Ross's other dumb jeep for the street

[foxwar71]

Ahh yes, might as well make a build thread for this. I'm sure some of you have followed the build of my black jeep into a full blown trailer queen crawler. Well like 8 or so months ago I decided I felt the need for a run around jeep, been daily driving my Cummins but wanted to take some daily wear and tear off it. First I found an 88 MJ 4.0/ba10/2wd. Turned out to be a rot box!! Thought it needed some small patches but it was junk when I took the bed off.

So the whole 2WD got me thinking about doing a "race" jeep build. Own XJs long enough and eventually you will think about it too. I scored some JK Moabs and had ideas tossing around. And then it happened, I found a 2dr on a local FB group. I've always loved 2drs, my first vechile was one and I've had a couple. It's a 99 4.0/AW4/8.25 2WD, rust free and very clean.

Then it was go time!! Did a tune up, filters, oil leak, etc maintenance work like anybody would on a new ride. Decided on a plan, lower it with a spring under swap out back plus a posi 8.8 with 3.73's. Scored freebie new stock leafs, added a 3" full AAL and a short AAL too. Up front got a full WJ treatment; all 4 arms, ball joints out knuckle swap, steering/brakes. Scored a freebie JKS trackbar and some small lift HD coils, cut them down to desired height.

 

[foxwar71]

Painted the JK wheels black and got some 235/55/17's on them. Got the jeep together and drove it. Picked up exhaust pieces and made a full stainless system with a Magnaflow cat and muffler. After a little while with the vertical shackle, I got some HD no-lift brackets and its a night and day difference.

And then I pulled the trigger!! Found a set of 265/40/20's for a smoking deal. With a discount connection, I ordered some replica 20x9 SRT8 wheels.

I cut another half coil off the front, somewhere around 2.5-2.75" under stock now. Played around with the shackle. First two pics were sweet, but the shackle wasn't swinging right and hitting on bumps. Brought it up a little and it currently sits like the last pic.

 

[foxwar71]

Next plans include a new paint job, staying white. Paint the rear bumper/caps/flares, already did all the front stuff when I tinted all the light lenses. Manual swap is also on the list, working on getting parts together still. After I get a 2WD AX15 in, I'll turn my attention to the 200k 4.0. Time will tell what will help bump the power.....

 

[yossarian19]

Looks stupid

How's it ride / handle?
I want to build a Jeep about the same way, but in the back of my head there's a voice saying "still gonna drive like crap"

 

[Ronbo]

So the whole 2WD got me thinking about doing a "race" jeep build. Own XJs long enough and eventually you will think about it too.

This is fact. These builds make me glad I kept my 2wd DD.

Unless I'm blind, I assume the trackbar mount at the axle is in the original position? Is there bump steer with the WJ steering? I assume going down in lift helps that issue.

 

[foxwar71]

With the shackle brackets in now, its rides so much better. It's a stiff leaf pack, before it was a vertical shackle and rode like it. The WJ stuff up front is like a go cart in it, its fun and wierd as hell at the same time. Doing highway ramps at speed and its flat in the corners, not a typical jeep lean.

The TB is still stock mounted, it doesn't seem affect too much and the angles are close. It's just barely off the bumpstops, I wanna redo them with a bigger/better pad. Probably do a flatter pitman arm and custom TB at some point.

 

[gradon]

Sitting nice. I have Ironman4x4fab adjustable tube control arms and an Addco front swaybar on my 2wd.

 

[foxwar71]

I'm glad I needed up doing the WJ LCAs actually, not sure if the 9" wide wheels would have cleared a straight arm at full lock. I did new bushings F&R on the stock sway bars, just couldn't bring myself to spend money on a fancy one.

A local group is planning a track day this summer at a new road course, definitely gunna plan to be there. I just wanna be the only Jeep mixed in with ricers and other cars

 

[cal]

You and I have some veeerrryy similar idea's right now.

I have a 2000 federal emissions 2x4 sitting in the parking lot. WJ parts, 94 Mustang Cobra R wheels, progressive no lift front coils, new rear leafs with sliders are ordered or in the shed.


I need to go talk to Russ about a deal on a motor and get started...

 

[iluv83vettes]

I've been thinking about doing this as well. I guess I have owned XJ's long enough.

 

[GordoSmasho]

Anyone see complicatioms of doing this to a 4x4. I have dreams of finding a manual and 97+ and turning it into a street machine with a 242 and limited slips front and rear.

 

[iluv83vettes]

Depending on how much you lower it, diff and oil pan clearance could be an issue.

Everything else is the same right?

 

[foxwar71]

Trackbar to diff and pinion to exhaust are gunna be issues. The joint on the JKS bar is close to my tube. and no way I could fit my 2.5"exhaust

 

[Talyn]

That looks good. I especially like that exhaust. What brand HD no-lift brackets are those?

 

[bjoehandley]

You and I have some veeerrryy similar idea's right now.

I have a 2000 federal emissions 2x4 sitting in the parking lot. WJ parts, 94 Mustang Cobra R wheels, progressive no lift front coils, new rear leafs with sliders are ordered or in the shed.


I need to go talk to Russ about a deal on a motor and get started...

I've been thinking about doing this as well. I guess I have owned XJ's long enough.

Join the club, been wanting to do something like this for a while now too, maybe with an Edelbrock headed stroker under the hood! Then again, I also want their Pentastar Supercharger for my Chrysler 200 too:laugh3:

 

[foxwar71]

That looks good. I especially like that exhaust. What brand HD no-lift brackets are those?

HD Offroad's

 

[gradon]

I also had Andy at Ironman4x4 make me a custom straight adjustable trackbar that is parallel to the axle. I got a manual 4x4 96 at Christmas that's gonna get the 242 swap and lsds with 3.55s at both ends.

 

[GordoSmasho]

I also had Andy at Ironman4x4 make me a custom straight adjustable trackbar that is parallel to the axle. I got a manual 4x4 96 at Christmas that's gonna get the 242 swap and lsds with 3.55s at both ends.

Please do a thread. I am heading down that path

 

[DeftwillP]

I saw you reference this jeep last week (maybe in the 2wd wj brake thread) and literally looked for this thread to no avail. Glad you finally made one.

 

[foxwar71]

I also had Andy at Ironman4x4 make me a custom straight adjustable trackbar that is parallel to the axle. I got a manual 4x4 96 at Christmas that's gonna get the 242 swap and lsds with 3.55s at both ends.

A straight TB will happen eventually, the JKS was a freebie so hard to argue that. My last 2dr was a 5spd that I swapped a 242 into with 3.55's as well. Dumping clutch and grabbing gears was a blast in full time