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NarnWV's super slow build thread

138K views 763 replies 51 participants last post by  Rod Kimble 
#1 ·
I moved everything from this post down, so I could start making an organized index for the build thread. Please check this post often for ongoing projects.
HOLY CRAP THIS LIST NEEDS UPDATED
Mods: (I still need to make hyper links to the pages)
Logan's Metal Fabrication Front Bumper
Custom4x4offroad Rear Bumper w/Tire carrier
IRO Tcase skid
Rough Country X-Series 4" lift
JK Moab wheels
32"BFG M/Ts
1.5" wheel spacers
Flowmaster 44
El Cheapo intake
JVC Head Unit
Taurus Electric fan--replaced both factory electric and mechanical

Repairs: (still need to make links)
HOLY CRAP, there's a lot. I'll get back to this.

Here's what she looks like as of May 2015:

 
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#2 ·
I took ownership of the WJ in August of '09. It had a spun bearing, and a busted Progressive Coupler in the 247 Transfer case. My boss gave it to me, as he was quoted $2500 for labor+ junk yard engine, and didn't want to mess with it. I wish I would've thought to get some pictures of the early days of my ownership of it, but I didn't.

In September we pulled the engine and sent it to NC with my father-in-law who has a garage that would make most Nascar crews jealous, complete with his own personal hot-tank. He tore it down and told me what all the engine absolutely needed. I ended up spending a little less than $1000 on a complete timing set, a complete gasket set including new rings, and one rod. (#8 was the spun one, and it was discolored). Late September the engine was brought back up to WV, and we had it in within 24 hours. She started on the first crank, and purred like a kitten. I slapped my license plate on her and drove her home from where we did the work.

These are really the only pictures I have of it when I got it. It had TOYO HT 265/70/16 tires on it.





Stock flexing on a curb:


After the first 2000 miles, I took it to Valvoline to have it's oil changed. ( I was busy, wanted it done at 2000 miles) And they pointed out that both of my drag link TREs were shot, so I left work early that day to go swap 'em out.

I very quickly learned that the auto-magic 4hi-ALL TIME didn't work, and when put into 4-low (part-time, locked) it would jump out and grind the second it was put into drive. I did TONS and TONS of research on swapping in a 242 Selec-Trac case, and after driving through a rough winter with 2wd and ****ty tires, it was time.

I found some lights I spent $5/pair on at Harbor Freight years ago, and decided they needed to be on the luggage rack:



March and it's decent weather rolled around and I drove to Columbus, OH to pick up a 242 from a 2001 I6 WJ. It had 71,000 miles on it, and would require me to swap over my input shaft from my V8 case.



Taking apart the 242:


Taking apart the 247:




Not my picture, but you can see the length different in input shafts between the I6 and the V8:
http://img224.imageshack.us/i/10ineededshortonemm3.jpg/

I also had to get the rear drive shaft from an I6 with the 242, as the 242 case is longer than the 247 case. I pulled the longer slip yoke from the V8 shaft and put it on the I6 shaft to make it slide all the way onto the output shaft of the case. I also put new greaseable u-joints in while it was all apart.



July rolled around and I decided it was time to get some new meats. I ended up with a General Grabber AT2. I got 265/70/16, as it was the same size that was on it before, but they're about an inch taller than the Toyos were, and rubbed pretty bad. Good tires for $150 each though.

Since I was rubbing a bit, I immediately ordered a 2" spacer lift to get the bumpers a little bit out of the way of my new treads:

Before:



After:



My front CV-CV (Rzeppa-style) drive shaft had some cracks in the boot, and about 100 miles after putting the 2" lift on, all the bearings came out of the transfer case side. Here is a current pic to show the angle at just 2":



I grabbed a junk yard replacement for now for $50 until I decide to go bigger, when I'll need a custom double-cardan shaft.

I also grabbed a factory hitch from the junk yard, along with wiring harness. I wanted the factory look over the aftermarket ones which hang down below the bumper cover.

