Well I stepped in it again!

[043500]

I should be bringing home/having delivered an MJ this weekend.

Carmine (cabz) bought an '88 4 bngr 5 spd 2wd for cheap...did a little to it and of course naturally I had to have it. Actually and suprisingly my wife wanted it and I originally said no but she REALLY (well not really) twisted my arm.

It will probably sit for a while until we can afford to pay the tag/reg fees as well as the increase in insurance premium. But that will give me time to do a few things to it. All it seems to need is an exhaust manifold (very badly) to be DD capable.

Now of course comes the dilema. My CJ5 will remain stock (too nice to modify). But the XJ and MJ...naturally the MJ will get a 4wd conversion. But do I keep it simple like the XJ or since I want to swap axles (by adding a front one anyway) do I build it up bigger than 31's? I already have an extra D-30 that needs a complete rebuild...but do I want to spend $$ on a D-30 or go ahead and get some waggy axles and build them up to run a bit bigger tire and be able to flog it?

yep...I'm getting way ahead of myself. LOL

Here's what it looks like now. Clean rig. Only has some rust in the driver floorboard but nothing cancerous and then just the normal wear and tear associated witha 22 year old rig.

 

[jeepgeek2002]

sweet MJ dude!

 

[dr_jeep85]

go waggy and do a three link on the front. polyperformance makes an awesome kit (a little pricey, but awesome). yeah, looks i'm getting a little ahead of both of us. looks good. have fun.

 

[High2by]

That's nice looking!!! I love the SWB.

 

[043500]

Yeah it'll be my first short bed MJ. my other 2 were long beds. And I miss them both.

This will be a fairly long term project as I want to keep it driveable as I add to it. SO I will try to do something I've never done before which is to get ALL the big parts (axles, gears, lockers, suspension etc) in my garage before doing anything to it other than any needs it has along the way.

I want to be able to do most of...if not all of it in one long weekend. Which may be a year from now LOL but I want to do it as close to 'right' the first time instead of doing 4 different suspensions, 2 axle swaps, etc.

 

[bigalpha]

Do you know why you miss your LWB? Because the LWB is far superior to the SWB.

 

[High2by]

Do you know why you miss your LWB? Because the LWB is far superior to the SWB.

Now that's most ridiculous notion I have ever heard of in my life!!!!!!! You need to put down the meds and step away...:wierd:


Everyone knows the SWB RULES!!!!!!:moon:

 

[bigalpha]

Heresy!

 

[043500]

I don't think one is better than the other. They both fill their niche.

It's a jeep...tha's what is important to me! OK...maybe that's a little corny.

 

[High2by]

Yep. I got one of each actually. Mine is a SWB and the daughters is a LWB.



I like your idea of collecting parts before you take the plunge. My daughters is a 2wd and she wants me to turn it into a 4x4. I told her to save her money and buy the parts as she can and I'd make it happen for her. Only problem, she wants it now!!! But like I told her, it's gonna take time.

 

[MELKORsXJ]

Sweet little mj... real clean body on it

...I gathered parts for my willys for just over a year, then spent almost 4 months busting my butt to build it; in the end though, it was/is worth it!

 

[Ghost]

Nice MJ. Keep it small.

 

[043500]

Yeah Glenn I think I am going to.

I plan to keep the XJ on 31's...just lock it and skidplate it and go.

With the MJ I think I will stick with 33's and run a 30/44 F/R for axles with 4.88's and lockers. IF I found a really good deal on a set of waggy 44's (which is what I put under my last XJ) I might run 35's...but the ease of direct bolt in axles associated with being fairly inexpensive is just too appealing these days and I have a D-30 housing already.

Having done 1 full width swap under an MJ and then building and selling the J10 I had (on 38's) I really don't feel the need for a BIG jeep. I ran all over Tellico at the Crawl in '06 on 33's and had a blast and everything was a bolt on part that I could easily order on line or get from my local parts store. Of course if I could afford the means to build it on 1 tons the correct way...I would but I don't NEED to do so by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Ghost]

Yeah Glenn I think I am going to.

I plan to keep the XJ on 31's...just lock it and skidplate it and go.

With the MJ I think I will stick with 33's and run a 30/44 F/R for axles with 4.88's and lockers. IF I found a really good deal on a set of waggy 44's (which is what I put under my last XJ) I might run 35's...but the ease of direct bolt in axles associated with being fairly inexpensive is just too appealing these days and I have a D-30 housing already.

Having done 1 full width swap under an MJ and then building and selling the J10 I had (on 38's) I really don't feel the need for a BIG jeep. I ran all over Tellico at the Crawl in '06 on 33's and had a blast and everything was a bolt on part that I could easily order on line or get from my local parts store. Of course if I could afford the means to build it on 1 tons the correct way...I would but I don't NEED to do so by any stretch of the imagination.

Yea I agree. I love my Big Jeep but miss the little jeep fun.