Tom95YJ's 1989 YJ Islander (The Smurf)

Owners Name & City-Tom Kellough, Herriman Utah


Make, Model & Year of Vehicle-
1989 Jeep Wrangler Islander


Engine-
4.0HO (Swapped inplace of 258)


Transmission-
Ax15 w B&M Shifter swapped inplace of BA10


T-Case-
231 W/ Jb conversion Sye


Axles-
HP30 Yukon Chromoly D30 Inners w/ D44 Stubs Shafts, 4.56 gears, Spartan locker, Teraflex Balljoints, Warn Premium Hubs, Artec Diffcover
Ford 8.8 4.56 Gears, Yukon Grizzly Locker, Artec Diff cover

Steering-
Reid Racing D3001JL/D3001JR Knuckles D30-44 conversion knuckles w/ Artec Highsteer Arms and double shear kits Arp Fastners, Artec SK1403 Steering

Suspension-
SOA on RE SOA Springs, 1/2" lift Boomerang shackles , RE Monotube shocks Motobilt Perches, Artec shock mounts (axle side)


Wheels and Tire-
37x12.50x17 Cooper Stt Pro
17x9 Dirtylife 9303



Winch-
Smittybilt Xrc 9.5 w/ Factor 55 flat link


Favorite Trails-
Judgment Day (Price)
777 (Sand Hollow)
Cliffhanger (Moab)


Other-
Trail gear Cage with Custom grab handles/ V bars an Rear additions , Corbeau Baja jp front seats, Poison Spyder Front bumper, Rocker Knockers, Crusher corners, Tube fenders, Custom Magnaflow catback, Artec 1 off Rear bumper an aluminum Tailgate armor, Morimoto Sealed6 Led headlights, Efan, Teraflex hand throttle, Homebrew 10lb Co2 system . Crown brake lines front and rear Tom woods Shafts, Grant steering wheel .

 

[The_Lobbster]

That’s sick!

Why the SPOA conversion? Looks like it’s sitting pretty good SPUA.

 

[Tom95YJ]

That’s sick!

Why the SPOA conversion? Looks like it’s sitting pretty good SPUA.

The heavy arched springs don't articulate or ride too well. My previous Yj which I should have kept years ago was Soa an I really liked how it performed an rode.

 

[kmboren]

The heavy arched springs don't articulate or ride too well. My previous Yj which I should have kept years ago was Soa an I really liked how it performed an rode.

Are you doing an antiwrap bar in the rear with the SOA? I love the stability the Spring under gives. Having wheeled XJs for so long I see the and feel the benefits of being Sprung under.

 

[Tom95YJ]

Are you doing an antiwrap bar in the rear with the SOA? I love the stability the Spring under gives. Having wheeled XJs for so long I see the and feel the benefits of being Sprung under.

Yes I will be using an antiwrap bar mounting it to the a, artec prototype Apex 8.8 truss I also have an XJ but i havnt had it on the road in a few years its on a 3.5" franken lift front and rear lockers on 35s with Terrys (Rigidco) Bumper and sliders an jcr fuel tank skid

 

[Tom95YJ]

Last weekend I needed to replace the front brakes on my YJ an noticed a little play in the oem Knuckle. Which ment it was time to get off my rear an toss on some upgrades that have been kicking around on the shelf for a few years. ( Reid 30-44 conversion knuckles w/ Artec Arms and double shear kits, Chevy44 outters with Warn Premium Hubs and Chromoly Stub shafts)

I did mock up the steering of where I want to run it once i do the soa conversion but with my 15" wheel the heim for the draglink runs into my tire so I'll need to run a small spacer to clear with 15" wheel until I get some tires for my 17" wheels. Good thing I checked now an not in the middle of a project . (yes the spring over perch is just sitting there its not welded on it was there for mock up an I hadn't removed it yet

 

[Tom95YJ]

Got the 37s and 17" wheels installed last week.

