It's Finally Home!

[Wildmist]

Well I did it.

I bought my 89 YJ in November and after several months of trying to get some garage time and good friends with time to spare, it is on the road! I parked her at home tonight for the first time. We spent the last couple of weeks trying to get it prepared to pass an Out of Province inspection. A very daunting task as the frame was rotted out, lights didn't work, horn didn't work and she was generally in very poor shape.

Somebody just didn't care about this Jeep ( ), so I rescued it. My boyfriend and I, along with a few good friends took it under our care and gave it some TLC.

We picked up a frame section, shackle reversal kit and a track bar from Jeep Stuff to replace the bad parts and make it better at the same time. We went to Modern Motors for a Daystar poly 1” body lift.

We spent the first week tearing it apart and prepping it. We jacked it up. Removed the gas tank, tires, stock body mounts, brakes, etc. Then the real work began. I helped out by removing the stock body mounts and putting the new ones in place where my puny little muscles could manage. When I couldn't move a bolt or fit a puck into place my boyfriend Vance (aka NaeKid) was by my side and operated the jack to lift the Jeep even higher so everything would fit perfectly into place and he'd loosen up the bolts that just wouldn't move with my strength. We only broke one bolt doing the body-lift. I was told that wasn’t bad. Now I've never worked on a vehicle before, just watched so this was quite an adventure for me. I really learned a lot.

The frame piece was spliced in to replace the rotted out one and welded into place. It was an awesome job done by Jean, another friend who's a professional welder.

The next step was to paint the frame and anything that looked like it had rust on it to make it look well maintained. I swear I painted pretty much 80% of the underside of my Jeep and even some pieces above such as the rear bumper and the tire stop.

While I was doing that the brakes were being checked to see if they needed to be replaced, the shocks were removed as they were so rusted they were basically crumbling before our eyes. I was lucky, only needed rear brakes but I needed both front and rear shocks. Seeing all that rust and lack of maintenance on my Jeep just made me want to strangle the person who abused it so.

Anyway I paid strict attention as the rear brakes were being dismantled, it was like a puzzle with all the pieces looking like they'd never fit back together. My friend Shellan (aka TiquillaSunryse) put them in order as he took them off and when he put them back together, it was really cool to watch because everything fit. Of course we had a few moments of frustration but it went together. He adjusted the brakes and I finished up the painting.

Next step we put the new shocks into place and put the tires on. As we were fitting the lugnuts back on we realized that a few wheel-studs were broken. Another trip to PartSource for studs. Shellan suggested buying tire locks for each tire so we left one off each tire which worked out pretty good since we ended up with 4 bad ones anyway.

We dropped the Jeep down and yep I could sure tell the difference in height. Before we lifted it up on the jack I could touch the top but when it was dropped down I had to stand on my toes just to get one leg up on the step. It was only a 1" body lift and 1" boomerang shackle that my boyfriend made at work on a CNC laser, but I'm only 5'2, so I notice these things

With the modifications, we had to remove the fan shroud because the fan was hitting it. My boyfriend made up a few pieces of steel to adjust the shroud. Quite ingenious this was and it worked very well. The shroud was lowered and the fan sat inside just perfectly leaving the right amount of room.

There were some little maintenance things done like cleaning the battery posts and clamps, and checking lights, horn, etc. We realized we needed to pick up a couple lights and fix the horn. That was all that was needed to be done, so we figured we'd drop it off at the inspection site (Folk Automotive) and go get the last few parts, finish the little things and head home. This didn't work out as planned. We dropped the Jeep off and headed home totally forgetting about the horn and lights.

Monday comes along, I call the inspection place and well it didn't pass. It turns out the passenger side frame rail was rusted out in a spot that we didn't see when we checked it on a jack but was picked up while on a hoist. The axle was walking out of the housing (still trying to picture a walking axle ) and well of course they mentioned the missing lugnuts, side marker light not working and, go figure, the horn. Color me disappointed and stupid!

We took the Jeep to a friend who has a mechanic shop right across the back alley (Corey at Piston Broke). He told us we could do it in a couple days on his hoist.

So, fair enough we figured do the other little things while we wait.

My boyfriend replaced the lights in the cold and dark. Trying to test the horn didn’t work out so well, so when the Jeep went into the shop my boyfriend did the rest of the little things that weren't do-able in the ice and snow. Vance and our friends (Corey and Shellan) fixed the frame rail and Corey did the axle during shop time. It was a good thing that he did – the retaining collar holding the bearing in place wasn’t doing its job properly. Then, they went over it and made sure there was absolutely nothing else to go wrong. Everyone agreed that it was good to go.

I was called while I was at home baking and told it was finished at 7:30pm on Thursday night (March 1). Lots of time left to the evening so I offered to buy my boyfriend and the mechanic supper and drinks . Shellan had other plans, so I'll take him out for drinks later. I was so happy and excited I couldn't wait to discuss how they found the problem and what they did to fix it.

