neXtJeep Build Thread

jeepinmatt said:
A couple of small updates.
New wipers (and repainted the wiper arms)
Swapped the front coils for some 2.5” TJ coils that I had laying around and it brought it down about 2” in the rear. Gonna swap in some 2.5” XJ rear leaves leftover from the previous XJ, but still working on getting the bolts to unrust from the shackles. They are moving about a quarter turn, but not out yet. The coils that came out were very tall and stiff, so hopefully the new ones ride better.
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Also put in some new bump stops while the coils were out.
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Also had the headliner redone. Had 6 pieces of off brand dynamat leftover from Xtrajeep so I stuck them on the roof before installing the headliner.View attachment 429416View attachment 429415
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So, is this coming to the gtg?
 
justjeepin86 said:
So, is this coming to the gtg?
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If I can get some rear shackles, it’s got a solid chance. And they are supposed to be here tomorrow. I got the 4.5?” Leafs off today, but the bolts were NOT separating from the bushings, so I just ordered some new shackles.
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Lots of little things done in the past few days. Swapped the 4.5” coils for 2.5s, swapped the 4.5” leafs for 2.5s. Got a shackle relocation kit from @1stgenxxx and installed it with the 2.5” springs. Uninstalled it because it was too tall. Installed the 2.5” springs with new stock shackles, and the shackle angle was terrible. Tried the lift shackles but they were too tall. Uninstalled all that, bought new stock springs, reinstalled the shackle relocation, installed stock springs and new stock shackles. Clearance issues with the exhaust and it was too low. Finally, shackle relocation, stock springs, and 2” lift shackles ended up being the magic combo.
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Definitely stealth packaging on these springs
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:laughing:


I also picked up a fuel tank skid from @Jeff B
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Got it all cleaned and painted last night.
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He had even trimmed it already for a receiver hitch 👍
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Removing the old bolts and installing everything went better than expected. The only thing left to do was install the WJ lower control arms I had bought. Everyone said the bolt right in. Jeep is already on the lift, should only take 15 minutes, right?

Of course nobody mentioned that one end of a WJ LCA is 2-7/8” wide and the other is 3-1/8”. But the stock XJ stuff is 2-5/8” on both ends. Not a big deal, but grinding 1/2” of width off a brand new part is frustrating. Anyway got that sorted only to realize that one end doesn’t fit in the frame side bracket because of sheer bulk. Then when I started checking clearance for the arms, I realized the shock mount would severely limit travel. (Aftermarket LCAs that were on the jeep)
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Ended up cutting a ton of metal off to make clearance.
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Cool finally I can move forward!
Oh wait, the body of the arm now hits the axle tube so I gotta grind that down.
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And then of course they fought me getting everything lined up too. 3hrs later I finally have em done but man it’s definitely not a bolt on swap.

However, I just got back from the test drive and this is absolutely the best riding and driving XJ I have ever been in. I am blown away by how good it rides and absorbs the bumps and is just refined and quiet.
 
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A bath and glamour shot before heading to Uwharrie. Hopefully the body is still this straight at the end of the weekend. (It sits level but is FLEXED OUT at the transition in my driveway.
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jeepinmatt said:
A bath and glamour shot before heading to Uwharrie. Hopefully the body is still this straight at the end of the weekend. (It sits level but is FLEXED OUT at the transition in my driveway.
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That rear shackle angle is great. Gonna ride like it's on a cloud of boobers.
See ya tomorrow buddy.
 
So the ol XJ did just fine at Uwharrie last weekend, but it took me about 37 seconds to realize:
1. I need some rock sliders
2. 3.07 gears suck, and are gonna suck even more if I go to a taller tire
3. A working parking brake would be a nice touch.
4. I need a Rough Country rear bumper like @Buffy because they look great and include lights, a hitch and d-ring mounts for less than $400.

I scheming up an idea for #1, more to come.
#3 should just be an adjustment, and #4 is just a matter of throwing money at it, which I clearly have no problem doing haha.

For #2 I’d like to go 3.73 or 4.10 with a rear selectable locker (and front too if the price is right). Several TJ options for the front I suppose. I was thinking maybe an 8.8 rear, but then I saw this on ECGS website:
“ DISCLAIMER: THE FORD 8.8 IS A VERY STRONG AND RELIABLE AXLE. HOWEVER DUE TO THE HARMONICS OF A UNIBODY XJ & ZJ THIS AXLE MAY CAUSE SOME VIBRATION AND NOISE EVEN UNDER NORMAL ROAD OPERATION. WE ONLY RECOMMEND THIS AXLE TO BE USED OFFROAD. ”
What’s that all about? Now I’m questioning the 8.8.

I’d like to find a pair of TJ Rubicon axles, but I like the electric locker aspect of JK axles better so that might could be an option too. Except they are the wrong bolt pattern. What yall think?
 
Re-gear your axles. HP 30 and 8.25. Depending on tire size go 4.10 ARB's and just pay @Jody Treadway is my .02. Or do them yourself. Everyone loves an 8.8 swap I don't. It's just too narrow for the xj/mj imho. 35's on those axles would be fine for most of what you will be doing in it.
 
jeepinmatt said:
So the ol XJ did just fine at Uwharrie last weekend, but it took me about 37 seconds to realize:
1. I need some rock sliders
2. 3.07 gears suck, and are gonna suck even more if I go to a taller tire
3. A working parking brake would be a nice touch.
4. I need a Rough Country rear bumper like @Buffy because they look great and include lights, a hitch and d-ring mounts for less than $400.

