It's about time

[andyxj]

Got a bit more done Monday.
Here's all the crap that won't be returning...(poor rhino)

No more 30

Done!

 

[andyxj]

Just kidding...still need to address the floating axle issue

We also had a slight change of plans. Upon inspecting the portion of the unibody to brace for the upper link, we noticed that a strip of the floorboard (to which part of the upper mount would be stitched) was rusting enough to cause concern for such a location. I guess I'll have to fiddle with that sometime in the future.



So....Now the plan is to create a y-link on the passenger side and leave a straight link on the driver's. It might not have the best geometry, but it'll be good enough and it shouldn't bind like radius arms.


We ended up using the RE HD trackbar and mount, with some slight modifications to the mount and to the bolt size of the axle side mount. Next on the list is to finish the axle side trackbar mount, and burn the stiffeners plus the mounts on.

another from the front

 

[andyxj]

Got the uni-rails cleaned off tonight and the link mounts burned on the stiffeners. I did take some photos but I'm having tech problems and will try to get some more later this week.

 

[4x4fever]

awesome build

 

[andyxj]

Where to begin...

1) got the tie rod made and attached the tabs for the drag link

2) aligned the front with the new tie rod and drilled out the knuckles to accept 3/4"

3) fabbed up a go-to-hell trackbar mount on the axle side

4) Landon burned and plug welded the tnt stiffeners and mounts to the uni-rails (cut off the crappy stock mounts)

5) " " tacked the johnny joints, tube, and y-design together for mock-up

I'm waiting on new tube adapters from Ballistic to finalize the lower links (I ended up using tubing with 1.5" ID and my adapters were only 1.25") - Thanks for the tube Brandon!

I'll try to get some more photos of the progress up soon

 

[andyxj]

Alright! finally got some photos of the current progressions....

Here's the ride height...came out a bit on the high side but hopefully it will settle and be brought a little lower with the future weight of a winch (if nothing else, there's some room to grow on) - It's only mocked up here, the right tube adapters aren't here for the lower links yet

Front

For kicks and giggles

 

[andyxj]

T&T stiffeners burned and plugged with a bit of modification for the JJ's

Here's the mount I mentioned earlier...definitely won't be the weak link

Y-link mount

 

[andyxj]

Another of the trackbar mount from the passenger side

I was quite pleased at the length we were able to make the trackbar, I think it ended up around 33 inches or so

Axle completely complete

 

[andyxj]

Another shot from the front mock up

The new 1.5" tube adapters and the other joint are supposed to be fedex'd in tomorrow, so then we can permanently fix up the links and front suspension.

From there its a trip to get some brakelines and we still have to make the driveshafts.....Oh yeah and deal with that non-existent steering thing. For the pitman arm we're going to try one off of a ZJ, for a little more drop and the joint at the pitman will be a 7/8 bore rod end with a 5/8 misalignment spacer. That should give plenty of mobility for the suspension cycling

 

[lbyota85]

Lookin good




Sabitch

 

[off_road2]

lookin good man, can't wait to see it in person.

Nice fab job landon.......

 

[andyxj]

Getting a bit closer...

tonight we

1-secured a ZJ pitman arm and installed it on the Xj

2-mounted a steering stabilizer

3-finished up the brakelines, front and rear (picked up a set of steel braided from the Red Baron in Hickory)

4-Cut down and measured the needed length for the modified driveshafts

Landon's going to be modding some shafts tomorrow for me, and then its just a matter of mounting the front shocks and the drag-link.

Hopefully she'll be moving under her own power by Thursday or Friday, this week sucka!

 

[336wheeler]

Very nice fab. Looks great

 

[lbyota85]

While Andrew was at school.....I got the drive shafts made, shocks mounted, and the t-case linkage adjusted. Just need to finish the drag link and top it off with fluids, then I guess we will do some testing at Cloverfield.

D-shafts

lower shock mounts

upper shock mounts

 

[lbyota85]

More....

 

[andyxj]

Just need to finish the drag link and top it off with fluids, then I guess we will do some testing at Cloverfield.

Shibby

 

[andyxj]

DONE!!!

action shots coming soon

 

[lbyota85]

Yeah, we got it done today. Got it all painted up and toped off with fluids, I guess its ready. I found some pics of before we started, so here they are....

Before....

 

[lbyota85]

After....

 

[lbyota85]

Twisting it up. We will have to put limiting straps on it, the coil pops out as you can tell...We'll do some real testing Saturday.

WOO-HOO!!!

And another one bites the dust.

 

[TJcrawler97]

NIce

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

looks good guys... gonna bring it downto the farm to test it out in a few weeks?

 

[bigdixieboggers]

can you say sway bar!!!!!

 

[lbyota85]

It drives pretty darn good not to have one, but we'll probably put one on it.

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

Rides very well, you didn't scare me in it at all like riding in the "red racer." Seriuosly, very well done, like I said I'm dropping my project off with you so it'll quit going in reverse. I'd leave the sway-bar off the bonnie is for the curves.