SlimPickins

I think I'll go and pull my heater out now. LOL maybe that is why it isn't working.

darknezz

It will at least tell you if that is the problem. Mine still died 4 days after because the brushes in the motor were so worn. $27 at autozone for a new one lifetime warranty.

Got the jeep aligned today. They said my driver wheel needs a 1.5 degree ball joint to correct the camber

but my steering wheel is straight and it feels much better.

I still think I need a new steering box though, durango box will be in the future.

darknezz

Been a bit longer than I'd hoped but today I ordered a set of 4-6" RC lift shocks and 4.5 springs from topguncustomz on ebay for $269 shipped. Then a random t-case drop kit.

I scored some s10 packs a bit back too.

So now I just need the hardware for the leaf packs, u bolts and some yj brake lines and I should be able to throw on my lift then get some new control arms.

The only other things I've done to my Jeep is fixed power to my cabin lights and put LEDs in them and put led strip lights in the foot wells front and back and the cargo area. Nice to have light though.

Oh I dont think I said this, I did my seafoam then a gunk motor flush and put it some o'riley 5-30 full synthetic, they said its made by shell. All that quieted the engine alot and its keeping good oil pressure and seems happy.

And got a new stereo, a nice pioneer with usb, front aux input, 3 sets of preouts and all the equalization and level adjustments I could need. Made my sub and whole system sound 50x better compared to my old stereo. For only $36 bucks

When I get some goodies in the mail I'll take pics and of course pics of the install whenever that happens.

I really need to do my diff, trans and xfer case fluids still, fix the muffler, get new injectors and a fpr

it never ends

darknezz

some little stuff and pics

yesterday I put in my new pads that have been sitting in a box since I did all the other front end stuff, while at it I put in some junk yard YJ lines, yay.




a bit ago I painted the trim around he windshield and the grill black, I also took off the pinstriping, molding on the doors, the 4.0 and cherokee emblems and sanded the jeep and 4x4 emblems to silver.


much cleaner now, cant wait to black everything else out and paint it black too


and here is what has been waiting in my living room, just need a t-case drop, grab the rear yj brake lines and some hardware then the lift will commence



thats all for now I think

darknezz

It will finally be done.

Just got my leaf springs situated today, new center pins and clamps from local 4x4 shop for $30 and my xfer case kit in the mail from ebay for $25.

Heres what I ended up with for $40 from the JY, its a 95 s10 utility truck that had 2 leaves added in the original packs which they didnt do right in on the truck.


and the packs off it, one separated obviously.
I wont be using the 2 leafs at the top, just the 2 s10 leafs then the 2 added leafs.


Heres after cutting the ends off and stacked up.
I see I have some backwards but yeah.


PITA to get the old clamps off


after the lift im worried about my sway bar and control arms.... But oh well.

Lif to commence this weekend!

Biceps McRipped

Good progress so far. I really like how you have done all the necessary maintenance before the lift. Thumbs up for a job well done!

darknezz

I was so excited to have everything that I started today!

Heres most of the parts


And the old out, I was able to pop the old springs out after lowering the suspension all the way.


HARD to get the new springs in, without proper tools like a coil compressor... So down with the control arm and with some cleverness with a jack a piece of 2x4 and my foot the new spring was in.



Repeat on other side, new track bars in but not bolted to the body, shocks tires and everything is back together just no final pic as it was dark.

REAR TOMORROW AND MORE PICS!!!

darknezz

moar pics.



yes sway bars still down..



Please help my control arms.... anyone have/know any for cheap?


This is the xj main up to the s10 main and second then the 2 added leafs that were on the s10 then the xj shorty bottom leaf for an overload. Hopefully its not too stiff......................

The 2 out at the bottom are the xjs old.



and the rear down.

I thought I took a pic of the BP out but I guess not.
Both packs and shocks are in just the drivers side isnt bolted up all the way due to mosquitos eating me alive...

