Ridgerunner97's XJ Build

[yotaneck13]

looks good well have ta meet up and wheel together at scrubgrass next time i should have my 81 toyota if i get the carb rebuilt

[ridgerunner97]

Gettin ready to kick some ass on this piece of junk. Painted one of the taillight boxes tonight been busy with other stupid shit. Only things left I need before the big push in the next few weeks are the LED's for the boxes, front coils, and either find a yoke in the junkyard or order a yoke for my hack n tap sye. I have everything else I need to go to the next step. Updates and pictures to come...

[joshs1ofakindxj]

You're not doing the RE flange on the hack n tap? Are you going with the corvette yoke?

[RalphDogg]

wohoo, rip that baby apart!

[ridgerunner97]

You're not doing the RE flange on the hack n tap? Are you going with the corvette yoke?

No stupid ass flange for me. Cost is prohibitive because when you buy the flange, you have to buy an adapter to bolt the driveshaft to the flange. One of the dumbest things i've ever seen produced, and I honestly can't believe they still manufacture it. I'm either going with the turbo 350 flange if I can find the right one in the junkyard or i'm going to be ripping into early 80's buicks and cadillacs with the 200r4 I think it was because they have the correct yoke I'm told. If I can't find one in the junkyard I'll just order a yoke.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Well I'm guess I'm a sucker for a flange haha that is what I have on the camo jeep. I don't think I ever even needed it.

I found a guy on Naxja using a corvette yoke too. Bolts up right to the XJ front shaft and bolts on the case output once it's cut down.

[ridgerunner97]

Idk, I just never liked the flange. Shit, when you did the camo jeep that's probably when that thing was hot shit on Jeepforum and options weren't big out there

I saw the vette write ups, I think those are the one's with the turbo 350. I'm goin to make a junkyard run sometime soon I think just to rummage around and see what I can find.

[Deadman 94 xj]

....and take pics! Let me know if you need a hand with anything.

[ridgerunner97]

Whelp, I've decided after some drunken shenanigans this weekend with the cherokee that I'm going to take it off the road for a while since I've got the cavalier now to drive and can borrow my dad's trucks whenever I need them. My steering is absolutely shot, every tie rod end is junk, driver's knuckle taper may or may not be wobbled out of spec, it needs front pads, axle seals, control arm bushings etc. Only good things in the front end are the balljoints, ujoints, and clayton's track bar. I'm seriously contemplating taking this build a bit of a different direction and have decided to take some time off from the sport for a while until I figure this out. I'm working on the 30x40 garage with my dad we're building and soon an addition to the house. The Cherokee is going leafs up front possibly and still trying to figure out what i'm doing for axles...I'll update when I figure out what the hell i'm doing, expect some parts to go up for sale, locked 8.25, the whole front end for whatever it will bring and so on.

[Powerguy37]

You guys all need to get your shit together. Ralph sold his stuff, Tom's is selling his Jeep, you're taking a break. WTF???

[tjblair]

Tom is selling his pile????????????

[ridgerunner97]

You don't think it slightly bothers me to park this thing? I've wheeled the shit out of it and somehow it's held together fairly well. I'm not going anywhere, I'm still here, drinking beer and plotting Just don't go selling your junk like Mykal sold his. I'll always have the Jeep, I just need to quit being a dipshit and do what I've always wanted to do and just sit down and quit afro engineering it all together everytime it breaks. Leaf Sprung fun coming to a trail near you

[Powerguy37]

Tom is selling his pile????????????

http://pgh-offroad.com/forum/showthr...-Wrangler-4.0L

[Ragnorox]

never fear Dana.......i am not selling my shit......AND I am so ready to wheel!

[RalphDogg]

hey hey, i'll be back and more fun than ever.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Nothing wrong with taking a break to re-engineer.

My beater XJ is in need of a major revamp also. Parts are stacked up, I just need to find the time.

[Deadman 94 xj]

Tom is selling his pile????????????

Thanks Jeff, I didn't realize you cared...



Don't worry, I'll be tormenting you on the trails all next summer.


Jon, get your self setup so you can work on your junk comfortably and take your time. There is no shame in taking a year off to overhall the jeep when you're in it for the long haul as long as its something you truely enjoy. I get just as much enjoyment out of working in the garage as I do being on the trails and sometimes just as much of a rush.

[ridgerunner97]

Did some more reevaluating and am just pushing forward with my original plan of keeping my axles now and running 35's. I change my mind more than a woman. I've genuinely gotta mechanical ADD. Expect updates starting this week since i'm starting on the rear end. Hopefully knock this thing out by October 1st pending no serious hang ups.

Revamp deadline Oct. 1st includes:

Install LII shackle relocators
Install JKS boomer shackles
Install stiffeners
Install Genright mini boatside kit
Do Dirtbound HnT SYE
Set rear pinion angle
Install Ruffstuff Steering
Order Shocks
Order Coils


Take shakedown run around the house and hope it holds together to make it to Jersey and back. Tall order but hoping to attempt to pull it off.

Post Oct. Plans:

Get my LED's/Converter installed in my armor boxes out back
Build Mid Arm 3 link setup.
Order JJ insert for top of Dana 30 pumpkin UCA mounting point.
Regear to 4.56/4.88
Aussie Front
Cromo front shafts
Wheel the ever loving piss out of it next summer since it's not a DD and I've missed a whole summer of wheeling this year which was LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME.

[tceraso]

I just thought you gave it up. LOL

[ridgerunner97]

Never Tom, Never.

[Super Scout]

Never Tom, Never.

Lol, atleast once a month you have some insane plan about selling the XJ and building a FSJ/YJ/Ramcharger/ etc.... lol

[ridgerunner97]

^ Maybe true, BUT, I will NEVER quit wheeling in some form or the other.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Riding that fat chick in the mud doesnt count.

[ridgerunner97]

Haha your right Josh but that made for some interesting entertainment

[ridgerunner97]

Still sticking to the original plan. Some mock up pics, this thing is going to have full on retard rear travel. Gotta measure for shocks still, paint the bracketry, bolt it in and weld em.