The Learning curve XJ

[Loganwayne]

I bought this xj about 3 or 4 years ago. bought it already lifted with 33s 3.73 dana 30 locked and a limited slip 8.8 with about a 4" lift and I didn't have a clue about wheeling or working on a vehicle. ive had it so long ive deleted all this pics I have on it when I got it.

so since I had no clue what I was doing I started with the cosmetic stuff I started by redoing the headliner and the floor under the carpet.

sorry for the pics sucking at first I had finished pictures but have lost a lot over time

 

[Loganwayne]

next major thing was front & rear bumpers, winch and a light bar

I panted them with rattle can bed liner... all I gotta say is don't do it!

 

[Loganwayne]

and this is how the jeep was set up for about a two years

 

[Loganwayne]

wheeled one uwarrie and the flats a couple times.

then cutting fire wood trying to drag a tree out pinned the wheel in the bank and broke the steering column

 

[Loganwayne]

this is the aftermath of trying to find what I broke

it was really frustrating not know what I was doing and not knowing anyone to call

 

[Loganwayne]

did some snow wheeling

 

[Loganwayne]

borke LOTS of dana 30 shafts and u-joints

also took it to DT for the first time ripped one side of my trans cross member off and had to use the winch threw the driver window out the passenger and down to the cross member to pull it back into place and limp back to the truck

 

[Loganwayne]

but last fall I found a deal on here for a dana 30/ 8.8 combo with 4.88 with a lockright and a mini spool, bead locks and some other parts. went and picked them up and dropped the axles off to jody for some much needed love and new bearings. also won his steering set up on the 12 days of Christmas on here. and got a set of chromos for the 30. got all that switched in and found a deal on some used 35s cheap.

got the axles all swapped out and new to me tires put on right before Christmas.... I think

 

[Loganwayne]

took it on a shake down ride at the flats..... the tires lasted one trip. wasn't paying attention and cut the side wall on two tires unloading it at my house

 

[Loganwayne]

get some new tires and went back to the flats and broke on the first trail I went on...
ended up being cross pin in locker gave out decided to just get a new locker and carry on

 

[Loganwayne]

changed my doors for automatic to manual was having to many problems with them.
painted the jeep and loaded up to go to harlen. I was the only rig that didn't break that trip
all most made it up the waterfall, was barely caught on the back bumper

 

[Loganwayne]

came home cleaned up the jeep plate the front of the frame and rigged up a new frame side track bar mount.

polished the turd AND became a mall crawler, jay was right two coats of tire shine really do the trick

 

[Loganwayne]

to make myself feel better we packed up and went to DT before they got shut down.

that Saturday I learned that following guys on 40+ tires and your on 35s don't work out great... was fallowing a guy on 42s when I broke the cross pin and then this happened

 

[Loganwayne]

and that's pretty much up to current point. I bought a three link from a member here. also got the rest of the frame plate kit, some new coils since one has settled out shorter than the other that should give me another inch of lift, some shackles for the rear to level it back out after new coils, some new bump stops or should I say bump stops since I never had any before, and a truss kit new axle track bar brackets and new lower control arm brackets. also have had a truss for the rear for a while but wouldn't get to that this time maybe after the rides in October.

should start on all that tomorrow and will try to remember to take pics and update. this thing isn't nothing special but ive beat the hell out of it and it keeps going so ive been happy and have learned a ton from building this thing its getting close to the end of the build and maybe in the next year or so ill be starting a one ton build

 

[NickMaul]

Good looking XJ. Every time I see a xj on 35s and a dana 30 I get stoked because I am about to upgrade some 33s to 35s. I expect eventual breakage but I am glad that you hit some pretty tough trails and don't complain a whole lot about the dana 30.

Nice Xj

 

[Loganwayne]

Good looking XJ. Every time I see a xj on 35s and a dana 30 I get stoked because I am about to upgrade some 33s to 35s. I expect eventual breakage but I am glad that you hit some pretty tough trails and don't complain a whole lot about the dana 30.

Nice Xj

I broke a shaft every time I went out on 33s. Got chromos and 35s tried like hell to warranty them on the first trip. I'm 5-6 hard trips in on them nothing yet. If the u-joint blows and takes a shaft I'll upgrade the joints then and everything will be under lifetime warranty from ecgs

 

[Loganwayne]

everything is here to finally start on the front 3 link except the stuff for my trackbar but should be getting that this coming week. While I'm working on it I'm also going to use my old 7.3 trans cooler and use it for the xjs new trans cooler. Was planning to start on all this last monday but my dad fell and got hurt pretty good so have had to hold off for this week.

 

[77GreenMachine]

You get any body damage from being in that big rut?

 

[Loganwayne]

Nope it set over pretty easy, plus the bank was really soft. Didn't even scratch the paint.

that pic was about 30 secounds before the front end picked up I was already almost touching

 

[Loganwayne]

got bored sunday and made a place to put my light toggle switches since I plan on getting some more lights soon. it came out okay but im not fabricator so it will do.


tested the jeep out on an RTI ramp. my rear shocks are limiting my flex but it is a decent base line to compare the short arms to the three link im putting on.


the break in weather yesterday got me excited and I started on the frame plates. I got one side tacked on. going to let someone else weld them on for me since I don't trust myself to do it yet.

 

[Loganwayne]

did a little bit of work on it today and got the other side tacked on and got it jacked up as high as I could to make welding easier and got the wheels off.

took some base line measurements to see how much my lift height is changed with new coils and shackles.

and then I found this surprise. lucky I don't drive this much but looks like the bottom ball joint has tried to come out the bottom, will get new ball joints and address this issue when I get the axle pulled out later this week I hope.

 

[Loganwayne]

Well got the axle pulled and finished the frame plates last night. Then started cleaning up the front axle and getting it ready to be trussed and new lower control arm mounts put on

 

[Loganwayne]

Not to much got done this weekend with the rain Saturday and church Sunday morning and friends coming in Sunday night. Was able to weld the axle truss on and weld the trackbar mount solid. Waiting to put it on until I can borrow some torches and cut off the lower control mounts. But at least I think my welding is starting to look a little bit better, I know I need alot more practice

 

[hurt4x4]

Most of the welds on that don't look bad at all!
That porosity would bug the crap out of me though. You have a breeze coming through there?

 

[Loganwayne]

Most of the welds on that don't look bad at all!
That porosity would bug the crap out of me though. You have a breeze coming through there?

No, I was near a window but I don't think the wind was blowing hard enough to mess with it. I have a bad habit of pulling my hand and the welder away from the metal as in welding. I think thats what is causing that