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Project "Constructive Deconstruction"

VAhasnoWAVES

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Lake City, Mi
crappy title, i know. in all honesty i had nothing catchy or flashy. my bad.... this will be my build thread for 2011. got to get it done before we all die in 2012. ha!


background:
moved to Mi from Va december of '09. i go to school at Central Michigan as a Meteorology major. yada, yada, yada... what your really here for; my jeep has been family owned since it rolled off of the line new in '97. installed a RE 4.5" superflex kit... oh god, id when. had to have been 3 years ago. havent looked back since.

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you know how that goes. when in VA i used my jeep for the typical high water crossing and fishing/surf trip. i miss the fishing/surfing. i can live without the water:

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seagull pier, first island of the CBBT:
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Frisco, NC:
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Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

didnt do much to it in Va... just the lift and 31s. for the summer of 2010 i lived in lake city Mi. population is 850 (+/-) and there might be one set of teeth between all of them. i cant stand it, so boring when you come from a city like virginia beach. being a rust free car, i got brave when i moved to Mi to kill my boardom. put my auto body skills to use.... cut fenders, bed liner, removed some trim... well, ill just let the pictures do the talking:

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BEFORE:
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AFTER:
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removed the stickers, replaced the K/Os with claws, used pre-'97 end caps to finish off the bumper and removed all of the low hanging '97 crap. added a skid.... idk, im probably leaving something out.

picked up a slick little bumper for $100. looks exactly like a nates4x4. sold it for $300. ive regretted it ever since:
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bar far my most favorite upgrade. replacing that damned head liner that was faling! installed late model lights too. my sound bar wasnt molded in, this one is. sometime down the road id like to reuse mine and run 6 speakers on a multi channel amp:
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Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

wheeling it up to this point was awesome. everyone wants bigger, but meh... it did alright:
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bumper end caps lined up good with the trimmed fenders. no rubbing. 31s had plenty of room to roam. then i got the bigger-tire-itis and picked up some 33" A/Ts, wasnt happy with them offroad. cut them fenders for them to fit and im not really happy with that either. in reality i probably should have kept them. highway ride was great, and mileage was about the same as the claws. traded the claws for a stroker motor out of another jeep i used to own. ended up with a pretty work set of 32" KM1s that it currently resides on. ride is crap, mileage is horrible... though both of those may be contributed to some by the winter months:

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Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

been talking with John D since our trip to Rocks and Valleys. saw something of his that i wanted for sale (other than his axles... >.< ill have access to my W2 tomorrow. so there is hope!) and pitched a deal. long story short, this is what we accomplisehed.

BEFORE:
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AFTER:
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and we made this guy:
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sticker placement worked out alright. haha. still needs some wrap around protection. but itll suffice for the winter. much thanks for the hospitality to John:
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i get better mileage with the tire off of the top now. lol.

and thats were she stands for now. kind of molested and unloved. project "Spring Semester of 2011" will involve bringing her back to her former glory. im a firm beleive a good looking rig can still be wheeled. build plans to follow in the next post!
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

looks good, keep the pics and updates coming. I remember when my rigs used to have a chance to look nice again :gee:
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

alright... homework is done so its time to list the prospective build. lets first start off with what we have to work with:
- '97 cherokee, D30, 29 spline 8.25, 231, and AX-15
- ZJ alternator
- tire carrier
- bent up front hooks
- trimmed, cut, and folded
- soft 8s and balding 32s
************************************
- ZERO RUST
************************************

- my current project is OBA on the cheap, inspired by John. ive sold a set of bindings, i just need to buy the compressor and start tearing into it. tearing into it? what ever could that mean? details when that comes. long story short, he schemed that buying a 2 gallon compressor and parting it would yield you almost all of the parts you need to complete the build. just add hoses.

heading to the store now to see what i can line up. wish me luck.




NEXT POST:
- what i plan to accomplish with the rig this year, and
- possibly pics of the OBA parts.
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

Returned some stuff to HD and picked up the compressor ive been eyeballing... when i walked in i noticed a yellow sticker that had just been put on them. MARKDOWN! so stoked. all in all, i payed $15. this is what i scored:
- 2 gallon tank
- pressure switch
- toggle switch
- regulator
- 2 gauges
- safter check valve
- T fitting
- 2 on/off valves
- couple different hoses

- a brad nailer... hahaha

everything is all 1/4, except there is 1 male/male fitting that the compressor used to pump into the tank. not sure exactly what size it is. maybe i can use it. i dont know. tank even has little rubber feet on it, should be nice to mount it and not squeak/rattle. this is what i picked up for $15. retail is $70, marked down to $50, add a military discount and $30 worth of store credit... $15:
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the handle isnt a problem. the reason i wanted it... notice the drain port on the bottom? even mounted 90* itll still be in the optimal location to function properly. also, the tank has enough ports that i really wont need a manifold at it, just one under the hood if i desire. more updates when they come. payday is friday, fingers crossed. now, what do i do with a compressor motor that i dont need? ill probably just shit can it.
 
