The New beginning of an old Heep. Airshocks anyone?

[YEAGS]

So I figure now is the time to start my very own build thread. I have been slowly picking up parts over the last several months to start on my one ton but first alitte history on the jeep.

Its a 1988 Xj 4.0 non HO 4 door base edition that was my first vehicle I purchased when I was 14. I threw a 4.5 rusty's lift on and some 33x12.5x15 bfg mud terrains and drove it until i finally over heated enough that i didnt have time or money to fix it before school the next day. So i bought my neighbors that i built for him and started tearin that one up. it will remain my dd and also stay stock.

heres a list of new parts:

dana 60hp kingpin picked up out of a 79 ford snowfighter edition. 35 spline chromoly outers and will be locked soon.
dana 70hp out of a 78 ford f-350. 4.88s with a detroit.
set of 4 Sway Away 2.0 Airshocks.
links for front 3 link and rear double triangulated 4link.
york 210 oba
stainless steel headers
rubicon express hd trackbar and bracket and brace
3 core radiator (http://www.dpgoff-road.com/site/radiators.htm)
tranny cooler (http://www.jegs.com/i/B&M/130/70268/10002/-1)
all new exhaust
800$ worth of metal for cage, tube fenders, trusses, comp cut, raised cargo area to compensate for the 70 and the shock towers, reinforcing of the frame, rockers etc.

heres what it looked like before

the black one will be the build the yellow is remaining stock and the dd.

parts teaser pics:

Back bumper will be oba tank ends will be cut off to match the form of the comp cut and tube fenders will be tied into to the bumper

*****Alot of the parts i dont use will be for sale in the Arizona Chapter FORSALE thread soon if its not listed PM Me to see if i have it. The Lift kit will be for sale!!*****

Started tearing it apart:

This will be an ongoing build and seeing that I am taking 18 credits this semester and the next one as well as well as a job it will probably be a slower build thread, all depending on time and money.

That being said donations are accepted! as well as any help, ideas, suggestions.

**Also I feel I should mention and thank Tim (IllogicalPro) who has and will be aiding me through the whole project. He just started an offroad shop Apocalypse Offroad, and is probably the best fabricator I have met. check out his comp cut thread in the AZ Chapter.**

be back in a few days with updates

 

[RCman]

rubicon express hd trackbar and bracket and brace

Seems like a good layout plan. What wheels/tires? Steering?

One thing I will say is you are probably going to have a very hard time packaging that RE panhard and brace and still maintaining some uptravel. I had a similar plan to use the RE stuff (brace and bracket only, not the panhard itself) and well they are both still sitting NIB like yours.

The issue comes from the fact that running a decently sized tire (assuming you are with a D60/D70) you've got to move the axle forward a bunch to get some footwell/tire clearance. Then the issue moves to the bracket hitting the center section of the D60. You could probably make it would with a weird bend in the panhard which has been done, but that is a lot of extra work just to use the bracket.

This picture should give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

I ended up just making a simple bracket out of some 3/8" plate. Very easy actually when compared to the other issues of putting 1-tons under a XJ.

Good Luck, you've got a long road ahead!

 

[foxwar71]

Very easy actually when compared to the other issues of putting 1-tons under a XJ.

:roflmao:

I like that line.

 

[cracker]

Seems like a good layout plan. What wheels/tires? Steering?

One thing I will say is you are probably going to have a very hard time packaging that RE panhard and brace and still maintaining some uptravel. I had a similar plan to use the RE stuff (brace and bracket only, not the panhard itself) and well they are both still sitting NIB like yours.

The issue comes from the fact that running a decently sized tire (assuming you are with a D60/D70) you've got to move the axle forward a bunch to get some footwell/tire clearance. Then the issue moves to the bracket hitting the center section of the D60. You could probably make it would with a weird bend in the panhard which has been done, but that is a lot of extra work just to use the bracket.

This picture should give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

I ended up just making a simple bracket out of some 3/8" plate. Very easy actually when compared to the other issues of putting 1-tons under a XJ.

Good Luck, you've got a long road ahead!

You can move the track bar bracket forward a hole on the chassis and drill a new hole for the other bolt hole (on the side). It should clear the pitman arm. You can bolt one of the bottom bolts then and just leave a bolt in the other location since that holds on the engine support. With three bolts in place, then weld the bracket to the unibody and you should be good to go.

