Finally! The axle is in. Notice all the broken drill bits from drilling a stupid broken crossmember bolt.





Only a few other items to install then I can set it down on its own weight.

 

Broken bolt being drilled out. What a pain! Burnt several bits and broke many. Finally got it drilled and tapped with a 3/8" bit and 7/16-14 bolt.




Not bad for a garage alignment.

 

Few shots of the crossmember and long arms.

 

Needs bigger tires!

 

Next project is the AC system. I don't mind not having it (sometimes), but I regret removing the system. Even though the majority of the parts needed to be replaced. I should have left it in there and replaced as needed...

Needs new compressor, condenser, receiver/drier, AC lines, flush, vacuum (and hope it holds) then fill. Luckily I may have access to the equipment needed to flush and fill the system. Just need to acquire parts for the AC. I should have done this last year!

And I may need a new blower motor switch for the dash and blower motor resistor. Prior readings on here and JF, have convinced me that it will need to be replaced. I haven't removed it yet, but I do have a significant voltage drop when I turn the blower motor on.

 

subscribed...jeep has come a long way...wonder what mine will look like in a couple of years

 

Thanks man. I wish I did the long arms from the beginning.
The first cut is the hardest, after that you will want to cut anything you can.

 

Some random shots since the last update... I think it is time for some 33s

 

Found this spot by my work. Took a few photos

 

Also replaced the track bar yesterday. The Rough Country I had on there served its purpose for the time being, but I have had so many problems with the heim joint. I have replaced it way to many times already and even though they have a lifetime warranty on their parts, it gets annoying having to replace the same part over and over again. Especially after just over a year of running this part. Luckily for me, I have only one Rough Country part left on my Jeep and that is the shackles. Hopefully I don't run into problems with those.

Iron Rock Offroad top and Rough Country bottom.



Installed the IRO track bar.




Got it aligned again after replacing some steering components and now the steering feels tighter. There is still some play in the gearbox. If after I adjust it there is still play, I will opt for a replacement/upgrade.

 

Oh, and if you ever decide to take a week vacation where I work... you will come back to this. No this is not my desk but a co-workers that myself and a few others decided to "decorate".





Last time he took a week off he came back to Justin Beiber plastered all over his desk.

 

nice build man! good thread for that matter, diggin the fact you linked all the parts on here. makes me want to upgrade all the more. looking forward to the next mod. sub'd!

 

Thanks! I'm not sure what the next mod will be. After the alignment I noticed more play in the steering gearbox, so that may be the next mod. Still on open diffs and factory 3.55s but it does okay for where I go at the moment.
33s, lockers and 4.56s hopefully next year!

 

Took the kids out to Mormon Well Road earlier today. Decided it was a good time to get out of the city for several hours.




The trail isn't that bad, Class II for the majority of it. With the rain we had over the past month, some parts are washed out and do require 4 wheel drive to get through.

Entered Peek-A-Boo Canyon when we noticed the thunder and rain clouds forming above us.



Living in the desert, storms happen within minutes and flash floods in the mountains come without warning. I didn't want to take any chances after seeing the damage from the last few rain storms.

Stopped for a snack at Yucca Forest and showed the girls a few wild animals. Their first time seeing a Big Horn Sheep, which is rare if you never leave the valley.



Ran into a some people in some really expensive SUVs. A Land Rover on factory 20s and a Mercedes M-class on either 22s or 24s. I didn't take any pictures of them as I was wondering how/why they drove 20 miles on this trail. People usually wave if you let them pass or they let you pass, but these people were stuck up so I just let them be. Maybe they were dumping bodies out here or something.

 

Haven't updated this in a while. Just been driving it... and that's about it

Took the kids up to Mt Charleston



Thermostat got stuck open on the way down the mountain... so I had to fix it in the freezing rain. Otherwise we wouldn't have any heat in the below freezing weather.



The fluorescent hood light was a gift a few years ago. It plugs into the lighter and clamps onto the hood via a spring clamp. It works flawlessly and is fully adjustable. Plus it is IP65 rated (dust tight and water proof).

The aftermath of driving in the desert snow. Nothing like Utah or Washington snow that I grew up in.



Smittybilt jack (Hi-Lift clone) after a year of being mounted in the elements. This is no bueno!



Replaced my front chrome KC Daylighters with black KC Slimlite 130w long range. Mounted the Daylighters on the roof rack and now I have a ton of glare on my windshield

Tested them out last night and it is literally DAYLIGHT inside the Jeep with them on. I hate it. My last 2 vehicles with the same lights mounted on the roof never had a problem with glare. These may be mounted too far forward.




Looking at other roof rack options. I built this one about a year ago and it is the width of the factory rails and almost the length of the roof.