jeeper_chiefb Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 I'm a big fan of these backbone trusses, so I'm adding one to the front as well. It already had the lower truss under the axle tubes, but I cut out the long side for rock clearance. Need to do some clean up and welding to finish this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 14 Author Share Posted July 14 Saturday I passed along the stock the axles to another local MJ owner to utilize the 4.10 ring and pinions in his 6 cylinder MJ. Parts are scattering across the garage but it feels like progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 15 Author Share Posted July 15 I welded for hours on this truss for slow heat dissipation, but I'm happy with the result. Hope the track bar clears at the axle mount.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 16 Author Share Posted July 16 I purchased a few of the Barnes4wd XJ/MJ products for this project, and all of them are designed for a 4.0 Jeep. I plan to test that on my 2.5 MJ; and if it doesn't fit I'll cross that bridge. Here is the track bar bracket tacked together and finger-tight in place. Also an Iron Rock Offroad adjustable track bar that I'm giving a try as well. At ride height it will currently contact my axle truss, so I'll need to relocate the axle side mount (maybe just a new bolt hole). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 I tried a CavFab track bar I had in stock and it doesn't have enough S bend to work at ride height, so I flipped the axle side joint on the Iron Rock track bar and it should work. Time and flex will tell. I also swapped the Iron Rock 3" coils for Skyjacker 4" coils, but I fear it's still not enough lift to match the rear SOA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatJeepGuy Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Love what this is turning into. What a killer crawler this could become, flatbed and all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 This is going to be a very capable truck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 Thank you for the encouragement. I'm really looking forward to using it for whatever. For now it will have the Teraflex short arms, but I will some day get to the Barnes4wd long arm kit. The 33s are also temporary, but they are mostly a result of power and gearing constraints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 The front is 60% installed with some nuts/bolts needed, brake calipers, air line hook up and shocks to be installed. It also might need more lift to match the SOA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatJeepGuy Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Can i ask what you paid for those axles and also is there mounting width difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 21 hours ago, ThatJeepGuy said: Can i ask what you paid for those axles and also is there mounting width difference? The used package included complete axles, steering, driveshafts, ARB pump and worn 33x12.50 on 15x8 steel wheels; $3000. They were built to be stock XJ width. I also bought new rear disc brakes ($558), both axle trusses(128), leaf spring perches/u-bolts(115), low pinion skid plate(47), steering box brace(108), track bar bracket(97) and will be ordering a rear driveshaft(~400). Plus I'm using marketplace-used lift coils(50), shocks(50), adjustable control arms and track bar(80). $1633 for additional extras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatJeepGuy Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 48 minutes ago, jeeper_chiefb said: The used package included complete axles, steering, driveshafts, ARB pump and worn 33x12.50 on 15x8 steel wheels; $3000. They were built to be stock XJ width. I also bought new rear disc brakes ($558), both axle trusses(128), leaf spring perches/u-bolts(115), low pinion skid plate(47), steering box brace(108), track bar bracket(97) and will be ordering a rear driveshaft(~400). Plus I'm using marketplace-used lift coils(50), shocks(50), adjustable control arms and track bar(80). $1633 for additional extras. Just over $4600 for a 4cyl flatbed MJ, fuggin love this! Take a bite out of that purists Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 16 minutes ago, ThatJeepGuy said: Just over $4600 for a 4cyl flatbed MJ, fuggin love this! Take a bite out of that purists Hmm, help me understand. Am I the fool spending too much on this truck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 8 minutes ago, jeeper_chiefb said: Hmm, help me understand. Am I the fool spending too much on this truck? I don't think you are. For how capable this truck will be, you're into it dirt cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatJeepGuy Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 1 hour ago, jeeper_chiefb said: Hmm, help me understand. Am I the fool spending too much on this truck? Absolutely not, its just a light jab at those who may feel that $$ is wasted if its not restoring them. This truck looks like its going to be