94 JEEP XJ .. Daily Driver Lift Time !

[ChiefRocka]

Hey guys ....

My '94 Cherokee has been my DD for a while now, and it has been crying for attention lately.

We picked it up from our good friends (OG Owners) a while back who were going to donate it for $500 !! They helped us out, as my Corolla was totaled by a t-boner.

At the time it had 136K, and currently has 194K, and runs like a champ.

The bushings, shocks, tires, etc. were all shot, so the time had come.

Being as I was the honest husband I mentioned to the wife, that the best way to solve all the suspension problems was to install a "mild" lift kit () ... "It'll come with bushings and shocks too !"
-
-
So, after saving some scrap metal money for a looong time, a few orders were placed .....

[ChiefRocka]

The plans are to stick with a mild tire size (31-32) as I don't want to regear as of yet ... but still get a good ride and good off road.

So after much research, I opted for a LONG ARM kit which will offer the best ride .... (oops, I thought I was speaking to the wife again...)
-
-
I cant find stock pics of it, but here are some from Hollister Hills (2"booster lift)

-


-

-

-


-
-

Those running boards quickly disappeared !!!

[ChiefRocka]

One of my most memorable times .... Hard crust, looked solid too me ....

-
-
-

-
-

-
-

[ChiefRocka]

OK .... The FUN STUFF begins !!
-
-
If this were a customer rig, it would of been in a day or so...but because its my own, it takes a back burner like all my projects ... :p
-
-
One night last week .... (in this pic, the T/C was already pulled ... notice harness, and tranny fluid leaking)
-
-

-

-

[ChiefRocka]

I decided to go with the RC 4.5-6.5" LONG ARM Kit. I found the listing on Ebay, but bypassed it and spoke directly with Adam's Driveshafts and he gave we a great deal ... which included a NEW CV style DL, and the necessary T/C SYE mod parts.

In case some of you are unaware, the stock XJ rear DL in a solid unit, with the slip in the T/C (like a 2wd tranny). Once a large lift is installed, the driveline could slip out. So the T/C MUST be converted using a SlipYokeEliminator kit, and new DL installed .....

Another thing, I wanted a lift that replaced the real leafs ... not a add-a-leaf style. My leafs were wasted (common with XJ's, when you treat them like a 1-ton truck and tow with them ... )

MISC pics .... new parts
-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

[ChiefRocka]

Last week sometime, I started with the rear.

The new rear leafs got a touch up of black paint ... might as well start fresh now .....
-
-

-
-
Leafs in ... extended shackles from booster lift still in. I might order a new stock set if ends up too high ....
-
-

-
NOTICE MY CUSTOM SINGLE IN DUAL OUT ( I MEAN SINGLE OUT ) FLOWMASTER .....
-

-
-
Stock shackle was cut in half, and a 2x4 piece of rect. tubing welded in to net 2" originally ....
-
-

-
-

-
-

[ChiefRocka]

I am back with a few more pics from a earlier this week ...

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING !!

My buddy who lives 2 hrs away was in town for two days on some work, and said here is some free labor. So he helped me out getting ahead, while I keep busy on customers rides ....

I had assembled the rod ends already, so it was a matter of assembling it all together. Long arms and axle go in ....
-
-

-

-

-
-
Next came coils and shocks, and brake lines ....
-
-

-

-

[ChiefRocka]

I had been hesitant on my rim style and tire make for weeks.

Always checking CL and nothing. I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a steel 15x8 tire and wheel package, when I decide to check CL one more time, good thing I did !!
-
-
In my town, about 10 minutes away, a guy was selling 4 15x8 black powdercoated aluminum wheels for $300 ... I had to check them out ...
-
-

-
-
When I arrived, I realized he had FIVE of them, and ended up getting them all for $250 !!
-
-

-
-
Yes these are the POSER beadlocks, but I think I kinda like them. And unlike the steel poser locks, these have larger holes right on the wheels lip that should allow for better draining of mud/sand etc.

I like the blue, but my Jeep has the red stripe in the side trim, so they will be powered RED ....

[ChiefRocka]

Next up was tire size.

I remembered in my storage trailer, I had an old 33" yokohama ....
-
-

-
-
So I mounted it to one of the wheels, and decided this will be the way to go.

Test fitted with axle on stands ....
-
-

-
-

[ChiefRocka]

Next up was the front fenders and bumper.

