What are you doing to your rig - the continuing saga

Pulled the front driveshaft last night -- probably 85% of the vibes are gone, including the deceleration growl that I couldn't identify. I think the only DT vibe left is an out of balance tire, and since I have a weight sitting in my console, that's pretty easy to explain.

I think I figured out what tool is required (not a torch) to get that bastid motor mount bolt out, so I'll give that a shot tonight. Ball joints later in the week -- fancy AlloyUSA cro-mo ball joints from www.seriousoffroadproducts.com :D
 
UnlimitedMatt said:
That may be the smartest thing I've ever heard you say.
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lol thats what all my buddys and my brother are saying lol

Frank Z said:
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/xj-framed-124701/
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Ive seen that build! wicked nasty!!!

adrenalinepirate said:
How a Xj should be built! Chad should something like this. Definitely dedication to keep the Xj body.
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I would love to, but I dont have the space, or the time to do such a thing. That was my plan to do sometime over the winter till the motor built. There alot of other things i dont like about my xj though that I really cant un-do. Like I dont like how I did the cage. Wish I wouldent of been in such a hurry to finish it and took more of my time to do it. And when I did all my stiffeners, I used flux core because thats all I had, and i dident weld them all on correct and now parts are really f-ed up.
 
jeepfreak1020 said:
I would love to, but I dont have the space, or the time to do such a thing. That was my plan to do sometime over the winter till the motor built. There alot of other things i dont like about my xj though that I really cant un-do. Like I dont like how I did the cage. Wish I wouldent of been in such a hurry to finish it and took more of my time to do it. And when I did all my stiffeners, I used flux core because thats all I had, and i dident weld them all on correct and now parts are really f-ed up.
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Understandable Chad sounds like my first xj. I personal think xj's are built enough to handle mild wheeling and up to 33's. When I say that I'm more stating longevity season after season and the Xj chasis isn't built for it. I got into Toyota's for a bite. The 3.4 motor was expensive but the 22re was under powered. So my dd is under the knife for dual duty till I can get a 4runner for a bigger set up. I think a couple guys on here go Wrangler because of the frame but has the similar setup as a cherokee. Cough cough wink wink. Saw couple rigs on craigslist and one on co4x4 you could take all your parts and put into. But you could hang around like some of the other guys that are traitors. Lol
 
The 3.4 5vzfe is a good motor, no debating that. Much much better than the 3.0 3vze. Friend of mine is cursed with one of those and we are working on swapping in something no one would expect, because we can't find a good 5vzfe in the junkyard around here for under $1k.
 
What exactly are you looking to get into Chad? I know how you feel, that's why I went to the YJ to build a dedicated crawler. Toyota's are good platforms but after being used to a 4.0l you'll hate the 22re and the 3.0 is junk. Also, Toyota's are money.

I'm going to drop the XJ back down to 33's and keep the stock axles, I've got the Willy's now for a crawler project and quite frankly I just don't like the XJ for that. I think it's best used as an expedition/camping type mild to moderate wheeler. And even then, with a wife and kid it's lacking in the room dept. Once I get the Willy's done ill probably ditch the XJ for an FSJ. For now though I'm keeping the XJ as I like it and it fits my needs.
 
DutchVDub said:
What exactly are you looking to get into Chad? I know how you feel, that's why I went to the YJ to build a dedicated crawler. Toyota's are good platforms but after being used to a 4.0l you'll hate the 22re and the 3.0 is junk. Also, Toyota's are money.

