Burtha Build Up...

[HavenSOV]

So we started work on our '91 XJ... This was done mostly by my wife and I, with the freinds stopping by now and then.

Day One:
We started on the 4.5 Rough Country Lift...

When we started!
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0234.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0233.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0237.jpg

Ran into a problem with the drivers side front leaf spring bolt. The nut broke off inside the frame assembly.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0261.jpg

fixed by cutting a hole from above in front of the seat.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0262.jpg

Got the offending nut out and replaced it with a new one.

Got the rear done.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0274.jpg

We worked long into the night the first day then called it a night.

Still to do...
1 LCA,
remount the track bar.
repair and replace some brake lines in the back that broke when trying to move them...

Then, mount sliders and front skid and all set!

Day Two:
Finished the lift and sliders...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0321.jpg
All done... well, except for some brake line work...

Well, after comparing before and after photos...

After the lift we have netted just under 6 inches of lift...

Thats a hell of a lot more then the 4.5... gee, think my shocks and springs were bad?

Nothing to hard, just some trails.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0442.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0444.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0447.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0448.jpg

And being artsy...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0446.jpg

Tires
So I went with only 31's. I was going to go with Cooper STT's but after a bit of research I went with Dakota M/T's. They are made by Cooper for Pep Boys as a shop brand. I like the look of them. Let see how they hold up...

Oh, the other major selling point. Cooper STT: $155-$177 a piece. Dakota M/T: $111 a piece with a $111 rebate when you buy four so I get all five for the price of four.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0644.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0645.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0646.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0650.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0652.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/GEDC0653.jpg

Problem is, when they mounted the new tires and started to do the alignment they found my passenger front wheel has bad upper and lower ball joints and the drivers side front has a bad bearing... ARG...

But the tires look good!

Bearings are fixed...

Up next Adj trac bar, and ball joints...

More to come...

[Beefy]

Nice looking :woot:

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Looking good. I like the look of those tires

[jthomp]

Nice looking treads.

[Trucks are for girls!]

:thumb: looks really good!

[HavenSOV]

Thank you all.

Haven't had a chance to see how they work in more then a few inches of mud, sand, or water... but hoping to get her out for a bit more of a test soon... Or if it rains this weekend.

[KennyOffroad]

Nice !

[HavenSOV]

Ok, I got the new (used) track bar in this past Wednesday, new front tires yesterday and went to get the alinement this morning...

But the track bar is broken... Yup, theres play in the threads... And the will not do it with the drilled hole that the kit told me to do when I put the lift in...

So no alinement. Its driving ok now, so I think I will be ok for this weekend at Twisted, but I'm going to be looking for another track bar. Are there any stock off another vehicle that will work with a 4.5 lifted XJ in the original bolt holes or am I stuck buying a new adjustable one?

[BIGBEN]

adjustable is the way to go. but you will be happier with a replacement one anyways.

[HavenSOV]

***Update***

So this past weekend was the first real test of the lift, sliders and new tires. Over all I am really impressed with how things preformed. The tires held up real well on slippery hills back in the trails. A little issues with them getting grip on some of the logs, but that might also be to the rain and how slippery they were. Did all this aired down to 17 or so PSI.

Lift did good, with only one major issue. Heard a lot of popping and groaning when in full flex but that might have more to do with the sway bar, springs, or simply the frame. Going to see about hopping in another XJ for a trail ride or two and see if I hear the same sounds. The only major issue was about halfway through the day I the bolts that hold up the TC drop stripped out the holes on one side and dropped free. Had some slightly larger self tapping bolts in my bag so I took the drop out and got the crossmember back up at stock hight. Going to fix with some square stock welded up for it and tap new holes in it.

The sliders from JCR rocked. Granted they are missing most of the side paint now, but they held up great. The twisting trails and trees lead to quite a few times of make a turn riding the sliders. From the scraps to them I know that if I had not had them that my doors and sides would have been screwed after this weekend. Really, I do not suggest taking an XJ on the yellow or blue trails of Twisted Trails without sliders!

Now the only things left to throw on Bertha:

Upgrade hitch
fab brackets for brushguard with recovery points
Mount brushguard

Now on to getting Abominable CJ up and running!

[Grandman]

Them nosies were pretty common in my XJ and Grand when you flexed it up .

Your rig is built just right for Michigan , why over build and find no challenge :thumb:

[HavenSOV]

I agree, once I get back to doing work on the XJ (going to have to spread the money between both Jeeps) looking at a locker or limited slip for the front.

My wife (who will be driving the XJ more once the CJ is running) saw a exterior role cage on a XJ this weekend that she really liked and wants added to the "honey-do" list for the XJ...

[LuckyCharm4x4]

http://www.4x4xplor.com/alignment.html

~Bry

[HavenSOV]

Something that's been bugging me since we lifted the XJ was that piece of plastic trimming under the bumper.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00174.jpg

So me and Krysti headed out today to take care of it. After removing some screws and using the sawsall we trimmed it up so that the fenders are even with the bumper. Here she sits now...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00175.jpg

I think it looks a lot better now.

