Bucket O' Jeep

[BucketOKarma]

This thread is going to be my "Bucket Build" thread with pics as I add stuff to my 2000 TJ 2.5L SE.

Here goes! let me know what you think!


This is what it looked like right after I brought it home and threw US ARMY on the sides

http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/31064/2056205070103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/29666/2381584080103470922S600x600Q85.jpg
Smallest Jeep EVER


Problems:
* No backseat, nor places to mount one. (need one for Kaidiyn)
* No rear seat belts.
* Front seats were CRAP, didn't fit in the jeep, wouldn't slide, or recline, and they had what looked like homemade mounts bolted to the floor. The entire seat would move nearly 3 sideways inches on a turn.
* Gages would suddenly stop working while driving.
* In-dash speakers were crappy felt cones from what I think was an early 80's home stereo.
* Jeep wouldn't start for no reason at times, but ran fine when it did (this problem came back with the cold weather)
* Sony CD player that I swear was one of the first CD head units ever made. The damn thing skipped just if you had the jeep running (jeep didn't even have a AM/FM antenna)
* many many more minor things here and there

Good points:
* It runs
* Had less than 75k mi
* 4wd works

[BucketOKarma]

I found a set of '04 Willys Edition front seats at a junkyard in RI, $250 for both. Unfortunately they no longer had the matching rear seat. Drove out to RI, picked them up, and installed them the next day, very easy instal.

Went to the local junkyard and picked up 4 31" BFG ATs mounted on Eagle Alloy rims (less than fifty miles on the tires) for around $400. Tossed those on, lost a lot of power (mostly on the highway), but I love them!

At this point we are here:

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/28309/2455362970103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/7862/2289497940103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

[BucketOKarma]

Grabbed a set of 2" coil spacers with skyjacker hydros online for $235 altogether. I threw about 5 coats of rustolium on the shocks to delay the rot. My buddy stopped by just long enough to ruin all progress I seemed to be making at the time. I asked him if he could remove one of my rear shocks while I took care of the other. He snape'd one of the bolts, we couldn't extract it, so I had to drill it out I ended up drilling the hole too big Spent all day, and night, installing what should have been a very simple lift

Had a CD player with an aux port installed so I could plug in my iPod, and got a free "rubber duckie" style antenna with purchase. ;D

Removed the front "milk jugs" (bumper end caps)

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/43202/2210940660103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/41479/2335085690103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

[BucketOKarma]

Got a rear seat from another junkyard for around $300 with belts and brackets, and learned alot when trying instal it (under the el-cheapo carpet in the back, there were no mounting brackets, no holes, nothing!), the previous owner shaved the bolts for the mounting brackets, epoxied over them, and then painted over that. ALOT of drilling was required, but it's for a good cause, now my son can go riding in "Daddy's Jeep" worth it 100%.

Went to Home-Guido and picked up some Krylon Satin Fusion for the fender flares. came out really nice I think.

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/41738/2038211900103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

[distortedtj]

looks good bud

[dilligas]

Nice, whats next?

[BucketOKarma]

Nice, whats next?


I'm looking into a speaker-bar, re-gearing, tow hooks, 32"s, rocksliders/step rails, fog lights, driving lights, trail lights, and undercarriage armor and if I can afford it, a winch...... never done!

[cj5 buggy]

looks good, just be careful next thing you know you'll have 4 or 5 of them in different stages of array all around the yard.

[dilligas]

I'm looking into a speaker-bar, re-gearing, tow hooks, 32"s, rocksliders/step rails, fog lights, driving lights, trail lights, and undercarriage armor and if I can afford it, a winch...... never done!
Sounds good.

[gunnersmac]

Looks good, and rather familiar too. Mine is very similar, with very similar things done to it too. Keep up the good work bud.

[bigdog]

looks good i came across the power loss problem when i threw on my 31s but from what i hear 4.88s are the way to go

[vajeeper]

It's amazing how much a set of wheels and tires will change the appearance of a vehicle. Looking good!

[BucketOKarma]

looks good i came across the power loss problem when i threw on my 31s but from what i hear 4.88s are the way to go


I have been asking around and I'm told that you won't need 4.88 on the 2.5 till your running 33"s, but 4.56 is the way to go with 31"-32"s.... 4.88 with 31"s will be a little overkill and eat more gas than the way I'm running now. I'm planning on regearing to 4.56, then throwing on Rubi front springs to level it out, and toss in some 32"s..... Then the lift on this little 4-banger will be done and it'll be on to other parts of my "Bucket".... Thanks for the compliments.

