Rock Lizard Project Jeep of the Week - April 4, 2005

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 12:09 AM

Actually, this is a project I have been working on for my buddy Andy off and on for a few months now, and this latest project finally got him back on the trails. I know it is not a Cherokee, but the suspension setup is based off the XJ, because of how much better the wheel base and coil/leaf combo works on the trails around here.

This is another stretched TJ with the leaf spring conversion in the rear (very similar to Dirk's monster), but on a smaller scale. The rig got all stretched out, setup the 4:88 gears in the HPD30/8.8, locked front and rear, finally got the RE long arms in, and this project was the icing on the cake. We had to have the RE LA belly skid before we could do this. We built a traction bar, which is very important to prevent axle wrap. When we stretched Andy's TJ, we used a stock XJ leaf pack with a donor stock XJ main leaf as an AAL, and mounted it backward from how it is mounted on an XJ, which gives an extra 5.5" wheelbase.

OK, so onto the traction bar. This was a pain in the butt, but the end result was awesome. We started out with a pile of stuff: some 1 3/8"x .250 wall DOM tubing, 2" x 3/8" bar, some axle brackets we designed up with a neat custom look, shackle, bushings, some RE SuperFlex Cartridge Joints, and a few other odds and ends.

We took the 3/8" bar, an RE SF joint, and a cradle we made from a piece of hitch tube to the joint would sit into, and welded it all onto the top side of the RE LA belly skid, and mounted that back to the TJ.

Then we had to mount the axle brackets. I rounded the bottom points since we decided the brackets looks so cool, they would attract rocks, so I went to work grinding then mounting.

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 12:10 AM

Now for the hardest part, the traction bar. The biggest pain about it was the fact that the mount on the belly skid was offset from the axle bracket, so the traction bar had to be angled to meet up with both ends. I would go into more detail about the angles and stuff, but I don't want to.

So, here are the pictures. We did a little custom on it so it would go with the axle bracket theme.

And there you have it. Over 10 solid hours of design and fab time, and no more axle wrap.

The paint job was still wet when we put it on, because that TJ couldn't hit the trails during this entire build up until that final vital piece of hardware was installed, and Andy just couldn't wait anymore. It was going to get all bashed up on Dirk's new trails anyways.

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 12:12 AM

The TJ performed awesome. Andy was happy as a puppy with two peters after his little trail run. It was getting dark by the time we went back on the trails, but here are a few pictures anyways.

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 12:38 AM

Here are a couple pics of his XJ from the other day that are better quality:

silverxj2001 · 04-05-2005, 03:00 AM

sexy welds

thats one badass TJ

**Jason, aka: Jeepin.com** · 04-05-2005, 10:17 AM

Looks good Marty. What the axle bracket theme "Batman"?

What made you guys put the traction bar on the right side vs the left? Seems like it'd fit better on the left side, what with the exhaust running down the right side and all... or could you not fit the shackle mount on the left side because of clearance issues with the t'case?

You guys should really look at incorporating a similar mount into those t'case skids of y'all's... (nudge, nudge).

Or maybe some trick new crossmember...

ctavel · 04-05-2005, 10:49 AM

Yeah that was my next question-- what ended up happening with the exhaust? Just dumping out after the cat under the body?

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason, aka: Jeepin.com

Looks good Marty. What the axle bracket theme "Batman"?

What made you guys put the traction bar on the right side vs the left? Seems like it'd fit better on the left side, what with the exhaust running down the right side and all... or could you not fit the shackle mount on the left side because of clearance issues with the t'case?

You guys should really look at incorporating a similar mount into those t'case skids of y'all's... (nudge, nudge).

Or maybe some trick new crossmember...

"batman" does seem to be the theme, but we just wanted something different and pointy.

We did have the brackets turned around to the front while mocking things up, and thought that was cool, but then we thought of all the opossum, skunks and field mice around here, and that would probably get pretty nasty.

Both of us got cut and stabbed several times during this installation from those dang things.

