[RockRodHooligan]

Originally Posted by kabowabo

You need to ride by the Pull a Part here in Winston. I pulled a D44 there in Nov and it was $99 and some change out the door. I go by there every week, PM me when you're looking for something.

I love Pull a Part! I've pulled an XJ and an MJ 44 as well as helped a buddy pull another XJ 44 from the one in Indy. I think we have about $200 in all three of them.

[Wolf92XJ]

Just found this thread...(deployments and such) and I didnt know that there were any guys near me. Im from Raleigh (stationed in Korea right now) and I will be back in Sep. Im transfering to Bragg. I think we should all get together and pool our resources to get your rig, my rig and the others rig hooked up.

[leftlanetruckin]

Originally Posted by 99Greenmachine

It's easy to get on here and feel overwhelmed when you see rigs like Erics, and Leftlanetruckin and bmyohn and so on and so on....... those guys seem to have the ability to drop $500 here...throw down $1000 for something fancy...must be nice (there's no jealousy there....no sir )

Just noticed that comment.....
I cannot speak for anyone else besides myself, but I dare say Eric etc are in the same boat as me.
I am 40 years old, married with 3 kids, mortgage, etc etc etc. But I have been doing my job for over 19yrs, so am pretty high up the food chain so to speak. It takes a LONG time to get to the point where you can drop a grand on a few bits n pieces, or however much we are talking about.
When I was younger, there was no chance of me being able to spend the money I do on the Jeep, jet ski's etc etc etc, so don't feel bad at all.
For my .02, there is absolutely NO NEED to feel over whelmed etc. I would wheel with you anytime, anywhere regardless of how "built" your rig etc is. As you get older, you figure out not to giver a crap about what someone else has or doesnt have, but how that person acts etc. You seem like a nice guy to me, so the offer stands
I dare say in 5-10 years you will be buying stuff I can only dream of, so it all balances out doesnt it?

Martin

[iwishihad1]

I never imagined when I started wheeling my XJ that it would end up the way it was now. heck, I never even knew you could lift cherokees, or that so many people wheeled them.

after joining jeepforum, i started out with a small 4 inch lift, and some 30s. found a good deal on a set of 33s, so i snagged them up. then found out about lockers, and how much they improved trail ability, so i locked it f/r.

ran it like that for a while, and then made the jump to 35s. at this point i was beating on it pretty hard, and regularly, and said heck with it.

now its got hydro assist steering, built 44 front, 8.8 rear, locked f/r, snorkeled, interior gutted, and hercd, 3 linked, etc. spending time now seeing what my next best move would be, and im thinking about 4 linking the rear.

for me ive never really cared about cosmetic stuff so much. with that said, i still think ive got one of the cleanest jeeps i wheel with. everything ive done, ive tried to do right, and not look like a hack. fenders look good, hood vents came out good, 44/8.8 all had good components and look nearly factory sitting under there.

now people see a jeep like mine and probably think ive got an insane amount of money into it. when in reality ive got less in it the some people ive wheeled with on stock axles and 35s. Ive looked for deals on craigslist, done all work on my own (other then the gear installs) and had a good group of friends that help each other out.

got my waggy 44 through a deal on tires...free
8.8 rear 200
38X12.50 superswampers with 60% tread 300 bucks
RK 3 link..pirate4x4 vendor for 480
driveshaft had built locally for pretty cheap

so it really is all in the deals, and what you want to do. Unless your running a winch, ive never seen the need really for an aftermarket bumper. ive had the stock bumpers on mine since day one, and tow hooks/rear points have been all ive needed. no need to go around the woods carelessly bashing into stuff. that alone saved 500+ bucks.

Ive done the majority of purchasing stuff through summer jobs making 10 bucks an hour, and no spending money on stuff I didn't really need to.

[99Greenmachine]

Originally Posted by Wolf92XJ

Just found this thread...(deployments and such) and I didnt know that there were any guys near me. Im from Raleigh (stationed in Korea right now) and I will be back in Sep. Im transfering to Bragg. I think we should all get together and pool our resources to get your rig, my rig and the others rig hooked up.

