A quick background. I have been on this board since 2001 as Dusty Booger. Currently, starting a business and have a new sign on. Site should be up by end of month dirt-fab.com. My experience with the XJ is mostly grounded in my Jeepspeed build/experience.

I was talking to Pete, the owner of this Jeep and initially intended to R&D/perfect some front frame plates. During this conversation, he brought up the option of getting rid of the coils and replacing them with airshocks. I did some searching around this site and did not see too many examples that I really liked for mounting airshocks or coilovers on the front of an XJ.

The goal was to keep the stock body look of the XJ and sneak in an 18" airshock. The design would also entertain the idea of eventually replacing the airshock with coilovers. This is what I came up with.....

Couple more..

Many of the underhood components had to be relocated. The stock airbox was in the way so the engine cage also incorporates a bracket to relocate the air intake. We were careful to retain access to the oil filler and were able to maintain about 1/2" clearance from the valve cover.

Battery was relocated to the rear of the Jeep. Battery tray mounted with fender washers, which took some work to get access to.

wow very nice. I might have to employ your services for me xj. Pm in route

18" That's alot of travel.

The tubes terminate into the firewall, but that is not intended to provide much strength. The tubing terminates onto the frame plates welded to the unibody in two places on each side.

18" That's alot of travel.

I know its kind of ridiculous, be we did it just because it would fit without limiting up-travel. If he upgraded to a 2.5" coilover or airshock, it would have to be a 16" shock due to the longer collapsed lengths.

The full 18" of the shock is not usable right now since the track bar binds up before the shock is fully extended. Pete simply wanted a super flexy rig without a coil coming loose all the time. We have talked about redoing the trackbar & mount in the future.

You will also bind the front driveshaft at full extension at the cardon joint with 18" shocks, I have 16" on mine out the hood 6-7" and still have to run limit straps to prevent binding mine up and I am running 2.5, I found the 2.0's to be to soft for an XJ in my personal opinion,dang thing torqued all over the place with the 2.0's

This gives me BAD BAD BAD ideas... If my wife divorces me, I blame you! :laughing: :evil:

very nice work looks great. How does the cage tie in at the firewall?

The mounts look nice.

I bet he bends a radius arm with all that travel.

very nice work looks great. How does the cage tie in at the firewall?

The firewall tie in is mostly a cosmetic way to terminate the tubing. There is a simple washer with a nylock nut on the back side. Access to the passenger side was a bit tricky but doable.

Between the two welded tubes from the "frame rail" up the the shock mounts and the engine cage- its not going anywhere.

Here is a couple pics of gaining access to the P-side firewall....

Hope you ditched the stock motor mounts cause if not, a 1/2" of clearance isnt going to be enough between the valvecover and brace. An aftermarket set like the MORE offroad motor mounts will keep the motor from smacking around the engine bay.

AARON

when you relocated the battery how did you do the + cable I was looking at mine and it looked like it had half a dozen wires splitting off the stock one?

when you relocated the battery how did you do the + cable I was looking at mine and it looked like it had half a dozen wires splitting off the stock one?

It should have 3 going to the positive post on the battery. One to the starter, one to the PDC, and one to the alternator. You can replace them with separate cables.
Billy

It should have 3 going to the positive post on the battery. One to the starter, one to the PDC, and one to the alternator. You can replace them with separate cables.
Billy

Or one cable to a main power stud and then split off the three branches there, which I what I'm planning to do I think. I have the same battery case in the same location ready to install this weekend.

Did you run a ground all the way up to the engine or just to the chassis?

Nice set up! So you have any flex shots?

What purpose is this rig built for? Jeepspeed?

Or one cable to a main power stud and then split off the three branches there, which I what I'm planning to do I think. I have the same battery case in the same location ready to install this weekend.

Did you run a ground all the way up to the engine or just to the chassis?

I did that with my positive.

My ground attaches to the old rear seatbelt bolt... works fine for me... :smokin:

I did that with my positive.

My ground attaches to the old rear seatbelt bolt... works fine for me... :smokin:

Cool.


Oh and nice work on the shock mounts I'm going to be trying to stick 14" under mine maybe this winter, I like it.

Our driveline seems to work fine at full droop, I guess depending on your set up it may bind. Our caster change is minimal at full droop. We also had South Bay Driveline build our CV drivelines. So no binding here.......... Im still playing with the psi and oil level on the 2.0 air shocks. I guess we will see if they feel ok this weekend at the Rubicon.
Here are a couple of shots from the 4 Wheel Parts summer sale in Oakland Ca
I got a few pictures from a cell phone that was there...lol we maxed out the RTI ramp with no tires lifting. Also took on a couple of cars...

You will also bind the front driveshaft at full extension at the cardon joint with 18" shocks, I have 16" on mine out the hood 6-7" and still have to run limit straps to prevent binding mine up and I am running 2.5, I found the 2.0's to be to soft for an XJ in my personal opinion,dang thing torqued all over the place with the 2.0's

After using the RTI ramp , the trac bar does not bind anymore. it clearanced itself ..LOL....
Im sure we will change a couple of things after the Rubicon trail next week. but for now it seems to work pretty good.
Here is a pic of it Maxing the RTI ramp. Oh and by the way thats my little nephew.

I know its kind of ridiculous, be we did it just because it would fit without limiting up-travel. If he upgraded to a 2.5" coilover or airshock, it would have to be a 16" shock due to the longer collapsed lengths.

The full 18" of the shock is not usable right now since the track bar binds up before the shock is fully extended. Pete simply wanted a super flexy rig without a coil coming loose all the time. We have talked about redoing the trackbar & mount in the future.

