My "Hero" Blog

Lol it sucks my hitch drags over everything. If I hit a steep ledge and don't make it, when I roll back my hitch slams into the ground. I also hit it a lot on soup bowl when I need to back up to try another line. Sucks how in the way it is. Oh well. I'll definitely be plating it sooner than later.


What can you fellas tell me about the WJ knuckle swap? I have a line on an 01 WJ front end for dirt cheap. Thinking the high steer would be nice, as well as the brakes. Looks like I'll need different lower ball joints, and a spacer to align the axle shafts. Doesn't sound like much else is needed from what I've gathered?
 
I keep bouncing around from topic to topic but I've been trying to figure out what steering box to replace mine with for a little while now. From what I've gathered, a J20 box is what I want for the following reasons:

It has the big 3.5" bore vs the XJ 3" bore
It has 4 mounting bolts vs 3 mounting bolts
It requires 4.2 turns of the wheel lock to lock vs the XJs variable/3.3 turn


I have heard rumors that the J20 box has a different sized input shaft, but according to the autozone data source, the J20 box has a .72" shaft diameter and 26 spline spline count - the same as the XJ.

I have also heard rumors of older J20 boxes having different threads and requiring different fittings at the box, but according to autozone, both use a 16mmx1.5 outlet and 18mmx1.5 inlet. So it seems the 85 box is a safe bet.

Another issue I have heard of is that the J20 box will need to be shimmed away from the frame - likely to clear the bigger diameter end cap of the larger bore box.

Lastly, it sounds like a true big bore box is relatively hard to come across, and autozone and other reman companies sell you a more popular small bore box. Not sure which box, but likely the J10/YJ box.

Anyways, I just wanted to post this here to help anybody in the same boat, as well as to see if anybody has tried this before and can confirm that any of the above statements are in fact true.

FWIW, as Im sure I've already stated before, whatever box I get will be drilled and tapped for hydro assist and will be run with plugs in the holes until I decide to add a ram. It will also be paired with a new pump with a drilled out fitting for higher flow.
 
I run a PSC big bore box- they use the 4bolt j20s as cores. I also ran a true 1986 j20 box for a while. they bolt right up. the older late seventies j20 boxes have different size input shafts, but the mid eighties ones are the same as the XJ.

They are hard to find. most parts stores box a j10 box or a 4 bolt wrangler box in place of the j20 box but still sell it as a j20 box.

consider getting a 3 bolt PSC small bore box tapped for assist - if you plan to go assist .
 
blondejoncherokee said:
I run a PSC big bore box- they use the 4bolt j20s as cores. I also ran a true 1986 j20 box for a while. they bolt right up. the older late seventies j20 boxes have different size input shafts, but the mid eighties ones are the same as the XJ.

They are hard to find. most parts stores box a j10 box or a 4 bolt wrangler box in place of the j20 box but still sell it as a j20 box.

consider getting a 3 bolt PSC small bore box tapped for assist - if you plan to go assist .
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, a PSC box is way out of the budget for me right now. A reman box with a modded pump and maybe a different pulley will be my best bet at this point.

Did you have any issues size wise with the J20 box? No issues with end cap clearance or anything of the like?
 
it bolted right up Dude. no issues.
 
Jeep450r said:
Lol it sucks my hitch drags over everything. If I hit a steep ledge and don't make it, when I roll back my hitch slams into the ground. I also hit it a lot on soup bowl when I need to back up to try another line. Sucks how in the way it is. Oh well. I'll definitely be plating it sooner than later.


What can you fellas tell me about the WJ knuckle swap? I have a line on an 01 WJ front end for dirt cheap. Thinking the high steer would be nice, as well as the brakes. Looks like I'll need different lower ball joints, and a spacer to align the axle shafts. Doesn't sound like much else is needed from what I've gathered?
Click to expand...

Sounds about right. PEnding how you setup the steering links different wheels may be necessary.
 
Here's a video of me pussy footing through soup bowl last trip. Turn the volume up, the go-pro was in a waterproof case that really hindered the noise pickup.