[cknx77]

Nice project that you got going there!!

[BucketOKarma]

Added the MJ sticker, and went wheeling with the family.

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/8211/2961858840103470922S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/42686/2000783010103470922S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/41924/2605599800103470922S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/12028/2994149350103470922S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/40596/2880705420103470922S425x425Q85.jpg

Broke in the new Mil Jeepers sticker
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/40421/2129221920103470922S425x425Q85.jpg


More to come as my Bucket "Grows up"....

[notarubicon]

looks good

[miljeep]

Nice photos. I like the muddy MJ sticker pic. :)

[bigdog]

I plan on putting on a 4.5 or bigger lift here pretty soon and with that will come 33's so thats why I said 4.88s, sorry I didnt specify that before.

[ETSubchief]

Does look nice.
Guess i need to check out the local junkyard.

[BucketOKarma]

Does look nice.
Guess i need to check out the local junkyard.

Most of my parts come from three junkyards I trust around here. Even the Willys Edition front seats came from a junkyard, unfortunately I am unable to find a matching rear seat.

[BucketOKarma]

Went to Rausch Creek with [SIS]Offroad last weekend for a care-package run. We ended up getting alot of stuff together to send overseas, and had a great time wheeling. Here are some pics of "The Bucket" wheelin'.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0857.jpg


2'BB FLEX, Oh yeah! Heheheh, I know it's not much, but I've never been able to do flex pics... till now.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0862.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0969.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0870.jpg


Me crossing Rock Creek. My little (almost) stocker 4-banger TJ did pretty well, I think.


http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0897.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0898.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0901.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0902.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0904.jpg


"The Bucket" and three other [SIS]Offroad members near the comp course.


http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/SANY0929.jpg

[dilligas]

where did you get the cammo seat covers?

[BucketOKarma]

They are willys edition seats out of an 04, I'm still trying to find a matching rear seat. I'm also looking into the Smittybiult G.E.A.R. seat cover for the rear if I can't find a replacement.

[dilligas]

Thanks

[Carl]

These little 4 bangers are very ggod off roaders. They are geared lower and with the lighter engine, they climb alot easier over stuff.

I love my 4 banger too.

[BucketOKarma]

Got my ShrockWorks Rock sliders, and XJ front springs installed... I'll post some pics soon.

[HillBillE]

Got my ShrockWorks Rock sliders, and XJ front springs installed... I'll post some pics soon.

After looking at the pics crossing Rock Creek, I was gonna say, "Get some sliders!" Guess ya read my mind!:D

[BucketOKarma]

I finally uploaded pics of her after the free XJ front Springs and ShrockWorks sliders (not only the most expensive mod, but one of the best!). I have also moved up a tire size (32"X11.5"), got a Mil-jeepers text stiker on the hood, picked up some used half-door glass sliding windows, and got new lights!

First, the story:
I got the XJ springs off a friend that had just lifted his cherokee, and was going to throw away the old ones = free extra inch of lift in the front, WOOT! I love free stuff since I can't even afford smokes right now.

Got some $30 Hella 500s thanks to Amazon.com, and found some used windshield hinge brackets for $20 for the pair, but I don't play with electrical ANYTHING, so they didn't get installed for a while.

One of my friends got some 33" mud kings, but his stock YJ isn't going to clear them anytime soon. He kept asking me when I was looking to get rid of my 31"ATs. I thought about trading flat out, but I didn't want to deal with the loss of power. I also have another friend that had 32" ATs, but was looking to go up to 33" MTs. Thus the three way trade happened. My friend got my old 31"s, my other friend got the 33"s, and I got the 32"s, everyone goes home happy!


How it was the last time I posted:
http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/41633/2097877410103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

After the spings and sliders (and [SiS]Offroad sticker):
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43975/2609678620103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

As she sits now, with the 32"s, sliding windows, text sticker, and new lighting:
http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/43908/2267997010103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

And now for another view...

