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Right Hand Drive TJ Build Thread

72225 Views 462 Replies 46 Participants Last post by  NotURMailman
Ok, so some of you know that I have been having issues installing my RC 6" X system on my TJ due to it being RHD. Just wanted to post an undate.

1-After the first dissapointing conversation with the guy who is apparently the one and only grum a** unco-operative employee at RC I ended up in contact with Jeff. He has been super helpful trying to come up with alternatives and solutions for me. Maybe sergant 20% was just having a bad day, but customer service and support has been top notch since then.

2-I used 1/2 of the RC rear track bar bracket cut down and welded to the OEm bracket for strength. I am waiting for another to show up (thanks Jeff!) to finish that up. I have come up with a solution for the rear track bar that I will imnplement tonight.

3-The plan is this: the rear bar actually has no bends vertically. The vertical off set is designed in by the notch in the end of the tube where the end (where the bushing goes) is welded on. There is 8" between the end and the begining of the first horizontal bend. I am going to make a nice square cut at the 4" mark - then I will tap threads into both sides of the tube - I will install an 8" paice of threaded rod into the long end of the tube - I will screw the short end onto the thread stopping 1/2 of a turn short - this wil flip the end and reverse the offset.

4-The front will be a different story since the bar actually has bends in it. Atleast I will be able to set the Jeep down on the rear tires and meassure for my driveshaft and get it ordered.


OVERALL build progress:
XRC8 winch
Quick Air 2 OBA
Skid Row rocker skids
Skid Row fuel tank skid
Curt receiver hitch and receiver shackle
Crown SYE
Rear axle housing emptied and awaiting gears and locker (tonights project)

So, my Jeep is still in my garage on stands and my rear axle is now in my wife's garabe on saw horses.

Parts still in the pile:
Skid Row engine/trans skid
Skid Row lower radiator tank guard
Skid Row steering bow skid for RHD
Skid Row lower control arm skids
CB, antenna, etc.
4.88 gears and ECTEDS for front and rear
35x12.50x15 Pro Comp M/Ts on 15X10 Pro Comp Street Loks

I'M SURE I'M FORGETTING SOMETHING SOMEWHERE!
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Just a note: with the hitch the rear "L" brackets for the fuel tank skid wont work. I just put the hitch on and then put the skid up, and then I welded the skid to the hitch.
Sorry I don't have pics. I always take the camera into the shop with me, but then I get busy and don't think too use it.
Wow! I'm really suprised nobody attacking me for modifying my track bars... LOL!
OMG YOUR modifying your trac bars!? it will never work...
LOL! I didn't say I wanted anybody to, I'm just suprised. People get worked up and attack people over the strangest things on here sometimes... :laugh:
Sounds like you are having a fun build ! If they go too easy, it's just no fun.
In that case it's way more fun than I anticipated. Seriously though, I am really enjoying it. I just wish I had gotten started earlier, this is wheeling weather, not wrenching weather! But that really wasn't an option since I got it as soon as I got back in the country.
So are you going to be delivering mail in a 6" lifted rig on XX" tires? Sounds like a pain...
I don't deliver mail... LOL! I bought the Jeep from my mail lady, she got a new one.
So, maybe it's no fun when everything goes right... but, what do you call it when everything goes wrong?

First, I tell you never, ever buy the $125 pinion depth gauge from Summit. I now have a $125 paper weight. I know better, just thought I'd give it a shot.

So I took a leap of faith. My OE pinion gear was scribed with a zero and my new gear was also scribed with a zero. I never trust those marks and always measure for myself. Well, I went ahead and put the new pinion in with the old shims...

I went to pull out my torque wrench to mearuse the pinion bearing pre-load, and... Apparently the mover that moved me to NC dropped and broke it and just put it back in the case. The glass is broken of of the dial and the needle doesn't move fluidly anymore, it jerks erratically. So, I can't trust it.

