Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Thanks for checking out my new build thread! Originally I was going to call it Smokey 2.0, but due to a really unfortunate event I decided to name it as a tribute to my furry four legged best friend that was tragically lost right before starting it. His nickname was Potimus. Onward and upward to what I am building. While I love the XJ platform it just wasn't big enough for what I wanted. After my last XJ being filled with gear, 2 dogs and the wife I was tapped out on space. We added the little peanut to our family and there was no way I was getting all the junk in the XJ. Ideally, this is going to be our camping/overland/road trip vehicle. I've always loved the WJ's just never found myself in one until now. Enter the 04 Columbia edition with the 4.7HO. I picked it up at Copart for $500 and knew it needed a new engine (which I wanted). It was a 2 owner car and overall pretty clean with the exception of needing a new bumper. It did not have the factory Columbia seats anymore, but the covers are decent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 First order of business was addressing the engine. I had my engine guy rebuild the 4.7HO. It had spun a bearing and was toast. While he was at it I added in a fastman bored 68mm TB and AFE intake and a bunch of other "maintenance" items (forgot a pic but it's a engine.....) Also I went ahead and ditched the silly 247 t case in there in favor of the 242HD. By doing so I get 2wd vs all time 4wd. Also I get to add in a lunchbox to the rear. Freshed up the 5454rfe with new fluid and a filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Next was freshening up the underside. I am going to be running a 3" IRO lift along with Bilstiens 5100's, extended sway bar links, ADDCO rear sway bar and some other things. Go figure the coil buckets were toast.....waiting on my IRO replacement kit to finish up the front I also replaced all the control arms, here's the rear. That a arm was a b*@ch to get out. Ended up having to cut the upper ball joint off as it had seized to the a arm. Replaced all the brakes; calipers, rotors, pads and lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 This brings me to current. Next weekend will add in some more pics and hopefully have it road worthy. Will still have some other items to button up but I'm stoked! Things still to do..... -Finish up the front end (rear is done but forgot a pic) -Replace coil buckets -Add in Aussie to the rear D44 -Get the 3" exhaust in -Wire up the traildash -Wire the stereo -Get the rubber on running 265/75/16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 That weird wavey slot rotor lol, yea suck about front axle where coil mount is it very common in WJ with rubber boot on top of mount which it hold all the moisture and cause it rotten rust, friend of mine was look for a good rust free front axle but no luck with my help also in up north in rust belt state, so he decided to buy one off junk WJ so that way he can build a new mount while driving his WJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Also i have Aussie locker up in front Dana 30 in my XJ, love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Friend of mine WJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 Yeah, I knew they had issues, but didn't know what level until I pulled off the coil and the bucket was just non existent. Nice looking WJ what lift size if he running? I eventually will get a rear tire carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 3" lifted IRO wth Rubicon JK rims and tires, it measure around 32" and it do rub little on front only when full turn and on the rear only when full flex but got it issue fixed but trimmed all around fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 I know I can expect some rub. Not too worried about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Well got more done on the WJ this weekend. Still can't drive it because of more stupid things happening. My dad wasn't paying attention when were compressing a side to put a spring in and ruined one of the new SS brakelines. Love the man but he has been fning up more things from just not paying attention and it's driving me bat$#!& crazy. Here it is at least sitting at ride height Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Fixed the coil buckets. Used the IRO kit. Worked well and didn't take to long to weld it all in. Here's cleaning up the old area. had to grind down the old bucket as much as possible Welded the new buckets together. This is the first project I've actually welded on. I've messed a round a little in the past but not actually throwing beads down. Some beads came out really good others looked like, well.... $h!t Still learning but I totally dig welding. Need to figure out why I got some splatter New bucket mounted ready to burn in new bucket with coil and isolators in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Got the front all put together minus the ruined brakeline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Here's the wheels and tires I'm running. Wheels are from mammoth. Took some searching to find, but they only market them for JK's. I love them. Think they are a good looking wheels and don't have a huge offset but enough to give it a little more of an agressive stance compared to just JK takeoff's. Tires are the Falken Wildpeaks AT3's I got LT tires all around. Heavy but I like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 20, 2019 Author Share Posted May 20, 2019 Last thing I got done was the new exhaust. Running a Kolak 3" with a flowmaster super 50 and magnaflow resonator. I did get it finished but it was took dark for my craptastic camera to get a good pic. Sounds awesome! Along with the intake work thing just rumbles. Burning in some more welds. Intake is a beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 On 5/20/2019 at 2:05 PM, Smokeyyank said: Fixed the coil buckets. Used the IRO kit. Worked well and didn't take to long to weld it all