No problems with any bolts, like the upper rears ive heard horrors about

*NOTE* TO ANYONE DRILLING THE LEAFS to 3/8....
These things are TOUGH. I went though a few drill bits then bought a new "for tough metal" bit and it ate it. Ended up using a concrete bit and after 4 holes it was done for too. This was on a BIG drill press too...

Anyway it will all be done tomorrow and I'll see what I get out of the packs, shooting for 5.5-6" so it settles at 5"

Komodo89

keep the good work up buddy i really like this thread good picis and info

darknezz

^^ thanks


well im Fing pissed.

Somehow I only grabbed one set of u bolts so last night I only got the one side leaf pack bolted down.

So today I went to get the other set, JY closed. Called the ONLY 4x4 shop in town, closed, called EVERY other auto parts store in town and they only have 2 1/2 or 2 7/8 u bolts not 2 3/4.

SO IM STUCK

wtf is wrong with places to not carry such a common size ubolt!

Guess its my fault for not having all the parts I needed though....

darknezz

It was all put in the next day, new u bolts all the way round. just been busy.








As expected, its way too stiff in the rear with those thick added leafs, I'll be removing the longer thicker one and put an xj one in its place as well as removing the bottom xj overload while using shackles to make up the extra height and get some better shackle angles.

For a week I ran without a swaybaar and didnt do a toe adjustment... after a week death wobble started at 50mph+ when hitting bumps. so I put my sway bar on, with stock links, and did an alignment and tire pressure. Takes everything at 70mph now nice and smooth. Also put my t-case drop on after a week, It wasnt bad vibes before but definitely better now. I went and tightened the center-pins and everything up again too, like your supposed to.

Lost some tread not doing my toe too.... It was off by almost an inch.

Extended quick disconnects will be here thurs.

And so for the last couple weeks it has really been dragging on the starts and actually left me stranded a few times. It would sometimes just turn key and click no turn after you were just driving it, other times just crank sooo slow it wouldn't start. Got a new battery, cables and terminals and cleaned all connections, didn't help. Got a new starter, it starts up sooo fast and sound completely different now. So I have all new of that stuff now too.

^_^

Oh and a new key cause mine broke, and new speakers all the way round cause I totally blew my rears then my fronts started popping.





AND BEST OF ALL....DUN Dun dunnnn Look what I found where the muffler used to be but fell off, Under the vinyl in the rear passenger side floorboard and under the rear seat. Mother Fing Hooray.



Luckily it is THE ONLY spot in the whole rig that has rust. But very soon I will be breaking out the welder and make a new floor panel and fix my exhaust. Then the rubber vinyl on the floor now will be removed, wires re-routed and I am going to bed-liner the interior floor.


I'll get some more front picks after the new links are on and the t case drop. Now I just need new adjustable control arms and bigger tires

darknezz

I put my adjustable quickdisco sway bar links on today. Feels great around on ramps.

better front pics tomorrow.

next thing is dealing with the exhaust and rust....

darknezz

matyjasz

1 leaf helped a lot
Great thread mate, can't wait for updates, as I'm expecting to follow Your way the most
Not born a millionaire

darknezz

thanks, thats 4 leafs up to the xj main then the xj bottom though ^_^

So total price I have paid for the lift SO FAR which includes: Coils, Shocks, Quick Discos, Adjustable Track Bar, YJ Brake Lines, Leaf Packs /w Hardware, T-Case Drop

Is..... $460

Add another $260 for fully adjustable lower AND upper control arms then some $40 shackles to take some leafs out and get better angles. So another $300 and I should be totally set on the lift.

As far as replacing everything else up front and all the other work and maintenance I've done that has come close to $700.

So so far, $460(lift)+$700(parts)+$240(Jeep) = $1400

I guess thats not bad since they're are unmodded jeeps in the same shape as mine that dont have anything new for $1000+ on clist all the time.


Anyway I just wanted to give some price stats for those that are interested. Thanks for watching everyone, hopefully soon I can get some actual wheeling pics up here!