With the Wal*mart "Baja" lights, and 31"s:
http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/44976/2774094540103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

Now with the new lighting, and 32"s:
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/41632/2261183350103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

[TheRenegade]

Bucket:
looks good.
the ShrockWorks are great! have had mine on Bessie for 2 years! saved me a couple of times already...:D

[BucketOKarma]

Went out wheeling this past sunday. My "Bucket" didn't get very far, due to open/open and ATs, not mixing well with snow and ice, but I did get som pics, of what I was able to do.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1202.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1206.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1207.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1210.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1212.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m301/bucketokarma/SIS%20Offroad/Rattlesnake%20Rd/SANY1214.jpg

[BucketOKarma]

Renegade: I love my Shrockworks too, best mod so far!

[korisu56]

I was just about to start a thread about the fender flare paint. Looking good buddy. Hopefully we can wheel them together at Camp MJ :)

[MYOTHERTANKISAJEEP]

Looks good! Even just the slightest mod feels good dont it. Keep showin us what ya do to it.

[deckster]

good luck with the build

[BucketOKarma]

So While Edelbrock was having their HUGE shock sale I picked up some Xtreme IAS shocks for 3" lift. When you have a price like $120.00 for all four shipped to my door (regular price $524.00 for 4, shipped to my door), it's awfully hard to pass it up. The SkyJackers I have in the front were almost fully extended on flat ground (only about 2-3" of down-travel left), because of the coil spacers plus XJ springs (making it a 3" lift in the front).

Here is a pic of the front shock fresh out of the box
http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/44795/2602983470103470922S500x500Q85.jpg
Notice how it's mounted tube up/piston down, I think it's a much more logical mounting position.

So yesterday I was installing my beautiful new shocks in the front, and I realized something. I have extended BPEs in the rear and only 2" of lift back there.
Explanation why this is a problem: The rear of my jeep has stock coils, and a 2" coil spacer, okay no problem there... Due to previous Bar-pin failure, I got some pretty dookin bar-pin-eliminators, still good, in fact it gives my skyjacker shocks more down-travel since the BPEs lower the upper shock mount by an inch, awesome right? WRONG, the new shocks are for 3" of lift, and since I only have 2" in the rear, minus one inch for the new upper shock mount, that equals only one inch of lift (according to my shocks). That is fine for my skyjackers because the shock tube was short enough to allow for around 3" of uptravel on level ground. My new shocks have longer tubes, so instead of having around 3" of uptravel, I will only have 1-2", and that means a very rough ride if I don't do something about it.

Well, I'm doing something about it! Today I picked up some Crown-Victoria rear springs from Advanced Auto. I'm going to remove my old rear coils and spring spacers, and replace them with my new Crown-Vic springs. Since the crown-vic rear springs should net me 3-4" of lift, my new Edelbrock shocks should be a perfect fit even with the lowered shock mount.

I will take more pics of the new shocks installed, new coils, some of the work I'm doing, and the finished product, starting tomorrow.

[BucketOKarma]

I decided it was time to lift the rear of my jeep, since I have upgraded shocks that wouldn't fit unless I raised the rear. I went out and bought a set of Crown-Vic rear springs, since I'm on a tight budget, and I have heard good things about using them in a TJ.
I took out the stock spring and 2" coil spacer to make room for the new springs.
Here is a pic of the stock spring I took out of the jeep (left) next to the new Crown-Vic spring (right)
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/2829/2716859760103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

We had to cut off about an inch (a little bit more) from the bottom of the C-V springs to make them fit around the spring bucket perches.
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/45113/2028689860103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

Here they are installed with the new rear shocks, and the axle still dropped.
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/43275/2341683780103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

I didn't remove the coil spacer from the front though, it is now the last part of my 2"BB still left in the jeep.
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/44149/2146218190103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

[BucketOKarma]

This is what the "Bucket" looked like 5 minutes after we put it all back together and pulled it out of the garage.

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/44355/2666377500103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

It was sitting WAY too high in the rear, but after a couple days and about a thousand or so miles, it's settled nicley.

BEFORE the Crown-Victoria springs and new shocks:
http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/43908/2267997010103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

AFTER:
http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/17964/2308255220103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

Those are the same tires in both pics. I am very pleased with the results of this lift set up. A word of caution though, if you are planning on doing this, relocate or get an adjustable front/rear trackbar (I haven't yet). I also needed to to a T-case drop, my vibrations were terrible! Hopefully my SYE and CV shaft will get here soon, and I hope I ordered the right length CV shaft (16.5 inch). Other than that, I cannot tell a difference in the ride, except that my T-case drop has moved my shifter, and annoys me. The ride is still close to stock as far as I can tell.