in. Here's cleaning up the old area. had to grind down the old bucket as much as possible Welded the new buckets together. This is the first project I've actually welded on. I've messed a round a little in the past but not actually throwing beads down. Some beads came out really good others looked like, well.... $h!t Still learning but I totally dig welding. Need to figure out why I got some splatter New bucket mounted ready to burn in new bucket with coil and isolators in. Hey, since I'm welder and work for living, by the way it isnt spatter on the top where it look like bubble bunch of hole it called porosity cause by few thing, not enough gas flow, u weld too far, ur nozzle too dirty, too much grease on metal need to be clean real good, too much air flow for example windy outside? Did u set fan air flow forward to u?, or did u run low on gas? The bottom one ur weld look good, properly way on how u move ur welding look great. Keep on practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 28, 2019 Author Share Posted May 28, 2019 On 5/23/2019 at 5:05 AM, MJXJjeepguy said: Hey, since I'm welder and work for living, by the way it isnt spatter on the top where it look like bubble bunch of hole it called porosity cause by few thing, not enough gas flow, u weld too far, ur nozzle too dirty, too much grease on metal need to be clean real good, too much air flow for example windy outside? Did u set fan air flow forward to u?, or did u run low on gas? The bottom one ur weld look good, properly way on how u move ur welding look great. Keep on practice. Right on, thanks for the info and terminology correction. I was welding outside and it was a little breezy so I'm assuming it blew away the shielding gas. Guessing the lower turned out better because it had the top of the bucket to help block any wind. Next time I'll put up a shield or something to block any direct airflow. Welding the exhaust was a challenge. I couldn't get beads going on certain parts, especially upside down. We changed the wire to a smaller gauge but still had some issues. The resonator was stainless and I just wasn't able to get a consistent bead around. Ended up having to do 2 passes with smaller beads. Other b*@ch was just not having enough room to get the gun in. It doesn't have any leaks and sounds awesome. Little louder than I was expecting but 0 drone and when you punch it it opens up. On a separate note, got all moved into the house this past weekend. I hate moving....with a passion. This was hands down the hardest one so far. Probably because it was another city and there was just so much to get moved. happy that it's done but now it's the dreaded task of unboxing and trying to keep the wife in check because she thinks we need to buy all new things....ugh. I took the WJ on it's maiden flight up the hill and damn the thing moves. I can easily pull 90 going up I70 which is something I haven't been able to do since having my old SS HHR that had a turbo. Rides nice a smooth. Steering wheel is crooked and I need to fix that, but otherwise all good in the hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJXJjeepguy Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Nice house! Congratulate on new home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted May 29, 2019 Author Share Posted May 29, 2019 Thanks! Love it so far. Nice being up out of the city and so close to the mountains. Grew up in Denver and while it's still home I just over it. Way to damn many people and out town asshats moving there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 Took the WJ on a road trip last weekend for a wedding down to Westcliffe, CO. Thing drives great, the 4.7HO has so much power it's awesome. I need to replace my steering as the TRE's are shot. I had some DW and traced down a loose bolt on the track bar, but after looking at the TRE's they are toast. Ventured out on a little dirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 Replaced all the steering this past weekend. The TRE's were in worse shape than I thought. They had 0 resistance when it came to moving them around. Also found one of the control arms was a little loose so tightened that up along with the track bar. I also corrected some issue with the steering stabilizer. I went with the MOOG trail boss and it didn't have all the correct hardware when I put it in. A lot less noise on the road but still not the smoothest. I will admit some of the roads around here are really bumpy and most of the time it's not a bad ride but fn a it's loud compared to my MJ, and that's stock for the most part with stuff that hasn't been replaced in I don't even know how many years. I'm going to air down the tires a little as I think that is another thing causing some issues. I'm running load E which is overkill (I know, but wanted 10 ply tires) and I think I need a little more cushion and not as much air. I also started to finish up some of the stereo. I bought all new speakers, nothing special just some basic Kickers. Only thin I really changed was I put 3.5" in the dash vs the stock size. Few little cuts but they fit just fine. I'm not happy with the way to deck looks though. I moved up to a double din and the fitment is garbage. I'll take a pic later but it just looks terrible. Old vs New My "helper" for the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 what pressures are you running? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted June 24, 2019 Author Share Posted June 24, 2019 Honestly, I haven't checked. My guess is they are probably around 35psi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 24, 2019 Share Posted June 24, 2019 that seems way too much for Es under a little Jeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokeyyank Posted June 25, 2019 Author Share Posted June 25, 2019 Yeah and that is what I'm thinking. I know even thought a WJ is still a little heavy it's not full psi on E load heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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