I am posting this little build for a good friend of mine, David. David is the photographer. He wanted to show everyone on Pirate what we were doing in my garage at home.

Basically we are taking a lifted '95 YJ and turning it into a capable trail vehicle. The build list is always changing but here is a list of what he plans to put into the build.

Chevy D60 Front, 4.56:1, Lunchbox Locker
Corporate 14 Bolt Rear, 4.56:1, Detroit
Stock Wheelbase
Built Chevy 350, TBI
700R4, 2WD converted to 4WD
Dana 300
BTF Custom Cage
39.5x13.50x16 Iroks
Wheels are still undecided
Rubicon Fender Flares

Here are a few pics of where we were and where we are now...

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD530549.JPG

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD530552.JPG

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http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/HPIM2883.JPG

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http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/HPIM2885.JPG

http://www.axizdesignworks.comom/trantpics/HPIM2887.JPG

I will post some more pics when we take them.

stock wheelbase?


btw- there is a pair of Jeep forums:flipoff2:

your doing exactly what i want to do with my next build, but I have one question. Why are you keeping the stock wheelbase. For all the work your going to do it seems like a no brainer to gain a few more inches especially with the increase in tire size. Not flaming you, just want to know why your keeping it the same.

The Jeep's owner, David was considering going with the XJ springs in the rear for some more wheelbase. He has decided not to for now for financial reasons.

We will be doing some modification to the front spring hangers and shackles to set the width for the axle he is running which is 31 3/4". We plan to build offset shackles and move the buckets out about 3/8" per side.

Thanks for the pics...

Question: Is it me, or did you shackle reverse the back, but not the front?

If so, why?

Thanks for the pics...

Question: Is it me, or did you shackle reverse the back, but not the front?

If so, why?

:confused: Neither front nor back have been shackle reversed, so I guess it's just you

I really hope you aren't trying to use stock springs in this application. Those Wrangler springs will last one blip to the throttle or one hard stop before they turn into S's.

You guys might want to take a look at the "What leaf springs are you using" thread as it might give you a better idea on what will survive on the trail.

I can tell you that you'll need to add at least 2 leafs to the front pack and at least 3 to the rear.

We plan to build a traction link on the rear.

The front will have some leaves added to help with wrap and the weight on the new motor and winch.

Does anyone have a pic of a YJ on 39's at stock wheelbase?

Thanks,

I think all the money that is going into it already it is kinda pointless to not extend the wheelbase a little, even if you use waggy springs.

Also those shackles are a little big, don't you think?

39.5 Iroks, F+R 60's, 5.38s, 1.5" SOA. Stock wheelbase till monday.
288421

Keep the posts coming. In the process of collecting parts for a similar build. Are the axles staying full width? I'm on the fence whether to keep mine full width since I wheel in the east.

We will be posting more pics soon. We worked on it last night. Wheels and tires are mounted to the axles. We will be drilling the perches to move the axle back about 1 1/2". I made him some custom spring plates this morning.

Wheelbase extended 2" front and back for a total of 4" using 44044 waggy springs SOA, 40" MTR's

I'll be subscribing to this thread. Way to go BTF.

I will have some more pics to Matt on monday . We got the tires and rims mounted and installed friday night, and also two of the tie rods.I went to btf on saturday to buy some parts Matt told me I needed. The unfortunate thing about this build is I have a budget of 5000.00 dollars, We are trying to make the most of this amount of money.

Here are some more pics.

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20047.jpg

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20043.jpg

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20042.jpg

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20041.jpg

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20040.jpg

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20036.jpg
This is David, the Jeep's owner.

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/jeep%20build%2007%20032.jpg

We are thinking that the wheelbase will be around 97" after we stretch the front and rear with some offset perches.

I'll be subscribing to this thread. Way to go BTF.

We aren't doing this at BTF. It is in my garage at home. I am just lending a buddy the space to do the build.

keep it coming....

:D

We worked on David's rig again this weekend.

Plans changed and he decided to go with a SM465/NP205 combo instead of the automatic.

Friday night we stretched the front and rear 1 1/2" each with offset perches for a total wheelbase of 96.5". We offset drilled the perches on the front 60 1/4" each to reduce the perch spacing to 31 1/4". We then heated the front spring buckets on the frame with a torch and persuaded them to be wider with a high-lift jack. We then installed some 5" long BTF shackle plates in the front.

We got the motor, transmission and t-case over to my house on Saturday. We were ready to put it all in this weekend but couldn't find a flywheel. Our friend Mike (Cupples on the board) happened to have a new 350 flywheel at home. We got lucky.

So, the motor is mounted but the tranny mount still has to be fabricated next weekend. We have it strapped up for now but I can tell by looking at the pics that the strap is stretching. The t-case output will be higher than it is in the pics.

We are planning to use an old BTF link crossmember that Mike has laying around from his original springover and the stock skid. I think we will have to cut a relief hole in the skid for the 205. We will do that next weekend.

Thanks,

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD532889.JPG

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD532890.JPG

http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD532893.JPG

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http://www.axizdesignworks.com/trantpics/SD532933.JPG

Looks good. So are you going to do anything with the inner fender or just leave it open?

are you guys going to put longer shocks up front? i didnt see it in the build list. a friend and i put a soa on his 91 and back in october finally put longer shocks on it with shock hoops. btw this is my first post!! woo hoo :)

anyways, so excited about my first post i didnt finish it! his jeep handled so much better on road and off road just flexed really great. 2nd post! woo

we are planning to use the stock fenders and rubicon flares like the ones on the back.It will almost look like just a stock tall jeep. I wanted to do tube flares and extend the wheel base and cut the corners in the rear but I have a budget and I didnt think I could accomplish this at this time it maybe a project for later on this year. I just want to get it rolling now.

the shocks that are on there are off a 4 inch lift kit. we think that will be sufficent after we installed about a 1000lb of motor and trans. and t-case it lowered the overall height about 3 inches . If not we will definately fix it.

Looking good.

What springs did you use?
What is the BS on the wheels?
Did you buy or make your motor mounts ?


Thanks
Mike

keep it up. we are watching :bounce2:

stock yj springs. bs? I bought them made for this application.

He has Procomp wheels. They have about 4" of backspacing.

David, get this heap out of my garage so I can start on my TJ!

I am waiting on you for drive shaft info. You are just in a hurry to make mine look pitifull, compaired to yours. but thanks Matt for helping me and guiding me to build this heap.

Looks great guys. Welcome to Pirate Dave

I like the hood stickers where did you get those from? Jeep is looking great

James

Keep us posted with updates!

Looks like we will have to run a Tom Woods offset cross u-joint in the front. We are trying to stay with a conventional shaft.

The front and rear shaft will be made by Longview Driveshaft in Texas. We will be wiring and plumbing the motor this weekend. We also have to install a hydraulic clutch slave cylinder on the 465 bellhousing. David ordered a retrofit kit from Novak that should be here today.

We still need to rotate the rear pinion up and measure for the rear shaft. We also plan to get the transmision mounted and put a belly skid back on it.

We got the front fenders and grill back on it last night. It is looking good. Low and mean.