Basically... never sell your differential tools evene if you think you will never need them again, you will end up buying them again. And never trust movers with your precision tools, and if you do the open everycase and inspect each one before you sign off on delivery.

So, all I got done last night was to install a pinion and I'm not even sure it's right! ARGHH!!!!
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Ok, so I figured I could drown my frustration with money. I just dropped $700 to order a T&D pinon depth set and a bearing puller set and another $75 to order a new (used) Snap-On "torquemeter" torque wrench. That should make my life easier! Now I just need to find a soft jaw vise.
Ok, so I figured I could drown my frustration with money. I just dropped $700 to order a T&D pinon depth set and a bearing puller set and another $75 to order a new (used) Snap-On "torquemeter" torque wrench. That should make my life easier! Now I just need to find a soft jaw vise.
I know what would make you feel better. Buy me a set of tube fenders :2thumbsup: Think of the warm fuzzy feeling you'd get helping out the less fortunate...LOL

Where are you in NC ? Want to help me regear my Rubi ? I do work for the beer company :cheers2:
I'm about 30 minutes north of Durham. I'd be gald to help! (as soon as all these tools come in and I get mine done ofcourse) Where are you at?
I know what would make you feel better. Buy me a set of tube fenders :2thumbsup: Think of the warm fuzzy feeling you'd get helping out the less fortunate...LOL
I just caught that part. I'll be lucky if I don't get beat for the amount of money I've put into mine! Myabe next yaer I'll get some tube fenders, front and rear D60s and some 40s... LOL!
I'm about 30 minutes north of Durham. I'd be gald to help! (as soon as all these tools come in and I get mine done ofcourse) Where are you at?
I live just across the VA/NC line. Im right next to Mt Airy, NC (AKA: Mayberry). Takes me about 2 hours to get to Raliegh.
Then you're probably about an hour from me. I'll be gald to give you a hand when I get done. (or when you get your parts, whichever comes last) :thumbsup:
I've been out of the loop for a while on this one. Four yards of mulch, five trees, 52 landscape timbers, six tons of rock,a pickup load of bamboo, tmenty low voltage lights, and 70 feet of composite edging later... I finally got a chance to work on the Jeep yesterday. That D44 R&P just wants to aggravate me. I measured and double checked everything repeatedly with set up bearings and should have been good to go. Then when I assembled with new bearings and my carrier bearing pre-load was insanely excessive. The only thing I could think of was that I wasn't getting the carrier bearings fully seated. SO, I did what any self respecting Jeeper would do, I went and bought a shop press. I pressed the bearings onto my locker and proceeded to reinstall. My step son was helping me. I wasn't watching him close enough and he tried to install both sets of outer end shims without using the case spreader and bent the crap out of the left side pack and they're shot, now I don't have enough appropriate shims left to finish. So, today I will order a new shim set.

In order to utilize the time left that I was actually able to work on the Jeep I went ahead and installed my fender flares. I don't really care for them because they don't match the body lines like the OEM flares did. Oh well, I paid for them and put them on, so they're staying until I rip them off on a rock or a tree. The paint was rubbed a little in the corners of the rear flares and the spots are exposed now with the new flares, so now I have white primer showing in a few small spots around the rear flares. Anyone else have this issue? (they are Smittybilt pocket stlye flares)
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Also note: Don't be a stupid cheap skate like I tried to be. Buy good install kits! I will be using my cheapy Genuine Gear set up kit to make set up bearings and already ordered the Yukon install kit. The Genuine kit had no oil slinger, a very poor shim selection, and a cheap seal. I'll never do that again. You can save a little cash on some parts, but your R&P install kit shouldn't be one of them!
Had meetings all night, so I didn't get to wrench on her at all. But, my Staun beadlocks did show up yesterday. They will most likely be the only thing that I don't do 100% myself. I'm going to try to find a local tire shop to install them. I wish I hadn't already paid for the balancing job. Now I get to have them re-balanced and they haven't even been on the Jeep yet. Oh well, no way I could have known I would find such a great deal on them so soon after buying tires.
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