New Project... UPDATED

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Thanks!!! Looking forward to getting out and playing with this one. Huge change from Renix era Jeeps for me.

Lookin good, Glenn.

 

[bjoehandley]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

How were the front shocks to get off? We're kinda afraid to pull the rear wheel cylinders and front shocks in my '98 because of rust.

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

They had a ton of rust. Passenger side was not too bad, access is easy. Drivers side was a bit of a PIA. Removed the nuts for the proportioning valve bracket, that allowed me to use a swivel and extension on the top nut, and vice grips to stop the stem from spinning.

Wheel cylinders... will cross that bridge in the near future.

How were the front shocks to get off? We're kinda afraid to pull the rear wheel cylinders and front shocks in my '98 because of rust.

 

[four_shot]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

What's it mean, when the guys from New Mexico are cherry picking northern Illinois?

I wanted to head out that way to find a shell/roller to build...lol


Anyone else feel the disturbance in the force?

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

The price was worth it. Hard to pass one up when it falls in to your lap.

What's it mean, when the guys from New Mexico are cherry picking northern Illinois?

I wanted to head out that way to find a shell/roller to build...lol


Anyone else feel the disturbance in the force?

 

[99sport4.0]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Looks great. Did you get any vibes without a sye?

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Thanks. It does have some vibes, more from the front than the rear. I need to adjust my pinion angle when I get some time. Unfortunately our shop time is all booked up, so it will have to wait. I have a line on a t-case that has a SYE, so will do that after the holidays. That and replace all of the hard brake lines, bumpstop and trim. Fortunately I only live 3 miles from work, so no pressure to get it done quickly.

Looks great. Did you get any vibes without a sye?

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Spent the afternoon installing shackle relocators. Sits a little ass high, might have to lift the front up a bit. Wife just shook her head. LOL

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Forgot to mention the body side shackle bolt came out WITH the shackle bushing. That was really wonderful. Good thing I had a set of Chevy shackles in the garage.

 

[DrMoab]

New Project... wife says it is ugly

Forgot to mention the body side shackle bolt came out WITH the shackle bushing. That was really wonderful. Good thing I had a set of Chevy shackles in the garage.

This happened with mine on both sides.

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Yeah, that can take the fun right out of working on it.

This happened with mine on both sides.

Have been laid up all weekend due to my back going out. Today loaded up on ibuprofen so I could hit the local U-Pull It. Grabbed a non-abs proportioning valve, brake lines to master cyl, passenger front brake line, and the brake line to the rear. Drivers front was damaged, so will make one up for that. One step closer to being able to replace the rusty steel brake lines so that I can install the extended SS brake hoses. But that is for another day... too much back pain to deal with it today.

 

[NewJeeper]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Have been laid up all weekend due to my back going out. Today loaded up on ibuprofen so I could hit the local U-Pull It.

Now that's dedication!! Keep up the good work, the jeep is looking great!

 

[PacificEd]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

I have an '88 Renix XJ and it seems to have so much more room in it over the 1998 XJ that my mother-in-law drives.

What do you think?

XJ is looking good.

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Thanks!

It seems the dash takes up more room to me? And I miss the cubby under the glove box as well as just forward of the shifter. They held my sunglasses and tire deflators.

I have an '88 Renix XJ and it seems to have so much more room in it over the 1998 XJ that my mother-in-law drives.

What do you think?

XJ is looking good.

 

[DaYeep]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Looking great Glenn!

 

[GrimmJeeper]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

I have an '88 Renix XJ and it seems to have so much more room in it over the 1998 XJ that my mother-in-law drives.

What do you think?

I gotta agree with this, I love my '00 but it seems to have way less room inside for someone my height (6'2) and forget about me sitting in the back seat.

 

[bjoehandley]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

I have an '88 Renix XJ and it seems to have so much more room in it over the 1998 XJ that my mother-in-law drives.

What do you think?

XJ is looking good.

Thanks!

It seems the dash takes up more room to me? And I miss the cubby under the glove box as well as just forward of the shifter. They held my sunglasses and tire deflators.

I've noticed that when driving my '98 vs the '88 and '90 Dad had as well as the '92 my sisyer had. I'm pretty sure the dash had to be thickened for the newer HVAC system and passenger side airbag.

I gotta agree with this, I love my '00 but it seems to have way less room inside for someone my height (6'2) and forget about me sitting in the back seat.

I'm only 6' and have noticed it too, then to make matters worse, mine has a power driver seat that is siezed up far enough forward and upward that I can't easily get in and out of it without practically kicking myself in the ass and hitting my head on the overhead console at the same time:smsoap: I did manage to get a manual seat track, but haven't gotten around to swapping them yet and made sure to buy my 200 with manual seats too.

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

Spent yesterday removing the rusted steel brake lines and snaking in replacements. Also removed the ABS to make way for the AFE cold air intake. Snaking in the line to the rear was easy, the one from the new proportioning valve to the right front was a bit of a bitch.

Pulling the OEM airbox out, two of the bolts snapped, in typical fashion for this Jeep.

Spent today buttoning everything up, attaching the brake lines, bleeding the brakes, etc...

Just took it to pressure wash the brake fluid off from bleeding. With the new lines and extended stainless braided brake lines, seems to stop MUCH better and has a nice firm pedal, as expected.

Unlike my last intake, this one is nice and quite until you get on the throttle. Then coupled with the bigger throttle body, sounds great and scoots pretty good for a 4.0

BEER TIME!

 

[JJS]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

A friend and I recently cut out my '98's badly rotted rockers and welded 4x4x3/8 square tube to the frame rail (the pinch seams were too far gone). Relatively easy and quick. It helped that my friend is a welder and his son works at a shop that does e-coating.

I highly recommend it. I adapted plans from this site (thanks !).

Good luck on your project!

1998 Classic 4.0L
NP231 Selec-Trac
new rock rails
Rear disc brakes
GC tie rod
233,300 miles

 

[Glenn B]

Re: New Project... wife says it is ugly

The Daystar guys stopped by the shop today. They are hooking me up with some bumpstops.

They are taking this to Michigan to go play. Looks like fun!