Nate's crappy 93 XJ

N-Smooth · Sep 7, 2014

kmboren said:
Well if you know anyone coming down I could meet up with them and they could get a ride. Also if there is anything else you can think of you might want let me know.

I could probably use a lot of little things if you're getting rid of a lot. Shoot me a text when you're not sleeping- I'm always worried about texting you since you work weird hours

N-Smooth · Sep 9, 2014

So with my new radiator on the way I'm wondering if I should mount it independent of the rest of the frontend...? I'll try to explain- I could build a mount that comes up from the front bumper that holds the top in place since the bottom mount is also mounted to the "frame" crossmember as well. That way hopefully if I tip or roll and it drills my tube work it will be less likely to also push on the radiator. Hopefully that makes sense. The hood will be held down with hood pins that are on the fender tubes so technically it will just be sitting on the header and not connected to it.
Does everyone else just replace their radiators if the frontend takes a hard enough hit during a roll?
Chime in people!

N-Smooth · Sep 11, 2014

Got a good bit of work done tonight. Got the radiator drained and pulled. It's very bent and I'm so glad I noticed it.

I drained all the coolant and decided to get a new lower hose cause I've never replaced it. While at autozone I grabbed some new ziptie mounts for the trans cooler and actually decided to get a new power steering pump. I've never replaced mine and while it still performs pretty well the PO hacked the fitting for the drain hose on it so it has a very slow leak that makes a mess. It will be good to have a new one anyways. Also grabbed a ricer air intake tube and filter. It's going to be fun to fit under the hood but I'll make it work.

I'm excited to get done with the boring, maintenance stuff and onto the tube work!

Here's where I called it quits

N-Smooth · Sep 13, 2014

Still on the kinda boring stuff but at least got to do some fabrication today. Cut up some angle and drilled holes for plug welds to put on top of the "frame" in the front where I cut the inner fender out. I was welding 2 pieces of thicker stuff sandwiching 3 pieces of sheetmetal (unibody yay) so that's why the welds are double pass and ugly. It'll work and I'm actually pleased with it.

Also got the new power steering pump on and got another, bigger trans cooler (that matches my trans cooler) for the power steering. I've been running a little guy (in the pic) but decided to do it right while it's apart.

I also got the new motor mounts put on. I explained earlier that I have some MORE units and they are all beat up so MORE sent me a new set. I'm really happy about it and they moved the motor back to where it belongs, about an inch forward.

Lifelong Jeeper · Sep 13, 2014

Looks great! Did you figure your fenders out yet?

N-Smooth · Sep 13, 2014

Lifelong Jeeper said:
Looks great! Did you figure your fenders out yet?

Thanks! Not yet, need to sit down and read through the OSRC, Dirt Riot and Werock rules and see what I want to do and how to fit in the classes I want to (if possible). Then I'll start bending tube and doing the fun stuff.

N-Smooth · Sep 18, 2014

Got some stuff done tonight- got the trans and power steering coolers mounted and plumbed. I'm really excited about the bigger power steering cooler and new pump! The lines for the coolers run around the radiator and Stick out a bit on the driver side especially so I threw together a quick piece of bent angle to protect them from debris and whatnot. I still need to clean it up but it should work well. I also got the header and grill back on so I could make sure to get it all lined-up before starting on the tube work. It's coming together and I'm getting excited!!!

I picked up this bad boy from Kiel since I've been meaning to weld my cracked manifold since the day I got this Jeep almost 6 years ago but I prefer this over welding it and having it crack again.

N-Smooth · Sep 25, 2014

Wife was gone all week so I didn't get to work on it until tonight. Not cool cause I leave for Sand Hollow in two weeks...

Anyways, got the radiator mount done. After much thought I decided I'd mount it separate from the tube work. Besides that, I need it to be held in place while I have the hood up and design my tube work. If I decide to tie it all in later, so be it.

It's nice because the flat bar also protects the side of the radiator a little. I added some speed holes because you know, it's a race car

Front view.

I had to run to walmart for some longer bolts and a silver sharpie and ended up in the ricer section. The factory headlights won't fit when I'm done but these should work fine for my application. I tested them and they're really bright for 3.5" 55w lights

N-Smooth · Sep 27, 2014

Well I got it running today. Had to relocate the battery inside the passenger area so it needed longer cables. Had redo some ground straps since the wiring all had to be moved. Had to fill up the radiator and power steering and bleed them both but it runs! I wanted to drive it around but it has rained all day, literally.

