Documentary YJ Build

Looks great man. If I can give one piece of advice its to link the front while doing the rear. I just got done with a 2 year build on my YJ where I stretched the frame and body 15", one tons on 41.5" PBRs, 4 linked the rear on ORIs and kept the front SOA to save money. I wheeled it only one weekend, destroyed my front leafs and tweaked my frame mounts. I fixed it the best I could but am collecting parts now to link it. I wish I wouldve just done it to begin with.
 
hurt4x4 said:
Damn dude glad ya'll are safe. Looks like it was a hell of a time.

What hill did you go up/roll down, left or right?
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Left for both questions. It was exhilarating to be honest... scared me though. Lol
 
pitbullcruiser said:
What did you guys hit your heads on?
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Driver must have hit a rock or something else on the trail.
I hit the metal handle on his cage.
My shoulder straps weren't on. Just tightened the hell out of the lap belt. I learned my lesson... never again.
Luckily I didn't get hurt too bad. I'll always strap in now. And I'm gonna go with a real harness on the next phase of my build. These retractable Corbeau ones are neat, but I'm gonna need a real harness.


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'92 vegasYJ said:
Looks great man. If I can give one piece of advice its to link the front while doing the rear. I just got done with a 2 year build on my YJ where I stretched the frame and body 15", one tons on 41.5" PBRs, 4 linked the rear on ORIs and kept the front SOA to save money. I wheeled it only one weekend, destroyed my front leafs and tweaked my frame mounts. I fixed it the best I could but am collecting parts now to link it. I wish I wouldve just done it to begin with.
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Did you do a shackle reversal?
I definitely agree that I need to link it. I just really am on a tight budget. I'll likely just run coils with 14 inch shocks on the rear at first.
Unless I find some coil overs on the cheap.
We'll see though.
 
Van-go said:
Did you do a shackle reversal?
I definitely agree that I need to link it. I just really am on a tight budget. I'll likely just run coils with 14 inch shocks on the rear at first.
Unless I find some coil overs on the cheap.
We'll see though.
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Even finding coilovers cheap, ends up being $$ when you have to rebuild them or get new springs. I would do JK coils or find some cheap 2.0 air shocks for the rear.
 
I've heard good things about the metalcloak dual rate coils which are $189 a pair for TJ coils.

paradisePWoffrd said:
Even finding coilovers cheap, ends up being $$ when you have to rebuild them or get new springs. I would do JK coils or find some cheap 2.0 air shocks for the rear.
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Van-go said:
May or may not go to RBD.
I will be making one run to URE before they close.
Then it's time to chop this thing up.
I'm excited.

Next on the agenda:

79 ford HP kingpin 60 front
14 bolt rear
T18/205 combo
1350 shafts
Links in rear
Leafs up front still for now
Replace half of my rusty frame

Still gathering parts and deciding on wheelbase, gearing, etc.

As of now I want to go long at 118-120 but I hope I don't regret it later on.
I want to do most of my stretching in the rear.
One day this thing will have a chop top YJ truck cab and a small bed on it.
I want to go the 42-44 range in tires.

With that wheel base, I'll need to have a big tire and a decent belly height.
I want it to still look lower than a typical jeep though with the chop top.

Probably gonna run 5.38 gears

Can't wait to start this next phase.
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Stay under 120 unless it's a 4 seater.
Don't be scared of a low belly, as long as the link mounts are flush with the bottom. I'm at 16.5" @ 115 wb and 39's, buggy was 18" @ 117 and 43's. If you drag, pic a different line, modify your throttle input... Side hill stability on a low cog rig is priceless.

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mcutler said:
Stay under 120 unless it's a 4 seater.
Don't be scared of a low belly, as long as the link mounts are flush with the bottom. I'm at 16.5" @ 115 wb and 39's, buggy was 18" @ 117 and 43's. If you drag, pic a different line, modify your throttle input... Side hill stability on a low cog rig is priceless.