 
Last edited:
CAJJ93XJ said:
nice driving man. you're making it look easy even in wet conditions.

so whens the naxja Fordyce run? end of june?
Click to expand...

End of June we are doing the con...


Id be down for Fordyce in September or October after I get all the regular runs out of the way....
 
Thanks guys! I'm down for a fordyce trip at some point. Ive still never been in my own jeep!!


Well I made it out to the Rubicon for Memorial Day weekend. Went up with a few of my buddies from school to celebrate the beginning of the summer as well as graduation for a few of my friends. We headed up late Friday (as usual) and wheeled in in the rain.



We hit soup bowl in the wee hours of the morning, and got to camp around 3AM or later. I tried soup for a few minutes and had a good line but no matter how much skinny pedal I used, I couldn't make it. It rained on us all night and let up in the morning just long enough for us to make breakfast and break camp.

Friday nights camp spot.



Not a bad view for a Saturday morning piss.



Then we were off to buck. The morning started out wet and freezing cold but was nice and sunny by the time we got to the lake. The trail was super wet and had streams cutting across it at some spots.



We spent a good bit of time at buck and hung out with a group at the nasty obstacle/ledge with a tree on the left side (unique description, I know). My buddy in his green cj on 35s broke a ujoint doing a 4k rpm clutch dump trying to bump up the ledge. As soon as he got started fixing it, the sun went away and rain/hail took its place.



Fixed it up and we were off to the springs.

Big sluice



There was a HUGE water crossing just before you enter the springs. We convinced mike in the CJ to go first. It swallowed his 35" tires almost immediately. He got 95% of the way and then hit a hole, water was over the hood, and up to the top of his seats and then the motor stalled out. Nasty nasty water hole. Turns out there was a bypass around it, which I gladly took.

We essentially had the springs to ourselves. We camped right on the water and woke up to some nicer looking weather (aka not raining)








Then as the clouds started rolling back in we were off to Cadillac Hill. It was in good shape and we made it up with no issues. Here's a pic from half way up.




We had good weather all the way until we hit the staging area at Tahoe, where it proceeded to dump rain on us.




Finally we made our way to my buddies cabin in Tahoe. We treated ourselves to a nice dinner on the lake shore and spent the rest of the night in his cozy, warm, and dry cabin. Perfect way to finish off the day.




This morning, my girlfriend and I took the long way home from Northshore down to 50 and enjoyed a beautiful drive along Lake Tahoe to wrap up the trip.





I was lucky enough to not suffer from any breakage on the trail, but have my work cut out for me before I hit the trail again.

Just another solid Rubicon trip in the books!
 
Did a little work on the jeep today.

Drained both diffs and inspected them, tightened the rear output on my tranfer case, tore all of my steering off to rebuild it with 7/8" hiems, pulled the frame side track bar bracket off to replace it with a new one I am building, began tweaking my exhaust to get it away from the floorboard, and pulled one of my old seats so I could mock up one of the new corbeaus.

The corbeau is much larger and fits a bit tighter in there. The side bolstering is significantly higher too, which I like. Only problem is the angle of the back doesnt match the cage, which will make it tricky to fit.




Here it is in its resting place for the next 3 weeks or so until the next run I have planned.

 
Yeah it was pretty neat though! Not nearly as nasty as your snow run. It was busy but it was no 4th of July or Cantina weekend.
 
Been making frame plates for the front of the heep. It's been a pain in the rear but I'm finally making progress! I'll be plating the outside, bottom, and inside of both frame rails as far forward and back as possible.

Started with a pencil, scissors, and a few sheets of poster paper and went to town. I got everything traced out and then transferred the pieces to a 4x4 sheet of 10 gauge steel.






Then, today I stopped by my buddies house and used his plasma cutter to torch everything out, holes and all. Beats an angle grinder in every single way. This will be my next tool purchase for sure.





All they need is a quick clean up and some fine tuning and theyre ready to install.

The frame is all cleaned up and ready for welding too.






Should be burning them in early this week!
 
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