TC drop kits for the broke guy

Grinola · 09-10-2008, 07:57 PM

I know I am new and keep trying to reinvent things that people already make but the wife is for real this time and is watching the bank account and every credit card like a hawk so I am having to be very creative with the parts I get. ie spend very little. I guess the Dirt Bikes and RC Helicoptors are enough. I think what pushed her over the edge was the XJ sitting in the driveway when she got came home from visiting her Mom for a week. When I start my build thread it will be very interesting.

So on to the real subject Transfer Case drop kits. It looks to me that until I can get a SYE that I can just get some spacers and new stainless steel bolts from the hardware store and do it myself. Can the spacers be just stacked washers with some nylon washers in between? Sounds good to me unless there is some reason I dont know. What do you guys think

**foggybottombob** · 09-10-2008, 08:10 PM

Use 1" square tubing and drill two holes through it. Use grade 8 bolts. Put some pieces of bushing or pipe in the center of the tubing to put the bolts through so you don't crush the tubing when you tighten it up. I would not try to do this using loose washers. This is all fairly cheap hardware.

HeepToJeep · 09-10-2008, 08:20 PM

A TC drop kit is generally two pieces of square barstock or tube with holes drilled through them that allow you to bolt them in place between the cross member and unibody rails....super easy.

There are also dirt cheap solutions to a SYE, of which I'm working on my own plan that uses common boneyard parts and a new seal.
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoSYEconversion.htm
http://www.4x4getaways.net/oldmansye.htm

You don't have to spend a fortune to built a Jeep the right way, it's entirely possible to build them VERY durable while on a low budget if you have decent mechanical and fabrication skills. If you do a fair amount of part comparing at the junkyard and stay up to date on the "junkyard upgrade" type threads you'll be able to build a rig with a bottom line the wife can live with. For example.....
http://jeepforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5577998&postcount=3

Wm