YJ build

Will miller

Will miller

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Location
Archdale
Picked up an 89 YJ to start building from @89wrangler. The Jeep already had a lot going for it. This would give me a good base to start with and go from there. What the Jeep had on it when I picked it up...

Chevy TBI 350
700r4 trans w/ 1800 stall
Stak 5.3 case twin sticked
8 lug Dana 44 up front
Dana 60 rear
4 link with coilovers
Shackle reversal front
Cage

Went to pick up the Jeep on the way to the flats for their first open ride. Figured it would be a good time to test out the new Jeep to get a feel for what I want todo to it. Once we agreed on a price. We went to get it loaded on the trailer and the fuel pump went dead (so we thought). @89wrangler Was nice enough to keep the Jeep and fixed it Thursday night, heck he even brought the Jeep to me Friday morning!

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After riding a little on Friday the Jeep started developing a tick that progressively got worse throughout the day. That tick turned into a KNOCK. Sounded like a rod bearing went. So looks like the YJ will be getting a LS swap done sooner than planed.

The week following I got the Jeep into the garage and started tearing her apart!


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First thing was to remove the front axle to make room for the king pin Dana 60 that came out of the Tahoe. Going to leave the leaf springs for now w/ hopes of linking the front at a later date.

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Next i got the seats and some of the interior cleaned out. Plan is to make the seats tied to the roll cage and get the seats to sit a few inches lower

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Time to get that motor out!!!
 
Tires are backwards :flipoff2:
 
As Ben said, it did. That jeep has wheeled all over the US and the friends and memories made from it are priceless. It was time to let it go as it has just sat for the last 5 plus years. I feel bad about the engine issue. I did not think there was anything wrong with it at all during the few miles I had put on it. It will be great to see pics of it on the trails again since I am basically a web wheeler these days.

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halan sept 2010 021
 
89wrangler said:
As Ben said, it did. That jeep has wheeled all over the US and the friends and memories made from it are priceless. It was time to let it go as it has just sat for the last 5 plus years. I feel bad about the engine issue. I did not think there was anything wrong with it at all during the few miles I had put on it. It will be great to see pics of it on the trails again since I am basically a web wheeler these days.

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halan sept 2010 021
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I’m excited to keep it on the trails! No problem about the motor man. Stuff happens for sure! I appreciate you bringing it up to the flats for me.
 
Rear axle is out and sold, picked up a 14 bolt from @Dirtboy33. Went with the 14 bolt due to having the same gearing as my front axle and.... it’s a 14 bolt hahaha. To go along with the 14 bolt I got some goodies to help protect the axle thanks @Barnes 4wd. A 13 bolt shave cover and pinion guard.
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got the fuel cell moved to back to make room for a rear seat. Going to run braided fuel line to the tank from the Tahoe to help insure no leaks or holes on the trail.
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So in the process of cutting my 14 bolt to install the 13 bolt cover the blade on the recepercating saw tracked into the housing and created a hole :mad: After I cooled down I figured I would patch the under sided of the axle. We used 1/4” plate and welded that to the the bottom of the housing. We preheated the housing then used a MIG welder to attach the 1/4” plate steel then let that cool slowly. Hopefully it will hold together.
 
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Finally got the 5.3L motor in and motor mounts Tacted in. It took me a few try’s to get the motor lined up correctly and get the motor mounts where they need to be but over all I’m happy with the location and the motor mounts! The spacer and new flywheel worked perfect to mate this 5.3 up with the older 700r4 trans. Had a buddy of mine come over and finished welding in the mounts.

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To help me mount the motor up by myself a buddy suggested making longer dowels to help guide the motor in the the correct location since it was being difficult lining up.

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Also, since the welder was out we went ahead and welded in the seat bars complete.

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Up next will be getting the rear axle set up and the Jeep setting on all 4’s again.
 
While waiting on some parts for the rear axle I decided to finish out my seat mounts and get those installed, they turned out pretty good!
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I had some 5/16” flat stock laying around that I Made the tabs out of, should be plenty strong.
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On the drivers side the front tabs got a little long, was thinking about running some bracing in between to two brackets for extra support? For now this is how they sit.
 
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