New to the addiction...

[POSJ]

I know a decent amount about crawling, school me on going fast. Bought a $250 XJ to transform into a go fast desert turd. What are the things I absolutely need to know? I've read the rule book and I know it isn't going to be cheap...other than that the tricks of it are: ?

 

[GrimmJeeper]

plate the frame FIRST. most end up doing it after the cracks start to show up (thats what I did) and its too late by then.

stick with deavers for springs.

drop brackets work just about as good as long arms going fast in the dirt.

 

[POSJ]

Thanks Grimm, anybody else?

 

[NorCalChris]

Dont waste your time on cheap shocks. I think a Bilstein 7100 is about as small of a shock as you should go. Deffinetly plate the frame.

 

[Goatman]

Search cage designs. Get something that will give you some safe head room.

Reinforce the frame, get a cage, get some decent front links and track bar, get Currie steering, get Deaver springs front and rear, get some good shocks, truss your axles, put in some good belts, get a helmet, go have fun.

 

[desertrunner71]

Suspension:
King triples front rear
hydro bumps
Want a great shock set up, call Sonny at Downsouth Motorsports in San Diego. He certainly will know what to do and how to do it!
Deaver coils up front
Custom leaf pack from National Springs. You are in AZ, gonna have problems with the deavers, promise... Almost every racer has a set issue and is continually going back for a fix.. The "Jeepspeed" pack is a off the shelf set up. I put a whole season on my Nationals absolutely no problems. Buy leaf springs last you wont know final weight until then.

Frame stiffeners front wheel well, inside wheel well, leaf hangers front and rear. Cross bracing in rear.
Heavy duty motor mounts
DONT CUT OUT ANY FLOORING! Will have issues with it. Front shocks, stock location, cant come thru wheel well, rear shocks can. Get rid of sway bars front and rear.
the AW4 is a good tranny but wont last. If you bought the 5speed, will work better.

Engine: follow rules closely on it. you are teched and checked if you podium, follow fuel rules. We also have a engine claimer rule so dont spend more then $4k on your engine.

For all other questions I highly suggest going to the Jeepspeed forum. Look around there, get a copy of the rules, there are a ton of build pictures, questions to rules asked and answered, solutions to all types of "racing issues".

Lastly are the tricks you wanna know??? Dont get divorced during the process, cant help you with that, dont spend too much time building so that your kids hate you, it will become obsessive so see a shrink.. Other then those tricks, you are more on your own then anything else... Guys will help but not give up all the details to have you beat them!

BUT, if you wanna race now and save your brain and money, buy mine that is ready NOW and not 1yr from now or longer! I promise you this will podium.. Buy mine and I will spend a weekend with you driving and testing and filling in the blanks for Vegas to Reno.


Good luck!

 

[Larrythedog]

I know a decent amount about crawling, school me on going fast. Bought a $250 XJ to transform into a go fast desert turd. What are the things I absolutely need to know? I've read the rule book and I know it isn't going to be cheap...other than that the tricks of it are: ?

Search, search, search. Not just here, though there's a ton of info here, but other site as well. Jeepspeed.com Pirate 4X4.com and Racedezart.com are all great source of info. Read the build posts top to bottom. Once you've read up a bit you know what question to ask. Go to races and talk to driver/builders. Most are very helpful.

 

[tone]

Save your xj's soul and plate the uni! No matter what type of driving you do. Wish I would have done that first!

 

[trust96xj]

Keep spare parts, fluids, and lines with you. Nothing worse than bein in the middle of the desert with an exploded rad hose. And a well stocked toolbox.

 

[sjstar]

All i can say is look at what the guys out front in jeepspeed are running like 1708. Pritty safe bet the stuff the run has stood the test. If you are actually ganna build a jeepspeed rig jeepspeed.com is the website you want to check out.