XJ Build

[BryanDowdy]

Spec's:
'84 XJ
350 w/TBI (Cam, .060 over, Intake, HEI)
Built TH350
Atlas2
D60s F/R Locked w/Spartans
42" PBR's
Coil Springs
4-Linked F/R
Full Hydro
Exo-cage

How I got it:


Tear down:





Motor back together:


Building the tranny:



Notching the frame for the sbc:

[BryanDowdy]

Starting the frame plating:






Got the motor mounted:

[BryanDowdy]

Beadlocks on and anti-conning rings:





Cleaning up the front 60 and plating the knuckles:


Some clearance grinding:


Trussing the axles:

[BryanDowdy]

Upper link mounts and links:



Front links in:


(Frame side lower mounts got lowered some & more triangulation after this)

Fabbing the lower links:

[BryanDowdy]

Flexing to get some measurements:

[adamusmc2002]

Looks like lots of good progress, glad to see your thread updated. Those lower links are unique, I like em...question though, why did you do a fourth link in front, are you planning to not run a pan hard? I've heard and read that there's a potential for over constraining the axle with four links...maybe that's just with y link setups (?). Regardless, love the progress, keep it up. Your current state is where I hope to be in a year or so. What is your wheelbase at?

Adam

and are those 42's? nevermind, saw it in your beadlock shot.

[XJLI]

this thing has come a long way...

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by adamusmc2002

Looks like lots of good progress, glad to see your thread updated. Those lower links are unique, I like em...question though, why did you do a fourth link in front, are you planning to not run a pan hard? I've heard and read that there's a potential for over constraining the axle with four links...maybe that's just with y link setups (?). Regardless, love the progress, keep it up. Your current state is where I hope to be in a year or so. What is your wheelbase at?

Adam

and are those 42's? nevermind, saw it in your beadlock shot.

The reason you triangulate at least the uppers or lowers is to keep the axle centered, so no need for a pan hard. On a 4-link with both uppers and lowers straight you would need a pan hard. The wheel base 120".

[adamusmc2002]

Cool, so they are triangulated enough to eliminate the pan hard, awesome. Guess I've never seen anybody be able to pull 4 link triangulated in the front, due to oil pan clearance and such.

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by adamusmc2002

Cool, so they are triangulated enough to eliminate the pan hard, awesome. Guess I've never seen anybody be able to pull 4 link triangulated in the front, due to oil pan clearance and such.

Yeah its not as common as a 3-link. Normally you do not run mechanical steering with a 4-link do to steering issue while cycling the suspension, but there are some on here who have. So I think that is the main reason most do not run a front 4-link.

[GreatWhiteXJ]

You had a decent amount of followers with your old thread. I'd ask Ash to deleted this one and just update your old one.

Shit my threads 2 years or so...


Rigs lookin badass tho...

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteXJ

You had a decent amount of followers with your old thread. I'd ask Ash to deleted this one and just update your old one.

Shit my threads 2 years or so...


Rigs lookin badass tho...

I just searched my past posts, its not there. I'm thinking I may have deleted it, cant say why.

Once both of our rigs are done we need to meet up. I grew up on the trails around Ouray but never been to the real ones in Montrose and toward you in GJ. Need someone to show me around.

[BryanDowdy]

Found some time this evening and got the steering ram mounted.

[BryanDowdy]

Picked up a 203 & 205. The 205 is just 10 spline. Going to machine a couple and just run the 10 spline. Will be upgrading to a atlas eventually, so I do not want to spend the money to convert it to a big bearing 32.




Also started on the cage

[adamusmc2002]

You're totally re-motivating me to push on with my 1ton build! Love the progress, looks sick!! How are u going to suspend the rear? Ive got a set of stock xj coils i planned to use.

[GreatWhiteXJ]

Cage looks great man! Looks almost identical to one Im doing on a friends rig.

And we will definatly meet up! Im sure there will be a rally at somepoint with OneTonXJ, Freerider, myself and someother badass XJ's.

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by adamusmc2002

You're totally re-motivating me to push on with my 1ton build! Love the progress, looks sick!! How are u going to suspend the rear? Ive got a set of stock xj coils i planned to use.

Thanks. Got a set of stock TJ front coils that I am going to try in the rear. They seem soft.

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteXJ

Cage looks great man! Looks almost identical to one Im doing on a friends rig.

And we will definatly meet up! Im sure there will be a rally at somepoint with OneTonXJ, Freerider, myself and someother badass XJ's.

Thanks, it's my first cage. Plus I pick my work apart so I already am not happy with it. I have 3 other people wanting cages, so I'll get some more practice. That sounds like a blast! When are you aiming to finish your rig? I'm hoping for mid June, working on it every minute I'm not working for a living.

[GreatWhiteXJ]

Same. Although I cant say that Im dedicating every minute to it. Im waiting on the last few parts so Im causually finsihing up all fab work. Im hoping around the same time tho.

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteXJ

Same. Although I cant say that Im dedicating every minute to it. Im waiting on the last few parts so Im causually finsihing up all fab work. Im hoping around the same time tho.

I have a class later this month that will eat up 2 weekends, so that could slow things down. But still hopeful. I'm lowering my expectations to get it done, like coils instead of air shocks. I'm ready to just get the dame thing done and use it. I'll upgrade later.

[Timmys99XJ]

man i wish one tons wernt so damn hard to get for a reasonable price! i love the look of you rig man keep the updates coming!

[aircruiserxj]

Wow your XJ is almost a 1:1 version of an R/C rock crawler I just got done building! Awesome fab work man!

[BryanDowdy]

Originally Posted by Timmys99XJ

man i wish one tons wernt so damn hard to get for a reasonable price! i love the look of you rig man keep the updates coming!

14B are cheap. I only have 900.00 in the front 60. It's all stock and running a lunchbox locker. Still stronger than a built 44. You couldnt build a 44 that cheap.

Originally Posted by aircruiserxj

Wow your XJ is almost a 1:1 version of an R/C rock crawler I just got done building! Awesome fab work man!

Thanks

[GeneticDisposition]

Originally Posted by Timmys99XJ

man i wish one tons wernt so damn hard to get for a reasonable price! i love the look of you rig man keep the updates coming!

Hate to junk up your tread but just want to toss it out there. I am almost ready to run my tons out of a 94 ram. 60 front 70 rear picked them up for $150 at a swop meet by me. Also picked up a 60 front spare for 150. Not the most well used axles but I doubt I will have an issue with them. Still serious beef

[BryanDowdy]

Got a good bit done over the weekend.

Other side of the cage and roof. Still have X bracing and rear bumper to do. Will have 2 X brace going through the cab as well.

[BryanDowdy]

Front bumper/winch mount. Also got the steering link shortened and installed.