Heck yea man, I'm prob going to be living in Raleigh full time now from here on out, I hail from Alamance Co. Just let me know man if you wanna wheel cause I'm always willing to go haha

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

Just noticed that comment.....
I cannot speak for anyone else besides myself, but I dare say Eric etc are in the same boat as me.
I am 40 years old, married with 3 kids, mortgage, etc etc etc. But I have been doing my job for over 19yrs, so am pretty high up the food chain so to speak. It takes a LONG time to get to the point where you can drop a grand on a few bits n pieces, or however much we are talking about.
When I was younger, there was no chance of me being able to spend the money I do on the Jeep, jet ski's etc etc etc, so don't feel bad at all.
For my .02, there is absolutely NO NEED to feel over whelmed etc. I would wheel with you anytime, anywhere regardless of how "built" your rig etc is. As you get older, you figure out not to giver a crap about what someone else has or doesnt have, but how that person acts etc. You seem like a nice guy to me, so the offer stands
I dare say in 5-10 years you will be buying stuff I can only dream of, so it all balances out doesnt it?

Martin

I appreciate your comments. As detailed in the build previously, it's just frustrating when I can't even save enough $$$ to get a bigger lift kit. I guess I'm just impatient as all when it comes to this hobby. I just wanted to have enough lift, lock-ability, and protection before I went to the ORV parks which I still haven't gotten to yet. Of course I could take mine as is and tear up the thing, but I was just lamenting that fact. I know that in a few years I'll have more cash, but i want to wheel NOW

Originally Posted by iwishihad1

I never imagined when I started wheeling my XJ that it would end up the way it was now. heck, I never even knew you could lift cherokees, or that so many people wheeled them.

...

Ive done the majority of purchasing stuff through summer jobs making 10 bucks an hour, and no spending money on stuff I didn't really need to.

I definitely know about deal-hunting haha in fact, I would consider myself rather welll versed in that area. My friend is still willing to give me his 97 ZJ for free which I plan to take advantage of sometime soon

I already have found some good deals. Sadly, some of them are just sitting around (cough......4.56 D44 gears........cough) but I recognize that fact whole-heartedly

[stevieboy]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

Just noticed that comment.....
I cannot speak for anyone else besides myself, but I dare say Eric etc are in the same boat as me.
I am 40 years old, married with 3 kids, mortgage, etc etc etc. But I have been doing my job for over 19yrs, so am pretty high up the food chain so to speak. It takes a LONG time to get to the point where you can drop a grand on a few bits n pieces, or however much we are talking about.
When I was younger, there was no chance of me being able to spend the money I do on the Jeep, jet ski's etc etc etc, so don't feel bad at all.
For my .02, there is absolutely NO NEED to feel over whelmed etc. I would wheel with you anytime, anywhere regardless of how "built" your rig etc is. As you get older, you figure out not to giver a crap about what someone else has or doesnt have, but how that person acts etc. You seem like a nice guy to me, so the offer stands
I dare say in 5-10 years you will be buying stuff I can only dream of, so it all balances out doesnt it?

Martin

Well said Martin...well said

[leftlanetruckin]

My offer still stands.
I will wheel where you can wheel without tearing your rig up with pleasure.
I know all about impatience, but remember it takes a LONG time to be in a financial position to afford the toys.
All our cars (Jeep and a Range Rover) are paid for, as well as the jet ski's. That makes it a LOT easier to have disposable income IMO.
None of our stuff is brand new (98 Jeep, 98 Range Rover, 03 and 05 Honda Aquatrax's), but that enables us to enjoy the stuff we have without having payments.
So keep being patient, keep your priorities in the right order and try to resist the "quick fix", meaning getting finance on everything!
Dont get disheartened, it took the vast majority of us a loooong time and many sacrifices to get where we are today (I have to work away from home and family for a month at a time)
Martin

[99Greenmachine]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

My offer still stands.
I will wheel where you can wheel without tearing your rig up with pleasure.
I know all about impatience, but remember it takes a LONG time to be in a financial position to afford the toys.
All our cars (Jeep and a Range Rover) are paid for, as well as the jet ski's. That makes it a LOT easier to have disposable income IMO.
None of our stuff is brand new (98 Jeep, 98 Range Rover, 03 and 05 Honda Aquatrax's), but that enables us to enjoy the stuff we have without having payments.
So keep being patient, keep your priorities in the right order and try to resist the "quick fix", meaning getting finance on everything!
Dont get disheartened, it took the vast majority of us a loooong time and many sacrifices to get where we are today (I have to work away from home and family for a month at a time)
Martin

Well let me say this...if you ever get in the Carolinas, let me know and we will wheel it up at Uwharrie ORV.

