Project Unicorn - a light duty trail rig

[cal]

The Genrite gas tank makes this install a real pain in the butt, as it hangs the tank by the hitch mounts and not by the factory straps.

So, step one: drop the tank. We didn't do this last weekend because it had 30 gallons of gas in it (which is why i drove 400 miles in a week).

Then cut out the factory shackle boxes

The daylight there is where Dallas set my jeep on fire, again.

That's ok. The smell of burning carpet is still better than old gear oil that many XJ's smell like.

Cut the factory nutsert out.

No wonder these break loose all the time, it barely welded.

Lots of grinding and cleanup. Not a lot of photos.

A quick test fit

Drill the extra holes and bolt them up. This is important in case I ever want to remove the gas tank later. 2 bolts in the rear support and 2 through the floor.

He designed up some great flag nuts that are easy to use and let you easily access the holes forward or aft of the access hole, depending how you want to mount up.

Made up some .250" spacers for my gas tank and tacked them in place, so that it sits level after the SRB's are mounted.

We went one hole forward of stock. A bit smoother ride and I have a lot of room to play.

Lowered my rear by about 3/4"-1".

 

[RCP Phx]

Well kept having lifter problems with the stroker. We're pretty sure at this point there is a damaged lifter bore.
You can see #2 was getting some water but thankfully no rust. Didn't get a picture of it but the head had a huge crack in it as well.

Glad to see you got it running again. Are you saying there was a crack in your new Edelbrock head?

 

[cal]

No. Lifter bore is in the block, and it was just a random core block someone had sitting around.

 

[RCP Phx]

Didn't get a picture of it but the head had a huge crack in it as well.

Pleas explain?

 

[cal]

Oooooh. My old stock 0331. Thats why we did the stroker

 

[ShoeterMcgav]

I dig those.... A LOT!
Im debating on redoing what ever fubar-ness the previous owner did for the rear suspension, or just going 4 link. $$$$ will ultimately decide for me, like always.

Sorry to hear about the stroker... That was pretty short lived man damn

 

[cal]

On an XJ you will be hard pressed to make a 4 link outperform deaver leads. We just don't have room to outboard the coils enough. Add a trackbar and you can get there but it has its own downsides

Stroker will come back. I just need a running jeep while I work on it, and engine swaps really aren't that hard

 

[Anak]

Bummer to hear the stroker came out, but good to hear there are plans for its revival.

 

[4x4JeePmaNthINg]

sunofa gun, If only SFR had these out sooner lol, ugh, too late.

any idea when the shackles will go online?


how does a lifter bore become damaged?

Hopefully this all resolves well for you!

 

[cal]

Shackles in weeks, not days but not months.

And guessing 50-200k miles of driving on low oil pressure before i acquired the block

 

[Evan03]

****ing love it

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[RCP Phx]

That SFR kit looks really good can't wait to see a official release on them!

 

[75SV1]

Yesterday I replaced the hard fuel line that runs from the frame to the intake with a good spare sent to me by Matt Smith (thanks buddy!) and replaced the PCV valve with a new one, not that I expect that to help. I picked up a 1992 valve cover to clean up and evaluate running but I forgot it won't have the mounts for the cable clips. Debating building something I can JB weld in to hold those? Dunno.

Cable clips? Is that the plastic clips that keep the TB, Trans adjust cable positioned on the VC? Did you look at a 93-95 Grand Cherokee VC? I am using one on my XJ. Has the newer CCV meter and grommets. I had to reverse the tube and rubber hoses that go to the airbox.

Edit, I looked at one of the GC valve covers I have. I don't know if Cal's expoxy reference is to the rear plastic clip. The earlier VC lack the two threaded rods for this. I drilled and tapped for two allen head screws, in that area. I had to look at the inside for the best placement. I also, JB welded then in place. I think I used nuts on the outside as a to help retain the screws further.
BTW, only on page 15 of this thread. Looking at many of the ideas, as they will fit my next build.

 

[IslanderOffRoad]

I really don’t want to take my rear suspension apart again but those relocators would really even my suspension out

 

[75SV1]

This is why I choose to just tolerate my aftermarket noisy motor mounts vs running OE type rubber ones again. I've seen this happen to myself and others too many times.

I was also going to ask what that drain plug was out of ... never seen that come out of a radiator before.

Details on the Stroker? Knock on wood I don't think it's going to be that long before my 172K mile long-block lets go... I've been running on the same bearings for ~ 70K miles after driving it a month or so w/a cracked cylinder head on my '01 before replacing it.

Still going through this thread. I had this issue with the clutch fan. I was warned by DPG-Off Road about this and to use a MOPAR clutch fan on HD Radiators.

 

[cal]

Been a little behind on updates. Built a bumper. Well drank beer, while Dallas built one.

 

[cal]

Got in a bit of a debate this morning with @DexterCathole about who's breakfast I was eating.

Played with some wires.

Opened up a new Atoto A6 stereo. Will see how the $150 double din option works out. Reviews are very good.

And a new Metra 95-6554B kit.

It's not a dead on finish match to my interior but it's close enough. Build quality seems good.

 

[cal]

Pulled my old stuff out and did a loose test fit.

Gotta do some trimming of the factory stereo mounts (which are also AC ducts) to fit the double din unit.

I'll admit that I started off with the dremel but found it difficult to get in where I needed it, where oddly enough my cordless angle grinder fit really well.

Metra provided 4 strips of aluminium tape, which I figured would NOT get the job done, so I ordered a roll.

That turned out to be unnecessary. Their tape was exceptional quality and I had extra left over.

 

[cal]

Getting the stereo mounts in exactly the right set of holes to fit the dash bezel started off as kind of a struggle. Eventually I bolted the mounts in with the stereo just floating, slid the bezel up, lined the stereo up, popped the bezel off and looked at where the holes were lined up.

after that it took me 2 tries but i was close.


Had to drill a new mounting hole, which Metra provided a single screw to fill.

Bolted the head unit in.

Realized here I forgot to install the microphone, GPS antenna and wifi antenna. I have not ordered the dash cam option or the backup cam yet but I will do so very soon.

GPS:

WiFi:

Mic:

Drilled a hole in the bezel to mount the remote bass control knob for my amp, and them put everything together.

I have a little tiny gap at the HVAC controls that may be a clip not seated all the way, or it may be i need to adjust the head unit mounts and move it back a hair. Still, I found the fit to be VERY good.

I was sketched by the idea of cutting into the ducts to fit a head unit but I am super pleased by how well it went.

 

[Redsnake]

Very nice!! Love the Double Din Head Unit install. I've been thinking of doing this ever since I saw Metra was making the DD kits for our XJ's.

One of the things I really LOVE about my wive's Subaru Outback is the XM radio and having a LARGE Map to guide you around side streets and other ways to get around when the normal route has traffic or construction! Super HANDY and way better than looking at the map on my Android Phone. Ha