Swampy Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Nice progress, as far as a big v8 in little truck sounds like an awesome idea but would need some fab work and new coil springs up front to support the weight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted July 8, 2020 Author Share Posted July 8, 2020 On 7/3/2020 at 10:12 AM, Swampy said: Nice progress, as far as a big v8 in little truck sounds like an awesome idea but would need some fab work and new coil springs up front to support the weight I feel like I’m watching paint dry but thanks. At least I’m staying interested. I’m going to get the truck running and moving with the 4.0 liter and slow build the 427 and do it right. Found some weld in motor mounts from TRD (no affiliation with Toyota) and yes much beefier springs up front for sure and probably some frame strengtheners from TNT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted August 7, 2020 Author Share Posted August 7, 2020 Finally got the TNT long arm kit started....main plate is up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Well got these back from paint the other day. Notch Customs fenders JCR front bumper DirtBound sliders Dirtbound rear bumper Mopar StingGray with protective texture. The rest of the rig is getting painted StinGray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 it's coming together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetabird Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 i just found dirtbound, how do you like the sliders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted September 7, 2020 Author Share Posted September 7, 2020 On 9/2/2020 at 7:57 AM, zetabird said: i just found dirtbound, how do you like the sliders? Haven’t installed them but they are quality crafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted September 7, 2020 Author Share Posted September 7, 2020 Took off the front bumper and just had to get an idea how the JCR front bumper looks😍. Going to have to do some cutting to get it to fit correctly. It’s Stingray and linexed along with the rock sliders fenders and rear bumper. Also just got my Baja Design work light flush mounts for the rear bumper. They fit but they don’t. Gonna have to do a bit of fabbing but I’m sure I would have with Rigids or KC’s too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetabird Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 looks good, i have the diy front and rear. i need to add the hilift points to mine though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 On 9/8/2020 at 6:33 AM, zetabird said: looks good, i have the diy front and rear. i need to add the hilift points to mine though.... Can’t wait to see them. Have no welding skills. Wish I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetabird Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 They both need to come back off for repaint and some clean up. That was just a quick throw paint on them to keep them from rusting. The trucks been sidelined for a while while we bought a house and sorted a bunch of ither things outSent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 On 9/10/2020 at 4:51 AM, zetabird said: They both need to come back off for repaint and some clean up. That was just a quick throw paint on them to keep them from rusting. The trucks been sidelined for a while while we bought a house and sorted a bunch of ither things out Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk Love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted October 18, 2020 Author Share Posted October 18, 2020 Update. Been picking away at the TNT long arm kit since June/July and FINALLY!!!!!!! Holy frick!!! It’s installed. I’ve had a lot of issues with my own company occupying my energy thru all of this so there’s that. Just never seemed to have a block of time to get in and get focused and get into a groove. Had to do a bit of fabrication but it’s on. Had to cut the old short arm mounts out otherwise these long arm won’t clear. I would have gone through about 4 blades and about 5 hrs of cutting with a grinder. My buddy was kind enough to pull out a blow torch and do it in about 20 minutes. Anyway this Lang arm kit is not for people like me. I’m not a skilled mechanic with fabbing credentials. Definitely for advanced. I wouldn’t have ever been successful if my truck was not in a professional shop with real tools at my disposal and the fine people at tnt who patiently walked me through the steps and no doubt endured my stupid questions. They are a great company. Anyway, next up: straightening out the front suspension so the truck is sitting squarely over it’s front axle. Then hooking up the rear driveshaft so the truck will at least move under its own power. Such a long road ahead. Still need to swap wiring harness, front fenders, nose clip, hood, doors etc in from 97 Cherokee. Looking for a bench seat too. I want my grandson to be able to ride with us and my lady to ride close if she wants. I’m still waiting for my rear Fox 2.0 shocks. I ordered these thru Quadratec on April 30.