Project "Midnight Rocker" SLOW YJ build

RockinRedXJ · 09-27-2010, 11:48 PM

A while back I decided that the XJ was just not enough anymore. I ended up buying a rust free 87 YJ that was not running. Besides 32 TSLs and lack of TLC, the jeep was completely stock.

All the way from NC!

I would have preferred to have half doors, but doorless will work for now

At first I had planned to just keep it simple, however that changed when I brought this home.

It had a front D60, rear 14bolt, 205 transfer and warn 8274. Let the dismantling begin. . .

Front Dana 60 pulled and set aside for later

Dropped the 205 out (which is heavy as ****)

Got the 14 bolt out, loaded up and ready for the shop.

Anyways, here is what I planned for "phase 1"
~New webber carb to get it running
~Figure out a cage
~Bucket seats
~Strip the interior and rhino line
~Possibly a 1" body lift

RockinRedXJ · 09-28-2010, 12:06 AM

First things first, get it running. I got pretty lucky and picked up a webber from a guy who was switching to EFI. Quickly got it on with the K&N filter and she fired right up.

And yes, that is a boat battery

Then, time to strip the interior.

Finished except for the stock cage (not bad for an 87)

Off to the shop for some tube work

cherokeej · 09-28-2010, 01:45 PM

haha thats funny, i live in new bern nc, and joe alcoke is a chevy dealer

**dagr8tim** · 09-28-2010, 01:50 PM

Can't wait to see how this turns out.

RockinRedXJ · 09-29-2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokeej

haha thats funny, i live in new bern nc, and joe alcoke is a chevy dealer

Wow, thats crazy haha.

Anyway, I put the tube work on hold for a bit and worked on the 14 bolt.
I added 5:13 gears, a detriot, welded up a cover, and shaved it 2.5 inches. Still have a little grinding and finishing up to do
Sorry for the cell phone pictures, but you get the idea

Not quite a 14 bolt anymore

And I just got the old XJ sold, so the cage and some other stuff should be finished up a lot sooner than I had planned.

RockinRedXJ · 10-02-2010, 09:05 PM

Finished up the 14 bolt with some disc's. Now it will just sit and look pretty until sometime next year.

The cage is coming along nicely. I went ahead and picked up some stanchions from genright (TJ Roll Cage, Roll bar). Once installed, they are very nice and save a lot of room. My only complaint was that we had to lengthen them about an inch. You can see them in the second picture.

1 3/4" DOM three inches outside of body. Eventually it will be even with the flare.

Hopefully we'll finish up the welds and get the cage painted by this week, along with some bucket seats.

More pics to come

**'92 vegas YJ** · 07-04-2011, 11:31 AM

so ive seen pictures of the finished product.... what happened to the build thread?

RockinRedXJ · 07-10-2011, 11:48 PM

^^^Thanks for reminding me. I got pretty wrapped up in it and had forgotten to update this.

Phase 1 complete

Custom cage, genright LED's

Finished the rear bumper

Heated Twisted Stitch seats with crow 4 points

Played with it this way for a couple months, but soon got tired of its poor performance in the hills. Time for a return trip to the shop

RockinRedXJ · 07-11-2011, 12:13 AM

Phase 2

Axles waiting for a new home
D60 - Cut to 63.5 WMS, new hubs, 35 spline chromoly's, new chevy rotors and calipers, Reid Racing knuckles and C's, 5:13's, OX locker, and 1350 U-joint yoke
14 bolt - Shaved 2.5" with discs, 5:13's and detroit

Got my 17" Spyders in

Mounted on 40x13.50 Kevlars

Time for more tear down

Crate 350 going in

RockinRedXJ · 07-11-2011, 12:51 PM

More

Links and axle set in, comp cut done

Our biggest challenge was keeping it some what narrow, we absolutely did not want to run full width. Here you can see we cut into the frame to make our shock mount

Another shot of it. Currie anti rock in place as well

Kings

Taking shape in the rear

Genright 15 gallon fuel cell yet to go in

On to the front

PSC Pump

Front axle getting pretty close. Ready for PSC

Front shock mount with PSC pump

Radiator

New dash cut for summit gauges

RockinRedXJ · 07-11-2011, 01:14 PM

Checking shocks

Took them off to finish some other stuff

And back on

**'92 vegas YJ** · 07-11-2011, 05:20 PM

looking good

RoadToadYJ · 07-11-2011, 07:53 PM

all ive got to say!!! great work

RockinRedXJ · 07-11-2011, 09:55 PM

Appreciate it guys

Gauges and toggle switches in.
Switches from left to right - Electric fan, idle up, air compressor, back up lights. Red switch is torque converter lock out, then check engine light.

Custom locking center console with Art Carr shifter installed (Ox and atlas as well)

Next we had to figure out a place for the lights, as we want it to be as much street legal as possible. So we made these mounts to fit the genright tire carrier.

Mounted

RockinRedXJ · 08-04-2011, 10:55 AM

More

Bumper work

Almost done