1 inch from catastrophe

[AIbandit]

1 Inch From Catastrophe

Currently Installed
87 XJ
4.0 Renix
AW4
Atlas 2 4.3:1, 32 spline output, 1350 yolks
03 F350 Dana 60 front 4.88
03 F350 10.5 Sterling rear 4.88 /LSD
4 wheel discs
84” to the outside of my tires
3 Link/Panhard front 4 Link rear
14” 2.0 SAW Coil Over’s
41” 14.5 x18 IROK radials
Ruff Stuff frame stiffies


Parts Acquired/ordered:
PSC Assist
Vanco Hydroboost (may not clear my coil overs )
150/200 Springs
Drive shafts
4.7 Stroker (Built and waiting)
Rear Detroit


Parts still needed:
Bump stops
Limiting straps
Front locker
5.38 R&P
Some other stuff I'd rather not think about

Work Still needed:
Wheel wells: have the metal just need to do it 
Brake lines : Hard lines and soft some of my hardlines were cut during plasma cutting (doh)


The beginning
I took her from stock and went to a 5.5” RE longarm 35’s and geared/locked. AND A CHROME D30 COVER!!! damn I was cool.

 

[AIbandit]

The Cause:
I snapped the ears off my D30 outer shaft

While I was in Germany it my sister drove it and the Tcase exploded.

I planned for rockwells bought everything for them but the fabshop was lazy. Not helping was the fact I was in WA and the Jeep was in CA.

I reassessed and moved to some F350 Axles something easier to handle when I go on vacation to get it.

 

[AIbandit]

Day 1: March 17 2011
Upon arrival to CA unlike the shops description links were not made and the vehicle was in the same condition it was 3 years ago.

On the positive side I got to be a part of the creation of each bracket/part on it. Measuring /cutting /grinding no welding though

That night started late we got the rear links measured and cut with trail gear 5/8’s 1.25” crawler Johny joints.

 

[AIbandit]

I forgot to mention they did do a cage and installed this x member right before I arrived.

 

[AIbandit]

Day 2-3
Rear links were installed and a truss was made for the uppers.
The upper mounts wrap around the frame then bolt into the cage inside.

 

[AIbandit]

Next came a lot of cutting the C/O Hoops that tie into the cage

 

[AIbandit]

My front Coil overs are only 13.5 inches from the firewall. There's not much room to breath in there. Stock MC sticks out 12.5 and the Vanco I ordered is 15 and 3/4 So we'll see how that works out.

The last day (8 days into it) my Pan hard mount and steering was completed I still need to take a pic of that.

 

[AIbandit]

I haven't welded since high school so most of it was taken care of by my nephew.

 

[AIbandit]

The next day I headed out and had my little adventure.

I checked my straps every 50 miles and every thing was peachy
Enjoyed some snow near Mt. Shasta (chained up only to take them off... Thanks caltrans)

At around mile 170 I noticed it rolling. I pulled over and one of the 4 3300 lbs working load 7000 max straps snapped. When it snapped it rolled back causing my chain and other 2 straps to roll off. Only 1" of this tore up strap held.

Deciding not to repeat that incident I got some 4700 lbs and 5000 working load straps from a tractor supply shop.


That brings me to today back in school and back at work so progress will be slow.

I emailed Adams Driveshafts ( sponsor) for my shafts and ordered different spring rate springs for my rear coil overs.

 

[Lowrange2]

Looks like that part of the strap spent some of it's time under a tire while going down the road. I've never had one of those straps 'snap'.

Jeep looks nice tho. I wish I had the money to do some of those things.

 

[AIbandit]

That's the one that held the one that snapped has a clean cut about a foot and a half away from hook. Away from the deck and away from the jeep.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

[jmaxj]

nice build, it's giving me idea's for my rear coilovers now.


i've seen lots of those straps break, i've personally had 2 sets tear apart on me and my cousin lost his runner at 80mph cause of them straps. i'll never use them again.

 

[Lowrange2]

That's the one that held the one that snapped has a clean cut about a foot and a half away from hook. Away from the deck and away from the jeep.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

Hmmm, I'd never seen it happen.

I sure don't want it to happen. I'm pretty sure my straps are a little heavier duty than the ones in the picture.

I like the comp cut. How far is the rear stretched?