I'm going to drop the XJ back down to 33's and keep the stock axles, I've got the Willy's now for a crawler project and quite frankly I just don't like the XJ for that. I think it's best used as an expedition/camping type mild to moderate wheeler. And even then, with a wife and kid it's lacking in the room dept. Once I get the Willy's done ill probably ditch the XJ for an FSJ. For now though I'm keeping the XJ as I like it and it fits my needs.
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If I sell it im eather looking at a TJ or a LJ. More a TJ and stretch it to a LJ. But now that the whole building a frame got brought up im really thinking about doing it! THe more and more I think about it I dont/cant get rid of the xj. I think ya ill part it out, then come home and see it sitting there in the street, and think I just cant I love it to much, and it is just so nice I cant do that to it ya know? I really really thinking about doing a 2x4 frame and putting 60's under it. And that would still allow me to drive it around town and to work if I wanted to. But would be built pretty much for wheeling. I really want just 37's, but 60's need 39's to clear them for ground clearance.
 
Most expensive part is the rig but after that gears, locker and suspension aren't to bad. Trailgear offers alot for your buck. I went back to an Xj just because of my mj trailer and the fact that the 22re was a good motor just wasn´t powerful enough to pull and have the family loaded up to go camping. 4.0 is just simple and works great.
Dutch I'm planning the same idea as you rig wise but either end up with my grandmothers right hand drive mail jeep or a third gen 4runner as a trail only rig. Cherokee will be my camp rig/mild Wheeler and snow day driver.

DutchVDub said:
What exactly are you looking to get into Chad? I know how you feel, that's why I went to the YJ to build a dedicated crawler. Toyota's are good platforms but after being used to a 4.0l you'll hate the 22re and the 3.0 is junk. Also, Toyota's are money.

I'm going to drop the XJ back down to 33's and keep the stock axles, I've got the Willy's now for a crawler project and quite frankly I just don't like the XJ for that. I think it's best used as an expedition/camping type mild to moderate wheeler. And even then, with a wife and kid it's lacking in the room dept. Once I get the Willy's done ill probably ditch the XJ for an FSJ. For now though I'm keeping the XJ as I like it and it fits my needs.
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Yeah, the XJ is my camp rig/mild to moderate wheeler but its just not big enough with the family and I really don't want to need an expo trailer. Even then, there is a major lack of power for pulling one.

I'm keeping it for now, but once the Willys is done (hopefully in time for EJS 2014) the XJ will probably be getting sold off in order to get into something more capable of hauling the entire family and our crap up into the woods. I really want to stick with a Jeep so either a project FSJ that will take some time to build up how I want, or a JK that'll pretty much be there right off the bat but way more costly. If they come out with a diesel JK I'll definitely drop the coin on it. Otherwise its going to be a 6.5 TD powered FSJ.

Moving away from Jeeps I'd probably get me another Durango. I really liked my Durango and only got rid of it for the Diesel truck. A 5.9L Durango would be great and honestly the fuel economy wouldn't be any worse than my XJ, and the extra room and comfort of that thing (plus a frame) combined with the power advantage of the 5.9 over the 4.0 is worth losing 2mpg's. A solid axle swap would be easy if you stick with leafsprings, especially on a pre-2000 as they still used saginaw steering. 2000 and newer (what I had) used rack and pinion, but I think the updated interior would be worth the extra bit of work in that dept.
 
Got the Acos and the Currie progressive coils installed. Now just waiting for the anti rock to come from serious offroad.

image-1.jpg
 
replaced the motor mounts in the WJ, and got the fancy chro-mo ball joints installed on the drivers' side... I guess the passenger will have to wait until post-turkey day. Still sounds like a bit of a bucket of bolts, but it is much smoother on the highway, and pretty much vibe free. We'll see if it stays that way once the re-balanced front driveshaft gets back in... first I have to swap in a new pinion seal on the D30. Any tips on breaking that bad boy pinion nut loose? I got a pipe wrench (2 footer) on the yoke, and a 2 foot cheater, but I can't break the bugger free... :dunno:
 
xj-grin said:
... first I have to swap in a new pinion seal on the D30. Any tips on breaking that bad boy pinion nut loose? I got a pipe wrench (2 footer) on the yoke, and a 2 foot cheater, but I can't break the bugger free... :dunno:
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I've always used an impact wrench. The hammer action easily breaks it free.

But even easier then that, I have David do it.
 
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