Some may not call this hardcore, but I thought I'd post it up anyways because it's not everyday you see an MJ built.

I'll post up pics of this build as I make progress.

This is what my '89 MJ used to be, stock drivetrain, axles, 7.5" lift, 33's, etc.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01110.jpg

The Plan:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01168.jpg

The Goods:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01167.jpg

How It Sits:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01169.jpg

Eventually it will have a 383 with a different trans/t-case in it, but for now I'm going to run the stock drivetrain and frankenstien driveshafts (trail rig only). My choices of parts and attitude on this build reflect this plan.

The front is a kingpin HP60 out of a 89 Ford that I scored for $100 (whole burnt truck, got a D70 with it too). We just put 5.38 gears and a lockright in the front. Front suspension will be the top 3 or 4 leaves out of the rear spring pack on that same F350.

Rear is a FF14B plan on 5.38 gears and welded spiders with a disk brake conversion (ruff stuff) and pinion guard (great lakes). We had to rebuild both axles pretty much inside/out. Stock MJ leaves will be used in the rear. Plan on a full Detroit in the future.

This project is being built for the purpose of me learning, and it is being built on the cheap. I built my MJ to where it was, and plan to push the envelope. A good buddy of mine is helping me implement my plan. I have yet to totally figure out steering (full hysteer or crossover with hydro assist) and brakes (different MC and booster).

I'm going leaves because I want to 4-link it in the years ahead but I am in no way that advanced yet. It will be a 4 person truggy with a front facing seat or 2 buckets in the bed that will have legroom space cut into the floor hopefully. Full exo, but no jungle-gyms here.

I've read Pirate for years now. I have read, not posted, because the search function really does work.

I'll keep everybody posted on our progress. Flame away!!:flipoff2:

sounds like a really good MJ in the making. wish i could find a HP60 for that cheap to go in my pile. post pics and specs of the front leaf conversion. ive seen a few done but most dont post the specs or a decent pic of how they set it up.

looks like a good plan...i'm doing an XJ right now...what's your plan for sheet metal???

Oh man,that thing's gonna be sweet!!!.Hardcore in MY book.Looks good and be sure to post lots of pics of the progress.

Are you gonna leave the bed at the stock length?

You're going to want it shorter, I'd think. I've got 37s on mine and added 2" in the back and 3-4" in the front, and the belly is getting dragged a bunch. But, I'll admit I haven't wheeled it much with the 37s.


Good score on the axles. I wish I had some 1-tons. But I'd have to narrow them.




Oh, psst, www.comancheclub.com. All the MJ guys seem to eventually get dragged over there.

you want flames: unibodys suck and Comanches are for girls :flipoff2:


just kiddin...looks like it'll be a good build...you got anything big planned to strengthen the "frame"? I wouldn't worry about not linking it for now...you never know you might be one of those guys that just wants to stay with leaves.

I had never really given these things much thought till a guy in our club started lookin into them, I found him one at a junkyard (pretty much complete though) he turned it down and next thing I know I'm thinkin about gettin it :shaking:

keep us updated on it

sounds exactly like mine cept i have a chevy front end and a d300
plus less sheet metal

good luck

I've seen your rig before in pics I think on old MJ maybe. I am planning a similar "learning build" on my YJ. Good luck man, sounds like it'll be a good build.

sweet project. built mjs are as bad as it comes in trucks next to yotas. i will be watching this thread for sure!

sweet project. built mjs are as bad as it comes in trucks next to yotas. i will be watching this thread for sure!

Mini trucks maybe.... :flipoff2: I guess I am partial to my J10 on 38" TSL's, D60 Prorock front, FF14B rear.

Looks like a sweet build though. What are the plans for the front sheetmetal? uptravel? Narrowed front? Full hydro steering?

Good things to come! I just purchased an 88 MJ with intentions similar to yours. Keep us updated.

are you going to rework the cage in the rear and tie it into the cab or is that some kind of skeleton for a tarp? :flipoff2:

are you going to rework the cage in the rear and tie it into the cab or is that some kind of skeleton for a tarp? :flipoff2:

Good call for a skeleton for a tarp, that's what it is.:flipoff2: That's what Christmas break and a new welder get you. Did that a few years ago. The axle/tires are the current project, the exo/bumpers and rear seat will be an entirely diffrent project. Hopefully they will be done by March but I am not holding my breath.

