***MF Steve's Project Wife Beater Commanche***

[gearhead313]

My shits are more valueable than heims. Round tube bends too easy...look at any Rubicon Express kit that has been put through hell. The arms will look like an unloaded semi trailer...bent as fcuk! 2x2x1/4 square tube and Currie Johnny Joints, or Evolution Machine joints will be had for sure, if I do my own setup.

hm... well i ran the RE LA setup for a little over 3 years and was not easy on it. 5000lb rig bouncing off them and they were as straight as can be.

JJ are nice b/c they are road friendly, rebuildable etc... but i'd run heims.

[Bill]

Steve, you will have enough kits to look at to engineer your own. Just ask

You just said wait until Vagas!

HA HA!

[jeepxj3]

You just said wait until Vagas!

HA HA!

Im sure he plans to have it done by then. Vegas is still a ways away. Speaking of which we need to get airfares taken care of now, get them while they are cheap.

[Bill]

Im sure he plans to have it done by then. Vegas is still a ways away. Speaking of which we need to get airfares taken care of now, get them while they are cheap.

I was looking tonight... We will have to talk this weekend sometime.

[MF Steve!]

So the idea of tying an interior cage into something out back has been on my mind for a while. I'm definately keeping the bed intact, because i don't want a truggy. I'm going with something along these lines:

[joshs1ofakindxj]

thats probably exactly what i would do for the same reasons. maybe somehow work it out so it ties into rock sliders and a front bumper.

[MF Steve!]

thats probably exactly what i would do for the same reasons. maybe somehow work it out so it ties into rock sliders and a front bumper.

I'm going to do the 2x4 rocker replacement on the cab. That will give me substantial strength to tie the interior cage to. I have a little floor work to do, so it will be nice and easy to plate the uni-rail, and attach the kickers for the rocker replacement. I don't think I want a tubed rear bumper, probably something to match my design for the front. As for the front bumper...you'll have to wait for that one!

--

Also, I've been digging around Pirate for some good builds, and came across a sweet JeepSpeed XJ project. It's giving me tons of ideas, and also a badass 4-link calculator.

If you want a custom 4 link, here ya go: http://mysite.verizon.net/triaged/4l...tml/index.html

[MF Steve!]

I also want to keep the tailgate too. I'm going to skin it over with a part of a 96+ rear hatch, so I have somewhere nice to put my license plate...you know the one that will read WIFEBTR

[mudforblood]

There's a MJ near my work that has a soft top. The doors, A&B pillars are still there and it just replaces the rear window and most of the roof. It would look killer with a cage like that. I'll stop and take some pics of it for ya.

[MF Steve!]

There's a MJ near my work that has a soft top. The doors, A&B pillars are still there and it just replaces the rear window and most of the roof. It would look killer with a cage like that. I'll stop and take some pics of it for ya.

Hmm...cool. Sounds pretty interesting, pending pictures, if I like it, would you be willing to talk to the guy to see if it's a production sorta thing or a one-off custom?

[mudforblood]

Hmm...cool. Sounds pretty interesting, pending pictures, if I like it, would you be willing to talk to the guy to see if it's a production sorta thing or a one-off custom?

I'll try to find the owner. It is just a stock MJ besides the snow plow stuff up front and the top. I think it is one of the guys that work in the garage so I dont think it will be a problem to get more info on it. I never noticed the top until I got close to it one day when I was waiting. It blends in pretty good.

I'd bet its a custom made top that any good upholster could do. There is an upholster local that does some good work. They will do all kinds of crazy stuff.

[avenged7foldhc]

I also want to keep the tailgate too. I'm going to skin it over with a part of a 96+ rear hatch, so I have somewhere nice to put my license plate...you know the one that will read WIFEBTR

i wanna get a license plate that says "ORLY" hahaha

[Mykal]

I'll stop and take some pics of it for ya.

And leave a note with the website on it. Cause who better to anwser some questions about it...

