Another fullwidth XJ buildup

[rok-jeep]

What I started with was a 1998 XJ sport (heat, air, electric everything) 4.0L, auto, 4 to 1 kit in t-case, slip yoke coversion in rear. It had 33's and teraflex coils with national rear. I sold all the old stuff to fund this build.

I re-enforced the unibody with 3x4x.25 angle. I made a new cross member that included the mounts for the front links. I have yet to install the PSC hydro assist kit I have for it, the Crok steering box/frame kit and the T and J Performance 8 point cage is waiting in the garage too. Needs rear shocks and the traction bar is waiting to go in as well. I have to thank Jeremy at Shaffer's Offroad for the gear and locker install. Hope it didn't get you in too much trouble. Oh and it still fits in the garage. MY GARAGE HAS A 6' 11' DOOR AND IT FITS IN AND OUT JUST FINE. ITS NOT AS TALL AS EVERYONE THINKS IT IS.
Here are the specs

Front:
Ford HPd44
5.38's
Detroit
8 lug coversion
stock shafts for now (will use as spares later)
spicer 756 joints

Rear:
Ford SRW D61
5.38's
welded

Tires:
38x14.5x15 TSL SX's on 15x10 pro-comp steel wheels

Suspension:
front- R.E. 7.5" coils
2" teraflex spacers
custom coil buckets and platforms
Extended radius arms with 1.75" .250 wall DOM 42" long
R.E. joints at radius arm ends
7 degree radius arm bushings
all new steering and track bar
Rear- 5.5" National springs
4" block for now
1.75" lift shackles

Drove her for the first time today. Glo took some pics and will post them up for me. Discuss. and flame away. Total took about 2 months of days off to fab it all up. Thanks to GloNDark for the "support"

IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO DISABLE THE FACTORY ALARM PLEASE SPEAK UP.

[GloNDark]

pics, this thing is bad ass. Once the cage goes in and we make some bumpers for it, we are gonna be pimping in style.

[GloNDark]

More pics (hope they turn out alright, my photo editor is fawked... )

[Christmasxj]

nice nice

i dont know if its wide enough im sure you wont have any offcamber problems lol

im buildn a xj/buggy right now going for narrowed idea are young gonna build bumpers? or buy some

[GloNDark]

last of the pics

[GloNDark]

Originally Posted by Christmasxj

nice nice

i dont know if its wide enough im sure you wont have any offcamber problems lol

im buildn a xj/buggy right now going for narrowed idea are young gonna build bumpers? or buy some

Build em, everything out there is too bulky and takes too much approach/departure angle away.

[rok-jeep]

Hey Glo....thanks for puttin' up the pics. Hope you feel better.

[offroadman83]

Very nice!! Makes me almost keep my cherokee and do the same thing to it, but I have a cj I am trying to build up instead. Very sweet though--------someday I will do this to a cherokee-----------Kyle

[IV WHLN]

Looks good Geoff. Makes me wish I didnt sell the ZJ. Give me a few years and I'll pick up another project (if your sister lets me). You'll love the AC durring those hot summer days on the Rubicon.

[tiny2085]

it looks like there would be a lot of bump steer do to how short the trac bar is compared to the steering link, have you cycled the suspension yet and checked it out ? Other than that, it looks super killer, any thoughts about hydro assist for the steering to help turn the new shoes ?

[squirriljeep]

That thing is huge! You could easily loose the spacers and blocks, and more.

[rok-jeep]

I was concerned about the bump steer with the shorter track bar but I drove it today and there was very little if none. The pic is a little deceiving. The track bar is only about 5" shorter than the drag link.

I wrote above that I have a PSC kit ready to go but I want to beef up the frame around the steering box first. When I pull the box to tap it I will beef up the frame at the same time. But I have it sitting in the garage ready to go in.

As for the height, I had to make it taller to keep from destroying the fenders when it flexes. As it is I am concerned that I will have clearance issues.I will try to see what happens in the future and make adjustments as necessary. The front coils are brand new so they will settle, I tried to keep that in consideration when I built it alittle tall. But hell if it stays tall and everything clears ok, then I'll have room to run 40's

[Wilson]

Needs bumpers and sliders in a bad way, but looks good. Much better family rig than the ice cream truck

[squirriljeep]

You already fabbed it up with full width axles, go ahead and cut the fenders. It will work a lot better if you lower it about 4" and limit the up travel.

...and a rear traction bar is definitly in your future.

...and work even better if you flip the rear springs.

...and those 38.5 SXs are testing those stock 44 shafts...you're thinking about 40s?!