I did it this way with the frame plated and everything welded on. I added additional material to my track bar bracket where I cover both OEM holes on the top AND bottom (effectively making it like 1 and a half OEM track bar brackets). I added additional support to my hybrid cage to eliminate flex on the track bar bracket.

 

[Doose-doe]

your going to love the sway aways! We have sway away coilovers on our shop buggy and swayaway airshocks and several customer rigs... they will shortly be on my xj.... when im not broke lol

 

[YEAGS]

Well I havent made much progress lately school has been insane and my roomate decided to blow a rod in the 4.3 in his s10 prerunner. So while juggling school and rebuilding and swapping motors I did manage to pick up lots of tube and sheet as well as get the rear axle and half the front out as well as cut the shackle hangers out. Also started cutting up the 3/16 plate to get ready plate the frame.

My rod ends will be coming in soon!

Also decided to go with a different 3core steel radiator. oh and now that i have two spare 4.3s laying around.... well i might as well use it right..

Seems like a good layout plan. What wheels/tires? Steering?

One thing I will say is you are probably going to have a very hard time packaging that RE panhard and brace and still maintaining some uptravel. I had a similar plan to use the RE stuff (brace and bracket only, not the panhard itself) and well they are both still sitting NIB like yours.

The issue comes from the fact that running a decently sized tire (assuming you are with a D60/D70) you've got to move the axle forward a bunch to get some footwell/tire clearance. Then the issue moves to the bracket hitting the center section of the D60. You could probably make it would with a weird bend in the panhard which has been done, but that is a lot of extra work just to use the bracket.

This picture should give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

I ended up just making a simple bracket out of some 3/8" plate. Very easy actually when compared to the other issues of putting 1-tons under a XJ.

Good Luck, you've got a long road ahead!

Rcman, Im thinking that there will be enough room up there but now that your pointing it out you may be right. what is your ride height?

also im going with 39.5s swampers or pitbulls not sure yet since there so pricey new. ill probably be going with the cheapest set of used i can find that have good tread. and will be doing my own high steer and am planning on doing a half hydro assist by tapping into the stock pump. i like your heep followed your thread awhile back. am hoping to cut the rear cargo roof out like yours. I did back when i was 16 on my first cherokee unfortunately it had been burned and never made it out of the side yard.

your going to love the sway aways! We have sway away coilovers on our shop buggy and swayaway airshocks and several customer rigs... they will shortly be on my xj.... when im not broke lol

decorat, im loving them already i had planned to go with fox air shocks until i found these from the guy i got the axles from he was runnin the fox 2.0s on his rig and the difference was enormous there way beefier than the fox.


will have more pics in the next week or two. got a big wheeling event though comin up so i gotta get the dd trail worthy.

 

[jeep pox]

Any updates yet?

 

[djrethoret]

you need any help ill help whenever i can just hit me up man ill get you my number and stuff

 

[YEAGS]

Nope no updates really. Some things have come up, landlord kicked me out due to the building of a car. Or I guess he kicked the car out but I went with, back home and currently we have no room at home to work on it so its being put on hold.

Started cleaning up the 60, just an axle tube ready for shock mounts. Hopefully in the next month, I can get some of the other cars we have here gone or moved to make room to work on mine.

 

[XJ_Vikings]

Its nice to see that someone else made some ill advised decisions on a jeep build at a young age. Goodluck

 

[jakeWI]

kicked ya out for working on a vehicle? thats crap

 

[YEAGS]

He said if it were simple repairs that is one thing, but because it is a hobby that is entirely something else. He broke it down into a need vs. want thing, then told me that Im too young and tried to advise me on what to do with my life and my money and how i shouldnt be wasting any of it on cars. My only response was, "So what do you call the Mercedes 520sl rebuild project goin on in your garage?"

Bad part is, hes a family friend, I was living with his grand son, and I had okay'd the fact that I would be building a jeep there before hand. Once he saw it though was a different story. I also liked that, his grandson was allowed to continue building his pre-runner. I was out later that week, very bummed.

 

[jeep pox]

Here is some advice on money... Just give it to me and I'll take care of it

 

[Lowrange2]

God, I love owning my on house with several acres of land.