[bluedragon436]

It is coming along nicely!! I can't wait to get my own bucket project!! Can't wait to see following updates!!

[BomberJeep]

Looks great man keep up the good work

[rroadkilll]

How much for the springs??? Link?

I'm about to put stock JK rear springs in on Friday... Should be about an inch taller that stock with BB...

I understand if you get front springs out of a ZJ or WJ V8 (I have to check) that also gives you 3"...


L@@KIN G@@D!!!

[tellish33]

"Bucket" looks real good! That was the right part number for those crown vic springs. They want $78 for them and $92 for 1996 V8 Grand springs. Thats all next day. I think I finally found the way that I am going to go with my TJ. Thanks again for all the help. What SYE and CV driveshaft did you go with?

[BucketOKarma]

I went with P.O.R.C. (Performance Off Road Center) SYE since they were the cheapest on the market right now, and everyone in my group runs them without issues. I don't remember where I grabbed the CV shaft, and I don't know if I got the right length (16.5") but it said it was for 3.5-6" of lift, so I figured I was okay. Later on, I found out that the claim for 3.5"-6" lift, was generic. I measured from the end of my T-case, to the middle of the U-joint by the rear pinion, and subtracted 3" to come up with the 16.5" length. Now I'm praying I'm correct, and also hoping that new control arms aren't going to throw everything out of whack (I need to correct my pinion angle by rotating the axle a little).

One of my buddies sold me Warn, gas tank armor (beefy) for around $50.

Grabbed a high pinion D30 front axle out of an XJ for $100, a little beat but over all not bad, and better pinion angles plus a stronger set-up.

And I got some Yukon 4.88 gears for sale, I can't remember the price, but it was right and I was moving up to 33" tires anyway. One of my friends did the rear end gearing and geared the "new" HP D30 front.

Ordered an OX cable locker for my new front axle (most expensive item purchased to date) in preparation for Camp MJ '09.

[BucketOKarma]

Sooooo.... It's been a while. I haven't done anything in almost a year to my jeep (do to my present location). The things I did do before this deployment haven't been updated so I'll try to continue where I left off.

I grabbed some wider fender flares and swapped them in a parking lot with a buddy.

Thanks to a few of my local jeep group members willing to go the extra mile and a half and a 72hr wrenching session, we got the SYE, CV shaft, HP front axle, OX locker, body mounted spare tire carrier, rear track-bar, ZJ tie rod, and a few other minor things installed for "Camp MJ '09" (in fact I was still making adjustments while en-route to Camp MJ, and had to do my first diff drain and fill while at the park)


This is the result (with the 33" tires too!).

Before:
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/46394/2071978340103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

After:
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/18455/2706981480103470922S500x500Q85.jpg


Some wheeling shots showing off the new gear.
Camp MJ '09, showing all the work put into the front end (axle, locker, tie-rod, track-bar, tires)

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/18121/2567472420103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

Camp MJ '09, Tire carrier...

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/11279/2970692560103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

MaBell, on four day pass prior to deployment. My jeep is finally looking like a grown-up next to my buddies jeeps.

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/45180/2316678030103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

[tellish33]

Jeep is looking real good!

[rroadkilll]

Will you be back to ROCK CampMJ2010???

[BucketOKarma]

Unfortunately, no. Still have about another month or so still left in country.

[BucketOKarma]

So, while I have been gone, the Mrs. got a jeep, a lifted XJ, she was very proud of herself, and she thought she could go wheeling with me when I got back. Unfortunately she got taken, and she had no clue till she brought it home. She was told that it had been "lightly wheeled", and that all the mods were for show. Thereason she was told why the couple selling it were selling was because they were splitting up and the the guy wasn't as interested in wheeling as the girl that was selling it.... anyhow, my wife didn't feel safe driving it one bit.
The vibrations made it feel like you were in a paint shaker, it sounded like a bi-plane coming from under the hood, the transfer case got so hot you couldn't touch the shifter (regular driving), steering was super sloppy, but it did have a flawless interior.....

This was the picture I got on my iPhone while mobilizing of her and the jeep

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/35013/2781081520103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

This jeep was supposed to be her daily driver, getting her to and from work and school, as well as transporting my son when she had him around. I have never felt so bad for someone as I did/do for her. She was SOOO proud about her purchase, then she found out she got taken, and felt unsafe as hell in it. She was crushed, and I think it turned her off driving anything lifted again.

