Nevada Backroaders

Anybody want to do a build party? I am getting ready to order a suspension lift for my Cherokee. I am looking at Old Man Emu 2" lift with JKS QD. I already have a set of Moab (Rubicon) Wheels with Goodyear MTRs 245/75/R16 ready to mount on it once it is lifted. I am leaning toward the 2" lift since I should be able to clear 31's and still be able to drive it everyday.

Greg

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Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

Hmmmm...

The Wife is making a lot of noise about doing her Grand Cherokee lift. It's sitting in my living room now, shocks and springs. I'm sure I can get it done, but having company can make it a lot more fun.

Any Ideas?

Travis

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

I'm sure we could work something out. I know next weekend I'm volunteering for habitat for humanity in the morning but I should be done there around 1. My kit may not come in for a week or so.

Greg

_________________
Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

Greg,

Did the wife's lift today. Springs and shocks all around. It wasn't as hard as my ProComp lift on the Wrangler, but it wasn't easy either. If you're talking about needing garage space, and a helping hand with air tools to use, then you can come here if you need to. I only require that you be willing and able to turn a wrench as well. I hate having spectators trying to tell me how they would do something.

Otherwise, I'm still willing to help on a build party, but I don't get weekends off, and everyone here seems to want to do everything on a weekend.

Travis

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

Awaiting parts...may need some help with the install...

_________________
Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

Parts starting to trickle in. I have received my JKS Quicker disconnects, a .75 coil spring spacers and my bushings for the leaf springs. Now I just need the leaf springs and shocks. I'll have to spray some more PB Blaster. tomorrow. He he!!

_________________
Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

MORE PARTS!!! I received my springs and shocks today. Now I need to find a place to install these new parts.

Greg

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Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

Greg,

See above.

Travis

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

The nightmare never ends. The rust-J has it's new rear end in place.

Look at all the pics for the agony that is this Jeep. I could have gone cheap and easy, but I was really concerned about the tensile strength of the cheap bolts. So, I have done a complete replacement with Grade 8 SAE bolts, washers and nuts. That meant cutting out the captive nut that had rusted the threads.

I haven't even looked at the front.

If the front is anything like the rear, this may require a gallon of gasoline and a clear space in the desert.

I will continue the agony this weekend.

Travis

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

Nice work Travis !! I'm impressed with the level of dedication to the job that you showed here !! Don't worry,,, the front end is much easier,, much like a TJ... Just coil springs.. The axle ends of the disconnects are a bite to do,, but otherwise not that bad... Welcome to the club... Phil

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'95 XJ Cherokee, dark green
2" lift
JKS discos
31" BFG Mud Terrains
NBOFC

To be honest Phil, it's not my Cherokee. It's Duntov's. I volunteered to work on it. But, after meeting his little boy, I guess I just figured I'd rather over-engineer it to be safe. Cute kid.

So, four days into the job, and the rear end is complete. I needed a break for a few days before I go after the front end. I hope it's as easy as disconnecting the sway bar ends (he's got discos to go in also), dropping the axle down as far as it will articulate, and swapping springs. That's how it went with my TJ and my wife's Grand. R and R shocks, and tah-dah, all done.

But, if it's gonna hold true to form, then nothing will go right, and everything will be rusted and inaccessible. The pics show what I did the the "other" side. The first side was rusted bolts, cut springs and bushings, captured nut welded to bolt with rust, and a failed sawsall attempt at removing the welded nut. It turned into a hack job. The results were pretty much identical, but the time it took to develop the plan of attack was a different story altogether. Once I knew what I was going to have to do, it went a lot smoother.
(Doesn't side B always go faster then side A?)

Oh well, all to help out a fellow E-5 (at least that's what I was when I got out). From now on, only desert born and bred Jeeps. No more rust belt cast-offs.

In all, I suspect the Rust-J will always hold a place in my heart, and I'll have the scars to lead into a good story. "Oh, this scar? This one is from that time I worked on a Jeep from Ohio."

Travis

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

LOL Travis !! I feel your pain... You must be one heck of a bodyman/millright/engineer !!! That's nice work.. Hope to meet you on the trail some time,,, if I can ever afford to go again.... This $60 for gas plus food and drinks is pushing the envelope of my budget,, just for a day run !! Maybe I can borrow some from CJ to make next weekends run !! Phil

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'95 XJ Cherokee, dark green
2" lift
JKS discos
31" BFG Mud Terrains
NBOFC

Well everyone, it's done!

The Rust-J has it's new suspension, wheels, tires, and discos.

It really looks great! Greg's newly finished ride is good looking, and quite a bit tougher than it was.

I'm glad I could help, and I'm really glad it looks so good.

Five days of total work, but today went a lot better than it had before. Lots of help (Thanks Greg), only one trip for tools (why didn't anyone tell me the lower sway bar end bolts were pressed in?) And a few hours later, voila!

By the way, Greg still needs his JKS Quick Discos set. So if someone with a wrench on the trail could tighten the set nut after the suspension settles....

Thanks.

Travis

Look at the last four pics for the finished product!!

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'00 Smiley Yellow TJ................................(\__/)
2" Teraflex Susp lift, 31" BFG AT's...............(='.'=)
3.73's with Detroit Truetracs F/R................(")_(")
Mile Marker 8K, KC's, H4 conversion, etc, etc etc.

As Travis said the RustJ Cherokee (RJ) is now complete. I can't say how much of a help it was having Travis help me with this Jeep. I should say I assisted him since all of the extensive welding/modding he did. I'm not sure how I would of got this thing together with out him with all his know how and tools for the job. The results speak for themselves. If this thing handles off road as good as it looks it is going to be quite the trail rig/daily driver. I am really happy with the end result and can't wait to get it in the dirt and play.

What was installed was Old Man Emu shocks all around. Full Old Man Emu springs in the rear and Old Man Emu springs in the front with a OE type 3/4 coil isolator. Also, JKS "Quicker Disconnects" were also installed on this Jeep. So far no vibrations from the drivetrain which is a good thing and it seems to handle well. I will take it in for an alignment early next week and it should be good to go.

Greg



http://good-times.webshots.com/album/56 ... good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/56 ... good-times

_________________
Just another day in paradise
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2144037

Holy cow fellas, nice job!

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Adam & Amanda

'06 Rubi- really, really ORANGE!
'02 Tacoma 4x4 TRD
WWJJD?