[ItsaFinRubicon]

Nice Jeep build man. Loved all the pictures.

[imbezol]

Ok, so I haven't updated this thread in forever. Have you ever got to that point with your Jeep where there's some seemingly insurmountable project you have to accomplish next? I've been at that point with mine for quite a while. I've decided I'm going to just plug away at it slowly and as I knock things off the list it will start to look more and more possible to actually get the thing wheelable again.

So.. a quick rundown of where I'm at with the thing.

You saw the pics above where I had it in the river last summer. You also saw my explanation of how the oil pressure won't stay up when the engine has been worked. I've had it suggested to me by a couple people now that I should change the oil pump to see if that fixes the issue. I think I may try that as the other opinion I've heard is that I need an engine rebuild that will replace thousands of dollars worth of parts. So if the oil pump doesn't work I'll be looking for a replacement 4.0.

The next, but less immediate problem, is the transmission. I just hope this will hold even though it shifts really rough and is all kinds of sloppy.

And finally.. the big kicker... I need to build that front axle I started. I regeared the rear axle to 5.13 this summer when the pinion was getting some sideways slop in it. The new gear ratio is great on the highway and in the city but the problem is the front Dana 30 can't gear that low. In hind-sight I should have just went with 4.88 so I could gear the front to match and keep wheeling it on the cheap. BUT... now I'm stuck with no 4x4 and winter is on the way.

So here's my plan for this project. I'm going to start gathering parts for the front axle slowly. I don't have boatloads of cash to dump on the thing all at once so I'm going to try to pick them off as I can. Here's a rough shopping list:

TODO

1. Sway bars
2. Rear Tire Carrier
3. On-Board Air

DONE

1. Steering Stabilizer
2. Brake lines
3. Tie rod
4. Drag link
5. Driveshaft
6. Waggy 44
7. Waggy brake pads
8. Waggy brake calipers
9. Waggy caliper brackets
10. Ford Hubs and Rotors
11. Warn lockouts
12. 5.13 Gears, rebuild kit, bearings
13. Spindle bearings
14. Chevy small bearing spindles
15. Reid Racing Flat Top Knuckles
16. Ball Joints
17. 5 on 5.5 Bead locks
18. Superior Evolution Series Rear Axle Shafts
19. Rear ARB locker
20. Superior Evolution Series Front Axle Shafts
21. U-Joints
22. Front ARB Locker
23. Clayton High Steer Bracket Kit
24. NorthWest Fab High Steer Arms
25. Yoke
26. Diff Covers
27. Paint

Throw in some labor for machining the knuckles, building the steering links, welding the bracket kit, sandblasting and painting, setting up the axles, etc.

I'm going to update this list adding, removing, and crossing off items as I go. I'll also put approximate prices and then update with exact prices as I actually get the items.

[imbezol]

As if that wasn't enough.. there are other things too.

I need to get the rear tire carrier fixed so it doesn't rattle like hell. This will include changing the latch to something more solid.

I get to buy a new IROK right away too (edit: got it!). Somehow I managed to get a rip in the sidewall on the inside of the front driver side. And to make it even stranger, the outside of the sidewall showed only a puncture size mark but inside the tire is where the rip was about 2 inches long. Weird.

And.. when I took out my rad earlier this summer I never did get around to replacing the busted fan shroud or the vapor return line that got ripped. I may also need a new O2 sensor to make the engine light turn off. (edit: done all three)

I need to repaint my sliders, winch, and take care of an area that's rusting on my fender. (edit: done the winch, front bumper, light guards, and "fixed" the fender for now)

I did get the oil pan and rear main seal changed out though and it went pretty quick and smoothly. Thanks for the help on that one Tim!

My poor Jeep! So much more to fix!

I'll keep you updated.

[imbezol]

Also need to get some auxiliary lights again since I broke them all.

Need to fix the front right bumpstop.

Need to tighten steering nut. (edit: fixed)

Need to get rubber mount for exhaust hanger replaced. (edit: done)

I stopped by the carwash and gave it a good scrub this afternoon. $16.

