DATE: 10/13/2008 23:56:53 / MOOD: happy

I've kind of been winging my XJ buildup, finding used parts here and there.  Maybe if I write about it here, I'll have a little plan to follow, so lets see...

I started with a 99 XJ 4.0L auto with about 120,000miles.  Pretty much stock except for the Custom 4x4 front towhooks.  I found a lift for it consisting of Rusty's 3" coils and leafs, fixed LCAs, a RE1600 trackbar and some no name shocks.  Sold the factory Ecco wheels and picked up some 31x10.5 BFG ATs on bling chrome wheels (Outlaw II maybe?) from craigs list.

Life was good, but I always thought it had a forward rake, and the tires were getting into the front fenders.  I didnt have the heart to cut the fenders yet, so I found some 1" spacers.  Thats's when the DW started, so I changed out a bunch of front end parts, added a HD Big Daddy Tie rod, sway bar discos to match the lift, ZJ pitman arm (0.75" drop).

Tires were still hitting the front bumper cover, so I found a double tube bumper for the front, kept the Custom 4x4 towhooks.  Added a rear tow hitch, so now I have a rear towpoint.

Anticipating more lift and still chasing DWs, I picked up a RE1660 track bar with HD bracket and crossframe brace.  I've been looking for some adjustable LCAs, finally found Full Traction LAs and brackets, plus the tcase skidplate.  If removing my current control arms doesnt cure the DWs, I think I'll change the balljoints...I think I've changed everything else.

I'm waiting for the mailman to deliver some 2" spacers I found.  I guess I'll need a 1" longer shackle in the rear to keep it level.  This might get me into the SYE zone.  I think next set of tires will be 33's, might need to lose the 3.54 gears and upgrade to 4.56.  Of course that's the best time to drop a locker in the 8.25 and maybe the D30.

Someday I may try to fab up a gas tank skid off my towhitch.  I'll need to get some rockrails welded up too, I like the doors to keep opening and closing.

Its a Jeep thing...can you tell I havent put much thought into this

View Entry

DATE: 06/02/2008 00:13:25 / MOOD: feel like wheelin

The frame of my CJ has been hurting for a while now, rust has been taking over.  A few years ago I booger welded the drivers-side rear spring hanger back on.  Then last year I welded up a crack in the front, but didnt do a good job, and the crack came back.

So this UREfest comes along, I say screw-it and enter the race part.  I think it was about 3 miles thru Uwharrie Nat'l Forest.  I was catching good air, and generally beating the snot out of my CJ....it was fun as hell, but I knew this would be the last nail in the coffin for my CJ in its current state.  I placed 4th or 5th (depends who you talk to).  My post race inspection showed the crack I tried to fix was now bigger and better, plus I found another on the opposite side of the same frame rail.  I'm surprised the rail didnt twist and snap all the way.  That was the worst damage, but also the passenger side bent way back and has a killer ethnic lean to it.  I tried to blame my navigator, but he said, not my junk, not my problem.

The poor Cj has been sitting a few weeks now, I havent been showing it the love.  But now I found this donor CJ, pretty good frame, plus lots of parts I can stash...T176, D300, widetrack axles (D44 rear), and pretty good soft-top, good seats, plastic 20 gallon tank.  The plan is to pull all the parts off, prep/paint the frame, then move my drivetrain over to it.  I still need a tub, so give me a shout if you know of a cheap YJ tub for sale.  Now how long do you think this project will take

 

View Entry

DATE: 05/05/2008 09:44:17 / MOOD: disapointed

major bummer this weekend

I towed my CJ to Uwharrie Forest yesterday to make a few passes around the race course for of next weeks 4x4 Festival.  Everything seemed to be going great until my Jeep just died.  It was parked right after the difficult ledge on Rocky Mount Loop, I had it parked and idling, we were scoping out the best line and just BS'ing, when it started idling bad, then stalled.

We were thinking the electric fuel pump died, cuz it wasnt buzzing with the key on.  My buddy in his Sami couldnt quite tow me up the hill, so the group behind us was kind enough to pull, my ass to the end of trail, a guy in a Rubi.  Well, we unhooked the strap, he took off, then my CJ fired right up .

