Mikes 1993 YJ

[MikeB78]

Well Ive been browsing around on here for almost a year now and I figured it was about time I started a build thread. Here it is my 1993 Wrangler YJ I picked up for $2200 with zero body rust and 126,000 miles.
Here is one of the first pictures from when I brought it home.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/JeepMarch272009-2.jpg
I quickly fell in love with it and had big plans but thanks to an inatentive driver trying to make a U-Turn that came to a halt for a while. I only had liability insurance on it and without getting in to any of the details lets just say I got royally screwed by the other driver, the cops, and her husband (the local retired police sargeant.) I also didnt have the money to fix it right away so heres how it has set for most of the last year.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/JeepWreck-1.jpg

I know it doesnt look so bad but the worst part was that it bent the leaf spring and shoved the axle back on that side 2" or more.
I did start slowly and go ahead and replace the fender and pull out the bumper straight. With the assistance of my little helper we got that part fixed with ease.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/FaithJeep3.jpg

I decided that if I was going to "rebuild" after my accident that I was going to come back bigger and better than before. Fast forward to a year later thanks to a bonus from work and a settlement from a previous accident. Im ready to get rolling again (no pun intended) I started researching lifts and after going back and forth for a while I decided against the Rough Country and decided to go ahead and spend the money for the Rubicon Express 4" kit.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0551.jpg
I also picked up a set of Crown automotive HD Greaseable shackles from one of our forum members.
Next time for wheels and tires. I sprung for the wheels new, and did something really original (sarcasm implied) Black Steel Cragar soft 8's, when looking for tires Craigslist became my best friend. I found a guy who had a set of 33x12.50-15 BFG AT's with almost 1/2 tread for $150 for all 4. The guy had bought new tires because he thought he had a tire out of round only to find that the problem followed him to his new tires and he had a bent rim. Here they are after getting them mounted.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0674.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0676.jpg
Here it was just a little while ago with the fender and flare replaced waiting for the lift.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0621.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0625.jpg
Today the lift is mostly done just still need to finish extending the brake lines and then get the wheels and tires mounted up. Still need to get the windshield replaced and then hopefully be driving it regularly again by Saturday. Here is how she sits now.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0709.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/DSC_0710.jpg

Future plans include a custom bumper and custom rock sliders Soon I will have it back and I have to wire up a new interior light, and I have a new Bestop Replace-a-top that I probably wont install until summer is over. In the future the skys the limit I know I want to prob. switch to a Ford 8.8 and regear to 4.88's. I will post up more pictures soon once the lift is complete and I get the new wheels and tires mounted up. Thanks to all of you for the advice you have given me along the way. I just cant wait to get back on the road again these 70 degree days are just teasing me!

[scivic05]

Looks good Mike! I am glad the shackles worked out and you have your rig ready to be enjoyed again:2thumbsup:

[MikeB78]

I do want to get an alignment here pretty soon. Does anyone have any suggestions on somewhere that is reasonable and won't try to rip me off??

[hadfield4wd]

Cute little helper there.

[xjtrailrider]

Wow, those original springs were toast! Kudos for doing full springs and resisting the urge to do a SOA. That will work well for you off-road.

Cute kid:thumb:

[jhowery]

Little helpers are the best!

[MikeB78]

Ok so I just picked up the Jeep and have a few questions. This is my first lifted vehicle so bear with me. When I first take off I feel and hear what sounds like a popping sound and then it goes away. Secondly I have a really rough ride between 40 and 50 mph but slower or faster and I'm fine my mechanic said it looked to him like I needed to have the tires balanced which I didn't have done. Any advice, suggestions, or insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Mike

[YJeXtreme]

I've ran across popping issues along with vibrations from wrong driveline angle. Were any degree shims installed long with T-case drop? This will help alleviate the issue. Balancing tires will help too specifically if vibes are in higher speeds. I'd also check the ujoints, if they're bad they can cause popping at takeoff too.

[xjtrailrider]

Take a picture of the driveshaft, output shaft, and rear axle pinion yoke in one shot as level as you can get the camera to it and post the pic, it would be easier to diagnose the pinion angle.

If you are NOT running a SYE then the pinion needs to be on the same imaginary "Parallel" lines as the output shaft on the T-case. If you are running a SYE then point the rear pinion right at the output shaft or just below. This is done with shims that look like wedges and fit between the axle and the springs and change the angle of the pinion.