[MF Steve!]

i wanna get a license plate that says "ORLY" hahaha

[mudforblood]

I stopped at the garage and they said its a customers truck that isnt sure what to do with it. It has a oil leak that the owner hasnt said to fix it yet. The garage said it might possibly be for sale. I asked them to let me know what the owner says. I dont want it so you dont have to worry about me getting it first.

I only had my phone for pics.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

whoa, now thats a one-off!

[OverkillZJ]

Jeff... If that ends up for sale, call me... you've got my number...

[gonecheenin]

Jeff... If that ends up for sale, call me... you've got my number...

You NEEEEEEEEEED a street wheeler :114:

[MF Steve!]

Hmm...dualing Comanche builds!

[MF Steve!]

Alright, so unfortunately I have not made any progress on the actual build yet. I've been working as much as possible, and trying to spend as little as possible. So far, so good. I'm picking up a set of 5.5" RK springs this weekend, and also an XJ Dana 44.

I'm trying to hunt down an XJ Dana 30HP for the front, as you may see in the WTB section of the forum. I'll take a stock one for cheap, or put out some cash for something built up with a Warn hub conversion, and a locker.

Hopefully within the next week or so, the big huge garage a few of us are renting will become occupied, and I can start slicin and dicin on the MJ.

[gonecheenin]

I'd run a halo of sorts around the roof, for protection from leaning into trees & such, from that rear tubing idea

That would come out pretty sweet, althought it would be the best if you'd support it in the front with A pillar bars down tothe frame as well

[MF Steve!]

I'd run a halo of sorts around the roof, for protection from leaning into trees & such, from that rear tubing idea

That would come out pretty sweet, althought it would be the best if you'd support it in the front with A pillar bars down tothe frame as well

No external tubing other than what will POSSIBLY be in the bed. I want nothing to do with a hideous exo-cage or anything that resembles one. Tube is the last thing on my mind right now...unless you're talking about the kind I'll be using to make my control arms in the next few weeks.

I also picked up a Dana 44 for the rear today. I'm going to have to dig around and find that write-up on putting disc brakes on it. Stock shafts for now, I'll be ordering up some 4:56 gears and of course a locker!

[gonecheenin]

No external tubing other than what will POSSIBLY be in the bed. I want nothing to do with a hideous exo-cage or anything that resembles one.

I said nothing about doing an Exo, I was simply suggesting sliders of sorts for the most vulnrable spots during offcambers/tree contact

Its your truck, but I will make the suggestion that a bit of tube to protect the body here & there would not look near as bad as bashed door tops & window pillars

[MF Steve!]

I said nothing about doing an Exo, I was simply suggesting sliders of sorts for the most vulnrable spots during offcambers/tree contact

Its your truck, but I will make the suggestion that a bit of tube to protect the body here & there would not look near as bad as bashed door tops & window pillars

Eh, halo, exo...same difference. If I did a ring of tube around the roof, I'd have to find some way to tie it to the interior cage. Keep in mind that I'll probably make this my D.D. and it's gotta be weather tight...so poking throught the roof to tie it in might be a bad idea. I'm picky, and a perfectionist with what I do...so some of the things I put into this build will seem a little over the top for most.

I don't wanna call this build a restoration/build of sorts...but that's kinda what it is. It's gonna be a brand new vehicle to me when it's finished, so I want it to look like one at the start. Scratches and dents are fine over time. My current truck, 2500HD 2WD will probably be used for nothing more than work, when needed and trailering the MJ on long distance trips once I finish the build.

[gonecheenin]

I'm picky, and a perfectionist with what I do...so some of the things I put into this build will seem a little over the top for most.

Nothing wrong with that, I'm not picky about apearence but I get anal retentive when it comes to mechanical modifications/repairs

I frequently catch flack from people over my over builds, over welds, over laborous way of doing things

But I like it when my junk holds together & gets it done, so as far as I'm concerned being picky is worth while