 

[kmboren]

Got the 37s and 17" wheels installed last week.


View attachment 167911

Are concerned about the Dana 30? I have been thinking about 37s Vs 35s once I get the MotoBilt fenders on.

 

[Tom95YJ]

Are concerned about the Dana 30? I have been thinking about 37s Vs 35s once I get the MotoBilt fenders on.

Just a little but its pretty much a fully polished turd. I'm fairly easy on the throttle so I'm not super worried. I'm sure it'll have the sterling and a 60 under it before these tires wear out my 35s lasted 8 years

 

[Hickey]

I'm sure it'll have the sterling and a 60 under it before these tires wear out my 35s lasted 8 years

Knowing this is the ultimate fate of my YJ, and still paying over $200 for new D30 ball joints just so I can keep driving it while I acquire parts… well it feels like insanity. Jeep life.

 

[Tom95YJ]

Today I started my soa. I'm hoping to finish the rear Tomorrow. Then next weekend I'll start the front so I can measure for my draglink an have it machined. I would have had the rear done tonight but, I forgot I had a prototype truss. An I didn't like how it was going to sit so I had to trim and modify as well as make a access hole for the breather tube. So that took some time today. I'll burn the truss in tomorrow then get the axle back under so I can tack the perches before pulling it back out to weld. An paint before stabbing it under there for good.

 

[Hickey]

Today I started my soa. I'm hoping to finish the rear Tomorrow. Then next weekend I'll start the front so I can measure for my draglink an have it machined. I would have had the rear done tonight but, I forgot I had a prototype truss. An I didn't like how it was going to sit so I had to trim and modify as well as make a access hole for the breather tube. So that took some time today. I'll burn the truss in tomorrow then get the axle back under so I can tack the perches before pulling it back out to weld. An paint before stabbing it under there for good.

View attachment 169616View attachment 169618View attachment 169619View attachment 169620View attachment 169621View attachment 169622View attachment 169623View attachment 169626

Wow, you look really young.



😂

 

[Tom95YJ]

Wow, you look really young.



😂

Man , I wish I was that young still. I miss wrenching with my father. I brought in the child labor for the crappy part haha. He wants to be a mechanic/fabricator so he's gotta learn how to prep an axle !

 

[Tom95YJ]

The truss an anti wrap bar mounts are burned in, pinion angle is set, perches are tacked into position an it's sitting on its own weight. Throughout the week I'll pull the housing back out finish welding the perches, An cut off the old perches , relocate the shock mounts further up on the axle tube. relocate the hard lines and install the calipers again. I will definitely need to lengthen my driveshaft. This has been a fun project for sure!

 

[Tom95YJ]

I started on the front axle yesterday its almost out of the Jeep. I will probably have it out of the jeep in about 20mins when i get back to wrenching . My kid sent these pics to me that he took the other night . I'm hoping to have the front done by Saturday or Sunday. So I can get my drag link machined

 

[Tom95YJ]

Almost done the Soa. Just a couple things left. I was really hoping to run the tierod otk but the tubing is pressed up against the leafs with how I have the caster set. Oh well its not the end of the world I'll sacrifice the height of the tierod to have good road manners .

 

[Hickey]

It’s really a shame that Reid doesn’t make those knuckles anymore. Jeep is looking awesome, it makes me want to dig into my YJ.

 

[Tom95YJ]

It’s really a shame that Reid doesn’t make those knuckles anymore. Jeep is looking awesome, it makes me want to dig into my YJ.

It is but I think the WJ knuckle swap priced most people out of the market the WJ brakes are about the same size an more bolt on/ cost effective I know Kendall was bummed when he found out I had these when he was looking

 

[Tom95YJ]

My Aluminum steering links were finished yesterday.

 

[Tom95YJ]

Since the last update I have installed the aluminum steering , And took the jeep out to 5mile for a quick shake down. I did ound some things I need to address. (Front shock mounts , front driveshaft length , And need to change the misalignment spacers on the draglink. )