Cheap Cherokee (hillbilly engineering

[lorax81]

After a nightmare of a engine swap Ol' blew finally runs again. So now its time to start actually doing a build to give this poor heep a 4th chance at life.

Right now the rig has
90 XJ (2500
'93 HO motor, trans, t-case with 95k (400$ thanks jeepguy)
4.5" RC xtreme series lift (800$ 4 years ago)
custom bumps front rear (spare steal from shop just a little time)
some lights, cb, pa, other little dodads (had cb, lites were 50$ w/shipping and they accidently sent 2 pair, pa 10$)
fenders cut pretty much to the max (again just a little time)
new patchwork floor pans (perfect use for a chevy hood)
steering box brace (more time and scrap steal)

project list (maybe not in this order)


delete rear bench add 2 brat seats
Snorkel W/canister cleaner
finish bumpers
Open coolant system
stiffin the uni add rockers and cage
Sye
roof rack
8.5" lift maybe long arms maybe not
new bump stops
fullsize axles d44 front ford 8.8 rear
do somthing about the stupid head liner
tranny cooler
electric fans delete mechanical
dual batt

My goal is to use the parts and pieces i already have. build what i gotta build and buy as much as i can from the JY I know there is going to be somethings i have to buy but i am doin this on the cheap

any and all suggestions and help is appriciated

J

 

[lorax81]

steering box brace

 

[lorax81]

new brat seats for the rear

 

[88xjlover]

Love the "oh $h1t" handles on the brat seats!
POR15 the rest of that floor so you don't get anymore holes.

 

[Muddy Beast]

I'll be honest...I'm not really sure what to think of this build.

At least you're working on your own rig and doing what you want I suppose. :thumbup:

~Scott

 

[lorax81]

I'll be honest...I'm not really sure what to think of this build.

At least you're working on your own rig and doing what you want I suppose. :thumbup:

~Scott

10-4 on the working on your own rig. Building it is almost as fun as breaking it

J

 

[88xjlover]

I'll be honest...I'm not really sure what to think of this build.

At least you're working on your own rig and doing what you want I suppose. :thumbup:

~Scott

Hey he did call it a Hillbilly Build!:farmer:

 

[CherBear]

Hey he did call it a Hillbilly Build!:farmer:

Living up to its name I suppose!

Atleast it is better than buying a built rig for $$. This is more fun.

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

you could probably charge admission for those seats, that rocks.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

fullsize axles d44 front ford 8.8 rear

That would be odd. The 44 is 6.5" wider and a different bolt pattern...those would be some massive spacers/adapters.

-----Matt-----

 

[RlCHARD CRANlUM]

80's to 90's F-150 or Bronco 8.8?

 

[CherBear]

That would be odd. The 44 is 6.5" wider and a different bolt pattern...those would be some massive spacers/adapters.

-----Matt-----

What part of HillBilly Build do you not understand?? :gee:

But in all seriousness that would get preeeetty weird looking, not to mention you couldnt rotate your tires or have a fullsize spare...

 

[Muddy Beast]

But in all seriousness that would get preeeetty weird looking, not to mention you couldnt rotate your tires or have a fullsize spare...

Actually you could. I run dual bolt pattern wheels that are 5x4.5 and 5x5.5...so that'd work.

But of course you'd have to have that type of wheels.

~Scott

 

[lorax81]

80's to 90's F-150 or Bronco 8.8?

91 bronco 8.8(i belive, no id tag no 3rd member w/rear cover ) d44 78 broco. this is where i will probably have to spend some money getting regreared and ne bearings and seals and such. and im not dead set this is the way i will go. The brocon is up for sale so if someone buys it before then i just may take a trip to the jy and pick up an 8.25 or a set of d60s may fall in my lap stranger things have happened. i really like mp slayers rockwells on the KIAxj. For now i will run my d30 d35. if i don't end up going with fullsize axles i probably won't go past 6.5 inches i don't like a spacers or lots of back spacing to gain wider stance. As soon as i gather all the parts for a hack and tap i gots me some 2 inch spacers so we'll see how it looks sittin on some sagged out 4.5 RC springs witt 2 inch spacers if i like it i may start saving some money for some material to make some knock off clayton long arms/x-member.

Today i was able to put some paint down on the floorboards and brat frame also made the mount for my high lift. tamar after work im gonna throw the rubber back down and put alll the seats and plastic on then a brake job and figure out the intake situation and i will be able to actually drive the dang thing. wow that will be nice and i can stop drivin that purple pos xj. After drivin ol'blew for so many years i feel funny drivin around in a stock xj.

 

[RlCHARD CRANlUM]

I was planning to put a full width 8.8 in mine until the cheap parts truck came along.

 

[mud1059]

I'm not sure the reasoning behind a 8.8 when you could simply go with a 9". Either way, best of luck to ya.

PS You Oregon guys need to pay better attention to your CL ads. On Sat. I made a trip to Portland for a 89 F350 4x4 7.3 diesel for $1500. It even came with 2 full tanks of fuel, tow strap, chains, jumper cables, the whole bit and drove it all the way back to Tacoma. Think D60 swap

 

[lorax81]

I was planning to put a full width 8.8 in mine until the cheap parts truck came along.

I am pretty set on using that axle, however the front d44 im not too set on. The 78 79 brocons had that stupid wedges that are forged into the axle tube so removal is impossible. The only thing you can do is build brackets and mounts around the wedges. Possible but no fun IMO I am really in no big rush to do this as i have a spare d35 and d30 if anything breaks right now. As of tonite tho i got the interior almost all buttoned up the the brat seats are painted and back, the big rubber mat and front seats and all the plastics. tomara i will take all my offroad gear up and make the mounts and such for my tool box, chain box, lube box, spare front DL mount, spare rear DL mount. then the interior is done.

 

[lorax81]

So the mud run was great this year! I have successfully converted a bunch of my buddies to trade in there subies and yotas for xjs. There was 10 xjs' I counted, couple of yj's, 1 cj. I can say with out a doubt tho the xj's had the greatest number.

but I found a weak point, a pretty major over heating problem when i run in low range. I have closed system right now and a fairly new 3 core rad and im am currently running 1 mechanical fan, I do have an electric aux fan i will put on andi plan on puchasing 2 puller fans for the front. I also have a A/C condensor that i will pipe my tranny into so there will be an additional layer of restriction.

I guess my question is an open system better then a closed system. And or is there just a better way to cool the 242.

 

[lorax81]

here's a couple of the xj's and a yj that had his front bumper customized by one of the hillclimbs good thing he had a ski rack
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q241/lorax81/mudrun09004.jpg

 

[bcmaxx]

here's a couple of the xj's and a yj that had his front bumper customized by one of the hillclimbs good thing he had a ski rack
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q241/lorax81/mudrun09004.jpg

Those fall off when you look at em funny!