So we still suspected fuel pump, we drove out of the forest, called another buddy who was en route, he stopped and picked me up an E2000.  We ate some lunch, my friend arrived with the spare pump and we rolled on, up Daniel trail.  Once again, we got to a steep part and it started sputtering then gave up.  no problem, we changed the pump right there, but that didnt quite do the trick.  We wired the pump directly to the battery, and everytyhing seemed good.  I was behind my 2 buddies as they were flogging their Samis on the hillclimb when my CJ started sputtering again.  I knew I only had a few seconds, so I hammered up to the top, passed them, then it died on top.

now to make matters worse, I've been having another issue with my starter/flywheel.  All this cranking, trying to diagnose the fuel pump, I don't think there's any teeth left on the flywheel.  We were pull starting the hell out of my CJ, but the new fuel pump still wasnt delivering enough fuel.  I think my problem is in the fuel pickup, or maybe just  clogged filter.  I'm tempted to cut a access hole in the tub and inspect the tank/sender, but now the flywheel is toast, I'm gonna have to pull the tranny just to fix all this mess.  I think it might be time just to rebuild the whole CJ, solve the tub and frame rust, electrical rats nest, tranny/flywheel issues, etc, etc... 

And it looks like I'll be missing the the first URE 4x4 cross race

View Entry

DATE: 05/01/2008 15:16:35 / MOOD: feel like wheelin

So there I was, sitting in the center pooper here at work, staring at the plain gray walls, and the generic off-white tiles with an occasional blue tile randomly placed, when something caught my eye.  Scribbled on the cardboard box that holds the sanitary seat covers was the following..."Here I sit making another manager".  LOL, in my 10 years here, I don't think I've ever seen anyone mark up the walls.  I just wanted to share. 

View Entry

DATE: 04/24/2008 00:05:57 / MOOD: happy

If my CJ had windows...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd876iqGdT4

 

View Entry

DATE: 04/03/2008 23:09:51 / MOOD: feel like wheelin



View Entry

DATE: 01/21/2008 00:12:22 / MOOD: feel like wheelin

Check it out...

http://www.americanwhe eler.com/4x4Cross.aspx

I'm not really sure what to expect, but the race portion sounds fun.  So fun, I signed up ready to try and win cash and prizes.  I hope I don't damage my Jeep too much, but if I do, I'm sure I'll be having a blast .

I'm signed up in the  Modified Stock class, but that has a 35" max tire size.  If I can't find some decent priced 35" BFGs , I might bump up to Modified, see if me and my 36" SX's can hang with the 38"max pseudo-buggy guys....double the prize money though.  We'll have to see, if the weather is dry, I might just roll with my bald street tires, 35" BFGs

 

S o who else is in? 

View Entry

DATE: 09/03/2007 23:16:02 / MOOD: happy

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

---Cliff Clavin  

View Entry

DATE: 07/01/2007 01:13:22 / MOOD: disapointed

So I'm mowing the lawn this morning, and I'm noticing tons of clippings, and I'm like wtf!?  I did the back, then I was on the side and I noticed in my turns I was scalping the lawn on one side, so the lightbulb in my head went off that something was wrong with the deck height.  Sure enough, the rod that holds the deck up had broken {grrrr}.   I adjusted the anti-scalping wheels to hold the deck up and finished, then pulled it in the garage and spent the rest of the day with the family.

Everyone goes to sleep, I jet over to my buddy's house and weld up the broken rod.  He's in the middle of a Sami build, so we shoot the chit for a while.  I get home at 11pm, park in my driveway, reach over to pick up the rod from the passenger side footwell....and I notice a huge puddle of water!  Looks like somethings up with the XJs AC  system leaking into the footwell.  Great, I bust out a flashlight and take a peak...confirmed it was the AC system, but I got no time to monkey with it, I need to finish the mower.

So it just struck me as funny (funny-$#$%^%, not funny ha-ha), here I was wrenching on my damn lawnmower, when I have 1) a leaky fuel tank on my CJ, 2) a diesel fuel injection pump to install on my Ram, and now 3) the stupid AC is leaking on the ol' reliable XJ.

 

View Entry