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Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

and here i forgot the bolt on stuff that id like to do in my excitement. the list is as follows. no particular order really.

CURRENT PROJECTS:
- OBA
- '99 ported intake / 60mm throttle body / exhaust header

im gathering the parts for the OBA. and the motor stuff i have all in my barn at home, just need a couple days to get it done. maybe spring break? my exhaust manifold is cracked... robbing some power im sure. also, my cat is rotted out and the muffle broke off from it a few months ago. some buggar welds fixed it up for the time being. probably got zero back spacing. I WANT a header with a 2.5" collector, a down pipe made that doesnt have that kink in it, and to run 2.5" all the way. i have the cat and muffler, just need the rest. any suggestions?


NEED:
- H&T SYE
- control arm drop brackets
- shackle relocation brackets
- tires

Id prefer a full SYE, but i know down the road i want to find a 241. so im hoping i can get away with going cheap at the moment. i just want a better ride for my long trips. the control arm drop brackets are the same deal, prefer something else but dont want to right at the moment. just want a better ride. i think i could sell my RE uppers and lowers with the drop brackets down the road to recover the costs of long arms when i can offord it. the shackle relocation brackets are to remedy the height i lost in the rear when i added the carrier, and fix the shackle angles that ive "heard" so much about causing a bad ride. only time will tell if they serve their purpose. ill probably end up adding coil spacers as well. and ill need tires this summer. thinking of staying with the 32x11.50, i like the look. not super wide like a 12.50. but 33x12.50s arent much more, and 33x10.50s are cheaper, so i may just go that route in the end. thinking KM2s in the 33 flavor or Kevlars for the 32s. only appeal to the 32s is i can use 1 of the 5 i have as a spare and only buy 4.

WANT:
- finish rear bumper
- find/build a front bumper
- rock rails
- removable doors
- fiberglass fenders
- roof rack

i want to add side protection for the rear bumper. it works fine for now though, so no complaints. as for the front, i hate the tow hooks. ill either buy a TnT bumper or get another stocker for the time being and just cut the corners nice. would really like to get the fiberglass fenders and make that decision but again, only time will tell. need more protection, so i want rock rails too. may make those myself, doesnt look like there is a lot of design in them. the cool part about my jeep is that even though its a '97 its got the early style door hinges. this means easy mods to make the doors removable. just havent been able to find the right tool to get in there and cut them with. it WILL happen this summer. got some 1x1 1/8" steel lined up. 50ft for under $50. going to practice my welding on a roof rack before i tackle anything structural. doesnt mean ill run a roof rack, lol. just want something fun to practice on.








LASTLY...
i need to address the axles. i have a couple options but think ill end up with the cheaper one. tax return could really come faster. i got my W2 today, so need to get that done. ill post on that when i finally make a decision though.
 
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Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

Don't forget the LS motor, just wait till I take you to the dunes this summer...

Sorry we forgot to look at your door hinges, I remember now it was on your list. It's a pretty easy mod really, next time.
no worries. its winter time.



also forgot to mention earlier. i need to upgrade all of my mains to compliment the ZJ alternator.
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

latest development...

jeep is now pissing coolant at an alarming rate. it leaking out just as fast as i can put it in. looks to be the lower radiator hose. i love un planned repairs! (sarcasm). i can walk to class, idk about work. 5 miles in the snow... uphill... both ways.
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

You have a jeep as a DD and haven't memorized the number to the local cab company? Impressive!!!
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

You have a jeep as a DD and haven't memorized the number to the local cab company? Impressive!!!
Uride 989 775 7500 :D
was easy to remember... considering my area code from va was "757"
Haha we dont have cabs around us lol ;) Heel toein it is what we do lol:farmer:
havent heard that one. "heel toein" lol







im in a college town. we like to do a lot of drinking beyond a reasonable point. :rof: cabbing is the best way to do things. i dont need a DUI. but if i could cut down on the $50 bar tabs or $20 worth of cab fair every weekend maybe id have money for this heep.
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

upon further inspection it looks to be that the fluid is draining out of the weep hole of the water pump and running down the lower hose. going to replace it all, as well as the T-stat while im in there. where can i get a stant t-stat?

anyone want to help? i got beer! lol. jk. (seriously though...)
 
Re: Project "Spring Semester Of 2011"

i thought of how i could get it there. lol. but short of renting a uhaul dolly and finding someone with a truck i dont see it happening. my parents would be closer anyway. and ive just got to do some calling and asking i suppose.
 
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