It's about time

[andyxj]

Finally...now that I've been collecting parts for longer than I care to remember, some of it is finally going together for my XJ.

The plan is to 3-link a front hp 44 and spring a rear 9 on around 6". The upper link, after much debating and wishy-washiness, is going to be on the passenger side.

The list of investments so far goes:
76 hp 44
~ late 70's 9"
PORC HD sye
4.88 gears
Low ratio carrier for the 44
Detroit for the 9"
760x spicer u-joints (hoping they'll hold for now)
Assorted Johnny Joints and Ballistic hiems
Ballistic fab link and coil brackets
RE HD Trac bar and bracket
5.5 RE coils & boomerang shackles
35" MTR's and 15x8 steelies
TNT unibody stiffeners
Warn hubs and other fun and expensive brakes, seals, ball joints, blah, blah $$$

=BROKE

Here goes...

Did the SYE mod and got rid of the crappy and embarrassingly small output shaft and design (I'll have to throw a picture up later, and wish now that I would have got a size comparison photo) - Lets just say that if you own an np231, this should be at the top of the list!

After hauling most of my crap to a friend's place, who has graciously allowed me to clutter the shop and share his skills (as well as degrading anti-jeep comments), we got into the 44

Landon in go mode

 

[andyxj]

Leveled everything out and burnt the Ballistic brackets on at a caster and pinion angle of about 5 and 10 degrees

Somewhere along in the mix, my personal feelings of progress were rechecked when I let a 44 ring gear and carrier smash a digit...curses...(words of advice...pay attention)

"Angry"

 

[andyxj]

Oh well...back at it

On step five of seven and a half million we decided to beef up the stocker

Landon fabbed up some nice insurance on the front 44 cover....mmmm, pretty welds

Moving on to the 9...

 

[andyxj]

More plate on the bottom, and I decided to give the whole welding thing a go

ehhh, turned out okay I guess for the first time

 

[andyxj]

On location at the Skat Blaster

Got the tires mounted

After the gears go in the 44 and the nine, both axles are ready to go back together with fresh seals, brakes, joints, and all that other crap.

 

[91oneton]

bout time ... it hard to video everybody when u cant follow thew ...

 

[tacoma87]

awesome man....glad your finally getting to do your build up. good luck with it all....wish i was closer so i could come help

 

[J.C.]

Like the pics and comments! Keep them coming as the build progresses.

 

[andyxj]

bout time ... it hard to video everybody when u cant follow thew ...

No joke...

 

[RenegadeT]

electrical tape, a new twist on the shocker

 

[lbyota85]

Yea, I never thought the day would come when I would be working on a Jeep.

 

[andyxj]

Gathered some more help from Drew and Landon tonight and geared up the 44.

Stripped and prepped. New axle seals in and hoping for a tearless install

Percision, Smercision. Drew's tools and patience came in quite handy...Thanks for the help man!

Contact on the 4.88's...go on...spit out the criticism

 

[andyxj]

cover back on and knuckles good to go

Waiting on u-joints and then the front end will be finished! (well, except for steering, upper link mounts, etc.)

Couldn't resist

Detroit and 9" gears being mounted

tackling the 9' center section is next on the list

Pepsi chug: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Vkr6b70Dg

 

[91oneton]

that pepsi chug with the wind blowing landons hair could be a commercial

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

O.K. I'm going to complain about the patern-:tongue:-that's the goofy reprint from the pinion and not the true patern! Anyways it was fun helping ya'll, let's set up the Nine incher this evening.

 

[andyxj]

Got the spicer 760's in, so we continued last night and got the whole front axle back together.

The rotors look pretty for now

Soon after, I had to bail and Landon and Drew, the good souls that they are, dug into the nine inch setup.

Clearancing for the new gears

 

[andyxj]

Nine inch patterns

I believe the pattern came out nearly identical to the one in the uppermost left of the diagram

Next comes the fun part...

 

[CrashKnott]

unless that's a hi-pinion, I believe you took a picture of the coast-pattern.

What's the pattern look like on the other side?

 

[andyxj]

yeah, that's the coast

like I said, the drive side is nearly identical to the upper most left pattern in the diagram: slightly lower, still middle of the teeth

I don't have any photos from that side

 

[andyxj]

While I was away at an orientation tonight...
('preciate it fellas)

Sorry about the low res...I'll try to get some better shots later

 

[GSW]

Good looking build. Glad you were able to use the tires. May need to get out that way and check it out.

 

[andyxj]

Got new seals put in the nine inch and got the brakes together, minus the lines

Landon tacking the rear perches and shock mounts

Rear put back together (better shot from tonight)

 

[userbmx1315]

them are some perty welds. nice job on the build

 

[ol'Jeeps]

Ahhhh....Looks like its coming along great!

Work looks real good!

 

[andyxj]

Thanks for all of the comments! All the metal fusing is the work of Mr. Beard....he's quite good at what he does

On the schedule for this coming week is the rear driveshaft (which Landon has yet another knack for), as well as burning on the unibody stiffeners, and steering box reinforcement.

Depending on when we get tubing, and how much time I have this week since I'm starting back school...we should get a bit more done.