Your profile says Roanoke county, you could PM me where you are at and I could come by and look at it, Or you could bring it by my place. I live in SW County.

[MikeB78]

Yea im not running an SYE yet and hoping I dont have to. I will shoot you a PM when I get back into town and if you dont mind taking a look at it then I would appreciate it. I fly out tonight to Wisconsin to pick up our van and then start driving back tomorrow morning. I will be back sometime on Thursday. Thanks for the help.
Mike

[MikeB78]

Ok so I went to get the tires balanced today and that definitely helped the roughness of the ride. I had one tire that the guy said was pretty much toast and he couldnt even balance it. This was the one that was on the front drivers side so thats why it was so rough. He did what he could and moved that tire to the passenger side rear which helped a ton. Its at least where I can live with it now. I will try to snap a picture of the driveline sometime the beginning of next week so maybe I can get some help diagnosing the popping at take off. Right now the windshield is getting replaced and I wont have it back until Monday. With that popping is it possible if the driveline angle is too severe that I can just go with a larger axle shim without causing any other problems? Like I said I want to go with an SYE eventually but Ive already shelled out about as much money as I need to on the Jeep for a while. Thanks as always!! :2thumbsup: :drunkbuds:

[hadfield4wd]

Don't guess with the shims. You'll just end up throwing money at it that you may not need to. That popping could be a bad joint and yor angles are fine.

Read this.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-shaft/index2.html

[xjtrailrider]

Don't guess on the shims, If I get a chance to look at it I'll put an angle finder on the yokes and tell you exactly what you will need. The popping sound is most likely a suspension component and not a drive-line component. I would look at the shackles, spring hangers at the frame, something simple.

[MikeB78]

Ok so here is the "finished" product. Just got it back on the road yesterday and loving it.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2262.jpg

[MikeB78]

Now for the other question on my driveshaft angles. Here are the best pictures I could get. Any suggestions? Still getting the popping on take off.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2256.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2257.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2258.jpg

[RUparrothead]

I'm no expert, but maybe a transfer case drop will help. I see the driveshaft is out further than normal.

[xjtrailrider]

Well I'm no expert on Wranglers, a driveline is a driveline so to speak. I would drop the T-case and then adjust the pinion angle. The popping noise is most likely the slip yoke, Its about an inch further out than it has been all of its life and there is most likely some play in it.

When i take a look at it in person I can explain to you what you are looking for in proper driveline angles. Its simple geometry for the most part.

[MikeB78]

So since I already have the degree shims on the axle and the TC drop I guess I am prob. looking at a an SYE which I was planning later on anyways so here is the question.
1. What is a decent SYE that wont break the bank?
2. If I can find an XJ drive shaft to use approximately how much will it cost me to get it cut and balanced, and where is there around here to do it?

[xjtrailrider]

I didn't know you had already dropped the T-case so with that knowledge... Which way did you turn the pinion, up or down? Or in other words did you put the thick side of the wedge (shim) towards the front of the Jeep or the rear?

The pinion needs to go down with your slip yoke style shaft. In other words, the pinion and T-case output shaft should be on imaginary parallel lines that never intersect, or if they do intersect it would be far away from your Jeep

The pinion angle you have right now would almost be dead nuts for a double-cardan(CV) drive shaft and SYE.

The problem i see with turning the pinion down with your set-up is that the shaft is going to get shorter and pull further out from the tail shaft.

In answer to your questions; P.O.R.C. sells a nice SYE for the NP231 for a reasonable price, I have one in my daily driver XJ and it works great.

A XJ front drive shaft would work fine cut down, FleetPride on Shenandoah Ave. can do this for you at a reasonable price. See Ted in the drive shaft shop.

[xjtrailrider]

Link to the P.O.R.C. SYE (http://www.performanceoffroadcenter.com/oscommerce/product_info.php?products_id=153&osCsid=e2af7a5e8096588b523927cbaaa7590a)

[MikeB78]

thick side of the wedge is closest to the front of the Jeep.
a few more pics.

TC Drop
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2259.jpg

Shims

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/mikeblackley/IMG_2260.jpg

[xjtrailrider]

I say spin the shims around (thick part of the shim to the rear to kick the pinion down) and try it. I think it will fix most of the issue, I'm still concerned the shaft may be too short though.