92 2 door XJ build

adamk · Jan 29, 2018

This past Saturday I stripped down the front axle to replace the ball joints and install a Reid knuckle for high steer. A new axle side track bar mount will be going on as well.

NickMaul · Jan 29, 2018

Incase you are wondering Adam I think that RE track bar is 3/16 wall. If you want me to check I have a scrap piece from when I cut mine apart.

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adamk · Jan 29, 2018

NickMaul said:
Incase you are wondering Adam I think that RE track bar is 3/16 wall. If you want me to check I have a scrap piece from when I cut mine apart.

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I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to use/cut it down or just make a whole new one and sell it. It's funny how much these things are now. I can sell it used for more than I paid for it new.

NickMaul · Jan 29, 2018

This was from the part that I cut off. A 7/8" heim adapter dropped right in if I remember right.

Chris_Keziah · Jan 29, 2018

adamk said:
I'm not 100% sure if I'm going to use/cut it down or just make a whole new one and sell it. It's funny how much these things are now. I can sell it used for more than I paid for it new.

Fairly certain we have enough tube to make a track bar. I vote sell it.

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adamk · Jan 31, 2018

Last night I stripped down the driver knuckle to replace the ball joints. Those should arrive today. I also built the track bar and new axle side mount. The track bar is pretty short (27.5") but it fits. It's also not perfectly parallel to the drag link but it's closer than it was. It's right at 2.5 degrees off from the drag link. For the time being I'm just going to use the RE frame side mount I had. I will be replacing it once I order the front frame stiffeners and I'll correct the angle at that time. A big thank to @Chris_Keziah for the help last night. I'm hoping to finish the whole thing up tonight.

adamk · Feb 1, 2018

I got the front finished last night. During reassembly of the driver side I discovered that I had stretched the ears on the stub shaft. The full circle clips definitely did their job and didnt allow the joint cap to fall out. I replaced the ujoint and the stub shaft with one of my spares. Chromo stubs are now on the horizon (already have chromo inners).

YJJPWrangler · Feb 1, 2018

Why did you mount your ram to the knuckle? All of the hydro assist setups I've seen had the ram mount to the tie-rod. Also looks like you've got heims on your tie rod but TRES on your draglink Pros/Cons to your way? Gathering parts for my hydro assist build and just looking for options.

NickMaul · Feb 1, 2018

adamk said:
The track bar is pretty short (27.5") but it fits. It's also not perfectly parallel to the drag link but it's closer than it was. It's right at 2.5 degrees off from the drag link.

Have you looked at trying to get the Trac bar to the knuckle C? I don’t know what the cross section view of you axle looks like but I’ve seen a few people pull it off. If I can keep my coils back I am definitely going to try.

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adamk · Feb 1, 2018

YJJPWrangler said:
Why did you mount your ram to the knuckle? All of the hydro assist setups I've seen had the ram mount to the tie-rod. Also looks like you've got heims on your tie rod but TRES on your draglink Pros/Cons to your way? Gathering parts for my hydro assist build and just looking for options.

At the time that I installed the ram, I had very little room. It would have contacted the old track bar if I turned it around and mounted it to the tie rod. I will be redoing it in the near future now that I have more room to work with. As for the TRE/Heim...My old drag link angle would kill heim joints very quickly. I got tired of replacing them 2-3 times a year. Also, the high angle TRE allows for more travel than the 7/8 joint with 3/4 bolt. I started with just adding a TRE at the pitman arm and then when I went high steer I added the TRE to the knuckle.

NickMaul said:
Have you looked at trying to get the Trac bar to the knuckle C? I don’t know what the cross section view of you axle looks like but I’ve seen a few people pull it off. If I can keep my coils back I am definitely going to try.

With the radius arms, the coils mount directly on top of the arms and are centered on the axle tube. I didn't have the room to run the track bar all the way out to the knuckle. If the coil buckets were moved towards the rear, the axle would move forward and I would have clearance issues between the track bar and the drag link on the frame side. I can take a side view of the space if you'd like.

YJJPWrangler · Feb 1, 2018

adamk said:
At the time that I installed the ram, I had very little room. It would have contacted the old track bar if I turned it around and mounted it to the tie rod. I will be redoing it in the near future now that I have more room to work with. As for the TRE/Heim...My old drag link angle would kill heim joints very quickly. I got tired of replacing them 2-3 times a year. Also, the high angle TRE allows for more travel than the 7/8 joint with 3/4 bolt. I started with just adding a TRE at the pitman arm and then when I went high steer I added the TRE to the knuckle.