I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. One of my biggest goals in life is to not incur debt so I'm just going to slowly build her up def not getting extras where I can't afford them.

Every time I look at your rig I just start so I guess I just need to stop it and look at some of the stockers haha

[99Greenmachine]

Sorry it's been so long guys. I've been in over my head with college priorities and just haven't had a chance to update much.

Spring break for NCSU is next week and I plan to spend it working on the Jeep. Mainly just some maintenence more than anything. Here's what's going on these days:

-Exhaust manifold crack is getting worse. Not throwing CEL, but I can smell exhaust fumes all around the Jeep and the power has suffered as a result. I will order this week and install a new APN next week. It is top priority at the moment.

-D44 is still sitting on jackstands in my basement. I am going to take it to a machine shop and have them weld on the shock mounts cause I'm tired of waiting on finding someone to do it for free. I plan on putting in the old axleshafts and getting her ready to put under the XJ. I was going to wait on stevieboy to sell me his leaf springs, but I haven't heard anything out of him and I don't have the $$$$ anymore anyway. SO, I'm just going to run them on my flat, shippy ones instead. I am going to try to get my friends ZJ over break too so that I can get the disc brakes for free. I am definitely not running the drums. I will need to know the part #s for hardline/softlines I will need. Bottom line is that I want to get the D44 in ASAP so I can try to sell the 8.25 off.

- If I still have time and/or money, I'm going to try to change out my front axle shaft ujoints cause it's time to change them.


So I just thought I'd update yall, I do still have the Jeep, although it's just hard to work on in a dorm parking lot haha.

It's funny to think that I was going to sell it a while back. I apologize for my lack of forward thinking at the moment.

Look forward to a week of pampering my baby and wheeling the piss out of her

[justanotherjpr]

Congrats!

[grovesb2]

Changing the exhaust manifold is a job for sure. I did it on my 97 sahara before i sold it. U have to take off the whole intake and the LHS engine mount gets in your way of getting the old exhaust manifold off. BTW i had to get a special tool for getting the fuel lines disconnected. Goodluck with it. I wish I still had the link for a DIY but i lost it.

[leftlanetruckin]

Originally Posted by 99Greenmachine

Well let me say this...if you ever get in the Carolinas, let me know and we will wheel it up at Uwharrie ORV.

I appreciate your kind words of encouragement. One of my biggest goals in life is to not incur debt so I'm just going to slowly build her up def not getting extras where I can't afford them.

Every time I look at your rig I just start so I guess I just need to stop it and look at some of the stockers haha

Normally I am in the big rig if I hit NC or SC. Wonder how my lockers would work on the rocks

Sounds like you have got it together and have a good plan so far as debt goes. That is what screws too many people up I think.
Shame you aren't closer, as that welding wouldn't be an issue at my place...Seeing as I just made this for a Range Rover:


Hell I would have welded a whole rig for you, if you had done all the grinding on that damn bumper

Martin

[99Greenmachine]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

Normally I am in the big rig if I hit NC or SC. Wonder how my lockers would work on the rocks

Sounds like you have got it together and have a good plan so far as debt goes. That is what screws too many people up I think.
Shame you aren't closer, as that welding wouldn't be an issue at my place...Seeing as I just made this for a Range Rover:
Attachment 107772

Hell I would have welded a whole rig for you, if you had done all the grinding on that damn bumper

Martin

Well, maybe ill cross the Mississippi one day finally and come wheel it out with ya.

I'm sure there's someone in NC that would weld my D44, but trying to find someone to do it for free is a pain. I'm just going to pay the $10 or so and have a machine shop do it for me. I appreciate the offer though

I actually don't mind grinding that much, its actually kinda relaxing in a way although when I was doing it last time it was in the most humid part of the summer which sucked.

[IzaJeepThang]

Glad to see you didn't sell it man. When I bought my Subaru, I traded in my 96 XJ 2 dr, it was lifted and such, 5 spd, I loved it. Spent a month rebuilding the drivetrain after the T-Case split in 10 pieces, only to trade it into the dealership for a measly $750. Hindsight is always 20/20, but it was the biggest mistake I could have made.

[Project1]

Man ... your jeep is lookin NICE!!!