so here's my reasoning and a little background info.
I bought my XJ in '01 and got an OK deal on it for around $15K for it and the extended warranty.
Decided I wouldn't do major mods till it was paid off. So I went a couple months and found a local Jeep club and hooked up with a few guys who had XJ's, one of which just did a totaly custom LA set up simular to RE, but it was before RE released thiers.
for the first year, no mods, except bolt on mopar stuff, and tow hooks, hitch, gas skid for $12, and crap like that. wheeled it once.
scrounged together 3" lift parts and ordered Rusty's 3" leaf spring pack and shocks. picked a weekend and put it on, with help / guidance of club members. soon after 31" tires get put on.
Man this thing Is HUGE!!!
I wheeled it once or twice i think and was sick of taking bypasses (no rocker guards yet, and it shows now). I am up grading to a 4.5" lift!
I found a D44 inthe junk yard and swapped it as well as a lockright in it around lift time II. used RE 4.5 coils, CA, revolvers, and the RE HD trac bar. kept the shocks. D30 locker, SYE, 2LO,
shortly after, regeared to 4.56 and added a detroit for the 44. shortly after the detroit starts acting up. I had a nail in the tire and did't know it. ran it for about a month. (dumb ass me). I tried to have a local guy fix it and orded a $350 part and it still acts the same. I want the elocker now!
got a set of 32x10.5x15 TSL radial swampers. and G'z what a monster it was then! I got some tomken rocker guards, and a rusty t-case skid. a free set of 4" leaf springs and some other crap from another XJ guy who just up graded.
rusty's leafs were starting to sag, swapped other leaf spring pack on, after a short while a had same problem. installed an AAl from on pack to the rusty's and was ok for now. got some 33x12.5 AT's for the stret. the swampers were showing evedent wear.
went to Moab in '04. AWESOME, I wanna go back for EJS.
broke the bottom leaf spring somewhere in moab. i flat towed my buddy's 8" lifted LA set up XJ from Tucumcari, NM to Oklahoma city because his trans blew up. Crusty's as I call it from then on!
got home ordered RE 3.5" lift pack.
Back Moab in '05 for EJS. AWESOME again. if you get the chance, go!
took off the revolvers as I didn't think they were doing me any good and i seen a set break. got the JKS boomarang shackles. jeep seemed to sag in rear so I ordered 4.5" leaf springs.
got a set of used RE drop brackets. diceide to put them on and get aroud to starting the work the week of WF (which it didn't get done)
rear is back in. (expecting to be able to order an elocker by december 1st.) start puttingon the DB. find out Drivers side LCA is tweeked a bit from the wheeling I had done. no big deal right. slowly tighten bolts and it'll all come back together.
I need to remove the studs from the uniframe to instale the DB braces. dumb idea, but i got the stud remover that you smak on with a hammer, then un bolt.... there goes that stud into the uni fram. so i was frustrated. oh well. one weeekend with 3 crossmember bolt. I'll be alright.
I slowly start tightening the DB brace. the 4 bolts like i was putting on a wheel. the thing is BOWING from the LCA mount to the cross member.... well i think i beter tighten that cross member bolt down next...
BANG!!! cross member is hanging and so it brace, the nut stripped out.
MUTHER FU(*^^%@*&!#%*&*.... I was SO pissed.... I deceded FU(K it. F* these Dam*ed short arms and F-ing DB! F* this D* LCA mount! I am going long arm and should have a long time ago!!!
here is where I am now. front axle still on the ground, needing to take the braces off, and put the axle on so I can drive it to the shop. I was going to go order my lift tonight, but somthing came up.
Long arm lift is first, ordering a crane Diff cover for D30, 4130 shafts f/r, elocker if they ever release it for the 44.
I also need to finish setting up the stereo in it as well.
12w3, QSD123, Soundstream referance 604 to run them. clarion Old school DRX9255 Head unit. i may decide to go with a fold out screen instead and put my CD and Ham radio in place of the passenger side air bag..... that's all later though.
Thanks. I will update this post as work continues, and take a bunch of pics if i remember.
