96 xj

[xjmudman96]

I had no idea what would be in the cards for this heep when I got it. My intention was to trade my full size gas-guzzler chevy in for something I could hawl my rugrats around in. But what I got was a new addiction

As of now I have installed the following:

3" Zone add a leaf and new coils
33x10.50 BFG mudders
Airaid intake and trottle body spacer
yakima crossbars and load warrior basket
4 auxilary lights
midland cb and firestick anteanna
homebrew T-case drop out ot body lift blocks
stinger style brush guard/skid plate off a toyota
removed rear sway bar
cut out fenders ( too much)
curt tubular hitch with slide in shackle mount
jvc cd/mp3 kicker 12 and pioneer ampwith copacitor
I think I'm up to 4 power steering pumps now as well


working now on tearing out seats and carpet to reinforce floorboards, then I'm going to spray some kind of liner in. Haven't decided what kind yet.
Pics coming soon

[xjmudman96]

I took advantage of the warm weather today and got started on strippingn it down

That's alot of rust, and alot of ginding and welding. But I enjoy this so much. It's especially nice to be able to not depend on this jeep for primary transportation. More pics coming...

[Scrambled]

Hey Kevin looks like you got some metal work to do bro.
Try the Herca-liner kit ,as far as DIY bedliners go it's my favorite. Remember to scuff and degrease the floor before you start. The more time you spend on prepping the surface the better the outcome and longevity of the coating. Once youv'e done a good cleaning of the surface scuff it all with a scotch pad remove any debris then wipe it all down with acetone.

Later
Sean

[xjmudman96]

This is what's interferring wiyh my 4x4 shifting. The floor panel has rusted away where the linkage was bolted and the lever won't stay in the bracket. I think I'm gonna try to get a new bracket to bolt to the metal I replace. Whoever had this thing before me must of had to drive through the swamp everyday.

this is the tierod/drag link I'm gonna try to stick in

You can't really tell from the pic, but it is much thicker than the o.e. ones.
this is why I'm replacing them<a href="http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq314/xjmudman96/?action=view&current=100_0303.jpg" target="_blank">

[xjtrailrider]

Kevin, whats up with that "pinched spot" on the DL, that would worry me some. You may want to sleeve that area or something.

[cootees]

That is substantially a larger portion of rust than I had to deal with. Never the less I feel your pain. Thats not a fun task to do.

The only suggestion I have for you is that if you are not going to buy a premolded floorpan then get yourself an air nibbler from harbor freight($20) it will make cutting the sheet metal so much easier.

[xjmudman96]

The pinched spot is where the stablizer ties in @. As for the task of removing the rusted areas I just using an angle grinder. Then once I've got all the trash out I'm gonna just piece in sheet metal. Yeah, this is alot of work I know, but I don't have the $ to buy a pre-molded anything so I gotta do what I am allowed finacially. I got a good friend down at R>C> restoration in salem that I'm gonna stop by and talk to this week, hopefully he can give me some ideas. I think I'm gonna have to drop the gas tank in order to get the cargo area welded, without blowing myself up.

You can see the gas tank right under where I'll have to patch. what do you guys think, should I drop it?

[cootees]

I would drop it if I were you. If you are using an angle grinder to cut that stuff out. the gas tank sits butted up to the floor pan and it would be too easy to slice it and throwing sparks there would not be pretty.

I used two angle grinders when I was cutting mine out. One with a cutting wheel and one with a grinding wheel to grind down the spot welds on the unibody. Once the spot welds are ground off, it should be fairly easy to pull up large sections of the floor.

[xjtrailrider]

The pinched spot is where the stablizer ties in @.

OK, but is it solid stock there?

I like the stock steering with a heavier tie rod, works good for me and others

I picked up the Big Daddy tie rod for $99 and even though it was a PITA to install, its pure beef!

[Scrambled]

I've got the tie rod and drag link from Big Daddy off road on the Scrambler and I love them.
As Jon put it they are Beef. As far as the gas tank goes definately drop it before you start.

How bout some more info on the steering set up. That fold in the DL concerns me.

Later
Sean