Just Another XJ on tons, coilovers, 42's, etc. Build

[freerider15]

Thanks for the compliments

I'm diggin the use of the front fenders as rears. Very nice.

Do you have another rig you use while this one has been getting worked on?

Sadly...no.

It's been over 4 years since I've wheeled my own rig. Thankfully I love to fabricate, and have more dedication to this sport than most.

Lesson learned though...

NEVER build something to this extent without another wheeling rig...it sucks..a lot.

Looks pretty damn awesome! I like the skins, got any plans for putting doors back on? It'll fold in half otherwise :eyes:

I'm curious to see how you intend to do drivetrain work with the engine cage on there... hope you never have to do a valve cover gasket.

I'd throw some I.D. tube clamps on it....

POSJ has pretty much got it

The engine cage isn't done yet. I was waiting until I got the hood in place to see if flanges would interfere. I would go the route of ID tube clamps...but for $30 a clamp x 6...I think i'll pass and use flanges.

Though there is a chance I will be using a couple ID tube clamps on my tranny/oil pan skid I've yet to build. Its times like these I really wish I had my own lathe and end mill...I could whip up several sets on those in no time.

 

[in4aride]

Have you talked to paul at rocky mountain machine, leds friend? (in reference to the clamps/machining)

 

[freerider15]

Have you talked to paul at rocky mountain machine, leds friend? (in reference to the clamps/machining)

That I have not, as I know not of this person

I might see if I can't talk my buddy Matt into making a few (works at a very large machining place up north here).

 

[freerider15]

So...another little update.

Got my intake and radiator hoses mounted a bit ago. Yes...that is exhaust tubing used for my intake. Let's face it...it's a 4.0L not a hopped up V8 :laugh:

As well...got my other rear light and my rear tailgate mounted. This might be one of the ONLY pieces with MY XJ's original body in in. The peices in white are from the original hatch...I was determined to have something in there from the old body :laugh: I'm really liking how it came out. It's still got some work to be done to it but it's done enough to show.

That being said...I F*$%ING hate working with sheet metal. :laugh:

As well...getting rid of my Corbeaus. After doing a LOT of reading I just decided they were to small for me overall. So...I've got a custom pair of PRP's coming in in a couple weeks :greensmok

Currently i'm working on getting a oil pan/tranny pan skid built as well as a skid that fills the gap between my tranny crossmember and my rear crossmember.

Updates to follow soon!

 

[in4aride]

damn impressive

 

[Mr.OverKill]

I am amazed how much welding you have to go back and do..... some in really hard to get at places now all is assembled.... Good work and good luck

 

[freerider15]

I am amazed how much welding you have to go back and do..... some in really hard to get at places now all is assembled.... Good work and good luck

You missed a few posts of mine then maybe, or maybe it just did't make it's way in from copy pasting from Pirate

The buggy will be completely disassembled once it's done...EVERYTHING for the most part is coming out and thats when all final welding and prep will be done, as well as painting. Anything that really mattered that needed to be fully welded was. The issue in a build like this is that many a times things need to be remounted elsewhere due to working off an existing platform (i.e. an XJ) and thus trying to fit 20lbs of crap in a 5lb bag that you can't see initially.
I've had to do a lot of stuff like that, and not having it fully welded saves me time and material in the long run.

 

[freerider15]

So there haven't been too many updates lately...mainly because I sold the Corbeaus I had in there and will be going with some custom PRP seats. I'm waiting for them to get in (have to hop down to Denver to get them) and then I'll be underway again. I've had to hold off on the interior since these seats are a little wider and longer, and lot taller. I need to get my interior to work with these seats so there might be a little rework in order.

Otherwise I've started to knock out my oil/tranny skid.

Got my tranny pan off and cleaned up night before last to get a bung welded in. I must say getting that pan out was a PAIN in the ass.

Once the seats are in, i'll get the rest of the interior finished up. I got the drivers side floor pieces pretty well done, so a few easy pieces left and that will be done.

I promise pics to follow once visual progress begins again

 

[garrett83]

Get a little tight down there?!

 

[freerider15]

Get a little tight down there?!

Que?

 

[ZenDragon]

Awesome build man! Although I wonder sometimes why people cut up an existing truck like that if all your using is basically the frame rails, floor and dash/firewall. Why not just build the whole thing from scratch?

 

[freerider15]

Awesome build man! Although I wonder sometimes why people cut up an existing truck like that if all your using is basically the frame rails, floor and dash/firewall. Why not just build the whole thing from scratch?

I never had remotely planned on going this far. Original plans were to just cut off everything behind C-pillar and do an exo/inner hybrid cage (mine was going to look much like RCMan's...but had plans for it far before he started )

Then a little more got cut off here and there...and before you know it, you have a chassis and a buggy really instead of an XJ.

And for the record...there is no previous floorboard left, and the uniframe could be completly gutted from its channel and it wouldn't do a thing. In all reality, besides the drivetrain...all that is left is some of the cowl, and some of the firewall. It will be XJ paneled...but yes any more it really isn't an XJ and just a full buggy.