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And a uhmw/domex/ar plate skid and boat sides so no worry when it drags.
 
Decided not to chop this thing up cause it just works so dang good. Going to keep wheeling it while I build another YJ.
Started a new build thread.
I'll probably still replace the rear frame and do a shackle reversal on this one though. It will just be practice for the new build.
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Flats was awesome. Had a great time. Made it up the concrete wall in 2nd gear at rev limiter... on the 9th attempt. lol bent more leaf springs.
Definitely doing a shackle reversal... tired of hitting stuff and ruining them.
:smokin:
 
Picked this thing up from David last week. He beat the crap out of it one last round in Harlan before turning it loose.
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My daughter is super excited about having a “big Jeep” and she may be going to Harlan with me in August since this thing has a full cage.

I beat David up over $500 less than he wanted for it, so when he finally gave into my offer it was after he banged out about $250 per side worth of fun in the Lions Den!
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But David is a great guy, and he gave me a truck load of parts for this Jeep as well. One being a whole rear tub in pretty good condition. I currently have the kerosene heater running in the garage and after I put my son to bed, I’m heading out to do some sketchy stuff with a cutoff wheel. I am no body man by any means, so this should be interesting to say the least!
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My short term immediate plan:
Rear tub repair
Rear armor after tub swap
Add rock lights I won off of a FB Waffle.
Add CB
Add temp gauge (done)
New hood
In cab winch controls
Bluetooth motorcycle stereo
Lots of black paint
Change fluids

All of this needs to be done before I head to AOP in less than a month!

Long term: I hope to 4 link the rear, drop back to a 37”-38” tire, LS swap, and 3 link the front, in that order. When I link it I will only stretch it a couple more inches. I don’t need a 1 ton 44” tire rig. I think these axles with some 37” tires and a good suspension will suit me just fine for quite a while. These long term goals will happen slowly with about one big step per year happening.

Right now I just wanna give it a quick makeover and start enjoying it!




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Well I wasted no time. I had some surprise help from @Noel and @Curtis_H and we knocked out cutting off the rear tub. It went pretty smooth with the help. We mocked up the new rear section just to see and take a measurement, I still need to cut the inner rear fender to accommodate the shock hoop, and address some rust on the new section. Picking up a small 110 Mig welder this week and will go to town. It probably won’t look the best but I don’t care. It will look better.
Also, I may add tube around the rear instead of paying $250 for armor only to cut a lot off that armor. Undecided.
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Now I just need to get it all back together with enough time to go do a shake down run before AOP!



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Are we all supposed to believe that those axles will live behind a LS.

You might as well find some tons now :flipoff2:


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NickMaul said:
Are we all supposed to believe that those axles will live behind a LS.

You might as well find some tons now :flipoff2:


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I’d bet on them lasting with a 37 or smaller. Otherwise tons.
 
I think they will last with 37s. I really only want the LS because well, LS swap the world, but it’d be nice to have that extra woo pow if I’m in Harlan and making that long ride to Mason Jar. I’m putting the hammer down like ultra 4. If I need to get up a slick hill=rev limiter and sounding good while doing it.

In the rocks, I’ll still be crawling for the most part and drive sensibly. I can always switch to tons later. These axles are already built, or I would skip straight to tons.
 
I get it, LS on half tons ain’t ideal. But I’m gonna do it and live to regret it later lol.

@Loganwayne I appreciate the hood offer, I got one last night from a buddy on an IOU lol.
 
In hind sight, I wish I’d took this opportunity to stretch the body about 4” to give the kids a little more room. I just don’t have time to redo all the mounts and everything, and I’ve already cut the body and the new tub so oh well. Hind sight is 20/20!!
 
77GreenMachine said:
I’m gonna do it and live to regret it later lol.
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I mean, this is how you approach obstacles you really have no business trying....so why would you change now?

:lol::smokin::p
 
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