Nate's crappy 93 XJ

skippy · Jun 2, 2014

xj_nate said:
Last I heard the rubicon was practically paved. Weather.com says the avg on 7/4 in Moab is 98 degrees. I thought it'd be a lot hotter and might be good with that.

When I say tough it out I mean with my windows rolled up and AC blasting..

N-Smooth · Jun 2, 2014

skippy said:
When I say tough it out I mean with my windows rolled up and AC blasting..

You better get locking hood latches cause I'm going to steal your a/c relay.

N-Smooth · Jun 4, 2014

Awesome update! So my MORE motor mounts that are probably 5 years old are allowing the motor to slide forward and back.

So I emailed them and asked if I can get replacement bushings and they sent me this package-

Needless to say, that's awesome customer service! It's not like the motor mounts have had an easy life...

skippy · Jun 5, 2014

xj_nate said:
Awesome update! So my MORE motor mounts that are probably 5 years old are allowing the motor to slide forward and back.
View attachment 92041
So I emailed them and asked if I can get replacement bushings and they sent me this package-
View attachment 92042

Needless to say, that's awesome customer service! It's not like the motor mounts have had an easy life...

I have these same mounts on the new TJ...Glad to see they took care of you

N-Smooth · Jun 16, 2014

Got the jeep out on Saturday and washed off the remaining mud from the OSRC race course. Heard a weird popping noise from my steering so I took a look at it and my frame reinforcement plates are cracked around my tracbar mount. I'm not surprised cause I put them together very hastily. So I need to grind some welds down and add some more steel to it. The only part that sucks is that I'll want to remove the box and tracbar in order to get the grinder in there. Nbd though. That kind of demotivated me so I wanted to do something fun. I took the taillights off cause they're hammered. The passenger side is awesome

I like the look of not having the stock taillights but plan to plate the "tailgate" area and add some rounds lights there

N-Smooth · Jun 21, 2014

Reinforced the steering box/tracbar mounting area. Added some strap up to the bumper and triangle gussets inside and out.
Tacked-

Welded(ugly but nice and hot)and primed-

On the inside I also added some gangster Ruffstuff gussets-

With that issue out of the way I moved into the taillights. I need to figure out what in going to do for skinning the tailgate area so I compromised with a temporary solution-

I used the stock lights in a similar fashion on my old chuggy so it's nostalgic and awesome for me.

Can't wait for HTT next weekend!

TJDukit · Jun 21, 2014

Just strip all the sheet metal already.

N-Smooth · Jun 21, 2014

But I love the beat sheet metal

N-Smooth · Jun 28, 2014

Ran HTT today. What a cool trail with good company. I'll add one video for the night.
[video=youtube_share;otU29pLkK1s]http://youtu.be/otU29pLkK1s[/video]

N-Smooth · Jul 29, 2014

Haven't worked on the jeep since HTT last month but I did crawl under there and look around. I thought my tie rod was bent cause I could see that the tie rod heim had a little misalignment but I looked closer...

Yeah, the steering knuckle is twisted. And we thought the issue was going to be wallowing out the holes...!?!? Anyways, pretty lame but it's not going to stop me from going to 5Mile this weekend, provided my friends don't bail.

On a non-jeep note, started working on some more shelves since we are going to stay in this house for a year or two more. Since we finished the basement last year we don't have any storage space so I needed to make some.

The shelves stick out 1.5" from the edge of the garage so they don't kill parking space but still have enough room to fit popular-sized totes lengthwise. Pretty happy with them so far. All but the area where the welding cart is will be covered in big plywood doors to keep the stuff inside clean-ish. The big overhead shelf is 4x5' so I can fit some bigger items up there- like one of our 5 strollers!

I Lean · Jul 30, 2014

xj_nate said:
I thought my tie rod was bent cause I could see that the tie rod heim had a little misalignment but I looked closer... Yeah, the steering knuckle is twisted. And we thought the issue was going to be wallowing out the holes...!?!? Anyways, pretty lame but it's not going to stop me from going to 5Mile this weekend, provided my friends don't bail.

Nice job! That means you had the bolt tight enough.

Still, doing that whole double-shear thing originally probably would have prevented that.

N-Smooth · Jul 30, 2014

I Lean said:
Nice job! That means you had the bolt tight enough. Still, doing that whole double-shear thing originally probably would have prevented that.

Yeah or it would've broken the balljoints or something cool. Still need to make it double shear. I'm thinking I'll just heat up the knuckle and try and bend it back with a giant crescent wrench. We'll see if that's even possible...

N-Smooth · Aug 2, 2014

Went out to 5MP today. Had a great time, stopped for a poser shot during snack time.

Only took one pic on the trail and barely got it cause he cruised up WW so easily.