Today (March 2) I picked my Jeep up at the inspection site, APPROVED! My boyfriend drove me over to the registration office where I showed them all the paperwork, my mug shot and gave them some cash. I walked out with my sticker and a mile-wide grin on my face. We headed back to the inspection site, put the sticker on and I drove my Jeep home. It's now parked outside, what a ride.

I can't wait to take it on it's first offroad trip, but that will have to wait a bit, I have to buy some decent tires, because, baby 27's just won't cut it, I'll be ready to play.

I just have to say thanks to everyone that helped me get to this day and a special thankyou to my boyfriend for finding me my Jeep, and in advance, I'm going to thank you for all the work your going to help me do to modify my Jeep to make it an awesome offroad rig!

[NaeKid]

Here are a couple of the pictures

The day we bought it (sorry for the mini-picture, it is a cell-pic)



Wednesday night - finished doing a few things to it - still waiting to get it on a hoist to do the rear-axle



We will get some better pictures tomorrow for you all to see it in the light!

[leftlanetruckin]

Welcome!
glad i'm not the only one that baught a rust bucket......
well done, now just the big tires, bigger axles, lockers,gears,winch......... no it never ends!

martin

[Wildmist]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

Welcome!
glad i'm not the only one that baught a rust bucket......
well done, now just the big tires, bigger axles, lockers,gears,winch......... no it never ends!

martin

I have the bigger axles already (Dana44 front, AMC20 rear from a full-size waggy), bumper for the front for the winch is in progress, already picked out a winch just need to find the cash to get it. Boyfriend says probly do Detroit lockers. The pieces are slowly coming together.
Today we take a pic of it in the daylight to show off the work done to the underneath and before we start doing anything else. Guess my project is fully underway!

[NaeKid]

Here is a picture of the rear boomerange shackle that I made at work



And this is what it looks like from a front view parked in front of the house

[leftlanetruckin]

well dont be shy with the boomerangs....ye can send some to mo. ye know.....

[NaeKid]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

well dont be shy with the boomerangs....ye can send some to mo. ye know.....

What would they be worth to you? I can make some more at work easily enough.

I made those from 1/4" 44w (regular mild steel) - would you like a set exactly the same, or made from 5/16" or 3/8" steel? I can also use WearPlate (AR200) or quenched steel (QT-100) to make them easily enough.

I am using boomer's front / rear on her's - but considering making straight for the front .. would you prefer to have straight in the front / boomer back or boomer front/rear?

What would a matched set for all 4 corners be worth to you?

[atomicmoose]

Originally Posted by NaeKid

What would they be worth to you? I can make some more at work easily enough.

I made those from 1/4" 44w (regular mild steel) - would you like a set exactly the same, or made from 5/16" or 3/8" steel? I can also use WearPlate (AR200) or quenched steel (QT-100) to make them easily enough.

I am using boomer's front / rear on her's - but considering making straight for the front .. would you prefer to have straight in the front / boomer back or boomer front/rear?

What would a matched set for all 4 corners be worth to you?

This sounds like a deal I may get in on too... (if the offer stands)

[jeepwrnglr92]

Originally Posted by atomicmoose

This sounds like a deal I may get in on too... (if the offer stands)

Hey I would be up for a set too if ya doing them.

[NaeKid]

Ya - if you want them, let me know.

What would the pieces be worth to you all? I know what a whole-kit is worth here in Canada (bolts, etc) - but just the pieces only and re-using all the rest of your hardware - I wouldn't be able to guess what it would be worth now.

[leftlanetruckin]

i am not gonna insult yout time, so tell me what you would make the plates for, and we'll go from there, pm me if ye like.....
i was going to copy scotts boomerang shackles, basically get the steel cut and drilled.
would need boomerangs front and rear, as i'm getting really tired of flipping front shackles....

cheers
martin

[atomicmoose]

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

i am not gonna insult yout time, so tell me what you would make the plates for, and we'll go from there, pm me if ye like.....
i was going to copy scotts boomerang shackles, basically get the steel cut and drilled.
would need boomerangs front and rear, as i'm getting really tired of flipping front shackles....

cheers
martin

Same for me...name your price.

[Angelous]

x8 - Im intereted. $50 bucks for all 4?

[jeepwrnglr92]

Ya figure out what the material will cost ya and let me know a reasonable price.

Also will this give me some lift? like 1 or 2"?

[NaeKid]

Originally Posted by jeepwrnglr92

Ya figure out what the material will cost ya and let me know a reasonable price.

Also will this give me some lift? like 1 or 2"?

A 6" eye-to-eye will net you 1" of lift over stock. I wouldn't go any longer than that unless you are using some very long springs instead of stock or "normal" lift springs.

Would $40 Canadian be reasonable for 1/4" mild steel per end ($40 for front, $40 for rear) which would give you the choice of straight or boomer shackle on your Jeep. I have heard it recomended that straight is better for front and boomer back, but I don't understand the physics behind that recommendation, yet.

Going with the tougher plate (AR200 or QT100) will be approx. tripple the material costs, and going with 5/16" or 3/8" plate will make the material cost approx. double that of 1/4" mild.

I'll try to do some flex-testing on her Jeep with the boomer-fronts just to see what happens.