We originally were going to put it on the Driver's side, but the TCase was just to close, and it would get in the way of the fill/drain plugs, and removing/installing that traction bar isn't a picnic. Plus, the torque of the drivetrain goes to the passenger's side, so it seemed most logical to put it there. Andy is taking it to our guy at the exhaust shop to reroute the exhaust. Basically, the pipe in front of the cat will be shortened and offset a little to put the cat/exhaust closer to the framerail. It's not a big deal. Dirk's worked out pretty good and the tailpipe drops right at the back of the jeep.

It would be cool to have a setup very similar to this for the XJ, but after all that work, I don't want to do it anymore.

I'm ready for a vacation.

**Blake** · 04-05-2005, 01:22 PM

Coils up front.

Leafs in the back.

That, my friend, is where the party's at.

CJEli · 04-05-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GottaBeJeep

I'm ready for a vacation.

-Eli

MR.CLIFFORD · 04-05-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctavel

Yeah that was my next question-- what ended up happening with the exhaust? Just dumping out after the cat under the body?

I just had my exhaust routed today. My magnaflow was hollow so I replaced it with a skinnier version of the magnaflow. Check out the high clearance tail pipe

And no, the shackle doesn't hit anything.

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 03:16 PM

How funny, that looks just like my Cherry bomb, except in silver.

Whatcha doing today? I have to run a few errands around town and probably take another load to the new crib, but if you are up to bash that thing, lets get some more pictures this evening before it gets too dark.

MR.CLIFFORD · 04-05-2005, 03:18 PM

I gotta change my diff fluid so I am headed back out to the shop. I gotta set my front bumpstops before I go out. I need another inch up front. I should be out there though.

GottaBeJeep · 04-05-2005, 03:22 PM

Cool, I'll see you in a couple hours.

Dirk · 04-05-2005, 05:29 PM

[QUOTE=GottaBeJeep I'm ready for a vacation.[/QUOTE]

OH - NO - HE - DIT-NT!!!!

04-05-2005, 03:00 AM	#5
silverxj2001 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: boulder, CO / the OC Posts: 1,263 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	sexy welds thats one badass TJ __________________ 2001 2-door XJ prerunner 6.5" RE 33x10.5" BFG A/T KO 15x8" rockcrawlers w/3.75" bs hannemann 6" bulge flat top fiberglass fenders bilstein 11" travel 5150's RE XD trackbar / frame mount RE adj. LCA/UCA's beard triple thick limit straps rusty's steering box brace truckfarm pre-runner bumper intake / exhaust procomp lighting system... yada yada yada [URL=http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/437678/1]PICS OF MY XJ[/URL]

04-05-2005, 05:29 PM	#15
Dirk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rose Hill, Kansas Posts: 286 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	[QUOTE=GottaBeJeep I'm ready for a vacation.[/QUOTE] OH - NO - HE - DIT-NT!!!! __________________ DPG OFF-ROAD

04-05-2005, 12:10 AM	#2
GottaBeJeep Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 3,558 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Now for the hardest part, the traction bar. The biggest pain about it was the fact that the mount on the belly skid was offset from the axle bracket, so the traction bar had to be angled to meet up with both ends. I would go into more detail about the angles and stuff, but I don't want to. So, here are the pictures. We did a little custom on it so it would go with the axle bracket theme. And there you have it. Over 10 solid hours of design and fab time, and no more axle wrap. The paint job was still wet when we put it on, because that TJ couldn't hit the trails during this entire build up until that final vital piece of hardware was installed, and Andy just couldn't wait anymore. It was going to get all bashed up on Dirk's new trails anyways.

04-05-2005, 12:12 AM	#3
GottaBeJeep Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 3,558 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	The TJ performed awesome. Andy was happy as a puppy with two peters after his little trail run. It was getting dark by the time we went back on the trails, but here are a few pictures anyways.

04-05-2005, 12:38 AM	#4
GottaBeJeep Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 3,558 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Here are a couple pics of his XJ from the other day that are better quality:

04-05-2005, 03:16 PM	#12
GottaBeJeep Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 3,558 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	How funny, that looks just like my Cherry bomb, except in silver. Whatcha doing today? I have to run a few errands around town and probably take another load to the new crib, but if you are up to bash that thing, lets get some more pictures this evening before it gets too dark.

04-05-2005, 03:22 PM	#14
GottaBeJeep Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 3,558 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Cool, I'll see you in a couple hours.