383d Mj (decent amount of pictures 56k beware)

[bigbadwolf54]

I sold the xj (rusty midwest jeep) and got a 1987 long bed mj for free. The build is getting closer to being "done" so I figured Id throw up a build thread. I have been daily driving this for roughly a year now and just took it apart to finish the motor and do the body work.

Axles
Front HP 44 with warn lockouts 5.13 gears TnT customs truss and stock shafts with 760 u-joints for now
SF 14 bolt with full case Detroit locker 5.13s trussed

Suspension
Looking for a low center of gravity and I am hoping to end up around 5 inches of lift.
T&T customs y-link front
SOA with stock springs and Jks shackles

Drivetrain
383 Stroker all forged bottom end nastyish cam aluminum vortec heads victor jr aluminum intake and holley tbi
Built 700r4
C231
Griffin aluminum radiator with Dirtbound offroad triple 10 fan kit

Interior
Autometer Gauges
everything else stock for now

Body
A good start with ZERO rust
going to bed rescue green
bobbed the bed about 9 inches
Newer style mirrors
Hella housings with IPF fatboys and arb headlight harness

Steering
One ton steering joints with true high steer

Wheels and Tires
Plain jane steel wheels
37in MTRS

Bumpers
Tnt front housing a warn 9500ti with synthetic rope
Aluminum fairlead
Custom built rear with in bed tire carrier

What I started with

Motor and Trans donor

The truck had a bad fuel pump so the bed got removed and another tank strapped into place so it could be test driven.

After test driving the trucks front clip was torn off so the motor could be pulled.

The best surprise of the day.

Got the engine bay all cleaned up and the motor mounts installed. This thing is cleaner that I thought it was. The bottom of the body is in near showroom condition.

As I drove it for roughly the past year or so.

Shot of the dash

Taking the bed off to start the bob

Before the first cut

After cut

Tacked together

 

[bigbadwolf54]

Bedsides trimmed

New inner bedsides

Flipped it back over. I used 1/4 inch rod to give me something to not only weld the inners to but it adds alot of strength to the whole side. It also gives a finished look to the bed.

New LED tail lights

Got it in the first coat of primer. Now to sand with 180 then reprime then sand with 320 then seal and color.

Forged H beam Eagle rods and Keith Black Icon forged pistons

 

[JohnX]

:drool:

 

[Wiser]

Wow, awesome build so far!!

 

[sharq]

keep it coming!

 

[BJL913]

Subscribed! Bitchin build!!!

 

[flazz85]

Gdamn dude that is wicked

 

[rweaver138]

sweet

 

[twodoorXJ]

Bad ass!

I wanna see a video of that thing rip down the street

 

[sharq]

where did you get the tail lights?

 

[Lowrange2]

O'Reillys has the set for 45 bucks here.

 

[bigbadwolf54]

Yup thats where I got the lights from. I just took some sheet metal and matched the curve of the bed then cut the oval in for the lights. I got more work done the past couple of days. I trimmed the rear part of the frame off and got the new cross member remade. Enough typing onto what you really came in here for.
Moved the rear most bed mount

Got busy with a cutoff wheel

New rear crossmember

A little exta bracing

Mount rewelded in

First shot of the bed on

Shot from the rear

 

[Lowrange2]

Wait till you light those suckers up the first time. They're BRIGHT! Don't look directly at them when you do.

Truck looks sharp. I really like the way the lights look on the back. Mine are just hacked in there so I can drive down the road.

 

[kastein]

man oh man... I am EXTREMELY jealous. You do some quality work.

Wish I started with sheetmetal that clean!

 

[bigbadwolf54]

Thanks. I try to do a good job on all the stuff I do. This is the first bob I've done but no where near the first jeep I've built. I think the number of jeeps is in the upper twentys. Might not seem like alot to some but for being 23 and no where near good wheelin I think I am doing alright.

 

[bails85]

That bitch is bad. I think the shortened bed looks so much better. Mjs come with tiny cabs and long beds that just don't do it for me. Good job.

 

[89eliminator]

excellent job!

 

[bigbadwolf54]

Thanks hoping to have in all done in time for winterfest. I am debating changing the interior over to 97 up if i can get one for the right price.

 

[89eliminator]

hopefully i see it at WF

 

[bigbadwolf54]

Got the bed tailgate and gas door all sprayed today. I also learned my lesson on using cheap paint. I had a brand new gallon of paint that had a bad toner in it and ended up have to buy a new gallon through another paint rep. Hopefully monday I can get my money back on the garbage gallon. It was a 600 dollar lesson today.