can rough up the paint, and apply some rattle can. Would I be best off with Acetone and tons of clean rags after a good pressure washing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999MJ Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 New pictures:http://swatoffroad.com/images/mj/071707 Going to figure out the best way to go about cleaning all the grease and oil off it to I can rough up the paint, and apply some rattle can. Would I be best off with Acetone and tons of clean rags after a good pressure washing? I used Xylene and a stiff brush and scrubed and scrubed and scrubed then hit it with the power washer and scrubed some more/ Does that have the 5.5 Re kit in it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 18, 2007 Author Share Posted July 18, 2007 I used Xylene and a stiff brush and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed then hit it with the power washer and scrubbed some more/ Does that have the 5.5 Re kit in it? Where do I find Xylene? Home Depot? Lowes? My buddy told me to get some simple green, and try that. I think it is a RE 5.5 kit. Or at least some sort of a knock off.... On another note, I power washed it today, everything under the hood, and on the bottom, down till I could see paint. The high pressure water just isn't enough for the fine film of grease on the paint though, so it still needs something before I can paint it. I'll have pictures tomorrow of it all clean (almost clean). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999MJ Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 I used Xylene and a stiff brush and scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed then hit it with the power washer and scrubbed some more/ Does that have the 5.5 Re kit in it? Where do I find Xylene? Home Depot? Lowes? My buddy told me to get some simple green, and try that. I think it is a RE 5.5 kit. Or at least some sort of a knock off.... On another note, I power washed it today, everything under the hood, and on the bottom, down till I could see paint. The high pressure water just isn't enough for the fine film of grease on the paint though, so it still needs something before I can paint it. I'll have pictures tomorrow of it all clean (almost clean). You can get the Xylene at home depot. It takes that nasty film right off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 New pictures, of it all clean! http://swatoffroad.com/images/mj/071807 I still have to clean the invis-da-ble film, but it looks really good now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockhardzj Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 Spent all day working on my transfer case, swapping my tail shaft, tail housing, and a part inside for newer/stronger components. Essentially, my broken 98's tail shaft, tail housing, and the one gear in it were all swapped into my 93 tcase, to upgrade to a sealed unit. I put it all back together, and then look at the other workspace, and "WTF?!?! A SPRING!!!!!!" Had to take everything back apart to put the spring back on the shift rod. Right now, it's at a standstill, I ran out of RTV silicone. I also cleaned the oil sump, and cleaned the magnet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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