Project Silverback

**RockRodHooligan** · 09-30-2009, 12:55 PM

I started a build thread a couple of years ago, and figured I might as well start a fresh thread, and cut out some of the junk. if you want the detailed background, here it is: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f22/my-01-xj-limited-project-499030/

Just a quick re cap for those of you too lazy to look:

New, 10/14/06:
'01 Limited, power everything, heated leather seats, security/remote start, awesome stereo, not a scratch on it.

Toys

Wheelin'

How the Jeep got it's name

Silverback

T-boned

Now

**RockRodHooligan** · 09-30-2009, 01:01 PM

Current specs:
Year & Model
2001 XJ Cherokee
Engine
4.0 I-6
Transmission
AW4
Transfer Case
NP231 w/RE Hack 'n' Tap, CV shaft
Front Axle
99' XJ HP D30, Spicer 5-760x u-joints, Big Daddy Monster tierod w/Moog ends
Rear Axle
Dana 44, welded tubes, Under Cover Fab truss system with diff cover, TNT Customs 1.5" U-bolt eliminators, Rubicon front air locker, Ford Explorer rear disc brakes using EBC Green Stuff pads and ZJ Centric rotors, 30 spline Superior Evolution shafts
Gear Ratio
3.55 f/3.54 r
Suspension
Procomp 3.5" leafs on top of TNT Customs 1.5" U-bolt eliminators, RC 4.5" coils, shocks, and X-Flex LCAs, RE SF UCA's, HD track bar, track bar brace, and control arm drop brackets, JKS Quicker disconnects
Tires
31x10.5 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM's
Wheels
15x8 American Racing D-Windows, 4" b/s
Recovery
25 ft tow strap, D rings up front, Reese Hitch w/d ring out back
Armor
OR-Fab Rockslider front bumper w/grill hoop, Mopar gas tank skid, TNT Customs HD Belly pan
Accessories
KC bumper lights, Manaflow cat, Super44 offroad muffler, Chrysler Laser turbo hood vent, TNT Customs Unibody stiffeners, JKS Cross-over rear shock mount

Things waiting to go on:
Taurus fan
06 SRT10 Viper power steering pump w/PSC Power steering pulley
Hayden power steering cooler
THOR Cowl intake - Ordered
Shackle relocation brackets
Poly Performance Jeep XJ Rear Spring Hanger Brackets
Old Man Emu XJ 3" Medium Load Leaf Springs
Detroit for the HP Dana 30

**RockRodHooligan** · 09-30-2009, 01:27 PM

Shopping list

Front axle/suspension
Front HP Dana 44
Under Cover Fab Dana 44 front truss system(not yet available, debating on just going for BTF truss)
Link bracket / coil spring / shock mount combo - Done
Dana 44 Inner Knuckle Gusset Set (Inner C's) - Ordered
ARB
Superior 5.13 gears
Chevy flat top knuckles w/Moog ball joints - Done, Chevy small bearing spindles - Ordered, 81-87 Chevy 1/2 ton calipers - Done, EBC Yellow Stuff pads, Wagner hubs and rotors(76-92 Ford 1/2 ton - 11.75") - Done, Warn Premium Lockouts - Done
79 Chevy outer axle shafts - Done
79 Ford inner axle shafts - Done
Dana/Spicer 5-760X u-joints with full circle clips.

Custom 3-Link suspension
Custom track bar 1.5"OD .250 wall DOM w/2.0" Ballistic Joint, and OTK axle bracket
* Upper control arm
3 feet- 1.25" ID - 1.75" OD .250" wall DOM
2- 1.0" -14 tpi Tube Adapter, right hand thread, 1.25 in ID - 1.75 in OD - Ordered
2- 1.0" -14 tpi Jam Nut, right hand thread - Ordered
2- Forged Chromoly 2.63" Ballistic Joint, Bearing thru hole: 5/8'', Stud diameter / Thread Pitch: 1.0'' - 14 tpi, Thread direction: Right hand thread, Nylatron Race: Billet (solid) - Ordered
* Lower control arms
2- 3 feet 1.5" ID - 2.0" OD .250" wall DOM
4- 1.25" -12 tpi Tube Adapter, right hand thread, 1.5 in ID - 2.0 in OD - Ordered
4- 1.25" -12 tpi Jam Nut, right hand thread - Ordered
4- Forged Chromoly 2.63" Ballistic Joint, Bearing thru hole: 5/8'', Stud diameter / Thread Pitch: 1.25''- 12 tpi, Thread direction: Right hand thread, Nylatron Race: Billet (solid) - Ordered

*Springs/shocks
5.5" Deaver Coil Springs: Jeep XJ
Bilstein shocks

*Steering
Steering Kit 3/4" with Standard Spacers
D44 High steer arms - Ordered
99 4x4 V8 Durango steering box and TNT inner steering box brace
03-06 SRT10 Viper power steering pump - Done
Taurus fan - Done
PSC Power steering pulley - Done
Hayden power steering cooler - Done
Hydro Assist

Rear Axle/Suspension
Ford 9"
Competition Engineering - Ford 9" axle housing brace
Detroit locker
5.14 gears
Superior or Moser 31 spline axle shafts
Ruff Stuff weld on disc brake brackets, 81-87 Chevy 1/2 ton calipers, EBC Yellow Stuff pads, 76-92 Ford 1/2 ton - 11.75" Wagner rotors(yes I will be running the same brakes front and rear)
TNT Customs 1/2" U-Bolt Eliminators
Old Man Emu XJ 3" Leaf Spring, Medium Load - Done
Moog leaf spring bushings - Done
Poly Performance Jeep XJ Rear Spring Hanger Bracket - Done
RE 6" Boomerang Shackle(1.5" lift)
H. D. Offroad Engineering, Shackle Relocation Kit - Done