Eagles Nest had some big, ugly rocks probably 10 feet from it that didn't look friendly so we opted to turn around. Probably a good idea since my kid and my BIL's FIL were with us. On the way back down constrictor my jeep started making terrible noises. Turns out I lost a passenger side u-joint. That joint and shaft have been in there for a couple of years and a lot of trips so I can't blame them for giving up. Put it in 2WD and made it to the trailer, clanking all the way.

All said and done it was a good trip with some good company.

90Heepbus · Aug 10, 2014

I just looked through your build thread and I like what you've done. I've had my XJ for almost 2 years now and she's mostly in stock form still. I've done a lot of maintence that the previous owner neglected to do. I've got big plans for it someday.

As for posting comments, I believe this is my first post on a forum. I've always been just a lurker. Haven't been sure to comment if I didn't know the person like others have said.

Anyways there is my rant. I like the build and I would like to get out with some members on here to do some wheeling.

N-Smooth · Aug 10, 2014

90Heepbus said:
I just looked through your build thread and I like what you've done. I've had my XJ for almost 2 years now and she's mostly in stock form still. I've done a lot of maintence that the previous owner neglected to do. I've got big plans for it someday.

As for posting comments, I believe this is my first post on a forum. I've always been just a lurker. Haven't been sure to comment if I didn't know the person like others have said.

Anyways there is my rant. I like the build and I would like to get out with some members on here to do some wheeling.

Thanks for the compliment and thanks for posting. I really like hearing from others, starting discussions etc. That is what forums are for after all

I've made some great friends/wheeling buddies on this forum and you can do the same. As far as getting out to go wheeling just keep an eye on the upcoming trips section and/or post up when you are planning something yourself. It's always good to get out on the trails with people from here, especially XJ's!

I like going with XJ's because I know exactly what they're capable of and can tell you what to expect from each trail.

ricsrx · Aug 11, 2014

90Heepbus said:
QUOTE]

wellcome to RME!

Sasquatch_Adventures · Aug 18, 2014

Awesome build, I love the cage! I see your steering, that sucks. I am thinking about the double sheer thing on my pitman and knuckles. Just another thing I need to do... lol

N-Smooth · Aug 18, 2014

jrw8012004 said:
Awesome build, I love the cage! I see your steering, that sucks. I am thinking about the double sheer thing on my pitman and knuckles. Just another thing I need to do... lol

Thanks, the cage was a rush and it shows but I still love it. I always promise myself I'll slow down and try to make everything a little nicer but I always seem to be coming up on a wheeling trip and deadlines get me.

I definitely suggest double sheer on the knuckle. I don't really worry about the pitman because it's so thick and beefy but then again there was a lightly modified TJ on Hell's revenge once with a completely sheared pitman. It was such a weird failure.

The list of things to do never stops. I intended on making August my month to work on it (too hot to wheel) and get the flat belly done but I just haven't been able to make the time or be motivated. I'll tear into the broke shaft in a couple weeks here and that'll motivate me. I really need to get it rolling again so I can take my kid for rides around the block at the very least.

N-Smooth · Aug 26, 2014

Yay!

Got a lot done tonight. Changed the oil in my Ram (7 quarts of Mobil1...eek) and took off my front mud flap to see if it was rattling. Went for a test drive and a half mile away my TPMS comes on and said low pressure in the RR tire. I saw a screw in it on Sunday and figured it came out so I headed home. Sure enough it was losing pressure fast too. Got the spare on and will get the other tire to Discount. Thank goodness for the TPMS.

With that out of the way I got the Jeep in the garage. Tore out the broken shaft, got the spare out, tacked the caps and got it in and all buttoned-up in 45 minutes. It's awesome having it driving again and not limping. Carnage pics:

The ears are just a little broken lol

All that clanging around did a number on the unitbearing bolts. Luckily I'm a Jeep dork and had 6 extras in my box. If they look sharp it's because they are- I sliced my finger open pretty good. Oh well, I de-weaponized them with a flapper disc and threw them in with the spares. I just may be THAT desperate one day.

The inner was covered in gear oil so I really should check my diff level. I'll get to the seals at some point but didn't want to bother with it right now.

N-Smooth · Aug 26, 2014

I also finished my shelf project over the weekend. I must say I'm very pleased with them as I have a ton of stuff in there. I made them so totes fit long-ways in there so I could save some space to park both cars.

The doors will keep them from being showered by sparks and metal dust.

I'm also really excited for additional open storage by my tool bench, heaven knows that thing is overused and underpaid.

With the Jeep backed in pretty close to the shelves I've got lots of room for the Blacura. Happy wife, happy life.

Nate's crappy 93 XJ

skippy

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