Hale's trip to JCR.

[HaleYes]

Thought I'd do a trip report of sorts. I left a bit earlier than I intended. Kinda glad I did now. I got to Neoga and noticed that my alt. wasn't doing near what it should. I stopped at some ran-down-looking NAPA store that just off 57, beat the alt with a hammer and whamo, it started working again. Hopped back on the interstate and made it to just before Champaign before the needle went back in the redzone. I punched up the NAPA in Champaign (very nice place, great staff) on the Nuvi and stopped in for a visit. This is probably where I goofed up. One of the staffers at the NAPA offered me a good sum for my XJ and iffy alt. I contemplated the offer for a bit and then headed to Michigan with my new alt. My intention at the time was to drive it as is until it totally crapped out. Then, when I got the JCR, I'd install the new one @ the shop. Well, I didn't make it very far out of Champaign before the ol' needle was in the red again. So, I decided to play it safe and swap it out. I stopped at Pontiac, IL. I found an ol' gas station that was out of business. Pulled up o the nice flat concrete, hugged the building to be out of the wind and proceeded to do an alt. swap. The swap went pretty smooth and I did have everything I needed. Hardest part was just getting it out once it was unbolted. After the install was complete, I made it the rest of the way without incident. I averaged 16mpg which I thought was pretty darn good. 4.0, AW4, 33's and 4.88's. It's got a sweet spot at 68mph and the cruise was set there pretty much the whole time.

Once I arrived @ JCR, they showed me around the shop. Brian and I played with the plasma table for a while and made some name plates for my kids. That plasma table is really neat and has alot of possibilities. After the plasma table, Brian showed me the CNC press brake. He bent up one of their TC skids to show me how it worked. Pretty cool stuff! Then they put my azz to work! Actually, I got out the spray-bombs and painted some goodies. Once they finished the work they had for the day, we started working on my XJ, we did get some accomplished but I pooped out and we called it a night.

I've got several pics from today. I'll post them in this thread when I do upload them. I'd start uploading tonight but, I for got the camera at the shop.

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

glad ya made it there in one piece Mike :thumbup:

 

[macgyvr]

me and chaz drove up there before last winterfest to pick up his bumpers for his MJ...its a nice shop, didn't get the full tour, but definately poked around checking out what we could...

what are the planned mods? or did i miss that already?

mac 'subscribed' gyvr

 

[Hammered]

Buddy of mine just had someone offer him a wad of cash for his XJ too... Maybe I'll get lucky some day

Thats awesome JCR treated you like a VIP... I'm pretty impressed with them & all their recent "stepping up" on the product line. Cool to hear man.

(Sorry to invade the Chapter, I'll see myself out now )

 

[HaleYes]

I was one of Brian and Daryls first customers. I called them up wanting sliders. I flat out told them that I was interested but, I hadn't heard alot about their business and was a bit scetchy. Brian told me to buy them and if I wasn't happy with them that he'd buy them back, no questions asked. Well, I got them and really liked them. Later, I called them up and told them how much I liked them and that I'd used them as they should be. Our friendship has just grown from there. Now, here I am sleeping with Brians wife. OK, she's in the next room(/w Brian) but, hey.......who's keeping score! :dunno:

As far as the Jeep, it'll be what ever we have time for. The 1 ton steering is near complete. We'll finish that up today. Have to play around with the trackbar to get my angles right. HDORE shackle relocation brackets were burned in last night but, haven't set it on the ground yet to see where it sets. I have a feeling that I'm going to need a shorter shackle.....we'll find out today. There will be a gastank skid and upper 1/4 guards /w intigrated taillight boxes that also might go on. Brian also wants to upgrade my rear bumper to their newer style.(Mine is several versions old). We'll just have to see what we have time for. Hope to have a productive day.

Oh, Watch JCR's site for a video of Brian bending up a skid with the CNC press brake. It's kinda neat. He's planning on posting it up on their site, just not shure when he'll get to it.

I gotta go find something to eat!

 

[IllianaXJ]

You suck

 

[ILLXJ]

Since you got the steering done, don't forget to through the drag link back in the jeep. JIM.

 

[HaleYes]

Since you got the steering done, don't forget to through the drag link back in the jeep. JIM.

Yes, I remembered. The threads on the axle end TRE might need some attention. 1Ton isn't done.......close but not done. Should be done today.

Gonna head to the hardware store in a few. I ran out of paint yesterday.

 

[HaleYes]

Well, got everything done that we intended to. The steering turned out very cool. Daryl did a cut/chop/reburn of my TNT trackbar bracket. We opted to go this route to keep the draglink and trackbar the same length. The final version has a chubby trucker girl cut into the gusset. Also finished up the HDROE relocation brackets. I can now say that my XJ rides like a caddy.....seriously, it's not far from it compared to what it was like before.

Gas Tank and TC skids bolted up very nicely today too. I learned todayt that the upper 1/4 guards are much easier to install with 2 peeps. It could be done by one person but, that extra set of hands sure is nice. I really like how everything turned out. Didn't get a chance to get any pics of everything in the completed state, kinda ran out of daylight and time. I had a great time with some great people. I'm heading back home in the morning.

Pics are uploading............

 

[HaleYes]

Gas tank skid.....tagged....with a penis.

This is Nuzzy. (Eric) He usually answers the phone.

Playing with the plasma table.

Finished product.

Bending a TC skid on the press brake.

Slider parts ready for assembly.

The shop....most of it anyway.

Tie rod done.

 

[Fore Wheeler]

I would love to have cool tools.

looks like they have a nice shop and do great work

 

[jakeWI]

nice

 

[Prepmech]

Slider parts ready for assembly.

Let me guess... that stool was probably new before you farted on it.assgas::flame:

 

[HaleYes]

Here's how the steering turned out. Drove it all the way home (~360 miles @ 70mph) with no issues at all. The trackbar mount is a custom jobbie. Daryl took my existing TNT mount and did a cut/chop/rebuild on it. He extended it into the wheel well, in front of the spring about 4" from where it was originally. The purpose of that was to keep the draglink and the trackbar the same length. Please note the chubby trucker girl gusset. I'm very pleased with how the whole thing turned out. Drives absolutly great, no bumpsteer at all. No grease zerts in the pics, I left them at home, and they've been installed and greased since the pics.

I've not gotten any pics of the other goodies. We ran out of daylight Saturday night at the shop. Now, I'm home with two sick kids so it may be a day or two before I get a chance. Well, see.

 

[97XJ Jeeper]

Looks good Hale. JCR is awesome!!!
:cheers:

 

[bmyohn]

one question hale, i thought it was best for your "drag link" to be parallel with your trac bar angle

 

[monkeyevil]

one question hale, i thought it was best for your "drag link" to be parallel with your trac bar angle

Parallel AND similar length. His are very close in both, but the bend in the panhard bar is deceiving.

 

[bmyohn]

ok gotcha, i was kinda confused. i didnt realize it had that bend there at the end

just wondering

thanks JCR

 

[HaleYes]

 

[FlexdXJ]

Hale, Did you get a set of knee pads before you went up there......you sure came back with a lot of stuff! Just kidding. Looks awesome!