Now for the reason I put this in my build thread:
We decided to do a part out, and granted, we didn't make up nearly the cost, it was more than what she would have gotten trying to sell it whole.
So I called "dibs" on the winch, the HD steering, and the CB.

Those items are waiting for me when I get home, along with a couple other things I have in the works.
(one of them will hold my winch and rhymes with "kettle-joke, tame-kilt-humper")

[Krelz23]

Damn dude that sucks.... but atleast you got SOMETHING out of it. glad to hear she was smart about it tho and didnt get hurt.

[BucketOKarma]

Okay, so I now have a winch bumper. Pulled the trigger on a MetalCloak "Frame built" bumper. Should be waiting for me when I get home.

Next pay-period, control arms!

Oh the wrenching, it will happen, and it shall be EPIC.... well, to me at least.

[BucketOKarma]

Damn dude that sucks.... but atleast you got SOMETHING out of it. glad to hear she was smart about it tho and didnt get hurt.


Thanks, lesson learned I guess :rolleyes: I too, am very glad she didn't want to push the limits, but I'm saddened that the whole thing has turned her off having her own jeep. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep training her in the ways of spotting :D


Sooo... My bumper came in a few days ago. I couldn't wait so I laid out all the parts to look at what I would be working with.

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/47242/2302969790103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

Then I refused to wait any longer, and decided to remove my front bumper. The bottom two bolts were stock and came out in the normal way (a good tug to break it free and then smooth sailing). Trying to take the top bolts out was a different story. On the first page I think I mentioned that I got some tow hooks from Tractor Supply Company, I needed hardware to instal the hooks too, and they came with bolts, so I figured "sweet".... CHEAP BOLTS! every one of them broke! I do not have the skills, tools, or patience necessary, to get them out without destroying the threading in the frame (needed in order to mount the bumper). So for three days my jeep sat like this:

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/46958/2121080270103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/47118/2494340550103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/46076/2524476370103470922S600x600Q85.jpg


I talked to my old man, and he said he would help/teach me how to get the bolts out, but not much more (my dad is of the mindset of "Teach a man to fish" vs. "Give a man a fish"). So, many hours later, we got the front two bolts out through the heat/cool/heat/extractor bit/cool/twist method.... but we ended up needing to chisel the other two out while red hot. They were welded with rust so much that there was no way to separate them, even after we chisled them out with the nutserts still attached. We ended up welding two nuts together and using those in place of the nutserts we had to remove.
We then needed to remove the winch from the steel plate that came of the XJ (Warn M8000). Not too much of a problem, the previous owner welded one of the bolts to the plate on the underside. Not a problem, we just used a surface grinder and ground the bolt off, then got a replacement bolt.

Just a pic of the winch still on the plate:
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/47178/2615419130103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

The rest of the assembly and fitment of the bumper was perfect. If it weren't for my use of cheap bolts for my first tow hooks, this job would have been from box to completely installed in under two and a half hours, and I'm not mechanically inclined at all!
The bumper lined up with everything, and the instructions were easy enough that my wife understood them (she generally doesn't understand much about vehicular maintenance). All said and done, with eight bolts holding directly on to the frame, and everything tight and snug, this bumper is not going anywhere!

The finished product:

http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/45521/2101313890103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/37235/2365499710103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

I'll get a couple "Before/after" pics of it in my usual parking spot with a real camera shortly.

[BucketOKarma]

I got all 8 adjustable control arms and finally had some time to put in the front two lowers. They are in, but it didn't help the "ping"/"clank" I kept getting when I would hit certain bumps, or lurch front to back and back to front (I was hoping against the odds that it was just my stock control arm bushings). Turns out that my hpD30 LCA mounts are slightly wallowed out causing the bolt to clank around in the hole if enough pressure is applied. So, before I go any further with control arm instal, I shall being talking to the guys over at Clayton Off-Road about their bracket set.

[BucketOKarma]

A few months ago I noticed the "ping" in my front end getting more frequent. Took a look at the front LCA mounts and saw this on the driver side:

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/21729/2784776620103470922S500x500Q85.jpg

So I took it to Clayton...

This is what came off:

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/46469/2627309060103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

... and these went on:

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/46732/2017016520103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/44237/2873457020103470922S600x600Q85.jpg

[BucketOKarma]

This past monday I got the front upper control arms (Ironman fab) in as well as the HD steering (I think it's Clayton) in the "bucket", FINALLY!