Here is the only pic I have of the hitch, which also shows where I bedliner-ed the hitch and gas tank skid. I still need to get the black hitch bezel that cleans up the bumper cut out.





I then got trigger happy and bedliner-ed the lower mouth of the grill, and just about everything steering and axle related up front. I also installed some more Harbor Freight lights on the front bumper cover and cut out the stock fog lights for better tire-approach angle:



Things were pretty uneventful for a while, and then I dove into getting rid of the clunks.

I replaced the bushings in the rear upper control arm, as well as the ball joint that holds the arm to the rear diff. One of the three bolt holes is a bit stripped out, but it's been fine.






I also changed out the rear sway bar links and axle-side bushings:



I was changing the oil and noticed that there was red fluid going down both sides of my engine, and was all over both sides of the oil pan. I traced part of the issue to a leaky power steering hose and replaced it, and found one of the trans cooler lines leaking.





Here is a current picture, taken 1-1-11. It definitely shows off the stock flex, with both sway bars still connected:


I'm currently deciding whether I want to lift it higher, or spend the cash on a beater.

Either way I'm planning on a 2008+ intake and throttle body upgrade and H.O. cams.

If I decide to get the beater then I'll replace the cut front bumper with a 2004 model to get round fog lights and the updated facia.

I've left a few things out, like rigging my dead blower motor resistor with a switch and relay to have some A/C while waiting to gather the cash to pay for the $200 replacement resistor, but I'm sure I'll find time to throw some of that in here sometime.
 
#7 ·
Thanks dude.

At some point in there I installed Tow Hooks, as seen in the pic of my grill. I got those at the same junk yard I got the hitch. They were $10 each. My wife wants to paint them blood red since they look like fangs. (True Blood fans)

Whenever I threw the lights up top, I put the switch where you see it now. Last summer while I rigged the A/C blower with a relay, I put the second switch in. That second switch now operates the front bumper lights.

 
#9 ·
you really need to fix that third bolt hole in the a arm on the diff. That dif is aluminum and is under a lot of stress and you will bust the other two out. Either heli coil it of drill and tap it a size larger.
 
#10 ·
I know. I've kept a close eye on it. I've towed a lot, and wheeled it a lot without any consequences YET.

In the next month or so I'm putting QD axles under it, and that's why I've kinda let it go. I do make sure the other two bolts are tight whenever I'm under there. (bi-weekly-ish)

I think the ball joint's jacked up again, I'm sure it's because the bolt is missing. When I put the QD axles under it I'm planning on using the IRO A-arm to replace the stock setup.
 
#11 ·
How difficult of a job was it to change out the a-arm bushings and ball joint? I think I need to do mine and this is the first I've seen or been able to find of someone fixing that. Are you aware of any write-ups?
 
#12 ·
It wasn't too bad. Just the 2 15mm bolts on the body side, and then the ball joint. There's 3 21mm bolts there. I bought a 21mm ratcheting box end for this, and it made it pretty easy.

I removed the ball joint with the arm.

You HAVE to use a press to get the bushings in and out, and I had to use it to get the balljoint stud out of the arm as well.

I believe you can buy the arm with bushings and the ball joint all ready to install. I would've done that if I would've known about it.

I'm going for the IRO adjustable A-arm here in a couple weeks when the Jeep grows a little bit. I'd rather do that than use a spacer on the ball joint.
 
#13 ·
Very good to know. How much did the ball joint and bushings cost you if you don't mind my asking? Also, do you know where you can get a ready to install a-arm (besides the dealer) and how much they go for? I'd go for an IRO adjustable as well, but that's quite a bit outside the budget right now so I was hoping to be able to replace the ball joint for cheap (if possible).
 
