Project Sh*tShow

Monkeynono

Monkeynono

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2018
Location
Mars Hill
I am looking for is some Input / thoughts/ motivation. I started this build before we ever thought of moving to WNC and by the end of this year we will be living in Mars Hill.

It is a 1995 YJ with a TBI350, sm465,205 60/14bolt with 4.56 gears. 104" WB 22" to frame and most likely end up on 40 's.

First question.... What should I expect from wheeling there? Where I come from is flat...and mud.
Second question.... Is that setup gonna work down there? What should I change? Or what also needs to be done.

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Pretty typical set up just need some lockers.As mentioned its hilly and often has rocks covered in mud.
 
Stick with the swampers and ditch the BFG.
 
You’ll be just fine around here. Lockers, little armor, maybe a winch...

SEND IT!
 
You’ll have to travel a couple hours for wheeling but you won’t be too awful far. Mountainous terrain with mud and rocks.

Front locker for sure
Rock slider absolute must
Winch
Corner armor

Do you have an anti-wrap bar on the rear axle. That will be a must too.
 
77GreenMachine said:
You’ll have to travel a couple hours for wheeling but you won’t be too awful far. Mountainous terrain with mud and rocks.

Front locker for sure
Rock slider absolute must
Winch
Corner armor

Do you have an anti-wrap bar on the rear axle. That will be a must too.
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No wrap bar yet, I have a Warn 8274 for the front and I was thinking of doing boatsides to remove the giant rust hole.
 
Monkeynono said:
The rear diff has a Detroit front is open. I was thinking of a lunchbox type locker.
Click to expand...

I went with a Spartan in my front D60 after reading lots of different reviews.
 
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I snapped some pics of mine to show you what happened to mine. When I bought it the rear corners were TRASHED. I mean terrible. I took the time to cut the back tub off and graft a new tub on. It looked fantastic. The very first trip out to AOP I wrecked them all over again.
I was too cheap to buy armor and thought with my tires and width it would not be that big of an issue. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. I hit them every single time I go out. I’m stopped caring now, but man I should have put some armor on there.
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Also, on your rear shackles, weld in something in the middle of them. I did not have center support on my front shackles, when I welded in some flat tube recently I was blown away by how much side to side movement went away. Without center support it moves a ton and will wreck the bushing pretty quick
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Lastly, in my opinion an anti wrap bar is mandatory and not optional. When you go to climb a hill or ledge, all the weight shifts to the rear and it will make the springs bend in an S shape. You’ll have tons of wheel hop and it will trash the springs quickly. Specially if those are XJ springs backwards.

I have about the same wheel base and tire size as you. Waggy springs up front, backwards XJ springs out back on 39.5” iroks.
I see that you already have a shackles reversal in the front, that’s good!
 
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77GreenMachine said:
I snapped some pics of mine to show you what happened to mine. When I bought it the rear corners were TRASHED. I mean terrible. I took the time to cut the back tub off and graft a new tub on. It looked fantastic. The very first trip out to AOP I wrecked them all over again.
I was too cheap to buy armor and thought with my tires and width it would not be that big of an issue. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong. I hit them every single time I go out. I’m stopped caring now, but man I should have put some armor on there.
View attachment 316470 View attachment 316471 View attachment 316472 View attachment 316473

Also, on your rear shackles, weld in something in the middle of them. I did not have center support on my front shackles, when I welded in some flat tube recently I was blown away by how much side tire side movement went away. Without center support it moves a ton and will wreck the bushing pretty quick
View attachment 316474

Lastly, in my opinion an anti wrap bar is mandatory and not optional. When you go to climb a hill or ledge, all the weight shifts to the rear and it will make the springs bend in an S shape. You’ll have tons of wheel hop and it will trash the springs quickly. Specially if those are XJ springs backwards.

I have about the same wheel base and tire size as you. Waggy springs up front, backwards XJ springs out back on 39.5” iroks.
I see that you already have a shackles reversal in the front, that’s good!
Click to expand...
Good point about the rear shackle, I just made them and slapped them on. The rear springs are Dakota and fronts are RE 1.5 soa. The front shackle setup sucks and pinion angle is badddd. I plan on moving the shackle from under the frame to in the frame..... Or slider boxes.
 
Monkeynono said:
Good point about the rear shackle, I just made them and slapped them on. The rear springs are Dakota and fronts are RE 1.5 soa. The front shackle setup sucks and pinion angle is badddd. I plan on moving the shackle from under the frame to in the frame..... Or slider boxes.
Click to expand...

Slider boxes are some old skool stuff that works pretty well in my opinion. I think that would suit you well.

You will need the anti-wrap even with the Dakota springs.

I'm assuming you will be towing this thing to & from the trail?

If you get bored and want to look up places and YouTube videos for the places we hit around our state, here is a list of the places we go. Some are quite the drive, but a Thursday-Sunday trip is well worth it.

Golden Mountain Motor Park-Sparta, TN (was closed, but recently purchased and soon to re-open. Considered the best around)
Black Mountain OHV Park-Harlan, KY
Adventure Off road Park (AOP)-South Pittsburg, TN
Windrock-Oakridge, TN
Choccolocco OHV-Jacksonville, AL
Kairos Resort-Glyn Lyn, WV

Uwharrie National Forest-Troy, NC (Extremely mild wheeling)

I'm probably overloading you with info and my opinions. Sorry, bored working from home. Hope your transition to NC goes well, and that you will get on the trail soon after!
 
77GreenMachine said:
Slider boxes are some old skool stuff that works pretty well in my opinion. I think that would suit you well.

You will need the anti-wrap even with the Dakota springs.

I'm assuming you will be towing this thing to & from the trail?

If you get bored and want to look up places and YouTube videos for the places we hit around our state, here is a list of the places we go. Some are quite the drive, but a Thursday-Sunday trip is well worth it.

Golden Mountain Motor Park-Sparta, TN (was closed, but recently purchased and soon to re-open. Considered the best around)
Black Mountain OHV Park-Harlan, KY
Adventure Off road Park (AOP)-South Pittsburg, TN
Windrock-Oakridge, TN
Choccolocco OHV-Jacksonville, AL
Kairos Resort-Glyn Lyn, WV

Uwharrie National Forest-Troy, NC (Extremely mild wheeling)

I'm probably overloading you with info and my opinions. Sorry, bored working from home. Hope your transition to NC goes well, and that you will get on the trail soon after!
Click to expand...
Thanks, for now it will be driven to the trails. I got no trailer and recently traded my F350 in on a new JL so no tow rig.

Eta: should have this moved to build threads fourm?
 
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Well now I got some time off, So on to fixing/finishing/ building this heep.

Today I got a lot of things done that were bothering me. I cut the front shackle hanger off, shifted the engine back a 1/2" and cleaned up all the old brackets on the front half of the frame. Also yesterday I mocked up the high steer.

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