Resurrection 2dr

[GotWood]

Since @Willc wouldn't sell his/my/his XJ back to me, I had to find another one. This one is better anyway because I have it and Will doesn't!
Picked up this 97 2dr 5spd that got into a fight with a culvert pipe and lost. This is the cheap model with no power windows and dash with only idiot lights.

The hit was hard enough to rip the passenger lower mount off of the axle and twist the driver upper, and punch a hole in the oil pan.

Rust has also started to eat the rockers but other than that it's mostly solid.

Plans are to get it running and driving then cut the rockers out and incorporate sliders. Let the fun begin.

 

[BigSouth]

It needs to be a “Woody” or have wood floors or else your life is a lie.

 

[GotWood]

Changed the cluster out with one I had in the parts pile and had @Jeff B patch the oil pan up. Holding water with no leaks! Now time to change the rear main seal and put it back together.

For anyone wondering about Flex Tape the shit works! To get the XJ in the trailer I wiped the pan clean and applied the tape, filled the motor with oil and drove onto the trailer!

 

[GotWood]

Another quick modification was to switch the stock shift knob with my custom SCBA valve!

 

[Willc]

I am at home all next week need a hand?

 

[GotWood]

I am at home all next week need a hand?

Possibly. I'm waiting on new joints for the long arm to come in. I'll let you know, thanks

 

[Creekin]

Really like the rig.
Long range plans?

Are you going to keep the flex tape as a long term repair to fix the hole in the oil pan?
With the heat of the engine and the chemicals in the oil, that combination may cause the adhesive in tape to fail.

 

[GotWood]

Really like the rig.
Long range plans?

Are you going to keep the flex tape as a long term repair to fix the hole in the oil pan?
With the heat of the engine and the chemicals in the oil, that combination may cause the adhesive in tape to fail.

I feared the same thing so I welded the oil pan and moved the flex tape to the lower control arm. Better articulation because it's FLEX Tape!

 

[GotWood]

Oil pan and rear main seal complete. Now on to the next project, spending money! Time to order new link ends. I'll be going to heim joints and losing the Jonnie Joints. The 2 uppers are bent and one of the lowers has a bad deflection in it. I can't believe the air bags didn't blow.

 

[GotWood]

For those of you who have run 3 link systems on the XJ, what's the difference? From a couple pics I've seen it looks like the top link was just left off of the passenger side arm. What am I missing? This will be a DD with off road capabilities, not a dedicated trail rig. Probably 6k miles a year, maybe less.

 

[Jody Treadway]

That's not really a 3 link. That would be a radius arm with one upper. Not a bad setup really. Just run a larger diameter bolts than the OEM 10mm ones as they have all of
the axle wrap forces applied to them.
Drill out to 1/2" and rock out

 

[GotWood]

No progress at the moment, still trying to figure out which joints I need from Barnes 4x4. If these projects involved more wood than metal I could go a lot faster!

 

[Jody Treadway]

No progress at the moment, still trying to figure out which joints I need from Barnes 4x4. If these projects involved more wood than metal I could go a lot faster!

Pro tip: Use Ipe for the control arms

 

[1stgenxxx]

Nice score on the 2dr. Theys a getting hard to come by these days. Better slam a few DEWS and get back to work.

 

[GotWood]

Pulled the front fender so I could straighten it up a little bit. I still need to pull the D30 from the donor Jeep and regear it and install the locker but the long arms are rebuilt and ready for the sandblaster and paint.

 

[GotWood]

While the family is away and I have a day off from work I figured I could get a couple things done. Working on pulling the front axle from the donor Jeep, then slide the 2wd beam back under to keep it mobile. Also cleaning up the long arms and giving them a fresh coat of paint. I hope no one has a patent on black long arms, I don't want to get a letter from their lawyer!

 

[GotWood]

Evidently 2wd rotors are different from 4wd rotors. I've fought this damn thing for an hour. When I bolt on the wheel it won't turn, locks up the rotor against the backing plate. After checking the 2wd rotors seem to be about ⅛ shallow compared to the old 4wd ones.

 

[Jody Treadway]

I'll bet you one Lockrite spring you are mixing cast and composite rotors. Cast works with either and composite only works in place of composite.
The wheel hub is the difference BTW

Edit: the cast rotor will have a squared off shoulder on the mounting hub and the composite will be rounded

 

[Jeff B]

There is iirc 3/16" height difference between the two?

 

[GotWood]

There is iirc 3/16" height difference between the two?

How did you know that?

 

[Jeff B]

How did you know that?

When you come over, I'll show you the 2 different rotors. I am pretty sure I have one in my scrap pile out back. I used the 2 different on my jeep, one worked well, the gave issues. Can't specifically remember the symptom.

 

[GotWood]

When you come over, I'll show you the 2 different rotors. I am pretty sure I have one in my scrap pile out back. I used the 2 different on my jeep, one worked well, the gave issues. Can't specifically remember the symptom.

I thought maybe I had already bitched about it to you!

 

[GotWood]

A little hammer and 2x4 action and the front fender looks good as used! For the record, it's not bolted on yet that's why the body line doesn't match up.

 

[GotWood]

With the help of @Jeff B I got the axels stripped and the steering knuckles removed. Ordered a master install kit from @Cperry and some new ball joints, should all be here by mid week. Received my locker from @Jody Treadway the other day. I'll clean up the housing and paint it and hopefully install 4:10 and locker next weekend. I can't wait to get this thing on the trail!

 

[GotWood]

Big thanks to East Coast Gear Supply and @Cperry for fast shipment of my high dollar sticker with FREE install kit!