[rok-jeep]

Originally Posted by squirriljeep

You already fabbed it up with full width axles, go ahead and cut the fenders. It will work a lot better if you lower it about 4" and limit the up travel.

...and a rear traction bar is definitly in your future.

...and work even better if you flip the rear springs.

...and those 38.5 SXs are testing those stock 44 shafts...you're thinking about 40s?!

Did ya' even read my first post?

As for the spring flip I thought about it but I am using this for a family crawler and I don't want to have to put a fuel cel in the back to make room for the added wheelbase. I may change my mind later though. The WB is at 105" now, I pushed the front forward a few inches. I have the traction bar built just have to finish the cross member for it. And as for the shafts, I know. Shaffer get a good deal on Superior and CTM combos(2 of his sponsors) and he's in our local club so we get a good deal on things

[rok-jeep]

Originally Posted by Wilson

Needs bumpers and sliders in a bad way, but looks good. Much better family rig than the ice cream truck

I finished the passenger side slider today and you can see it in one of the pics and the driver side will be done tomorrow. Bumper fab will have to wait for another day......I'm tapped for cash and steel is getting expensive.


I was thinking maybe orange and purple for the colors...what do you think Jeremy?

[WTF?]

Can you do a write up for how you installed those driving lights??? Please include the formula/calculations you used to aim those suckers...


But seriously, good lookin rig. If it were me, I'd trim the fenders some more and lose the spacers and 2" of block at the least. Again nice ride.

[rok-jeep]

Originally Posted by WTF?

Can you do a write up for how you installed those driving lights??? Please include the formula/calculations you used to aim those suckers...


But seriously, good lookin rig. If it were me, I'd trim the fenders some more and lose the spacers and 2" of block at the least. Again nice ride.

First you drive up to a garage door. Turn them on and make sure they are pointed in totally different directions

As for the lift. I have 2" blocks I can use but decided to run the 4" ones because this is still a family rig and I have a daughter that will ride in the back. I have cut the rear fenders out as far as I can without cutting into the cab. We'll see how she goes.


Besides a taller ride keeps the fat chicks out of it. Its really not that tall. I can drive it in and out of my garage without any issues. Its just tall for an XJ.

[IV WHLN]

I've a couple of buddys running the same spring and spacer set up on XJ's and they're not too tall at all. With the wider tires and axles that jeep should be pretty stable on the trail. I had a ZJ with 8" skyjacker coils and 2" spacers and it handled great on the road and never felt tippy on the trail. This XJ should work great for a grocery getter/ rock crawler. Again, nice job Geoff.

[rok-jeep]

Originally Posted by IV WHLN

I've a couple of buddys running the same spring and spacer set up on XJ's and they're not too tall at all. With the wider tires and axles that jeep should be pretty stable on the trail. I had a ZJ with 8" skyjacker coils and 2" spacers and it handled great on the road and never felt tippy on the trail. This XJ should work great for a grocery getter/ rock crawler. Again, nice job Geoff.

Thanks CT......it doesn't sit much taller than my F250 superduty with a 2.5" leveling kit on it. Like you said, its wide and feels stable as hell on the road. I just need to bleed the brakes and it will feel even better on the road.

I need all the height I can get to get over the speed bumps at the mall

[Todd W]

Sold the SWB for that

I take it you need more room for a family? Looking gooood so far


-Todd

[rok-jeep]

Originally Posted by Todd W

Sold the SWB for that

I take it you need more room for a family? Looking gooood so far


-Todd

Not exactly, I actually traded the CJ straight across for what I mentioned above. The axles were built and it had a d44 in the rear with 2 sets of tires and beadlocks, ARB front bumper and Durango rear. I was able to sell everything off it to fund this.

And yes now that I'm a dad I needed the room. I want to be able to take my wife and daughter on the 'Con this year.

We need to go hit the 'Con again. I'll try and keep up with you.

[ASTAR]

Looks great Geoff. About time you got something to come out and play with again!!!

[Todd W]

Originally Posted by rok-jeep

Not exactly, I actually traded the CJ straight across for what I mentioned above. The axles were built and it had a d44 in the rear with 2 sets of tires and beadlocks, ARB front bumper and Durango rear. I was able to sell everything off it to fund this.

And yes now that I'm a dad I needed the room. I want to be able to take my wife and daughter on the 'Con this year.

We need to go hit the 'Con again. I'll try and keep up with you.

Sounds like a plan! I`m bustin ass myself right now to do the front suspension of the buggy and some other stuff. Need to go through lil-sluice in the new rigs before it's bombed

[xtremexj94]

Are you sure you couldn't make it just a little wider? Looks like it might roll over on ya! LOL