Andy in Pa.
NAXJA Member #180
- Location
- Downingtown, Pa.
I figured I would put up a post of the work I am doing to the XJ right now. As many of you know, my XJ is fondly referred to as "Barnabus Wrex", thanks to a little kid who was walking by the XJ with his mom, looked up at it and said "Look mommy, its Barney Purple..." (I hate that kid...). Unfortunately, my fiance (wife now) was within ear-shot, and she was kind enough to give the Jeep its name-sake. That was 8 years ago.
Oh, by the way, YES, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COLOR!!! What was DC thinking when they picked this color?? Oh well, it was CHEAP when I bought it...
The Jeep has been through many changes over the past 8 years, but soon after I built it, I installed Big Offroad 6" leaf packs with the military wrap. I have done so many things to make these springs flex (removed a leaf, cleaned/greased between each leaf a few times, tried running LOTS of weight to get the springs to settle...), but they have NEVER given me less than 8" of lift. Recently, I was able to pick up a brand new set of Rustys 4.5" leaf springs for CHEAP, so I am in the process of rebuilding the leaf packs using the Big Offroad main leaf, military wrap, and the long spring, then using 3 leafs from the Rustys leaf pack. My goal is to lower the Jeep a little (approx 1" to 1.5") and flatten out the leaf springs a bit more. I am using the Big Offroad main leafs because they are longer than the Rustys main leafs. I drilled out the leafs to use a 7/16" center pin (just a socket head bolt), and got new u-bolts (9/16") and plan on running leaf spring liners between the leafs. Check out www.stengelbros.com for a local source for U-bolts and spring liners.
I am also planning on re-locating the shocks through the floor, so pulled the carpet in the rear of the interior, and found that there was no floor left around the plate that the roll cage welds to at the rear. I didn't get any pics of the lack of floor, but here are a few of me starting to fix it.
So thats how it sits right now, I need to get more welding gas and get the floor fixed, then drill holes in it for the shocks... I am still waiting on the leaf spring liners too, so I can't put the springs back in yet.
More to come soon...
Oh, by the way, YES, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL COLOR!!! What was DC thinking when they picked this color?? Oh well, it was CHEAP when I bought it...
The Jeep has been through many changes over the past 8 years, but soon after I built it, I installed Big Offroad 6" leaf packs with the military wrap. I have done so many things to make these springs flex (removed a leaf, cleaned/greased between each leaf a few times, tried running LOTS of weight to get the springs to settle...), but they have NEVER given me less than 8" of lift. Recently, I was able to pick up a brand new set of Rustys 4.5" leaf springs for CHEAP, so I am in the process of rebuilding the leaf packs using the Big Offroad main leaf, military wrap, and the long spring, then using 3 leafs from the Rustys leaf pack. My goal is to lower the Jeep a little (approx 1" to 1.5") and flatten out the leaf springs a bit more. I am using the Big Offroad main leafs because they are longer than the Rustys main leafs. I drilled out the leafs to use a 7/16" center pin (just a socket head bolt), and got new u-bolts (9/16") and plan on running leaf spring liners between the leafs. Check out www.stengelbros.com for a local source for U-bolts and spring liners.
I am also planning on re-locating the shocks through the floor, so pulled the carpet in the rear of the interior, and found that there was no floor left around the plate that the roll cage welds to at the rear. I didn't get any pics of the lack of floor, but here are a few of me starting to fix it.
So thats how it sits right now, I need to get more welding gas and get the floor fixed, then drill holes in it for the shocks... I am still waiting on the leaf spring liners too, so I can't put the springs back in yet.
More to come soon...
).