[LuckyCharm4x4]

and it "looks" like you have more ground clearance now. :hehe:

~Bry

[HavenSOV]

***UPDATE***

Well, I seized up the rear end. One more turdy-5 down... Apparently difs do not like to run on just mud.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Chads/GEDC1747.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Chads/GEDC1857.jpg

So after some calling around, some long hours working in the rain I now have a Chrysler 8.25. So a slight upgrade. So the leason to be learned...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/motivator9604139.jpg

[Grandman]

how in hell do you get that much mud in a diff :wtf:

[HavenSOV]

Not changing the fluid since I got her...
Not moving the axle breather to a higher location...
Leak in the wheel seal and sitting in mud for an hour...

Take your choice...

Take this as a reason to change your diff fluid...

and this...
http://syty-homecoming.com/temp/jeep/DSC_0021%20%28Large%29.JPG

I was going 55 when the axle seized up, leaving close to 100 feet of skid marks...

[pre4runner]

wow... and truly the 8.25 isn't a bad axle I've been beating on mine with 36's for some time now

[HavenSOV]

Well its like Bertha knows that I'm getting my tax refund back...

Front driveshaft is shot...
Front pinion bearing is shot...
All seals in the front axle are shot...

See a theme?

Oh well, guess I will just add that to the rest of the stuff I was going to do to her with the tax moneys. Going to take advantage of JCR Offroad being so close and take her down to them to fix up the front axle. If was just the seals I would do it, but I do not want to screw up the bearings or gears...

Also getting done...
Fabbing up new TC skid like the ones that Cherokee Nation used to sell.
Fabbing up brackets for the brush guard with front tow hook points.
New rear bumper with tire swing out.

and if I have any cash left over... New wheels for more back spacing and a roof rack.

[HavenSOV]

Get the Jeep back from JCR on Sunday. Alxe is all fixed up, and then got the new front drive shaft in...

New wheels are on!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00244.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00243.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00242.jpg

I only got two center caps because I didn't know how they would look... I think I might order two more now. Ok, lets go wheelin!!!

I also have the TCskid that I had JCR fab up, but I need to paint it up before I install it. Just waiting on weather.

New bumper should be done by the end of the month.

[HavenSOV]

***UPDATE***

Since we had snow... again... I am just now getting to painting up the new rear bumper and TC skid. Hope to have them all painted up and on by the end of next week. I still need to put the front tow hook I picked up on as well.

Pics to come of at least the install, unless someone really wants a pic of paint drying...

On a side note, I got my 3 year old out helping yesterday prepping and painting the bumper. She even was using the sander for a bit. Real funny to see her with her work goggles on, and rubber gloves up to her armpits... But she had fun and she was "working with daddy!" LOL

[HavenSOV]

Well got started on the rear bumper. The new one is all painted up and ready to go.

To start
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00342.jpg

Got the old one off... after all the welds broke on one side, arg...
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00345.jpg

Oh and for record, I got the old one off in one piece Arctic!

But...

Who ever put the hitch on need to run the redneck Olympics! The front bolts came off rather easy, but the rear ones were put one with carriage bolts in metal plates... WTF? Got one off, but the other is spinning and I can't get it out. Going to cut it off tomorrow.

Hopefully have it all done by the end of the weekend...

[achipnachair]

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr200/MarksJeep/jeep002-1.jpg

[HavenSOV]

Ya ya...

Every time I plan on coming over I get sent to PFG MI for some BS reason... Going to try again today, Chip...

[HavenSOV]

ALL DONE!!!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00347.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00348.jpg

Now to test it out at the Blessing!

Left to do, TC skid and front hook.

[HavenSOV]

Well the TRE on the track bar is in, lets see how long this one lasts... On a good note the old one was under warranty so it cost me nothing.

This weekend got around to getting new seals into the front axle. The drivers side one was leaking, again. After pulling the whole front apart found out why...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0182.jpg

The drivers side is on the left...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0176.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0187.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0194.jpg

Got the new seals in and it sealed around the grooved part unlike the old one, but I will be picking up new shafts soon since the groves are so bad.

Since the cover was off, decided to drain and pull the rear as well and clean them up. So PyrateGyrl cleaned them up and we painted them.

Found the drain plug in my rear was a redneck add on...

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0202.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0209.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0226.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0227.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0228.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/Wrenching%202009%2006%2014/GEDC0229.jpg

I think that they ended up looking good!

[HavenSOV]

Well after installing the JCR Stage 3 bumper I noticed that the reverse lights were covered by the tire carrier. So 20 bucks or so at wallyworld, about 2 hours of running wires and I have the fix.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00364.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s265/havensov/My%20Jeep%20XJ/p_00365.jpg

And thats my youngest the had to pose when she saw the camera come out.