*Tires/Wheels
Goodyear MT/R Kevlar 37x12.5 R17 D2
Black Rock Type D 17x8 5x5.5 4.5"BS
Crawlfab.com - weld on bead locks - Wagon

Transfer case
NP231J - Done
NP231HD donor for wide chain sprockets, and 6 pinion planetary - Done
New replacement wide chain(Cloyes P/N 10022)
JB Conversions Super short SYE
231 rebuild kit
Tera 2Lo conversion

Engine
4.7L stroker
99+ intake manifold- Done, ported and polished - In Progress
JBA Header
TUPY revised 0331 head - Done, ported and polished - In progress
COMP Cams K68-231-4 Cam and Lifter Kit
Keith Black/KB Pistons .060 over
Stock 4.0L connecting rods - Done
Stock AMC 258 crank
4.0L block - Purchased
M.O.R.E. BombProof Block Brackets

Build plans:
Ford HP44 - Done
Ford 9" rear axle
37"x12.5"R17 Goodyear MT/R w/Kevlar
Crawl Fab Weld on Bead locks on 17x9 Black Rock Type D wheels - 5-5.5", 4.5" B/S
Custom 3 link
NP231D HD
4.7L stroker
Strange Engineering Pro Nodular 9" 3rd member, Detroit, 35 spline alloy shafts.

**RockRodHooligan** · 09-30-2009, 01:35 PM

Potential Long term plan

Possibly fix the damage from getting t-boned and cover it in armor. Eventually building a Hybrid rear/exo front to complement the rear armor

Rear corners:

Rockers:

Inspiration for the Hybrid cage:

Inspiration for the Front Exo:

Some where I'd like to do a rear 4 link possibly using a few TNT components. Like the rest of the belly pan and rear cross member from their 4 link kit(all the yellow stuff in the pic minus the arms), and building my own arms.

gribbles · 09-30-2009, 03:32 PM

so, did you win the powerball? or is that tonight?

also is that second pic at the badlands?

2006_Sport · 09-30-2009, 03:45 PM

pshh....silverback.

Nice jeep man

4pointOH1998 · 09-30-2009, 03:47 PM

Can't wait to see it start to evolve. Been following this rig (facebook stalker style

) for quite some time.

**chris87xj** · 09-30-2009, 10:33 PM

She's come a long way in three years eh. Keep up the good work.

**RockRodHooligan** · 10-01-2009, 10:14 AM

Three years on the 14th, and the Jeeps B-Day is 10/10/00 according to what the dealership told me when they ran my VIN. Goal is next weekend to try and get the new LCA brackets, belly pan, and frame stiffeners on, and at least start work again on the new 44.

**RockRodHooligan** · 10-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gribbles

so, did you win the powerball? or is that tonight?

also is that second pic at the badlands?

No, I didn't win

guess everyone is going to have to wait to go crazy with their builds.

And yes, I do believe that second pic of the back halved XJ is at the Badlands, the guy lives up near Ft. Wayne some where I think.

**spyder6** · 10-06-2009, 11:20 AM

i really think you should keep the original sheet metal of the jeep, just tube it properly to what you were wanting. there are too many people these days that cut stuff out and add tube in.

**RockRodHooligan** · 10-06-2009, 11:54 AM

The original inspiration was this beast:

But as you can tell, it's considerably more bulky than any of the ones shown above, the whole back half plan is also because aside from rocker damage, all the off-road damage I take is behind the c-pillar. Both drip rails, d-pillars, and quarter panels have taken hits, as well as the rear hatch a few times. It's definitely a problem area, that would need to be armored up, and exo'd. Also as 4dr XJs get bigger, the back door frame becomes an issue as you can only trim so fare before you get into the door, and we are forced to stretch the rear to make room for bigger tires, opening up that can of worms. And last but not least, The Explorer mod, the damage is border line bad enough, that I'd almost need to cut out that entire section of the jeep and weld one from a donor Jeep, because the time and work needed to get it back to normal.

I think you can see where I'm going with all this.

**spyder6** · 10-06-2009, 12:08 PM

that thing is stupid big - love it.

i see where you're going rod

**RockRodHooligan** · 10-09-2009, 09:26 AM

No frame stiffeners, belly pan, and LCA brackets this weekend

UPS apparently lost the order somewhere, TNT sent me another set yesterday. I'm not really sure when all of the goodies are going on. Though, me and James are going back up to my Dads today to start cleaning the frame rails for the stiffeners, and I'll try and get the new ds rebuilt. Probably going to work on his corner guards too, to get them closer to being ready for paint.

The 14th is Wednesday, I might be able to get the LCA brackets in by then, I'll at least try and wash and wax the Jeep to let it know I love it.

**RockRodHooligan** · 10-14-2009, 10:36 AM

UPS tried to deliver the stiffeners yesterday but no one was home, and will redeliver today. Going to try to get with Robert tomorrow and get some progress going here, then it's back to work on the Pumpkinator this weekend after drill.

I think I'm going to go wash the Jeep, I want to do something nice for it today.

Happy 3rd Anniversary Jeep!