[1jack5]

Wow, you got a list there. Glad you are back to building/fixing it.

I go a suggestion, maybe you could replace both front and rear gears in your current axles with 4.88s and spend the money you were going to spend on new axles on turning your 4.0 into a stroker?! like I said just a thought. anyways glad your back!

[Douglas S.]

Good luck, I was wondering where you had disappeared to.

[1jack5]

He and his beautiful Jeep have vanished again...

[JEEP4x20]

Hope it comes back..
Just read all of the thread.

Great Jeep

[imbezol]

1jack5:
That would probably be the smart thing to do but my OCD won't let me. I just need to get over this hurdle and then it'll level off for a while and I can work on the small things again. Besides, I'd be so sad if I got the dana 30 done up and started breaking it.

Douglas S.:
Just biding my time.

JEEP4x20:
Thanks man. It's on the way.


So.. I took off from a stop sign a little quick the other day and busted up my rear spiders. Had a new internal kit put in it yesterday. I really wanted to stick a locker in at the same time but I want to spend the pennies on the front end first. The snow is here and I need 4x4!

HOWEVER, I initially thought I'd broke a rear axle so I ordered these instead of having to replace them with stock shafts. These are part of the list above anyways so that I'd have both extra strength in the back and the ability to change my bolt pattern over to 5 on 5.5 like the front will have.

[imbezol]

Picked up my new IROK today. Still need to rotate them around a bit as it's currently riding as the spare. Wanna get it into the rotation and wear it down a bit.

[1jack5]

So do you have 4wd now? I bet that spare cost a pretty penny.

[imbezol]

Nope.. still a long ways from 4wd.

I couldn't find the chev small bearing spindles at any wreckers and no parts places carry it anymore. I ended up finding a place called Durasolid that makes them aftermarket and got them from there.



I also got a box from RE with two full sets of bushings in them. I paid for one set and they threw in the other because of all the trouble I've had with the bushings. I've been assured that this new compound is much better. We'll have to wait and see I guess.



Wish I had a heated garage! You know it's too cold to be putting in bushings when the penguins start appearing!




Poor Jeep.

[imbezol]

I dropped in on Bill last night and we fiddled in the garage a bit. We just put a Clayton kit in his TJ over the last couple weeks and had to address the steering still. It was absolutely horrible to try and keep straight on the road. After replacing the tie rod, with an end that pretty much fell apart, it was still bad. We checked the toe-in and it was about 2.5"! After adjusting it to somewhere just shy of 1/8" it drives great!



I also pulled my Jeep in the garage so I could take a look at the bushings. The lower back ones are in need of replacement pretty bad. We also noticed the passenger side e-brake cable had come off so we got it hooked back up and adjusted the e-brake to work again. That'll be nice!

I also removed the rear swaybar. The bushings weren't great and it was just another source of rattles and creaks. I actually find the driving to be great without it. Barely noticeable difference to stability yet it made such a huge improvement to the ride it feels like my tires are deflated. I don't feel every bump from back there.

[imbezol]

On the weekend I went with my bro to the where he works to do some fixing on the Jeep. It was a great day and it's so nice to work in a good shop with air tools, every hand tool, a press, an endless supply of clean coveralls, WARM, and all the hot coffee you can drink. We both had our Jeeps in and just did a bunch of maintenance stuff.

Here's my list:

• Tightened Steering Linkage above Steering Box
• Tightened Pitman Arm
• Greased every zerk on my Jeep
• Rotated my tires and put the new one front driver's
• Removed rear drive shaft and retorqued the tcase yoke nut to 200 ft/lbs so my speedo works again!
• Removed the broken chunks of hose on my evap return so I can get a new piece
• Replaced the 4 RE bushings in the front

On my bro's:

• Took apart his Ramsey winch and witnessed carnage on almost every gear!
• Ground down and repainted the front bumper
• Replaced the stock lower control arms with Procomp arms
• Straightened the front passenger fender

Oh.. and then today Brown Santa came again!

[imbezol]

Took this pic with my phone, but here are the high steer arms I got from North West Fab too. Pretty beefy!