🥺 not Q’s fault. Fox as been hit hard with COVID apparently. They’re supposed to be in in 2 weeks 🤞🏼. Will keep plugging along with my P R O J E C T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zetabird Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Looks good. I think I'm going with rustys lower arms for wider tires on stock wheels. My stock control arms rub.... and are shotSent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted October 20, 2020 Author Share Posted October 20, 2020 On 10/18/2020 at 6:56 AM, zetabird said: Looks good. I think I'm going with rustys lower arms for wider tires on stock wheels. My stock control arms rub.... and are shot Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk Excited to see how that turns out. Had to adjust track bar. Truck was sitting over to passenger side by about 2”. Finally got that sorted today and then tightened the long arm kit down so that’s all buttoned up. Again it is not a long arm kit for average Joes. If you are an average joe with average tools and a driveway, this ain’t your vibe. Wasn’t my vibe either but at least it is in a professional shop with literally almost any tool that exists at my disposal. I just make sure there’s always at least 1 12pak of Michelob Ultra Longnecks in the break room fridge. up next: rear drive shaft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 It’s in. (That’s what she said) OMGosh this drive shaft has been an ordeal. So happy to finally have it installed. Getting this and the long arm kit installed means the truck can finally move under its own power. The next big thing is removing the wiring harness from the 97 Cherokee I bought back in early July and installing it into Tulsa along with nose fenders hood and doors. The tell of two 87’s👇🏼The silver Comanche is so pure. I believe it has around 50k miles on it. I hope the owner never screws with it. Mine is a rescue. It has no shot at ever being pure. The previous owner was trying to turn it into a trail buggy I guess. All hacked up and sad she sat when I got her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted October 21, 2020 Share Posted October 21, 2020 about time. ready to see it playing. i wanted the tnt kit but couldnt wait for the back order. tell me it was worth the wait..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 On 10/21/2020 at 12:25 AM, MiNi Beast said: about time. ready to see it playing. i wanted the tnt kit but couldnt wait for the back order. tell me it was worth the wait..? It looks dope AF so there’s that. I’ve got it all tightened up. It’s a well sorted out kit and if you get hung up, customer service is excellent. No 45 min waits on the phone “due to COVID”. hooking up the front drive shaft tomorrow and temporarily securing the fuel tank and see what she does. Had to cut off the exhaust to install passenger side of TNT long arm kit. She already has headers so it won’t be quiet at all. We’ll see if the previous owner was being truthful about it having 4.88 gears. After looking at the Dana 44 in the silver Comanche and looking at the Ford 8.8” rearend on mine, I better understand why people do the swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 On 10/23/2020 at 1:20 AM, SiXJaK said: We’ll see if the previous owner was being truthful about it having 4.88 gears. a quick-n-dirty way to check gear ratio is to spin one tire exactly twice (or if posi, both tires together just once) and count the times the driveshaft spins. just over 4 times is 4.10, just shy of 5 times is 4.88 etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted November 8, 2020 Author Share Posted November 8, 2020 Cool. I’ll try it out. Both driveshafts are in and hooked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 On 10/18/2020 at 6:56 AM, zetabird said: Looks good. I think I'm going with rustys lower arms for wider tires on stock wheels. My stock control arms rub.... and are shot Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk Ummm yeah those look like they may not be in the best of shape lol. I’ve got a few more items that look similar to take care of lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 Began process of swapping fenders off of 97 donor Cherokee. For whatever reason, this is one of those supremely satisfying jobs. Nice thing about the newer Cherokee fenders is not having to cut the front lower bottom to fit aftermarket bumper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 Passenger side fender was gonna be a snap....until it wasn’t. Radio antennas are completely different fender mounts in 97 than they were in 87. Trying to get the antenna from the Cherokee is proving to be a “but wait, there’s more” exercise. Pulled the airbag out only to see that the antenna wire was still behind one MORE thing. And wasps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 damn that antenna,bees,.....runnn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiXJaK Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 On 11/14/2020 at 9:46 AM, MiNi Beast said: damn that antenna,bees,.....runnn! Ha! Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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