a lot of fun to drive. I sincerely dig what this truck is becoming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 Seems like now is a good time to show some more parts I bought for the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle_SX4 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 3 hours ago, jeeper_chiefb said: Nice winch. If you want a full size spool you can order one for a M8000 and then you can have a 9000 lb winch with a 100 foot spool. This was my plan until I found a much better deal on a M8000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 5 hours ago, Eagle_SX4 said: Nice winch. If you want a full size spool you can order one for a M8000 and then you can have a 9000 lb winch with a 100 foot spool. This was my plan until I found a much better deal on a M8000. I specifically choose the short drum winch for packaging, because I intend to put it behind the grill. I have an 80' rope extension, as well as a 12k winch with 100' rope mounted in the rear, for recovery options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted July 30 Author Share Posted July 30 I realized over half of the front wheel studs were not tightly pressed into the hubs. So I pulled them apart and tack welded the back side of each stud. A little setback but also a good reason to inspect and repack the wheel bearings. Got them all back together with brakes installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 The rear disc brake kit that I purchased from Quick Performance has taken years off my life. First , I wanted the weld-on kit, but it's not available with rotors with 5x5.5, so I bought the more expensive bolt-on kit. The bolt-on kit replaces the bearing/seal retainer on the 9", so I had to cut off the stock ones from the axle shafts. Axle seals will probably leak and I'll have to press them off in the future. Next, the rotors don't fit my axle shafts. Bolt pattern correct but the shaft flange OD is too big. I installed my brand new 58" CV driveshaft and idled the truck in 1st. Grinder to the axle shafts until the rotors fit. Also, the ID of the rotors don't fit over the the axle flange. I mounted the rotors flipped with washers and again idled the truck in reverse while I used my die grinder on the rotor ID. Finally, the "kit" WITH HOSE KIT EXTRA PURCHASE! didn't come with caliper hoses, so I ordered some I hoped would work with the mystery calipers. Finally together and plumbed. Still need a center limit strap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 I drove it around the block and I still have brake issues, but judging by the fluid around the master I'll be looking at other options for a booster/master upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted August 21 Author Share Posted August 21 I want lower gears to help the anemic 2.5 and one solution is a 4:1 low range transfer case. I found a TeraLow231 on marketplace, which has a 21 spline input gear, so it was a deal ($100). However I have a problem with the transmission output seal. The early model AX5 has a deep inset seal and the NP207 has an extra long snout to reach it. Here is the difference. The AX5 shaft sticks out to 0.12" short of the mating surface, so there is plenty of spline engagement, but the seal is set very deep in the trans. My attempt at a solution is to chop up an old 3 gear planetary to get a 1" piece of 21 spline t-case input. I then slid it on the trans output before putting the NP231 in, then JB Weld them together. Time will tell if it works to seal the trans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted August 23 Author Share Posted August 23 I took it out for a shakedown run the other day. Didn’t have a compressor for lockers but wanted to test a bit. Some tire rub on the inner fenders, need coil spring retainers, trans didn’t leak, 4:1 low range is great but I need to adjust the shift linkage, and address the cooling system as it overheated 1 mile into the trail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted Tuesday at 05:17 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 05:17 PM Address the overheating issue... replace everything that's 30 years old and start over. New water pump, thermostat and housing, hoses, fan clutch and also radiator. I ordered this low-budget plastic tank radiator from Rock Auto- ...and what showed up was much more impressive- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeeper_chiefb Posted Wednesday at 03:34 PM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 03:34 PM I spent my labor day weekend working on the winch mount. I started with a Barnes4wd bumper for a YJ/TJ, replacement steering box spacer, front frame stiffener kit and XJ universal bumper brackets. The steering box spacer is simple replacement and adds an additional bolt to the spacer. It's the black piece pictured, which is steel replacing the aluminum minimal 3 hole stock piece, as well as new grade 8 hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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