Unfortunately, every time I do something with the jeep, it seems I forget to take pictures... damn!

At any rate, the uppers and the steering were a frightfully painless instal and after taking some measurements and test driving everything seems like it's working better than ever. That's not to say there is any noticeable difference aside from the new uppers make less noise due to better bushings.
While I was under my jeep, however I did notice that I put the lowers in backwards and might decide to switch them in the near future (not a big deal just a preference of the manufacturer).

Another thing: It seems that when I installed my OX I didn't set it up "just right" and it doesn't engage properly (this is in no way the fault of OX). So I'm going to have to take apart the diff, make sure everything is lined up in there, and check the cable measurements at the shifter and make sure all that is just right as well. I know it's going to be a PITA but if I don't do it, all I have is a really expensive dana30 diff cover.

I'm looking for another set of fender flares (rubicon) since mine are red molded plastic that I painted black, so every rock chip or scratch shows the red underneath and looks like crap on my Black TJ with yellow accents. Also looking for a relatively cheap D44 or 8.8 already set-up for stock TJ use (used Rubi rear or already 4.88 gearing preferred).

I still have not set up my CB, and currently have rear uppers and lowers to instal, but as soon as I get a stronger rear axle (so I can lock it without worries), most of my build will be done. There are still items like a rear bumper, higher clearance belly skid, rear corner guards, more lighting, on-board air, cage.... alright the list does continue to go on...

The point of my build is to make a fun daily driver that can not only handle itself on the trials, but in many cases out-perform larger "better" rigs. When I am done, the goal is to have a daily that will overbuilt to the point of being almost unable to break itself on the trial (If I had a stronger rear axle, it would stall before snapping a shaft, that kind of thing), all the while being able to not only maintain but improve road manners. So far I am very happy with the results!

Yes, there will be pics, but not sure if anyone wants to see pics of components that have been upgraded thousands of times in a before/after format, like I would have to do at this point.

[BucketOKarma]

**** THIS JEEP!!!

Electrical gremlins.... again! :arg:

I have been having a start/no-start issue ever since I got the jeep. It happened at random and through the years I have put in new alt, batt, cables, cleaned the grounds, and cleaned the terminals. Each time I cleaned or replaced something, it worked again for a while, and then THE SAME ****ING PROBLEM, each and every time!

This time it seems different. The symptoms are the same.
Get in

Turn key to acc: everything works

Turn key to start: sometimes get a *click*, sometimes lose EVERYTHING, as
though the battery has just been disconnected completely.

Turn key again: nothing

Get out, check stuff, wiggle wires: 50% works/didn't do shit

If still not working: jump start/replace something = everything is fine for the next couple months.

This time everything went down the same way, but it seems compounded by low idle at first till it warms up, then it runs fine. However after a few minutes of either driving or idling, my voltmeter just climbs to the high end limit (19+) and sits there, even after you turn it off. Once it's off, you have to jump it again in order to get it to start. Pop-starts from my driveway don't work anymore (not enough power for ignition yet?). Battery is good (tested, holds a charge, and been changed with other batteries). Alternator tested poorly in the jeep, but fine when it was removed (unfortunately, I dropped it and broke it as soon as testing was over, bought brand new alt). installed new alternator, same goddamn problem. Cleaned all connections and grounds, still nothing. Jump it with throttle and it's up and running again, but will not start once turned off, again. Sometimes the voltmeter will not go down till after you try to restart it after (and of course, that will fail)....

Years after dealing with this start/no-start problem for the first time, I am now out of ideas.

[hazmatfast]

OK so here's one i know you have considered but are reluctant to try : 1) remove key 2) replace large thing on the end of said key and start from scratch let's say it's a new beginning ok so sarcasm aside have you checked to see if there is corrosion in the fuse relay box where the wiring runs in?

[Big Country74]

Look's good Bro.

[BucketOKarma]

Thanks...

I have the electrical problems sorted out for the time being (I hope).
Unfortunately my OX locker is out of adjustment so I'm back to being open/open till I can figure out how to fix it, or take it to someone that can do it right, because I obviously did something wrong.

I have a shimmy, but it's not too bad, think it could be tire balance (at least I hope) and will be fixed shortly.

Aside from that, nothing new to report yet.