I scheming up an idea for #1, more to come.
#3 should just be an adjustment, and #4 is just a matter of throwing money at it, which I clearly have no problem doing haha.

For #2 I’d like to go 3.73 or 4.10 with a rear selectable locker (and front too if the price is right). Several TJ options for the front I suppose. I was thinking maybe an 8.8 rear, but then I saw this on ECGS website:
“ DISCLAIMER: THE FORD 8.8 IS A VERY STRONG AND RELIABLE AXLE. HOWEVER DUE TO THE HARMONICS OF A UNIBODY XJ & ZJ THIS AXLE MAY CAUSE SOME VIBRATION AND NOISE EVEN UNDER NORMAL ROAD OPERATION. WE ONLY RECOMMEND THIS AXLE TO BE USED OFFROAD. ”
What’s that all about? Now I’m questioning the 8.8.

I’d like to find a pair of TJ Rubicon axles, but I like the electric locker aspect of JK axles better so that might could be an option too. Except they are the wrong bolt pattern. What yall think?
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If you stick with the dana HP 30 I have some used 3.73 gears you can have. If you go JK I have some stock 17" x 7.5 JK wheels you can have 5 of them.
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ghost said:
Re-gear your axles. HP 30 and 8.25. Depending on tire size go 4.10 ARB's and just pay @Jody Treadway is my .02. Or do them yourself. Everyone loves an 8.8 swap I don't. It's just too narrow for the xj/mj imho. 35's on those axles would be fine for most of what you will be doing in it.
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Regearing is a heck of a lot more expensive than just finding a set of 3.73 or 4.10 TJ axles since those were stock ratios. Plus a lot more work too. Tires will be 31-32” max, so pretty much anything except a D35 rear will be fine.
 
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My vote is JK Rubicon axles, if you can find them at a decent price.
 
Scott86MJ said:
If you stick with the dana HP 30 I have some used 3.73 gears you can have. If you go JK I have some stock 17" x 7.5 JK wheels you can have 5 of them.
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Thanks but I’m sticking with the gray/machined Icons or whatever they are called.
 
Scott86MJ said:
My vote is JK Rubicon axles, if you can find them at a decent price.
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I also like the fact they are electric lockers and a little wider. 5x5 bolt pattern is a nuisance though if I want to keep the wheels.
 
ghost said:
Re-gear your axles. HP 30 and 8.25. Depending on tire size go 4.10 ARB's and just pay @Jody Treadway is my .02. Or do them yourself. Everyone loves an 8.8 swap I don't. It's just too narrow for the xj/mj imho. 35's on those axles would be fine for most of what you will be doing in it.
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Pass.
Me and @jeepinmatt don't get along.
Too much sexual tension
 
JK axles are far from bolt in. I considered them for my ZJ and they were going to basically we the same work as swapping in a d60. Not suggesting that, just giving context.

My vote is HP30/8.25. You can buy gears and lockers for what jk axles cost, unless you find someone under a rock.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
JK axles are far from bolt in. I considered them for my ZJ and they were going to basically we the same work as swapping in a d60. Not suggesting that, just giving context.

My vote is HP30/8.25. You can buy gears and lockers for what jk axles cost, unless you find someone under a rock.
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It already has the HP30/8.25 so at least that part is good to go.
 
I think the frontend will be the easy part. $400 worth of gears and install kit, or find a TJ D30 front with 3.73 or 4.10. I don't really care about HP vs LP for this rig, as it's probably not gonna be seeing ring gear shattering hardcore wheeling ;)

The rearend is the conundrum. $1600 of locker/gear/install kits, plus the labor to install it, yikes. Big cost driver is obviously the selectable locker, which is why finding a 4.10 ratio Rubicon axle would be great. I have a plasma so getting the brackets off isn't a huge deal. In my mind, I should be able to find a pair of TJ Rubicon axles for about $2k, bolt the front in, cut the brackets off the rear, weld the perches on, and bolt it in. But I'm just not finding any TJ Rubicon axles, nor many D30 4.10 fronts. Even a set of TJ 3.73 geared D30/D44 would be fine, but I'm not gonna pay $1500 for em. I guess that's why the 8.8 is an appealing option for so many people. Pick up a 3.73 or 4.10 geared 8.8 and you're halfway done, especially if all you want is a limited slip.

The easy option is a set of XJ 3.55 axles and a lunchbox locker. I just don't think 3.55 is enough, I'd really like 4.10's. And if I'm diving in, I'll do a moneylocker while I'm at it. It's a shame @Jeff B and @ncsutj have 4.88's in the ones they are selling :(
 
adamk said:
Any concerns about life expectancy of those rear leafs being that they are already inverted?
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I have no idea. I'm a coil spring guy. Is that bad? To be fair, that side is flexed up about 2" and has about 300lbs of tire/tools/gear in the back when that pic was taken.
 
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