New Member New Lift

[RAM-ROD]

Ok guys so I am a new member here. Been into jeeps and wheeling for about 20 years now. Between the wife ( jpchick) and i we have had everything from a 79 CJ with a 401 to yj's and several xj's. This is the story of the 2000 xj that was just a plain old DD. building to be a good wheeler that can get back home after a weekend on the trails/ rocks.I decided on a RE 3.5 super flex and added the heavy duty adjustable trac bar, Rusty's Steering brace, Front end skid plate / stiffener, and front tow points. Also got some JKS bar pin eliminators. I was a bit worried about tackling this in my driveway by myself. I moved back to the socialist state of Illinois about 6 years ago after being in rural Indiana for 20 years...darn work. So this is how it went.

 

[chpmnsws6]

So how did it go? To bad you are closer to Springfield or I'd lend ya a hand

 

[RAM-ROD]

It went pretty good. I am happy with the end result so far. going to do the rear end this weekend so i am not sure what the total height comes out to. I had really saggy springs before i started. Woulf have liked to have the extra hand thnaks but that would be a drive

 

[RAM-ROD]

ok so you have seen the parts and the BPE's. Here what happened next. Brought here up the drive to get started Saturday morning.

 

[RAM-ROD]

getting her up in the air.

 

[RAM-ROD]

next i started stripping her down and my wife even loved watching. well her nickname is jpchick.

 

[RAM-ROD]

old parts and springs old and new. I was surprised how the old springs came back up with the weight off them. They were so bad a tiny rock in the road felt like the axel was going to go thru the oil pan.

 

[RAM-ROD]

next i took off the old LCA's and installed the cool new ones with heim joints

 

[RAM-ROD]

then i moved on to the srpings and shocks . I may be missing some stuff but i have more pics if anyone wants to see them.

 

[RAM-ROD]

ok next i moved on to the swaybar disco's the lower pins were a majot pain to remove i used a cut off wheel and old drill bits to get the first one off. Then i got smart went to lowes and got some good drill bits went back home. the drivers side took me almost two hours to get off clean up the bracket and paint it. with the new drill bits i started on the pass side with a 3/8 drill bit right through the center of the bolt. took a hammer one tap and the back side is gone. then a 1/5 " bit and it was all gone and super clean looking.

 

[RAM-ROD]

this is a close up pic of the BPE's installed.

 

[RAM-ROD]

ok so the weather was good on Saturday and as you can see i have a small garage so the jeep was just outside in the driveway. well of course it's going to rain.

 

[RAM-ROD]

so i clean everything up and leave her on the stands for the night. I am laying in bed sore and tired. At 5:00 AM a car alarm goes off and it sounds like the XJ. I have never jumped out of bed that quick before without grabing my gun. come to find out it was just the guy next door taking his wife to the airport that was close thought ofr sure it fell off the stands somehow. Anyway that guy manages a micro brew in town and i get lots of free beer so i wnet back to sleep. now for Sunday morning maybe it cleared up...ya right.

 

[Rev Den]

Welcome.

Rev

 

[RAM-ROD]

Hey Rev. Thanks. look forward to meeting you guys at a run soon. The wife and i are going to try to make the redbird clean-up / run.

I have some more pics of the front end work coming up soon and the rear end is going to be donw this weekend i hope.

 

[RAM-ROD]

BTW you guys will notice my typing and spelling sucks.....

 

[RAM-ROD]

tried to get some things done in the garage. as it was still raining.

 

[RAM-ROD]

getting her all cleaned up. also removed the front center air dam for the skid plate. After removing that i read the directions for the tow points and realized i have to remove the whole bumber to put those on anyway. Oh well.

 

[RAM-ROD]

wheels going on. getting ready to set the trac bar....Boy did that go way better than i thought it would. I was also very worried because i forgot to lock my steering wheel out before i dropped the steering off the pitnam arm but after the axel was in it correct place and the trac bar was hooked up the steering wheel was only about 1deg off....I'll let the alignment shop take care of that.

 

[RAM-ROD]

wel that is about it until the weekend and i tear into the rear. here is apick of here stiing nice in front and way low in back. Let me know if you want to see anything close up or have any questions i will do my best to answer.