#14 ·
I got the bushings from autopartswarehouse.com for right around 20 each. I picked the ball joint up at Advance Auto parts, and it did not come with the plate. (had to be pressed into the plate) It was right around 40 bucks.

autopartswarehouse.com also has that upper a arm with bushings already int it, but it's $145

4wd.com has it for the same price, but they have the ball joint already pressed into the plate for $35 Quadratec.com has it for $30

When I pressed mine in, I bent the hole a bit, and a week later one of the upper bushings came loose from the arm. I pressed it back out, hammered the hole a bit, and pressed the bushing back in with some JB weld. It's held out great, but I'll never be able to change the bushings again.

I'm looking to go to 4" or so in the next few weeks, which is why I've been considering the IRO arm for $300 instead of $200 for all new "stock" a-arm components.
 
#15 ·
I'm looking to go to 4" or so in the next few weeks, which is why I've been considering the IRO arm for $300 instead of $200 for all new "stock" a-arm components.
Ah crap, that statement right there might have just pushed me over the edge...:(

(Because I'm in the same boat...) :brickwall

Now I've got some things to think about.

Thanks again for the info! :cheers2:
 
#16 ·
I'm currently trying to decide between these two lifts:

http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep_wj_4x.html

http://zoneoffroad.com/product?ki=68&gr=-1

The first one comes with adjustable front LCAs, the second comes with fixed.

Whatever one I choose, I'll probably go ahead and grab adjustable upper control arms for the front, eventually grabbing adjustable rear LCAs.

This rear UCA will be going on regardless, as I'm tired of jacking up the rubber bushings, and tearing up the ball joint that sits on top of my rear diff.

IRO UPPER A ARM

That IRO piece comes angled at the body side, and has the flex-joint and plate that mounts to the top of the rear diff, instead of the ball joint mess that's there now--which requires a spacer under the ball-joint. (doesn't seem stout enough to me)

I'm also trying to source the best price on a front drive shaft, as that'll need replaced when the lift is put on.

I'm waiting to hear back about some AJ's sliders, and finding a few backups in case he doesn't come through when I'm ready to order.

I'm hoping to also grab a lunchbox locker for the rear soon.

Thoughts?
 
#19 ·
I just installed a rcx on my buddies wrangler and it seems nice. The system we heard works good and for 50 dollars more its not that big of and xpense. Im sure there is guys who have it here and well say they love or hate it but at that point its what you like.
 
#20 ·
Actually did this yesterday when it was nicer out. Shows what happens when you're bored and have air tools.....

I took my trusty air-cutter and separated the bumper from the grill. This will make it easier to build/buy a winch-mount bumper.

I plan to paint the remaining grill black, possibly with some bed-liner stuff, and put some mesh grill inside the throats to get rid of the broken black plastic that's there now.

Before:


During:


After:



While it was apart, and I needed to remount the lights, I rewired them to their own switch instead of the factory driving lights switch so that I can have them on while using my high beams.
 
#22 ·
Well, today I moved my amp from the back of my sub box to under the rear seat so that I can just disconnect the two speaker wires and remove the box if I need the extra room, instead of disconnecting everything on the amp.

I also mounted my 3-watt cell-signal booster under the other rear seat, and mounted the interior repeater antenna up on the dash. This way my phone and data card will get better service while moving, and everyone in the Jeep will get better service off-road (or whenever they're in there) My old phone allowed for my rooftop antenna to directly plug in, but the new phone does not, so I did some craigslist trading for the amp.







 
#24 ·
today I bedliner'd my grill piece and bumper, and finished breaking the plastic pieces and replaced them with gutter guard:







I can't decide if I want to paint the mesh black, gunmetal, or just clear coat it and leave it as is. It needs washed, as I literally took this off some gutter that's been lying beside the garage for a while.
 
#25 ·
Hey, can I ask you a quick question about that ball joint again? I finally got around to installing my lift and when I put the A-arm spacer in I noticed the ball joint was very easy to move around (most ball joints I've seen are very stiff and difficult to move). I wasn't sure if this was normal or if mine is toast. Just curious to know how the play was with your new one when you bought it. :cheers2:
 
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