After that I started working on the header, grill and fenders. I ended up cutting a lot off of the header since I won't be able to use the headlights so this involved a lot of putting it all together, marking cuts, taking it off, cutting and putting it back together. Not fun but oh well I made progress. I'm going to build the tube structure where the lights will be first and then I'll tie it to the A pillar. After that I'll build some radiator protection separate from all the rest. Yay!

N-Smooth · Oct 2, 2014

Got a little bit done each night for the last couple of nights but tonight was probably the most productive time I've had on it in a while. I was just kicking trash on it. Got the framework for the headlight area made up as well as the fender bar from the a pillar to the light frame.

What it looks like with the fender on

Took all the sheetmetal off and welded it up

I love when I have halfway decent looking welds. Too bad it's rare.

And of course, kid pic- I put my ear protection on him just for kicks and he loved it

Still lots to do but getting closer. I leave for StG a week from today so I'm cutting it close like usual!

TJDukit · Oct 3, 2014

That kid doesn't look anything like you at all.

N-Smooth · Oct 3, 2014

TJDukit said:
That kid doesn't look anything like you at all.

Ha! He totally does. He's just cute

N-Smooth · Oct 3, 2014

Tonight's progress-

The tape in the picture is what I'm going to do for a big gusset that will also be the hood pin mount. More to come tomorrow.

N-Smooth · Oct 4, 2014

Lunchtime update:

Getting the hood closed feels amazing!

N-Smooth · Oct 7, 2014

Got some more work done. Built a mount for the battery in the passenger footwell. It's temporary since I'll eventually go to an AGM battery and I need to hack up that area anyways. So I pretty much hate it, enough that I didn't take a pic of it.

Got the rock lights worked out and fenders mounted. Need to work on headlights and some hood protection tomorrow.

Open for suggestions on capping the tube above the headlights or not. So far I have one vote for leaving it open.

Leaving for StJeezy on Thursday after work... Eeeek!

blznnp · Oct 8, 2014

looks good nate, I think I should drop my blazer off at your place this winter so you can put forth this same motivation towards it.

N-Smooth · Oct 8, 2014

blznnp said:
looks good nate, I think I should drop my blazer off at your place this winter so you can put forth this same motivation towards it.

Thanks man! If you need help making the Blazer ugly, I'm here

I don't even want to think about winter projects yet cause the Jeep needs a lot of stuff done. I need to clock the t-case, re-do the exhaust (from front to back) and rear traction bar all so I can build a custom flat belly for it. I need to have that done and lift it an inch or two in the front for OSRC. The course had a lot of stuff that was not low belly friendly this year and I expect the same next year.

skippy · Oct 8, 2014

xj_nate said:
Thanks man! If you need help making the Blazer ugly, I'm here

I don't even want to think about winter projects yet cause the Jeep needs a lot of stuff done. I need to clock the t-case, re-do the exhaust (from front to back) and rear traction bar all so I can build a custom flat belly for it. I need to have that done and lift it an inch or two in the front for OSRC. The course had a lot of stuff that was not low belly friendly this year and I expect the same next year.

Are you hoping for 3rd place this year? Cause we both know Heather and Aaron have 1st and second in the bag....

N-Smooth · Oct 8, 2014

skippy said:
Are you hoping for 3rd place this year? Cause we both know Heather and Aaron have 1st and second in the bag....

Oh please, I'll argue them being in street stock without a massive penalty and if that doesn't work, I'll just beat them both cause I'm awesome. Strategy.

N-Smooth · Oct 8, 2014

Had one of those nights that I'm not happy with the way anything turned out. Got the radiator protection done. I wanted it to be square to match the rest of the work but it's too square-looking from almost every angle. Oh well, I'll see if I can salvage it with some fancy gusset work or I'll cut it off. I have more tube.
Got the lights mounted, not happy with the way they mount and the lack of adjustability. They have low-quality, cheesy mounts. I also broke one in the process so there goes another $20 and I'll have an odd number. Pretty sure I'm cutting them off after the trip as well.

At the end of the day, at least I'm heading to StG tomorrow after work. Once I'm out wheeling I won't care about the stuff I'm not satisfied with.

Nate's crappy 93 XJ

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