Couple of pics are up and ill get a few more.. The sole purpose behing the budget XJ build was to be a Rock Crawler , With alot of flex. lol
we are just having fun with it ...

Nice set up! So you have any flex shots?

What purpose is this rig built for? Jeepspeed?

Not yet.... we have had it out to Hollister to play so far... but Rubicon next week ill keep you posted.

The mounts look nice.

I bet he bends a radius arm with all that travel.

Our driveline seems to work fine at full droop, I guess depending on your set up it may bind. Our caster change is minimal at full droop. We also had South Bay Driveline build our CV drivelines. So no binding here.......... Im still playing with the psi and oil level on the 2.0 air shocks. I guess we will see if they feel ok this weekend at the Rubicon.
Here are a couple of shots from the 4 Wheel Parts summer sale in Oakland Ca
I got a few pictures from a cell phone that was there...lol we maxed out the RTI ramp with no tires lifting. Also took on a couple of cars...

Have you hung it on a rack to see how it looks with both sides dropped out ?
I hope the 18"s work for you.

IF you do hang in on a rack, it might be a good idea to disconnect the driveshaft BEFORE you lift it up... that way if it DOES bind, it wont break while you are checking.


Just sayin'...

might want to flex it out with the passenger side front tire up, drivers down, the DS will have to travel more.

18" is a lot!:smokin:

We have Flexed it both ways on the RTI ramp and no problems ... I dont know if Dirt-Fab.com has drooped it out on the rack yet.. ill ask...i have drooped it with coils and rs999036 shocks on it and no problems..

At full droop on the rack, I did not get the 18's to fully extend due to the track bar binding up. The tierod was locked up pretty good as well. We can always install some limit straps if things start to break. Personally, I think 14-16" x 2.5" coilovers would work best on this rig if the budget was not tight. However, the original intent was to build a relatively cheap crawler to go play with. We also wanted something different that has not been done a million times. I think we achieved that goal.

Pete is going to try real hard to break it next weekend. We will keep you posted. I bet it does better in the rocks than my Jeepspeed that cost 5x's as much to build.

when you relocated the battery how did you do the + cable I was looking at mine and it looked like it had half a dozen wires splitting off the stock one?

Here is a shot of what I did. We still need a boot to cover the connection for safety that is not on in the picture. The stud/mount was from Waytek.

Or one cable to a main power stud and then split off the three branches there, which I what I'm planning to do I think. I have the same battery case in the same location ready to install this weekend.

Did you run a ground all the way up to the engine or just to the chassis?

I welded a tab to the tube work that the engine grounds to. The battery grounds to another tab welded to the unibody "frame" towards the rear of the Jeep.

I drooped it out on the rack today... track bar binds on bracket. (easy fix)
draglink is maxed at axle but still have room at pitman arm.
Driveline still turns but touches a little at cv. I think we will strap it back 2 inches. I cant imagine having to jump this thing ...but what if??? I cant believe it pulls 18 inches or 45 mount to mount....lol this thing is crazy..lol
Rubicon Thursday night we will see what happens...

any feed back on psi and oil amount to run>>>>??

Nice fab work, and some very good new ideas. Yes, nice to see something new and well thought out.


Look for me on the 'Con Thursday night, we'll be at Buck Island. We can talk a little about the air shocks.

Jeep did great,,, i have a few things i need to change ..of course the trac bar setup and rear shackle hangers, other then that it went pretty much anywhere..
Here are a couple of pics from the weekend at Rubicon

Here is my attempt at the soup bowl.... I almost had it..lol
I had to get a tug from the Dirt-Fab guys .. Then right after i got out of the way , there was a youngster driving a buggy and he just walked right through it....lol its was pretty cool to see him make it with no problem...

How did the 2.0 air's work out? Were they too soft?




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Looks fun, did you make it to buck?

Looks like you could move the mounts up some as your tires are not fully stuffed?

Looks like you could move the mounts up some as your tires are not fully stuffed?

There is still 3-4" of up-travel left on the shock in that picture if you look close. If we moved the shocks up, it would need bumpstops. :D The axle gets real close to oil pan at full compression.

Here is my attempt at the soup bowl.... I almost had it..lol
I had to get a tug from the Dirt-Fab guys .. Then right after i got out of the way , there was a youngster driving a buggy and he just walked right through it....lol its was pretty cool to see him make it with no problem...

If you get a "Real" locker in the front of that thing- you can walk up Soup Bowl any day.

Driving the Con with 33" tires, trussed axles, & full fiberglass that sticks out past tires made the trail a challenge to get through clean. It's probably the 1st Jeepspeed to hit the trail. Good times!

There is still 3-4" of up-travel left on the shock in that picture if you look close. If we moved the shocks up, it would need bumpstops. :D The axle gets real close to oil pan at full compression.

Sorry I misspoke, move the mounts down. Getting rid of the excess uptravel not being used. It is nice to have some stroke left for a "bump" as you say.

How did the shocks work? I have Walker 14's that I'm looking to install this winter.

If you get a "Real" locker in the front of that thing- you can walk up Soup Bowl any day.

Driving the Con with 33" tires, trussed axles, & full fiberglass that sticks out past tires made the trail a challenge to get through clean. It's probably the 1st Jeepspeed to hit the trail. Good times!

Gonna ask if the Jeepspeed ran the trail! That's cool. :D Always figured you could build a dual purpose Jeepspeed and trail rig pretty easily.

How did the 2.0 air's work out? Were they too soft?




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nope they seem to work fine

we didnt make it to Buck ... we went in and out a couple of times but no further than Spyder....