As for the sheetmetal, I'll be hacking into it significantly, probably to the top of the bodyline and almost to the front of the door. I'd like to keep it to the wheelwells, but we'll see. We actually have the rear axle mocked up with tires, it sits a little higher than in the pic. The exo tube will be the new fender "flares". I have to cut out the rockers, rusted to shit and hope to put a piece of chromoly in their place as a slider.

As for "unibody" strengthening, I will be plating some of it I'm sure. I still have to get the control arm drop brackets off that I have and torch off the CA mounts to get a clean surface. This will be next week's project after we get the rear gears in and bolt in the 14.

Are you gonna leave the bed at the stock length?

As of now, yes.

I'll only gain a couple inches if I bobbed it, and to me that is not worth the effort. The rear leaf shackles are back pretty far. If I link it someday I will chop the hell out of it.

Besides, the rear seat will sit between the wheelwells and I need a place for a fuel cell and a spare. That should eat up all the room I have.

For Michigan wheeling it should work well, I am sure there are places where space will be tight, I'm hoping the exo will help with that. I may drag, yes, but it should perform a bit better than 33's and open diffs.:)

No rig will ever satisfy 100% of your needs, so I'm rolling with the punches.

Really cool buildup. Looking forward to seeing it progress.

Heed my warning then. Don't get careless out there without a cage. The amount of weight you're adding to your rig is a tremendous step to what you have now. It may seem insignificant right now but when you're rubber side up it makes a BIG deal then. I know from experience. I would get the exo going soon after.

Heed my warning then. Don't get careless out there without a cage. The amount of weight you're adding to your rig is a tremendous step to what you have now. It may seem insignificant right now but when you're rubber side up it makes a BIG deal then. I know from experience. I would get the exo going soon after.

I agree - I won't be wheeling the rig much until the exo is done. I want to do it in stages so I can see progress and don't get burnt out or run out of money. I've already rolled this rig twice, once on its top, once on its side. I cut the top off, bought an MJ cab, cut that in the exact same spots, and welded that roof on. Thus, I will not be doing that again, and my ass will stay on all fours until the exo is built, not even a slight risk will be taken.

The rear gears will be going in tomorrow, as well as welding up the spiders, setting the pinion angle, and cleaning the front end up of old brackets.

As of now, yes.

I'll only gain a couple inches if I bobbed it, and to me that is not worth the effort. The rear leaf shackles are back pretty far. If I link it someday I will chop the hell out of it.

Besides, the rear seat will sit between the wheelwells and I need a place for a fuel cell and a spare. That should eat up all the room I have.

For Michigan wheeling it should work well, I am sure there are places where space will be tight, I'm hoping the exo will help with that. I may drag, yes, but it should perform a bit better than 33's and open diffs.:)

No rig will ever satisfy 100% of your needs, so I'm rolling with the punches.

Nice choice of Rigs. I'm doing a similar build with and 88 and 1 tons. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

I went ahead and bobed the back and you would be surprised how much you can wack out of it. It's more then a couple. I took 8" out of the bed and my rear shackles are right even with my tail gate.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/479000-479999/479208_199_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/479000-479999/479208_201_full.jpg

Looks good. Keep the pics comming. I will be adding 2 seats and a cage,39's, aw4, and 5.13's for my next round of upgrades. I love the look of the commanches.

Black Ram- clean chop! Same taillights I have in mine now, I pop-riveted steel to the sides to cover up dents from my second roll through.:grinpimp:

I'll have to look at the dimensions again on what I could gain.

Progess is slow, as my finace just had a family tragety. I will put up a post in a week or so, we should make some headway by then.

Thanks for the comments.

comanches seem to be a great base as a project, shame we dont see more of them.

Well, finally here are some progress pictures.

A shot from the front.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01186.jpg


A shot of the rear spring hanger (still has to be finished and plated into the unibody for strength).


http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01187.jpg


A shot of the front corner - ready to make crossmember (and yes, most of the weight of the front is on the jackstand)


http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01192.jpg

A shot of the rear.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/lawnman323/DSC01190.jpg


Next step is to make the front crossmember, finish the rear hanger points for the front springs, then driveshafts, steering, brakes, bumper, etc. And a whole lot of fender cutting in there somewhere.

lookin good. keep the pictures comin

I really like it. When do we see wheeling shots?

I really like it. When do we see wheeling shots?


I'm guessing mid-March at best, latest would be end of March. That's just the axles, not the exo or anything else.