I'm running 1ton TREs on both the draglink and the tie-rod with hi-steer knuckles. I'm assuming you mounted the ram off the diff cover? Any issues with the ram mounted directly to the knuckle? I have plenty of room under mine right now so I can place it on either the knuckle or the tie-rod. After seeing your setup, I think I could run a mount off the axle tube(pass side drop for me) and then run it straight to the knuckle.

adamk · Feb 1, 2018

YJJPWrangler said:
I'm running 1ton TREs on both the draglink and the tie-rod with hi-steer knuckles. I'm assuming you mounted the ram off the diff cover? Any issues with the ram mounted directly to the knuckle? I have plenty of room under mine right now so I can place it on either the knuckle or the tie-rod. After seeing your setup, I think I could run a mount off the axle tube(pass side drop for me) and then run it straight to the knuckle.

My biggest complaint with how I've done mine is that there is no adjustment. The ram is fixed, and the mounts are fixed. Looking back, I would have gotten a ram with an adjustable ends so that I could have more room for error in where the mount is welded. The ram is mounted to the diff cover. I've had some people bring up the concern of it causing the diff cover bolts work loose but, in three years, I have never had this issue.

adamk · Feb 18, 2018

Made some more progress on the jeep. Last week I started the 2x6 rockers. I got the passenger side cut out and the new rocker in. Now I need to make the supports that will go to the frame as well as tie into the cage.

I’ve taken a break from fab work to take care of some other items I’ve been wanting to do. I picked up a new spare 39.5” irok and another H2 wheel so no more worry about tearing up tires.

I’ve also needed to relocate my cb since it was installed. It was just zip tied to the cage because it was done in the dark the night before a ride at the flats. I also decided I wanted to redo my audio. So, tonight I finished the new stereo. There’s no more head unit. I’m running an aux cable directly to an amp. This created the perfect hole in the dash to mount the cb. I picked up an external speaker and got it all ready to go in. Just need to figure out where to mount th speaker before it’s fully installed. I’ll get pics of that once it’s finished.

BRUISER · Feb 21, 2018

Did you weld the door shut?

adamk · Feb 21, 2018

BRUISER said:
Did you weld the door shut?

Of course. Now you have to enter through the window lol. It sure does look like it but no.

adamk · Feb 25, 2018

Finished up the cb in the dash, welded in the supports for the passenger side rocker, welded in the drivers side rocker and bent up some A-pillars for the cage.

adamk · Mar 1, 2018

Last night I made some time to work on the jeep some more. I got the A-pillars in but need to finish a few welds. I also need to bend up a cowl bar to tie them together. It's slowly coming together.

t4rghost · Mar 2, 2018

Those a-pillars turned out great

adamk · Mar 2, 2018

t4rghost said:
Those a-pillars turned out great

Yes they did. I’m very happy with them. Thanks again for bringing the bender up.

adamk · Mar 7, 2018

Finished the jeep last weekend. I'm very happy with how it came out. Now it's time to start wheeling it.

NickMaul · Oct 1, 2018

Any updates on this thing?

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Chris_Keziah · Oct 1, 2018

NickMaul said:
Any updates on this thing?

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It's not parked in my driveway anymore

adamk · Oct 2, 2018

NickMaul said:
Any updates on this thing?

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Not really. Wheeled up at Potts back in July. Broke the driver mirror, driver front stub shaft, and dented the passenger rear corner. I also had an issue with the trans overheating while on the roads from the campground to the trail. A trans temp gauge was installed and all seems to be going well. I believe the over heating was a one time thing due to being aired down and driving through the mountain roads.

I haven't had much time to wheel this thing lately. Wedding planning takes a lot of time apparently. I will be out at the CTB Fun Caravan in a couple weeks.

adamk · Dec 1, 2019

Yearly update time.

Back in January we went to the flats. 15 min in I broke the driver side axle joint which took out the inner and outer shafts. Replaced them with Yukon shafts, spicer joints, and full circle clips.

In April we went to AOP. Broke a fitting off the hydro ram, drivers mirror, and driver window.

Just after AOP I picked up ARBs for the front and rear and got them installed.

In August we went to Harlan. Destroyed the driver Apillar and windshield on Crawford’s Cry I believe. I’m a dumbass and left the jeep in reverse, instead of drive, and too a giant rock to the Apillar that was going through my window. Also broke the passenger tail light, passenger locking hub, destroyed my half doors, and all 4 of my wheels are now squares.

Two weeks ago we went to Karios in WV. Trip went well until we were quickly trying to get off the trails before dark. Let’s just say we didn’t make it and the Jeep ended on its side.

So that brings everyone up to speed. Now I’m getting ready to tear down the front again. Picked up a weld wedge 44 from a member on here. It’ll be going in with everything from the current axle along with a true 3 link and some Fox coilovers. Hopefully this project will begin just after Christmas.