Though it would have made life FAR easier had I started with a chassis and built a buggy from that, this was my first venture into real fabrication so it gave me a building block to go from. Not sure I would have been able to build a chassis then (though I definitely could now).

 

[ZenDragon]

I never had remotely planned on going this far. Original plans were to just cut off everything behind C-pillar and do an exo/inner hybrid cage (mine was going to look much like RCMan's...but had plans for it far before he started )

Then a little more got cut off here and there...and before you know it, you have a chassis and a buggy really instead of an XJ.

Though it would have made life FAR easier had I started with a chassis and built a buggy from that, this was my first venture into real fabrication so it gave me a building block to go from. Not sure I would have been able to build a chassis then (though I definitely could now).

Hind sight is 20/20 hahaha! Amazing work nonetheless! I suppose it helps to have an existing structure so you have all the basic dimensions to work off of. When I finally get back into a house (with a garage) I really want to start doing this kind of stuff. It's still a couple years out but, I've already got a build plan started lol! These crazy build threads are an inspiration to say the least!

Also, one question, as I didnt read through the entire build thread... did you relocate the alternator? Or is that no longer an XJ engine either? I dont remember, was it the YJ that had the alternator up top like that?

 

[freerider15]

Hind sight is 20/20 hahaha! Amazing work nonetheless! I suppose it helps to have an existing structure so you have all the basic dimensions to work off of. When I finally get back into a house (with a garage) I really want to start doing this kind of stuff. It's still a couple years out but, I've already got a build plan started lol! These crazy build threads are an inspiration to say the least!

Also, one question, as I didnt read through the entire build thread... did you relocate the alternator? Or is that no longer an XJ engine either? I dont remember, was it the YJ that had the alternator up top like that?

Yeah damn that hindsight!

Thanks for the compliments. All I can tell anyone who has mentioned going remotely this far...don't do unless you have something else to wheel in the meantime.

It has been going on 4.5 YEARS since i've wheeled my own rig. Yeah...sh*tty.

It's a good thing I like fabrication and I love this sport...as it is hard to get the motivation to work on it sometimes even when i'm SO close.

As far as the alternator, its the bracket off of a WJ with the 4.0L. They are NOT easy to find, but I managed to get a couple (have a couple for sale in the for sale forum ) They take a little bit of work but it is well worth it.

 

[garrett83]

Yeah damn that hindsight!

Thanks for the compliments. All I can tell anyone who has mentioned going remotely this far...don't do unless you have something else to wheel in the meantime.

It has been going on 4.5 YEARS since i've wheeled my own rig. Yeah...sh*tty.

It's a good thing I like fabrication and I love this sport...as it is hard to get the motivation to work on it sometimes even when i'm SO close.

^ this

You definitely need a rig to drive while all this is going on. If I had another rig while I was doing my build, I would have taken more time and completely finished it before taking it to the trail.

Now I have a driveable work In progress, which is fun, but I'm still years away from being "done", if there is such a thing.

 

[freerider15]

So...after a month I finally picked up my new PRP seats.

They're the PRP Comp. Highbacks with:
- Black Cordura Center
- Carbon Fiber Vinyl everwhere else
- Double Stitching
- +2" width
- +4" height
- Mesh in bottom of seat for drainage.

Overall...I love them. Far more comfortable than the Corbeaus (since these are actually sized correctly). The ONLY slight downside I might say is that being a more broad shouldered person, the wings on the seat want to push my shoulders a little forward. I could have gone with the Daily Driver seat which have a lot less bolster...but after having the Mastercraft version of that (the rubicon) not having the bolster in the buggy would be a mistake. I slid around some in the rubicons when it was still a full body rig.

I'm 6'2" and the top of the seat is a hair higher than the top of my head. Makes me feel much more comfortable in case my head comes backwards...I'll be hitting a head rest instead of tube now.

However...mounting these has made me re-do my mounts since the bolt pattern is not the same with the wider seats. I had to cut out my trans shifter as it will need to move forward as these seats are 4" longer front to rear than the Corbeaus. So that is taking me a little while, but I should have that wrapped up and beginning harness mounting this coming weekend :greensmok

The goal is teardown for paint at the end of this month My to-do list is rather short and I should be able to knock it out over the next couple weekends!

 

[freerider15]

This is where I wouldn't mind some input from the crowd

The chassis will be painted Hammered Black, the interior will be painted Hammered Gray.

As far as the body goes, I've got the following three colors in mind (the candy apple red or something like it being what I'm leaning towards).

#1 Candy Apple Red (or something very similar):

#2 Cobalt Blue (or something very similar):

Burnt Orange of some sort:

So...opinions on color?

 

[sandsgg]

Crazy Burnt Orange Metalic ftw

The Lexus version

 

[Lowrange2]

x2 Lexus Orange.

 

[garrett83]

X3 Lexus orange or even the JK orange.

By far my favorite color.