I felt since I was headed this far, might as well lighten this thing up, remove some plastic, and gain some attitude ....
-
-
Out came some tape lines and the 4" grinder ....
-
-

-

-

-
I think the stock flares look cool, and will work for now ...
-

-

[ChiefRocka]

Well now that the fenders are hacked ... what about the bumper ??
-
-
Well my buddy showed up the next day, and continued on ... this time I let him hack away at the bumper. He gets a kick out of working with metal, so I told him take ur time, and go for it (with my supervision, of course)
-
We decided on an angle, and went for it. This mod is temporary until a better bumper is fabbed up (so...probably never )
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

-
-

[ChiefRocka]

Slowly hacking away at it when time allows ...

Here are a few more pics:

Delivery of the DuraTracs day after Thanksgiving, glad I went into work !
-
-

-

-

-

-
-
Lots of tire pics, I know. (I'm excited about my new rubber)
-
-
Decisions, Decisions ??
-
-

-

[ChiefRocka]

This is about it so far ..... I decided to go black out on tires .... New sway bar bushings will be here this morning, then the bar can go back up with the disconnects. The rear axle cover is blasted and awaiting paint and reinstall. I seemed to have toasted my starter during my feverish pressure wash (original unit) so that will need to be addressed or replaced.
-
-
Currently sitting at 4.5 in the front and the rear is slightly higher because of extended shackles. Debating if the 2" spacers should go back into the front ??
-
-

-
-
-

[ChiefRocka]

A LITTLE MORE FREE TIME !!!
-
-
-
-
I blasted and painted the stock Sway bar, and shown here awaiting the frame bushings ....
-

-
Blasted the wheel lock socket, and painted (just got a new blast cabinet, can you tell ? )
-
I decided to split the difference, and cut a 1" spacer for the front ... I'm still undecided, as it looks ok from the front, but when you approach from the rear of the Jeep, there is definitely a pronounced rake ...
-

-

-
Bushings arrived, and the links were finished off ....
-

-

-
Pitman arm was next ..... (GRRRR !!!!)
-

-

-

-

[ChiefRocka]

Pulled outside for some sun .... cold sun, anyway ....
-

-

-

-
-
-
One thing that always bothered me was one of my front turn signals was darker than the other side. Turns out, the inside plastic reflector never got enough 'plastic chrome' ... so using a heat gun, a razor blade, and some patience ... I cracked them open and used some chrome paint (never thought I would ever use that ! )
-
-

-

-
After paint cured ... gorilla glue and some clamps, over night ....
-

[ChiefRocka]

-
-
I had the neighbor powder coat the bumpers, spoiler, and roof cross bars. Bumpers in a black wrinkle finish, and the spoiler/bars in a satin black.

Really happy how the bumpers turned out.

I spent this time just painting all the 'black' just because it was all faded and nasty. The white body is ok, dinged and scratched ... but the black was bad.
-
-

-
Cleaned up the mopar hitch ...
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
Diff cover was also done ....
-

-

-

[ChiefRocka]

/\ Man, that is one DIRTY VISE !! /\
-
-
Simple fender brace ... used existing holes under airbox and battery ....
-
-

-
-
OK WE ARE NOW REALTIME !!!
-
-
-

-
-
-
Currently waiting on all my MOOG replacement steering components. I went with stock XJ draglink parts, and ZJ tierod parts. Then a tape measure toe, and its off to the alignment rack and for a tire balance.
-
-
I CANT WAIT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN !! I miss my DD. I've driving my 5th wheel pulling 6speed Cummins, nice truck ... but with 4:10's, your shifting like mad just to make it across the intersection ....
-
-
I need to finish the exhaust ... I might go with a shorter flowmaster. The current one looks like it might interfere with ebrake cables a bit.
-
-

[ChiefRocka]

OK ... I'm back with some pics from yesterday. My steering parts made it !!
-
-
I decided to go ahead and add my old 2" spacer to front ... this rake was bugging me :
-

-
From the front doesn't look bad, but from the back is noticeable.
-

-
Yesterday, the powdercoater asked me if I had anything else to do in satin black ... so, what the heck ... I pulled off the front diff cover, blasted it myself and handed it to him. Out drained clean, fresh fluid (recent service) What the heck, doesn't hurt to flush it out ! It was back today, with the rings...
-

-

-

[ChiefRocka]

Diff cover on, with my trademark, the anodized gold Grade 8's ...
-
-

-

-
My partner lending a hand ....
-

-

-
Steering parts ....
-

-

-

-
-
So I managed to get everything in last night, tape measure the toe. Added the 2" spacer. Through the wheels back on, and took it down the road.

Road pretty good ! Caster is way off, but that's what an alignment is for.

Also added a RC country stabilizer that showed up day before yesterday.

I forgot one thing .... RE-ADJUST THE TRACK BAR !!

I could eyeball it from the flares, but I rather pull the wheels, and measure from the rotor face to the side of the uniframe ....

:patriot: