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SirFuego
05-31-2007, 02:03 PM
Current setup:
4.5" Clayton's
36" Iroks
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/th_FinishedCage003.jpg (http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/?action=view&current=FinishedCage003.jpg)

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/th_FinishedCage005.jpg (http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/?action=view&current=FinishedCage005.jpg)


Original post:
Hey guys,

I've been lingering around here for a while. My rig isn't anything special, and most of my planned mods are stuff that has been done 1000 times (Clayton's, OBA, rocker cutouts) and my fab skills are limited, so it will mostly be pics chronicling various wheeling trips.

My setup:
93ZJ 5.2L
184k+ on original engine and tranny
Kevin's rad support
Skid row engine and tcase skids
2" BB, 31x11.5 swampers
Staun Beadlocks

Short Term Plans:
OBA using AC compressor
Rocker cutouts
Herculined floors

I drove a 92XJ through college and my mother decided to buy a WK shortly before finishing up. We traded the 92XJ, and I got my Mum's old 93ZJ. I decided to buy a Civic for a DD and have some fun with the ZJ. When I first told her that I was going to put a small lift on it to wheel it, she said "It's a Grand Cherokee! It's not meant to go off-road!"

So onto the pics that proves Mother wrong...

What it looked like for most of it's life:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/sirfuego2.jpg

My first wheeling experience last Sept with the BB and ATs:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/hhesgzexu.JPG

Earlier this year I got the swampers before a trip to Paragon and the trees and rocks were not nice to the ZJ's body :):
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/63/pap0207132.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/63/pap020755.jpg

I went back a month later and wheeled with Overkill for a day. This is from Rabbit Run (Black 1)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/zj.jpg

Last weekend I went on a trip down to Rausch Creek. We did blacks and blues all weekend. I stuck to the black/blue bypasses when the big boys decided to do the reds.

For more RC pics, check out this link (http://www.kodakgallery.com/eve647944590108) and this link (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2661)

Yellow Jacket Ridge:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc1.jpg
A sequence of images from a black "bowl":
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc2.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc3.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc4.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc5.jpg
It's the angle of the image -- I'm really not that off-camber in this pic:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc6.jpg
Me getting out of the bowl:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc7.jpg
And the final carnage of that trail:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/rc8.jpg

What you can't see is that it ripped off the metal part of the bumper, too...

I busted my tcase linkage down there and my rocker panels are pretty much wasted, so I'll be fixing that soon...

notfast
05-31-2007, 03:24 PM
pics arent working...id like to see some from raush creek because ive only been there in the snow

SirFuego
05-31-2007, 03:36 PM
Hmm. They are all working for me. You getting red x's?

As for more RC pics, I would check out this link (http://www.kodakgallery.com/eve647944590108) and this link (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2661)
They are all from that same trip.

DerekL
05-31-2007, 03:47 PM
I see half red x's.

zj95
05-31-2007, 03:48 PM
me 2

SirFuego
05-31-2007, 04:07 PM
OK sorry about that. It should be fixed now. Apparently, KodakGallery has some hotlinking issues, so I just copied the pics to the same server as the others.

jfowlzj95
05-31-2007, 04:24 PM
Now I see double for some of the pics. :rolleyes:

BTW, nice bumper lol.

SirFuego
05-31-2007, 04:31 PM
Ahhh!! Never hotlink from Kodak photo gallery! I'm not seeing doubles. Someone want to tell me which ones are doubled?

EDIT: I viewed it in Firefox and everything was fine. I saw the red x's and doubles in IE, so hopefully I was able to fix it. Sorry again -- I had never hotlinked something from Kodak and apparently you don't ever want to....

Jeeperoni91
06-01-2007, 03:46 PM
photobucket is the best

gonecheenin
06-02-2007, 08:57 AM
I really dig that Heep, I think it’s the minimalistic approach


I got plans to do a rear bumper like my front stat for just the reasons you posted

SirFuego
06-13-2007, 10:38 PM
I took out the rear carpet tonight as a first step towards herculining the interior. What do you guys do for that off-white material glued to the floorboards? It looks like it'll be a huge PITA to take off, but I'm not sure if the herculiner would adhere to it...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00073.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1721)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00074.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1722)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00075.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1723)

I came up empty searching. Overkill seems to recall that he just cleaned it really well and it worked, but he did it 6 years ago and didn't seem to confident remembering how he prepped that stuff.

EDIT: I'm just going to clean it really well and the herculiner should stick to it. I talked to a few other people and they are pretty confident the herculiner will stick (thus validating Matt's recollection). Sorry for my stupidity. I'll post up if I do encounter any issues for those looking to do it in the future.

AprilzWarrior
06-13-2007, 10:56 PM
That white stuff is sound deadener sp ? Good luck with the removal of it. Id go over it.

hkszx2
06-13-2007, 11:06 PM
yeah the white stuff is sound dampening material. If you use a heat gun it comes off easier.. but still a pain in the ass. Ive removed it from a few cars just to save a few pounds

nierace
06-14-2007, 03:24 AM
Nice rig, sweet pics :D



Group from JF is going down to PAP2/RC this weekend if you're interested. Must be a hell of a haul for you though...

SirFuego
06-14-2007, 08:36 AM
Thanks for the compliments nierace and gonecheenin.
Thanks for the input AW and hkszx2.

I may actually be heading to some trails in Bradford this weekend, but thanks for the offer. I'll be going back down to RC in late July (it's about 5 1/2-6 hour drive for me).

I'm just trying to have as much fun with this rig as I can with it's current setup. The time and money will eventually come for something bigger, but I'm having a blast despite it only being on 31s and 2". I still consider myself a newbie (wheeling for less than a year), so I don't want to jump into something I won't be able to handle.

piku303
06-14-2007, 02:47 PM
all i can say is that you wheel your rig damn hard for its leval of modification. props.

CurtP
06-14-2007, 04:45 PM
On a non-Jeep vehicle, I used Naval Jelly to remove the sound deadener. Worked fairly well, but make sure you have all the doors open if you do it that way. I think I had to apply it two or three times to get it all, but it bubbled right up.

MyNameIsJerry
06-14-2007, 08:29 PM
I like your style. Wheel what you got and have fun. My only advice would be to get some sliders, to preserve the rockers. Those things get beat to shit pretty fast. Otherwise, keep having fun with it man, looking good.

SirFuego
06-15-2007, 09:19 AM
Yeah my rockers are completely wasted right now. I have 2x5 tubing in my apartment right now for rocker cutouts. I just need to find a good place to work on them...

SirFuego
06-18-2007, 05:01 PM
I figured these would give some people a laugh. All doors still open, so I guess it's not THAT bad. Click for bigger pics...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00087.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1724)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00088.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1725)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00089.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1726)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00090.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1727)

AgitatedPancake
06-18-2007, 05:17 PM
even though you said completely wasted, I still had no idea. Holy shit.

hkszx2
06-18-2007, 05:26 PM
holy crap, i thought mine were bad....

mudforblood
06-18-2007, 05:41 PM
:eek: You have been wheelin that thing pretty hard in the last year. I remember when you had the AT's on and I almost ripped off your front bumper cover pulling you out. I guess that was the beginning of the destruction.:D Get them sliders on before it turns into a buggy.

I have some extra doors that arent too bad if you are in the area again.

Jeeperoni91
06-18-2007, 08:01 PM
you might as well just give those doors to the dumpster and throw on some tubes.

SirFuego
06-19-2007, 08:55 AM
:eek: You have been wheelin that thing pretty hard in the last year. I remember when you had the AT's on and I almost ripped off your front bumper cover pulling you out. I guess that was the beginning of the destruction.:D Get them sliders on before it turns into a buggy.
Yeah that was a fun day of wheeling. That was the first time my Dad was ever out wheeling. I think he had the pucker factor going a few times. Remember this pic? I think three people were stuck...
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecrc0837/images/IMG_9691.jpg


I have some extra doors that arent too bad if you are in the area again.
Despite the dents, all of the windows and doors still open and close, so I don't really have plans to replace them. I'll probably do some rust work on them and punch out the dents from the inside. My buddy is caging his XJ and I'm hoping he has some extra tubing I can buy from him for some tube doors for nice weather.

SirFuego
06-28-2007, 12:11 PM
So last night, I was "working" on my ZJ. Well, not "working" so much as "poking at rust". My rockers are ridiculously rusted -- a lot worse than I thought (and I knew they were bad to begin with). The "A" pillar on both sides were rusted through at the bottom. There is a rather large hole where one of the passenger seat mounts was. There would be one if I hammered out the rust under the driver's seat mount. The rear passenger fender is completely rusted through.

Even if I did have the resources and knowledge/experience needed to fix it, I think my time and money would be better spent on another jeep with a better body. My unibody "subframe" is also dented and tweaked in a few places. Given my lack of garage and fabbing tools, a buggy is not an option.

So that being said, I'm done modding this ZJ (unless I'm given free stuff http://www.wnyoffroad.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif)and have given up hope on fixing the rust. I still plan to wheel the bejesus out of it and try to find an inexpensive relatively rust-free replacement by the end of the summer. YJ/TJ/XJ/MJ/V8ZJ are all possibilities.

Though the next couple of months should be fun wheeling this rust bucket :D

nierace
06-28-2007, 12:26 PM
Why not buggy it, you need it as a DD?

You can probably find a ZJ with a decent body but shot drive train for around 1k and swap over to that...

SirFuego
06-28-2007, 01:15 PM
Why not buggy it, you need it as a DD?
No garage, no tube bender, no welder, no welding experience, no trailer, no tow rig. Give me that stuff, another rig to wheel in the interim, and I'll buggy it.

I have a Civic for a DD

canadian_driver
06-28-2007, 01:49 PM
i got a 96 zj v8 that is rust free, its just north of the border from ya

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
06-28-2007, 02:53 PM
Why not buggy it, you need it as a DD?

You can probably find a ZJ with a decent body but shot drive train for around 1k and swap over to that...

Do you have any idea what is required to turn a stock vehicle into what one would deem a "buggy"?

nierace
06-28-2007, 05:11 PM
Altezas and a brush guard ?


:flipoff2:

jsteves
06-28-2007, 07:46 PM
Altezas


:flipoff2:

WTF?

SirFuego
07-24-2007, 09:03 AM
Went to Rausch Creek again this weekend. Enjoy the pics!

My only carnage of the weekend
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/4808/p7210064th4.th.jpg (http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p7210064th4.jpg)

Ugh, got stuck going up Rocky Hill
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5990/p7210098zo1.th.jpg (http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p7210098zo1.jpg)

Being posers in the new competition area
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/th_RouschCreek07484.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/RouschCreek07484.jpg)

Turning into the washout on 13-A (Rock Creek Bypass)
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/th_RouschCreek07657.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/RouschCreek07657.jpg)

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/th_RouschCreek07666.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/RouschCreek07666.jpg)

My buddy Jeff jumping on my roof when I said the only body panels I haven't dented are my roof and tailgate
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7437/p7220180ns6.th.jpg (http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7437/p7220180ns6.jpg)
Being posers again with the Red Rubicon in our group
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/th_RouschCreek07849.jpg (http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/RouschCreek07849.jpg)

More pics: Here (http://s40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/dixiebunny/NY%20Trip/rausch%20creek/?start=all)

A ridiculous number of pics are Here (http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=156205811/a=8775808_8775808/fromupload=true/t_=8775808) (Sorry you need to register for Snapfish to see these -- don't complain to me, I didn't upload them :))

SirFuego
08-06-2007, 11:39 AM
Did a trip to Bradford, PA. Not many rocks. Mostly just washouts, hill climbs and some off-camber stuff. Still a lot of fun.

Some pics (will post more as they roll in):

Bobbed XJ with functional tailgate:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DCFC0004.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1856)

ZJ with a 4BT Cummins and 7" Claytons:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DCFC0015.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1857)

Look at the MallCrawlin sticker on this POS:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DCFC0022.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1858)

My right foot was a bit over-zealous on this hill climb dubbed the "crack" between two huge rocks (no damage though except some more dents):
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DCFC0051.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1859)

2jeepsforus
08-06-2007, 11:47 AM
Man I wish I didn't have to work, it looked like you guys had some fun!

SirFuego
08-06-2007, 11:53 AM
Yeah I thought you were going to do the night run with us? It was a good time and I'm sure there will be plenty of other trips.

hkszx2
08-06-2007, 11:53 AM
next time you go to rausch pm me ... its only like 30 minutes from my house

SirFuego
08-06-2007, 12:03 PM
PM sent. Hoping to head down again in two weeks.

SirFuego
08-20-2007, 03:05 PM
She keeps on ticking. Went back to Rausch Creek again this weekend.

Only real carnage this weekend was to my shin (result of falling in the rock garden on trail 18):
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0332.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0332.jpg)

CV Trail:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0326.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0326.jpg)

YellowJacket Ridge:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0357.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0357.jpg)

Trail 1-A Rock Garden:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0402.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0402.jpg)

Snakebite:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0415.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0415.jpg)

Flopped TJ on Trail 5 Hillclimb:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0372.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0372.jpg)

Sami on 36s:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0342.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0342.jpg)

TJ on 33s:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0336.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0336.jpg)

XJ on 34s:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0330.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0330.jpg)

Rubi on 35s:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/th_IMG_0361.jpg (http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/IMG_0361.jpg)

More pics here (http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/Rausch%20Creek%208-18-07/)

gonecheenin
08-20-2007, 03:17 PM
Noooice!

That 4BT ZJ gave me wood


I've seen a couple of ZJ's just lately for around 500-800 dollars that need minor body/tranny repairs

2jeepsforus
08-20-2007, 04:53 PM
Yeah I thought you were going to do the night run with us? It was a good time and I'm sure there will be plenty of other trips.


Naa, I had to work unfortunately.. I was planning on showing up late, but I never made it up there. I fell asleep LOL.... Yeah I know I'm old :D

SirFuego
08-24-2007, 10:13 AM
I've seen a couple of ZJ's just lately for around 500-800 dollars that need minor body/tranny repairs
Drop me a PM next time you see something like that. I'm looking in the market for one with a V8 and a body in decent condition. There is one in Erie I am seriously contemplating, but I need to save up some money for it. I just bought myself a tow rig and next week, I am going on a trip to Houston to visit some friends, play on the beach and drink, so I need to let the bank account recoup a bit.

gonecheenin
08-24-2007, 10:57 AM
Drop me a PM next time you see something like that. I'm looking in the market for one with a V8 and a body in decent condition. There is one in Erie I am seriously contemplating, but I need to save up some money for it. I just bought myself a tow rig and next week, I am going on a trip to Houston to visit some friends, play on the beach and drink, so I need to let the bank account recoup a bit.

To be honest I don't pay much attention to any of the V-8 ones I see, but if I do stumble across one for cheap I'll try to remember to send it to you

SirFuego
09-06-2007, 03:10 PM
So much for "not modding the ZJ" anymore...

Got a Crane cover for the front.

Picked up an Aussie locker for the rear for $100. For that price I couldn't pass it up. This could be really dumb. Any bets on how long the 35 lasts?

Both should be going in this weekend.

SirFuego
10-01-2007, 09:19 PM
So I went to RC again this weekend with one TJ and carnage ensued.

My muffler got ripped off on trail 13-A. I ripped off a valve stem on one of the blue hill climbs on the pole line. The Stauns worked like a champ so I didn't blow a bead when that happened.

On Sunday, I got high centered on a rock on trail 5 after taking what I now realize was a pretty dumb line, and the TJ broke a u-joint and axle shaft shaft trying to pull me out. Blew up his ball joints, but he was able to limp it back to the staging area. There was a group of two that showed up when he was fixing his Jeep and they kindly winched me out -- which caused my rear cargo area side window to shatter since I was rubbing against a tree. Neither passenger door opens now.

When we loaded his TJ onto the trailer, we noticed that one of the tires was completely flat and conveniently neither of us had air. We were able to get some help from a fellow Jeeper to fill it back up and it held air -- so it must have just been parked in such a way that it lost air. So my buddy drove my truck and I drove my ZJ home missing a headlight, with no muffler and on swampers. What a fun 6 hour drive. Oh well. The weekend was still fun nonetheless -- just a bit stressful on Sunday.

I really gotta figure out what to do with this POS. I'm having a blast with it, but I'm getting to the point where I feel like I need to get bigger tires. I can't justify putting money into my Jeep given its condition. Likewise, I don't want to put a bunch of money into a new Jeep only to do dent the crap out of it. Though I would definitely armor the body more than I did this one. I got some decisions to make -- I would like to keep the whatever rig I wheel "street legal".

Going down YellowJacket ridge:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/th_DSC00124.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/DSC00124.jpg)

Trail 5:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/th_DSC00135.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/DSC00135.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/th_DSC00136.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/DSC00136.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/th_DSC00137.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/DSC00137.jpg)

Trail 1 Rock Garden:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/th_DSC00114.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0906/DSC00114.jpg)

OverkillZJ
10-01-2007, 09:57 PM
Mirrors are for sissy's anyway!

DieselZJ
10-02-2007, 11:04 AM
that's a funny thing to drive home for 6 hours, while jeff got to ride in a nice new truck.

notfast
10-02-2007, 11:11 AM
i was up at rausch on sun...saw another greenish ZJ...shoot me a PM when you go up next time..ill usually be down as its only like 1.5 hrs away

tywilson88
10-02-2007, 01:42 PM
man, i wish i could beat the shit out of mine like that... it makes wheelin alot funner.

SirFuego
10-02-2007, 02:04 PM
i was up at rausch on sun...saw another greenish ZJ...shoot me a PM when you go up next time..ill usually be down as its only like 1.5 hrs away
The only other grand I saw on Sunday was a WJ at the beginning of Trail 5 by the pole line. I think I saw that same one at the comp area when we were going from the Stairstep area to trail 5.

Not sure when or if I'm going back to Rausch Creek this year. I'm thinking one more trip at the most -- but I also said the same thing two trips ago :) I'll keep you posted.

SirFuego
11-17-2007, 05:59 PM
Since my buddy is rocking his winter ATs right now, he let me borrow his 33" Baja Claws (well...305/70/16 = 32.8x12x16). They work on the road, but once I get some articulation, they will rub, so I still need to do more trimming. But I think I can get them to work. I know people have done 33s on a BB before, but here are more pics.

Before putting them on, I pounded the crap out of the pinch seam in the front. The tires clear at full turn lock. They only rub on my sway bar link holders, but I've been planning to relocate them or rig up something else for them.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00144.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2214)

Full steering lock:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00148.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2218)

There is some sheetmetal underneath the head lights that will probably rub when they are stuffed, so that has got to go.

The rear was a tight fit. They are fine for road driving, but I can pretty much guarantee they would rub on the rocker at full droop.

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00146.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2216)

So I trimmed the one side and it definitely freed up some room (yeah, I know I suck with the angle grinder). I might need to do some trimming in the rear, but I'll have to see how far back the axle goes when the rear is stuffed.

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00143.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2213)

Here are some pics showing the whole piece of junk:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00142.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2212)

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00145.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2215)

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00147.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2217)

KDUB
11-17-2007, 06:16 PM
So is Buffalo close to where Anthony (I Like Mud) lives? The reason I ask is because it looks like he may have helped you with your fender trimming. Just clean it up with the grinder and it'll be alright.

SirFuego
11-17-2007, 06:22 PM
Haha, he is actually fairly close but haven't yet met him in person. I do remember that post about his fender trimming. I literally just cut the fenders and called it a day. I'm sure some more grinder work will make them better.

SirFuego
11-20-2007, 03:24 PM
More fun with the sawzall...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/111907_22141.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2219)

DJJordache
11-20-2007, 03:48 PM
holy crap is rust damage like this on all the vehicles up there?

SirFuego
11-20-2007, 03:56 PM
It's not uncommon, though it's pretty obvious that I don't take much care of my Jeep body-wise. They use so much salt in the winter that it just eats away at the metal. Buying a "rust-free" vehicle locally only means that you can't see the rust. I know I had rust below the tailgate and on the rear fender, but it looked clean other than that. Only when the cladding and carpet came off did I realize how bad it was.

The only truly "rust-free" older Jeeps I've seen up here were ones that were fixed up or were originally from the south.

ILikeMud
11-20-2007, 06:36 PM
My fender trimming was worse.

I'll be on Grand Island the weekend of Dec 15th btw.

SirFuego
11-20-2007, 11:08 PM
Oh yeah? Heading across the border like every other Canadian? Going to visit rockhardmj? :)

Let me know if you wanna head out for a drink or two (or three or four or...).

ILikeMud
11-21-2007, 12:33 AM
Gf's company's Christmas Party (aka an all expense paid drunk ass weekend).

I'll let you know man. I've got the time off but I dunno if the gf is going since she's supposed to fly home (to the parents) that weekend.

SirFuego
11-25-2007, 11:04 PM
A trip to Rausch Creek fell through, but still got a chance to play this weekend:
Getting up the short side of a ledge:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/th_DSCF6952.jpg (http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/DSCF6952.jpg) http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/th_DSCF6953.jpg (http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/DSCF6953.jpg)
Going down the rock garden:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/th_DSCF6970.jpg (http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/DSCF6970.jpg)
Going up the rock garden:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/th_DSCF6974.jpg (http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/DSCF6974.jpg)
http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/t755350342_1754789_2218.jpg (http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/n755350342_1754789_2218.jpg) http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/t755350342_1754790_2509.jpg (http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/n755350342_1754790_2509.jpg) http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/t755350342_1754791_2791.jpg (http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/n755350342_1754791_2791.jpg) http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/t755350342_1754792_3073.jpg (http://photos-342.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v159/239/123/755350342/n755350342_1754792_3073.jpg)
On top of the world:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/th_DSCF6978.jpg (http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/hardbodyty/11-24-07%20Ligonier/DSCF6978.jpg)

ILikeMud
11-26-2007, 12:58 PM
Where abouts is that trail man?

Might have to head down to NY State to wheel sometime.

SirFuego
11-26-2007, 01:07 PM
The trails are somewhat near Pittsburgh. I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh so the major family holidays are normally spent down there. I wish we had stuff like this around Buffalo.

jfowlzj95
11-26-2007, 01:47 PM
Man your rig has taken some serious abuse. :D

SirFuego
12-16-2007, 12:04 AM
Went wheeling over a buddy's place a couple weeks ago. Passenger side headlight housing fell out again and was crushed by the tire.

So I figured it'd be a good first welding project for me. Just need to drill mounting holes, wire everything up (I can't find my wire stripper, arrrgh!), and paint up the housing. Gonna drill oblong holes in the three mounting brackets so I can vertically and horizontally aim the headlights.

It's far from perfect, but so is my Jeep, so I guess works :)

Here's the current status...
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/121507_21151.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/121507_21152.jpg

Quick question -- The red wire for the headlight is for the low beams and the red/purple is for the high beams, right?

ILikeMud
12-16-2007, 11:57 AM
Nice man. I'd like to do something like that with my crappy stock headlights. Can't wait to see what it looks like.

I checked the Hayne's manual but I can't confirm the wiring diagram as the ones in it SUCK.

ZachJ
12-16-2007, 03:13 PM
Quick question -- The red wire for the headlight is for the low beams and the red/purple is for the high beams, right?

I think that it is the opposite, purple/ red for low and red for high.

SirFuego
12-16-2007, 11:02 PM
Can't wait to see what it looks like.
Got driver's side mounted. Battery on my drill ran out before I could finish drilling the mounting holes on the passenger side. So I propped the housing up on some boxes for a mock up...
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/121607_21431.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/121607_21442.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/121607_21441.jpg


I think that it is the opposite, purple/ red for low and red for high.
Yeah, you're right. I was sans multimeter until today and that verified it for me.

2jeepsforus
12-17-2007, 08:48 AM
Jared, are those pretty bright? They look to be a lot better than the stockers...


Dave

ILikeMud
12-17-2007, 10:53 AM
Yea, definitely bright.

Not sure on the over all look though.

SirFuego
12-17-2007, 11:01 AM
Not sure on the over all look though.
I'm not sure I really like it either. It might have to do with the light placement or possibly the skeleton-y look. I'll probably stick with it until I break it, because it's different (at least with respect to other ZJs in my area -- I know others on here have used round headlights) and it was my first project with the welder. I need headlights since I want to keep this thing street legal (plus night wheeling is always fun) and have more important things to worry about than looks.

Those are just $9 TJ headlights from AutoZone.

SirFuego
01-02-2008, 06:22 PM
Looking at my rockers, the B pillar is still intact. The parts of the A and C pillars that run into the unibody "frame" are still intact as well. I know these have all taken a beating.

So my plan is to cut out the rockers a bit differently than everyone else seems to be doing. Since the pillars seem like they can take a pretty good beating, why not notch the tubing such that it can be welded directly to the pillars? If my theory is correct, there should not be a need to run steel tubing to the unibody. I would of course weld the rockers in other places similar to what others have done. Then probably take out the caulk gun and silicone around the exposed areas to hopefully prevent rust from forming.

In my searches, I really wasn't able to find anyone that welded directly to the pillars. Everyone just seems to notch around them. But perhaps I'm missing something? Any thoughts on this matter?

SirFuego
01-04-2008, 05:56 PM
OK so after cutting out the driver's side rocker panel, the bottom of the A pillar is almost non existent from rust and the bottom of the B pillar is rusted pretty badly, so I have a slight change in plans.

Cut the A and B pillars so that the tubing lays flush below them (thus not needing to notch out the tubing) and weld the top of the tubing directly to the bottom of the A and B pillars. I might run a vertical support to the C pillar as well. Tubing would also be welded to the body.

Not sure quite yet how good or dumb this idea is, but it seems to make sense in my head -- assuming that the pillars are strong enough to take the abuse. Hopefully I'll get something accomplished with this soon.

MoonWorks
01-04-2008, 06:51 PM
Your shits getting worse looks as we speak. Have fun kicking the crap out of it and keep up the shitty fab work. :) lol

ILikeMud
01-04-2008, 07:50 PM
OK so after cutting out the driver's side rocker panel, the bottom of the A pillar is almost non existent from rust and the bottom of the B pillar is rusted pretty badly, so I have a slight change in plans.

Cut the A and B pillars so that the tubing lays flush below them (thus not needing to notch out the tubing) and weld the top of the tubing directly to the bottom of the A and B pillars. I might run a vertical support to the C pillar as well. Tubing would also be welded to the body.

Not sure quite yet how good or dumb this idea is, but it seems to make sense in my head -- assuming that the pillars are strong enough to take the abuse. Hopefully I'll get something accomplished with this soon.

As long as it's all tied in, I see no issues.
Kris or Matt would no more then me though.

SirFuego
01-08-2008, 01:12 AM
Finally remembered my memory card reader from work, so here are some pics.

First, the installed fugly robot lights...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00168.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2261)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00171.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2262)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00175.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2263)

Now onto the rockers.

This is what my driver's side rocker looked like before
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00142.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2212)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00090.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1727)

This is what the inside of the rocker panel should look like (zj95maxx's rig):
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/chewning37/th_alongweekend015.jpg (http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/chewning37/alongweekend015.jpg)

This is what mine looks like now (gotta love the holes in the floorboard right now). All of the dirt on the ground is from inside my rocker panel. Ugh, I hate mud.

Trimmed B Pillar:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00159.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2253)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00160.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2254)

Trimmed A pillar:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00161.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2255)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00162.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2256)

A mockup of the steel tubing sitting on jack stands. I was too lazy to put the shims under the tubing to get the top flush with the pillars, but I have verified that the tubing will be flush against the pillars so they can be welded to the tubing.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00164.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2257)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00165.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2258)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00166.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2259)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00167.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2260)

The gap between the doors and tubing measures almost exacly an inch, so I will weld in some metal after I get everything welded in place. i didn't get a pic, but the 2x5 sits just below the floorboard and will also be welded directly to the body behind the rocker panel. Stock ZJ rockers are about 2-3" inches below the floor boards. Mine were so mangled that they were already flush the the floorboard. So I'm not really gaining much ground clearance than what I had, but it's definitely going to have more ground clearance than stock.

Next step is to paint the inner rocker panel, weld on caps to the tubing, and paint up the tubing. Paint will then be grinded out where it will be welded.

gonecheenin
01-09-2008, 12:15 AM
Wow, those headlights are horrible :smt043


I was thinking of doing almost the same thing with the rockers except I was considering bolting through the original pinch weld into weld nuts on the sliders & only welding to the rocker material right below the doors so that it can be cut out easily later

SirFuego
01-09-2008, 01:41 AM
Well, at least I know my ZJ will stand out since I doubt anyone else in their right mind would try to duplicate my headlight setup :) For what it's worth, they are so ugly, I'm keeping it that way, too :mrgreen:

I'm moreso curious than anything about how well this approach to rocker cutouts holds up without running supports to the unibody. Hopefully it turns out better than the headlights.

Not really related, but I couldn't help but to laugh about a post a few pages prior saying that I'm "done modding this ZJ". My mentality has recently changed to, "At least if I screw something up (like the headlight idea), I'm not messing up a nice rig and I can learn from my mistake." Since it still mechanically runs well (knock on wood), I can't really justify buying a nicer rig and beating on it.

gonecheenin
01-10-2008, 12:21 AM
My mentality has recently changed to, "At least if I screw something up (like the headlight idea), I'm not messing up a nice rig and I can learn from my mistake." Since it still mechanically runs well (knock on wood), I can't really justify buying a nicer rig and beating on it.

I here ya', thats why my 93' started life as a $500 police abandonded vehicle

I knew I was gonna beat the hell outta it, so why spend any amount of money on a nice one

SirFuego
01-10-2008, 12:25 AM
A little more progress. Capped up the front and back of the tubing. Painted everything. Used the rust-o-leum rattle can that can be applied directly over rust. This will eventually be bedlined once it gets welded to the rig, so I wasn't too concerned about the drips.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00176.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2266)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00178.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2270)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00182.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2267)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00183.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2268)http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00188.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2269)

Probably won't get around to prepping or welding anything more until this weekend.

BuschLight
01-10-2008, 06:38 PM
I am a huge fan of your cheap Heep! :smt041 Keep up the Redneck Garage!

ILikeMud
01-10-2008, 08:40 PM
Looking good man.

I won't make it to that Meet and Greet on the 19th, I've got to work till 5pm.

SirFuego
01-18-2008, 12:29 AM
Time for more laughter...

Here are the rockers.

Pre-powerwashing:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00200.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2271) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00201.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2272) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00210.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2276)

Still gotta trim a bit more...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00202.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2273)

And showing off some of the ugliest welds you will ever see. I was using flux core. I was trying to stitch weld to not burn through the sheetmetal. Still gotta work on getting a consistent bead size (amongst other things...). Burn through was in rusty areas. I was really close to cutting everything out, but there seem to be some good beads and penetration in there, so we'll see how it works out.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00203.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2274)
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00209.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2275)

Now onto the passenger side. Mud was packed in there really good:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00211.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2277) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00212.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2278)

After sweeping up what seemed like 20 pounds of mud, it was time to take the ZJ for a power washing:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00215.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2279) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00216.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2280)

Not really sure what I'm going to do about the gap between the doors and rockers. I might just leave it there since any mud that collects in there can easily be cleaned.

SirFuego
01-18-2008, 10:27 AM
Forgot to mention -- that was 2x5 3/16" tubing I used (not 2x4 like I mistakenly put in an old post -- but I fixed the typo).

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
01-18-2008, 04:11 PM
How else are those rockers attached? Are you running support arms to the unibody? Those "welds" will not support a styrofoam 2x5 tube, let alone 3/16" steel.

SirFuego
01-18-2008, 04:45 PM
I know those welds suck. I am extremely close to cutting them out, grinding them down and doing it again -- but I am going to do more practicing and do the passenger side before I re-do the driver's side.

So assuming the welds are done properly, would you think I would need bracing to the unibody? My logic is "no" because the A and B pillars provide the support for upward forces (coming down on rocks). The body provides the support for the lateral forces. Please correct me if I am wrong in this regard since I was looking for input on this earlier.

CrawlerReady
01-18-2008, 10:38 PM
IMO, I would take supports into the unibody for any sort of rock slider.

ILikeMud
01-18-2008, 11:43 PM
Brace it to the unibody.
You'll fuck up them pillars if you don't.

CANADIAN ZJ!
01-19-2008, 04:45 PM
technically the pillars and body will take the load applied to the rockers, but you dont even have enough weld there to hold the steel onto the truck, that inner rocker is measly 16 Ga at most (probably more like 20 Ga) and will rip right out

the shock from hitting a rock will rip off your rockers in no time

brace it to the unibody before you rip them off to save more work down the road.

Hurricane 4x4
01-19-2008, 05:10 PM
there is a reason why all commercially available rockers are braced up to the unibody frame rails... I'm with these guys, I think that is going to get ripped out

SirFuego
01-20-2008, 07:25 PM
technically the pillars and body will take the load applied to the rockers, but you dont even have enough weld there to hold the steel onto the truck, that inner rocker is measly 16 Ga at most (probably more like 20 Ga) and will rip right out

the shock from hitting a rock will rip off your rockers in no time

brace it to the unibody before you rip them off to save more work down the road.

Thanks. That explanation makes sense. Are you saying that it "could" work if the welds are cutout and done "properly"? Or are you saying that even if it has "perfect" welds it won't work because the pillar metal is just too thin for the welds to be strong enough?

Regardless, I'll be getting Clayton's shortly, so the plan is to run angle supports from the clayton's frame for boat sides. I think the idea is sorta like what Tony posted about a few weeks ago. I'll talk to the shop about this where I'll be getting the welding/install done for the long arms. I'm planning to get an 8.8 in the rear.

CANADIAN ZJ!
01-21-2008, 09:31 PM
although your welds aren't perfect, with that thin of metal it's very hard to weld at all, let alone to a thicker metal. You melt away the thin shit before the thicker rocker even gets hot.

bracing to the claytons sounds like a good idea. but be prepared for minimal abuse to knock those welds right off easily.

zj95maxx
01-21-2008, 09:58 PM
your not planning on welding your clayton shit up yourself are you?

SirFuego
01-22-2008, 12:14 AM
your not planning on welding your clayton shit up yourself are you?


I'll talk to the shop about this where I'll be getting the welding/install done for the long arms.

In other words, hell no. My buddy has already put a clayton's kit on his XJ and has a really good welder -- and a shit ton more experience than me. Only other welding I plan on doing myself is fixing the holes in the floorboards.

SirFuego
01-28-2008, 09:50 AM
Latest mod to push my front axle forward a couple inches. Thinking about doing it to the driver's side...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/012708_13381.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2281)

AgitatedPancake
01-28-2008, 04:03 PM
nice, what happened? Oh and you need to check out dirks build. He had a non rusted jeep, put in some rocker cutout sliders with good welds, and bashed them up into his doors first trip out of i remember right.

ILikeMud
01-28-2008, 08:26 PM
NICE!

Guess Clayton's is happening sooner.

SirFuego
01-28-2008, 10:14 PM
nice, what happened? Oh and you need to check out dirks build. He had a non rusted jeep, put in some rocker cutout sliders with good welds, and bashed them up into his doors first trip out of i remember right.

There was a rock ledge Matt said that he did with his ZJ back when it was on 31s -- in the summer. My buddy with a TJ on 35s had tried it many times before and made it only once. So naturally, I tried it. It was too icy to really get anywhere with it, though. As I was backing down, I heard my front passenger tire rubbing on my inner fender and immediately heard someone yell "STOP!". That's when we noticed it. I have no idea when it actually happened though. We kept hearing weird noises coming from that side all day, but just assumed it was some ice stuck in there. Everytime we looked at it nothing was (or at least looked) wrong. I would be hardpressed to believe though that the control arm was like that for most of the day -- maybe cracked, but definitely not being held on only by the top sheetmetal. I have a couple stock control arms sitting in my garage, so I'm going to run those until Clayton's goes on.

I didn't really get a chance to "test" the rockers this weekend. I started to do a rock garden, but it was too slippery to get enough traction and I was already at a ground clearance disadvantage. So I decided to bitch out so we didn't hold the group up since no one else was going to try it. In retrospect, I'm sorta glad I didn't do it, because it could have been a huge problem if the LCA gave out in that rock garden...

I remember Dirk's issues with the rockers. That was part of the reason I decided to weld to the A and B pillars, but I will add supports. Last Thursday evening, I was going to take my ZJ to the shop so we can spec out the metal for a front bumper, rear bumper, and supports from the rockers to Clayton's "frame". But then I got a call from a friend that him and his roomate were stuck and I needed to go pull them out. I'll be heading back there once I get new lowers on the front (the driver's side control arm is in pretty bad condition, too).

The moral of the story -- I've beaten the piss out of my ZJ with stock control arms. If anyone plans to do the same, spend the money on stronger control arms...

RockZJ311
01-28-2008, 10:38 PM
I figured these would give some people a laugh. All doors still open, so I guess it's not THAT bad. Click for bigger pics...
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00087.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1724)
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00088.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1725)
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00089.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1726)
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00090.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1727)

I think I need a tetanus shot now, holy fuck! Well its just metal right? Nice to see you wheeling it

RockZJ

SirFuego
01-29-2008, 11:36 PM
Replaced the front control arms tonight with some spare used stock ones from a street-only driven ZJ. They were supplied to me a couple months ago by MallCrawlin's beloved rockhardmj. It was dumb for me to have not replaced these a while ago...

Here is what the old ones looked like (click to make bigger)...

The passenger side LCA:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00237.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2282) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00238.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2283)

The driver's side LCA wasn't in much better condition:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00239.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2284) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00240.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2285) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00241.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2286) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00242.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2287)

The ZJ almost drives like a Cadillac now...

Jeeperoni91
01-29-2008, 11:48 PM
holy goodness man. that shit if f'ed up

piku303
01-29-2008, 11:54 PM
damn...shits haggard.

MUDDTRACKS
01-30-2008, 01:35 AM
Replaced the front control arms tonight with some spare used stock ones from a street-only driven ZJ. They were supplied to me a couple months ago by MallCrawlin's beloved rockhardmj. It was dumb for me to have not replaced these a while ago...

Here is what the old ones looked like (click to make bigger)...

The passenger side LCA:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00237.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2282) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00238.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2283)

The driver's side LCA wasn't in much better condition:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00239.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2284) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00240.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2285) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00241.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2286) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00242.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2287)

The ZJ almost drives like a Cadillac now...

Whats wrong with those arms they still got some life in them:rofl:

Thats one hell of a beater

OverkillZJ
01-30-2008, 02:00 AM
I may be a bad influence on people pushing theis ZJ's, but with Jarod it didn't take much - he just beats the shit out of it! It was fun getting it off of the trail with 1.25 control arms attached, haha.

MUDDTRACKS
01-30-2008, 02:45 AM
wow

SirFuego
02-02-2008, 06:38 PM
Picked up the winch today from a local vendor. Didn't realize it came with a roller fairlead and snatch block...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00248.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2291)

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00243.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2290)

My buddy will be fabbing up some bumpers for me in his spare time. Going with a basic design for the rear bumper. Imagine 2x4 or 2x5 with a couple D-rings just below the tailgate (look at pic below). Hitch will be removed so it should really help departure angle. Rear quarters would still be exposed, however. Just trying to keep the design simple.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00147.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2217)
Sorta like this XJ's bumper minus the hitch...
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/63/pap020711.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=1040)

Front bumper will take some cues from the Chalupa (http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3040&highlight=%22chalupa+bumper%22) and AprilzWarrior's Big Bling ZJ (http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?p=172229&post172229).
I want the bumper to provide protection for the radiator (probably will be replacing Kevin's Radiator Support with a new rad support in the process). I want the winch to be as close to the radiator as possible, so we will probably notch around the grille like the Chalupa. Planning to have the winch sit between the frame rails to improve airflow to the radiator and also hopefully give enough protection to where a stinger/guard won't be needed for winch protection.

Oh and the ZJ got a new inspection sticker today :D

SirFuego
02-11-2008, 04:20 PM
Trying to make some room in the front inner fenders, so I ordered myself a couple gifts today:
http://www.turbocity.com/images/560_110.JPG

The other gift directly complements this and was ordered through a MallCrawlin' vendor (whoever could that be?). :D

Will have pics once they come in.

ILikeMud
02-11-2008, 04:46 PM
I can't bring myself to buy a open filter intake.
I'm scared I'll suck water in and blow another motor.

How much did that whole set up run you though?

SirFuego
02-11-2008, 05:16 PM
It was $160+shipping+the cost of the air filters. I couldn't find anywhere that sold Turbo City stuff except for www.turbocity.com, so I just ordered it from there. I shot a PM to Dirk for the air filters.

I was skeptical about the open air filter for a while, but I have a couple reasons for going with this:
1) Puts the air intake pretty much as high as you can go without a snorkel.
2) Frees up room in the engine bay.
3) I try to avoid mud/water as much as possible

ILikeMud
02-11-2008, 07:49 PM
Yea, after my old ZJ I've sworn off mud and water.

SuicideTireZJ
02-11-2008, 10:36 PM
Shit, you should have just traded your stock setup for my turboshitty intake. It SUCKS.

SirFuego
02-11-2008, 10:50 PM
Why don't you like it? Because the air filters suck in hot air from the manifold? Or was the "IT SUCKS" just a play on words?

Jeeperoni91
02-11-2008, 10:55 PM
Shit, you should have just traded your stock setup for my turboshitty intake. It SUCKS.


whhhhhhat? i am thinking about getting one of these to replace my K&N FIPK kit to get the filters higher. why dont you like it?

ILikeMud
02-12-2008, 09:33 PM
I should say that I'm surprised my LCAs held up as long as they did on the old ZJ.
When Joel (Canadian_driver) got my old axles home, he told me the LCAs had some major stress cracking.

DieselZJ
02-12-2008, 11:01 PM
Yea, after my old ZJ I've sworn off mud and water.


But that's opposite of what your username implies:confused:

jfowlzj95
02-12-2008, 11:05 PM
But that's opposite of what your username implies:confused:

Haha yeah he's been through multiple names... well actually only 2 but he's had it changed more than once. :D

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum//showthread.php?t=11207

SuicideTireZJ
02-13-2008, 01:32 AM
Yeah the main beef I had with it was that it put the air intake over the hottest part of the whole vehicle. Not a smart move. I'm almost positive any gains I would have noticed due to extra flow were negated by the outrageously hotter air being sucked in. Plus it didn't fit very well, especially with the filters they provided. You might not have that problem. The only advantage it gives you is a few more inches of fording depth (not too useful for the kind of wheeling I do), the ability to use a rechargeable filter element (but you can buy K&N's for the stock airbox, so not a biggie either), and it saves you a bit of space under the hood.

Just not worth ~$200 IMO. By no means am I saying you'll hate it. I just could have spent my money on better things, personally.

ILikeMud
02-13-2008, 12:03 PM
But that's opposite of what your username implies:confused:

Yes, however if you look at the build for my previous ZJ, you'll see why I no longer like mud or water.
I've had this user name on every Jeep board since day one. Only place it's different is Pirate and if I knew who to msg on there to change it I would.


Haha yeah he's been through multiple names... well actually only 2 but he's had it changed more than once. :D

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum//showthread.php?t=11207

Techincally only 2, ILikeMud and Yota Tony.
Matt changed my name to KRIKEY MUD as a joke.


Yeah the main beef I had with it was that it put the air intake over the hottest part of the whole vehicle. Not a smart move. I'm almost positive any gains I would have noticed due to extra flow were negated by the outrageously hotter air being sucked in. Plus it didn't fit very well, especially with the filters they provided. You might not have that problem. The only advantage it gives you is a few more inches of fording depth (not too useful for the kind of wheeling I do), the ability to use a rechargeable filter element (but you can buy K&N's for the stock airbox, so not a biggie either), and it saves you a bit of space under the hood.

Just not worth ~$200 IMO. By no means am I saying you'll hate it. I just could have spent my money on better things, personally.

I'll trade you my stock air box for the Turbo City stuff :D

OverkillZJ
02-13-2008, 12:32 PM
Yeah the main beef I had with it was that it put the air intake over the hottest part of the whole vehicle. Not a smart move. I'm almost positive any gains I would have noticed due to extra flow were negated by the outrageously hotter air being sucked in. Plus it didn't fit very well, especially with the filters they provided. You might not have that problem. The only advantage it gives you is a few more inches of fording depth (not too useful for the kind of wheeling I do), the ability to use a rechargeable filter element (but you can buy K&N's for the stock airbox, so not a biggie either), and it saves you a bit of space under the hood.

Just not worth ~$200 IMO. By no means am I saying you'll hate it. I just could have spent my money on better things, personally.

TurboShity intake does its job if you find it cheap. I did not have any drop in MPG, my rig got around 16MPG highway on 35's, hand calculated, despite sucking in the hot air. It's nice because it's simple and out of the way, and frees up space in the engine compartment.

SirFuego
02-13-2008, 12:54 PM
It's nice because it's simple and out of the way, and frees up space in the engine compartment.
Yeah I honestly had a tough time paying that much money for something so "simple" with minimal gain in the power department. But right now I want to clear as much room in the front of the engine bay as possible. That area could be put to much better use -- especially if it's not there. :smt077

ILikeMud
02-13-2008, 02:11 PM
Is the ZJ your DD?

SirFuego
02-13-2008, 02:30 PM
No not at all. Part of the reason it's been banged up so much. I have a Ram 1500 for a DD/tow rig.

SirFuego
02-13-2008, 02:40 PM
I should say that I'm surprised my LCAs held up as long as they did on the old ZJ.
When Joel (Canadian_driver) got my old axles home, he told me the LCAs had some major stress cracking.

Sorry, just saw this today...

I'm sure the bushings needed replaced anyways, but I think what ultimately did them in was hitting them on a couple rocks at Rausch Creek when my front tire would slide off of them. I think me trying to get up that rock ledge was just the straw that broke the camel's back. The LCAs would have probably held up better if I had some type of LCA skid on the axle.

ILikeMud
02-13-2008, 03:09 PM
If your keeping your axles for a while, I'd do some LCA skids.
My friend almost ripped the LCA mounts off the axle in his TJ. He brought it to a shop and had them straighten and gusset the LCA plus add skids on all 4 LCAs.

2jeepsforus
02-14-2008, 02:33 PM
Yeah I honestly had a tough time paying that much money for something so "simple" with minimal gain in the power department. But right now I want to clear as much room in the front of the engine bay as possible. That area could be put to much better use -- especially if it's not there. :smt077

As I said on WNYoffroad, put your second battery there. That is truly what I plan to do, when all this divorce stuff is over with.

Dave

SirFuego
02-14-2008, 05:28 PM
Dave, OverkillZJ's and ATL_ZJ's build up threads have inspiration for what I want to do to the front end. There won't be room for another battery if all goes as planned :D If it doesn't go as planned, then yeah, there will either be another battery there and/or an air tank.

Tony, about the LCA skids, my buddy has an HP30 he's going to re-gear for me to bolt into my ZJ to match an 8.8 I'll be getting soon. He said that he'll weld on some LCA skids for me.

SuicideTireZJ
02-14-2008, 06:12 PM
Actually it was ILikeMud, then IHateMud, then Yota Tony, and now he's back.

ILikeMud
02-16-2008, 10:59 PM
I was never IHateMud. I do hate it though.

jfowlzj95
02-16-2008, 11:06 PM
You were once KRIKEY! MUD! though, thought that one was hilarious. :D

ILikeMud
02-17-2008, 10:31 AM
Yes, I was.

Funny.....I'm still not sure on that.

SirFuego
02-21-2008, 03:40 PM
Now that talk about Tony's apparent distaste for mud has subsided...

I came home after a local club M&G and found a big Amsoil box on my doorstep with my air filters. Now I'm still waiting for my intake as Turbo City said it'd be another week until it ships because they need to "get it from the foundry". It'd be nice if my order status was something more than "processing" so I didn't need to call them to see what was up.

So here is the current plan for the buildup (in addition to the bumpers):

Clayton's Long Arms
- 4.5"
- I might go with the Anti-Rock in the front instead of the disconnects
- Flat belly skid

HP30 with 4.10s
- Reusing shafts, brakes, and Crane diff cover
- Lunchbox locker (Aussie if I go with a new one)
- Custom steering

8.8 with 4.10s and disc brakes
- Clayton's hi-clearance brackets
- Whatever that u joint you use to mate to the stock driveshaft for an 8.8
- Crane diff cover
- Aussie locker

Unknowns
- Can my engine skid be modified to work with the long arm kit? It bolts to the LCA mounts, which get cut off for the long arms.
- How I'm going to brace the rocker panels to the unibody. Since Clayton's sits below the sub-frame rail. I'm thinking I might be able to get some sort of boat sides if I run the supports directly to Clayton's stiffeners instead of the subframe rails. I'll have to see how much of an angle I have to work with before I decide on this.

I'll be running my 31s with this setup until I muster up the cash for a new set of 35s or I find a good used set.

Longer term plans (if I get to this point, I'll be comitted to using my ZJ for a while since I can't just unbolt them and move it to another rig):
- Full roll cage -- the unibody supports for the rockers will be mounting points for the A and B pillars of the cage, so we'll be taking this into account when running the supports.
- A large amount of front fender trimming similar to ATL_ZJ's

ILikeMud
02-21-2008, 11:31 PM
Sweet!!

2jeepsforus
02-22-2008, 12:40 AM
Go 4.56's homie... 35's with 4.10's will be the same will be the same as me with 3.73's now and 33's.

I have to run 80 in OD to get it around the 2200 RPM mark no lie.

SirFuego
02-22-2008, 01:15 AM
The 8.8 I'm getting will already have 4.10s in it. Just figured I'd save some money by just regearing the front instead of both. Plus hopefully with 4.10s I won't be breaking the HP30 as often as I'm thinking I would with deeper gearing...

To me building a 44 isn't worth my time or money if I'm going to go with 60s in the future when the budget allows.

gonecheenin
02-22-2008, 08:31 AM
The 8.8 I'm getting will already have 4.10s in it. Just figured I'd save some money by just regearing the front instead of both. Plus hopefully with 4.10s I won't be breaking the HP30 as often as I'm thinking I would with deeper gearing...

You'll move the stress's to the driveshafts, pinion gear, t-case, & tranny though
sure it might work fine, and you should be able to find used 4.10's for the front
But make sure you install a big tranny cooler & carry spare joints

AT 4.56's & 33's I pleased with how my ZJ performs, but I sure wouldn't want to go any higher (but in a D30 I'd be worried about going any lower either)







To me building a 44 isn't worth my time or money if I'm going to go with 60s in the future when the budget allows.

I know those on here have strong feelings about going D44 when you could jump to a 60, and I'll probably get flack for saying this.
But if your already running a D30 with a fair amount of success, going to a D44 is about perfect for you unless your looking to go monster Zuggy with 38's or bigger IMHO
A un-needed D60 is just extra dead weight hindering your capability, sure you'll gain a pile of reliability but would that alone be worth the trouble?

If my current HPD30/SD35 combo gives me any major axle trouble I'll be installing an Alloy inner shafted front HP44 & an equivilant rear D44/8.8/etc...


But then again I plan to never go bigger then 33/35's, never hack the body up beyond streetable, and don't care if I break something every once & a blue moon (but that happens no matter what you run)

SirFuego
02-22-2008, 01:02 PM
I appreciate the input, Jay. You have the 4.0 in your ZJ right?

When installing my radiator, I stripped the threads to the built-in tranny cooler internal to the rad. So in series with the original V8 tranny cooler, I put in a bigger tranny cooler in. So my tranny is keeping cool -- although it is pretty high mileage, so we'll see how that works out.

I tell myself that I won't go higher than 35s, but now it seems that 37s are the new "35s", so who knows what'll happen. Going from 31s to 35s is a pretty big jump so I know that I don't want to go past 35s for the next step. Maybe I will scare myself down to 33s when it comes time to buy the tires. We'll see.

I know a few others with the HP30/8.8 or HP30/44 combo and 35s with 4.88s, and it has held up fine to the abuse (yes, they do wheel pretty hard). I'm definitely not saying that it's an "ideal" setup, but I won't have much invested in the HP30 and much of what I do to it could easily be sold to fund a new axle if it becomes a problem.

gonecheenin
02-22-2008, 09:22 PM
I appreciate the input, Jay. You have the 4.0 in your ZJ right?

Yup, 150-ish,000 mile 4.0HO




I tell myself that I won't go higher than 35s, but now it seems that 37s are the new "35s", so who knows what'll happen. Going from 31s to 35s is a pretty big jump so I know that I don't want to go past 35s for the next step. Maybe I will scare myself down to 33s when it comes time to buy the tires. We'll see.

I know a few others with the HP30/8.8 or HP30/44 combo and 35s with 4.88s, and it has held up fine to the abuse (yes, they do wheel pretty hard). I'm definitely not saying that it's an "ideal" setup, but I won't have much invested in the HP30 and much of what I do to it could easily be sold to fund a new axle if it becomes a problem.

Your situation is a little different then mine too

I built the ZJ specifically as a mild 33" tire wheeler because I already had plans of a YJ based 38" tire hardcore rig

Your ZJ being your primary all around wheeler obviously makes for different criteria

But as anyone on this site will tell you, going to big on a ZJ makes for exponential work & problems that will kill your unibody rig if not done correctly.

As much as I dig my ZJ (specially in the stage its in now), thats why I'm building a hardcore rig outta a YJ

gonecheenin
02-26-2008, 07:14 PM
Time for more laughter...

Here are the rockers.

Pre-powerwashing:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00200.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2271) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00201.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2272) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00210.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2276)

Still gotta trim a bit more...
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00202.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2273)

And showing off some of the ugliest welds you will ever see. I was using flux core. I was trying to stitch weld to not burn through the sheetmetal. Still gotta work on getting a consistent bead size (amongst other things...). Burn through was in rusty areas. I was really close to cutting everything out, but there seem to be some good beads and penetration in there, so we'll see how it works out.
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00203.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2274)
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00209.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2275)

Now onto the passenger side. Mud was packed in there really good:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00211.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2277) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00212.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2278)

After sweeping up what seemed like 20 pounds of mud, it was time to take the ZJ for a power washing:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00215.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2279) http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00216.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2280)

Not really sure what I'm going to do about the gap between the doors and rockers. I might just leave it there since any mud that collects in there can easily be cleaned.



OK SF, so if you were to drop a plumb bob down from the outer most side of your doors, how far would your sliders stick out?

I'm considering doing a faux boatside slider/rock rail dealio with 2x_ 3/16 rectangular tube (want it to stick out 1" past the plumb bob in the above scenerio, so I'm thinking 2x7?), 3/16 90deg angle steel, 1/8" flat plate, and .120 wall 1.5" DOM


My thoughts are to place the 90deg angle steel in up against the inside of the "rocker" & the top, weld the 2x_ tubing up against the bottom of the upper portion of said angle iron horizontally, and lay the 1/8" plate at a 45 between the outside of the upper tube (1" from the end) & the lower portion of the angle iron with a 90 degree internal 1/8" center rib that will lay into the upper inner V to brace for heavy impacts that would try to "pull" the assembly together
All this after installing weld nuts on the inside of the slider assembly for easy installation straight through the original rocker inner panel

The trimmed rocker sheet metal would simply get tacked along the top of this assembly (which will clean up the look while making it easy to smooth out later for installation on another heep)

Then fabicate full lenth under vehicle rocker panel bolt in plates (for easy removal/installation) that tie the slider assembly into the unibody rails with full vehicle width DOM connecting both sliders together while also attaching to the unibody rails as well as bracing those rails against "frame" hits with additional full length flat 1/8" plating

Additional 1/8 to 3/16 would be tied in where needed as powertrain skidplating (I figure 1/8" flat up against the unibody rails would be plenty for rock gaurding while the 3/16 could be used in places that there is no additional reinforcement like under the oil pans & t-case)

Th center DOM would run right up against (or replace) the tranny crossmember, the two other pc's of DOM would run past the lower control arm brackets (doing it this way should keep me from ever having an issue with hanging up on these full length connectors) which I would tie all together with "ear" plates for what I'm figuring would be a hella increase in structural rigidity of the chassis AND control arm bracketry plus unibody protection without gaining all that much extra weight over your standard retail slider/skidplating setups


What do you think SF?

SirFuego
02-26-2008, 08:45 PM
I never did the plumb bob thing, but my rockers are pretty close to flush with the bottom of the doors. I used 5x2 (yeah, apparently it's called 5x2 and not 2x5...). Not sure off hand how much the doors bow out (3-4" I would guess?)

I'm not entirely sure I follow completely what you are suggesting, though since I think I'm having a tough time visualizing it.

The angle iron portion is sort of confusing me. Are you suggesting something like AlaskaZJ (http://www.akextreme4x4.com/tech/rocker/rockerpanelreplacement.htm) did? Are you thinking of notching around the A and B pillars? Or will you tie them into the tubing like I did?

If I understand the DOM idea correctly, you are thinking of essentially using the dom tubing as "crossmembers" that bolt into the "frame" rails underneath and also tie both rockers together? Then you run sheetmetal between the "crossmembers" for boat sides and flat skids underneath?

Again, sorry if I totally misunderstood you, but I think I may have misinterpreted what you typed.

gonecheenin
02-26-2008, 09:03 PM
1/8" steel (.125") is ALOT heavier then sheet metal

It is what my front & rear bumper skids are made of, & under tension it seams to hold up great to even hard hits

I was talking about cutting back the A&B pillars then "lining" the cut out rocker with the angle, then adding the horizontal rectangular tubing, hoping that would tie everything together better and allow for more strength at the tie in's underneath
That make more sense?

then yeah, running a vehicle width slider "crossmember" or two from one to the other to aid in all the upward force being distibuted better then it would be if each were attached seperately to the unibody rails

wasn't planning on making skids for the entire underneath, just light duty 1/8 to help the bottom of the "frame" rails & 3/16 for the major components

SirFuego
02-26-2008, 09:17 PM
Yeah, sorry. I didn't mean sheetmetal.

The rocker cutout portion makes more sense.

I honestly like the crossmember idea a lot. I take it that each "crossmember" will actually be three parts (two parts to each rocker and one between the subframe) tied together -- so that you can easily unbolt the portion between the subframe to work on stuff underneath? Since you are sticking to short arms and plan on reinforcing your control arm mounts, that should fit your ZJ pretty well. The only "permanent" part is the rocker cutouts, but those should be easy to cut out for another ZJ.

The only disadvantage I see to that is that you are sacrificing a few inches of ground clearance (probably no more than if you would throw clayton's on it, though), but that tradeoff is probably well worth it by most likely stiffening up the unibody and protect the underneath.

That said, as I'm sure you can tell by my phenomenal welds and my questions to you and Jeff on PGH, I'm far from a fabricator and unibody expert, but I'm definitely intrigued by the idea.

gonecheenin
02-26-2008, 09:46 PM
I honestly like the crossmember idea a lot. I take it that each "crossmember" will actually be three parts (two parts to each rocker and one between the subframe) tied together -- so that you can easily unbolt the portion between the subframe to work on stuff underneath?

Yep, not sure how'll achieve that & retain strength yet, but I'll figure something out




The only "permanent" part is the rocker cutouts, but those should be easy to cut out for another ZJ.

Not even that will be permanent except for the tack welds holding the upper sheetmetal to the sliders (unless your refering to the cut sheetmetal on the vehicle itself which isn't a concern for me)




The only disadvantage I see to that is that you are sacrificing a few inches of ground clearance (probably no more than if you would throw clayton's on it, though),


I don't think I'll be sacrificing much if any more ground clearance since I plan to hug the tranny crossmember thats already hanging that low and the end crossmembers will be real close to the tires (if that will even work by the tires, further investigation under my ZJ makes me thing that the center connector may be the only one to work out real well, but even that should help alot and using short individual tie in's should still be strong at the ends by the control arm bracketry since there is so much more metal there)

SirFuego
03-03-2008, 03:34 PM
Dropped the ZJ off yesterday to the local shop and it will be getting custom bumpers soon! Rear bumper will be very simple and mount using the stock bumper/hitch locations.

The front bumper will replace the front crossmember. Goal for the front bumper is to maximize approach angle, protect the bottom of the rad (probably will tie into a custom rad support so I can sell my Kevins rad support later), keep the winch as low as possible (but not so low as to kill approach angle) and as close to the rad as possible.

EDIT: Yeah, uhh, so I already said this same thing earlier in the thread in regards to the design. But anyways...

SirFuego
03-09-2008, 12:59 PM
I decided to get Eric to angle the rear bumper a bit. The bottom of the bumper is flush with the lip and the angle is close to the angle of the bottom of the tailgate. Ends of the bumper still need to be finished. Tow points need to be added as well.
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/030808_17091.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2304)

In addition to bolting into the subframe rail, it also mounts "XJ style" with some angle iron. Nut plates are on the other side. This should help to distribute the load pretty well. Here is a crappy pic:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/030808_17092.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2305)

Need to replace the gas tank straps since the one was rusted through.

And here is what the front now looks like...
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/030808_17101.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2306)

SirFuego
03-29-2008, 03:37 PM
Just a small update...

Front bumper mount will sleeve the "frame" with 5x2 tubing. Everything will be built off of that. We needed to get 1/16" milled off of the 2" sides of the 5x2 to get it to fit inside of the frame rails.

Purchased a some stuff:
1) RE 4.5" Front and Rear Springs
2) Dana 30 Aussie
3) Ford 8.8 Aussie (was on backorder the friday I ordered it, yet it still shipped that next Monday -- so I'm not complaining)
4) Crane 8.8 diff cover came in today. It's a nice bright green.

Clayton's long arms, Clayton's 8.8 brackets, and Advance Adapters SYE will be coming next paycheck -- my bonus wasn't deposited this week like it was supposed to be :mad:

Not sure just yet about what shocks to get. I'm thinking of the 11" travel BBCS shocks, but we gotta measure once the long arms go in to see if they will actually fit. I've heard really good things about these shocks since they are valved for rockcrawling. Anyone have experience with these?

Also, those with the 8.8 and Clayton's. I know one of the downfalls of the 8.8 is that the tubes can rotate since they are just pressed into the diff housing. Will the Clayton's truss be strong enough to prevent this from happening, or would you suggest the tubes be welded in?

SirFuego
04-11-2008, 04:27 PM
Bonus came today!

Order will be placed on Monday for:
Clayton's kit minus the springs
Clayton's 8.8 brackets
AA SYE

Goal is to have it ready for GSE!

DJJordache
04-11-2008, 09:53 PM
Also, those with the 8.8 and Clayton's. I know one of the downfalls of the 8.8 is that the tubes can rotate since they are just pressed into the diff housing. Will the Clayton's truss be strong enough to prevent this from happening, or would you suggest the tubes be welded in?
I would go ahead and weld them. It doesnt have to be all the way around it. I have mine welded on all 4 sides with 2" welds. just MAKE sure that if you weld one side to do the opposite side right after it so the tubes don't get tweaked as the welds cool.

SirFuego
04-14-2008, 02:44 PM
Obviously needs more work done, but here are some spy pics of the front bumper:
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/pic041308_1.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2313)
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/pic041308_2.jpg (http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2312)

As a reference, the robot lights are pretty close to flush with front of the hood. Kevin's rad support is being modified to be at the same angle as the front of the bumper.

ILikeMud
04-14-2008, 06:10 PM
Cool, still not sure how I feel about those lights.

SirFuego
05-22-2008, 05:06 PM
No pics yet, but figured I'd drop an update.

Front and rear bumpers are done, and the winch is mounted. I'm very happy with how they turned out. Jeep is sitting on long arms right now with the 8.8 and HP30 locked with Aussies and 4.10s. Both have the housings welded to the tubes and the HP30 has a small truss. Steering will be done shortly and it should be streetable very soon.

Still needs shocks of the correct length and a rear driveshaft. Arm lengths also need to be adjusted. It seems to be getting close, but there are a lot of "little" things to do.

I also ordered Trxus MTs in the 33" flavor -- I scared myself out of going with 35s. They are being drop-shipped from Interco so I hope they are in stock so they come in time for Big Dogs...

SirFuego
06-10-2008, 09:55 AM
So I got to drive the robot last night!

Wow! What a difference! Even with the triangulated rear shocks the ZJ is smooth as butter. Steering is very tight and everything feels very stable. My buddy has done a phenomenal job with this rig! He's giving it a final checkover and it should be ready soon to beat on!!

Now the question is -- will it fit in my garage without needing to remove the roof rails?

Some specs:
- HP30, 4.10s, Aussie, Mini-truss, Welded tubes
- 8.8, 4.10s, Aussie, Clayton's truss, Welded tubes, Clayton's high clearance brackets.
- 4.5" RE Springs
- JKS discos.
- AA SYE, Tom Woods driveshaft
- 33x12.5 Trxus MTs
- Inverted T steering, 1.5" dia 0.5" wall tie rods, 1 ton ends, flipped tie rod
- Rancho RSX's up front (with daystar bumpstops as inexpensive insurance) -- those things are pretty cheap though.
- BBCS 11" Shocks in the rear
- 5" front bumpstops (hockey pucks)
- 16" procomp limit straps on all 4 corners

ILikeMud
06-10-2008, 10:56 AM
:worthles:

Sounds like your ready for GSO. I finally got the time off for it. Can't wait.

SirFuego
06-11-2008, 10:38 PM
I took some pics tonight and I'll try to get some flex pics this weekend.

Credit all of the work to my buddy Eric, who did a kick ass job on my piece of junk (or the "White Elephant" as Eric calls it)...

Click the pic to make it bigger!

Front Bumper
What you cannot see is the 5x2 sleeved into the frame rail. It's all made of 1/4" plate and is beef! Kevins rad support was cut up to provide for some of the side and lower mounting holes. There are also gussets in the front skid to limit the chance of the bumper bending. It was designed for pure function and to keep the fugly robot lights exposed so they eventually get ripped off :P Also designed to maximize approach angle while trying to sit the winch low. The holes in the bumper provide for good airflow. I was driving it around quite a bit today and the temp sat right at 210 the whole time. The entire bumper is a single piece.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00249.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2337) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00268.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2355) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00250.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2338) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00251.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2339) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00252.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2340)

Rear Bumper
Designed to be very simple, to maximize departure angle. I don't really care about the rear quarter panel, so that really simplified the design. I had Eric angle the bumper a bit to help it slide better off of rocks. Sides of the bumper are also angled for the same reason. The bumper sleeves into the frame rails and also uses the stock hitch mounts. There is also angle iron that takes 4 bolts on each side for more mounting.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00256.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2344) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00257.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2345)
In the first pic, you can also see the 8.8 with the high clearance brackets (nothing is hanging below the axle tube) and Crane diff cover.

Front suspension/Steering
Inverted T with 1.5" dia 0.5" wall. Tie rod is also flipped for a couple extra inches of ground clearance. This of course required track bar mounts to be relocated. Steering is extremely tight and very stout.

You can also see the mini-truss on the HP30 and Crane lipless diff cover. Tubes were also welded to the housing. HP30 is geared to 4.10 and has an Aussie locker.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00253.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2341) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00254.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2342)
Front adjustable limit strap mounts. Rancho RSX shocks up front with the Daystar shock bumpstops as added insurance:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00266.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2353)
Lower limit strap mount and the Czech Republic hockey pucks used as bumpstops:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00267.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2354)

Tires
33x12.5 Trxus MT. They are pretty nice on the road. We'll see how I like them off road.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00255.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2343)

Other pics
I got the Clayton's Long arms and used 4.5" RE springs. I also got the Clayton's flat belly skid that is made of 1/4" plating and protects the tcase and catalytic convertor. The entire kit is extremely strong and I should be able to use the arms as "skids".
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00258.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2346) http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00261.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2349)
Rear triangulated shock mounts and rear axle limit strap mount. I went with the BBCS 11" shocks in the rear and 16" limit straps at all four corners.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00263.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2350)

Rear adjustable upper limit strap mount and the custom spring retainers:
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00264.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2351)

Turbo City dual intake with Amsoil filters. Sure it sucks in hot air, but it frees up room in the engine bay for me to fit an air tank or extra battery in the future.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/thumbnails/18/DSC00265.JPG (http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2352)

The passenger rear tire rubs slightly at full stuff. The front tires will rub on the back of the inner fender at full stuff and full steering lock as well. This should hopefully be resolved soon with some hammering.

Overall I am very impressed with everything. The Jeep tracks straight as an arrow down the road. Despite the lack of steering stabilizer up front, the ZJ still tracks straight forward after hitting a bump. Even at 4.5" lift the ZJ feels extremely stable on the road. I can't wait to beat on it off-road :)

ILikeMud
06-11-2008, 10:48 PM
Awesome man.
You need a grill on there though and a stinger.

Can't wait to see that thing tearing up Greens in a few weeks.

SirFuego
06-11-2008, 10:58 PM
I still need to cut up the stock grille and figure out how to mount it.

I don't like stingers and I think the winch should be protected enough by the bumper already.

zj95
06-11-2008, 11:35 PM
looks awesome man.. good job

jsteves
06-11-2008, 11:49 PM
Pics are too small. I don't like to clicky.

jfowlzj95
06-11-2008, 11:52 PM
Yeah, that looks great. Nice work! haha mine kinda looks like that right now with just the headlights and nothing else.

SirFuego
06-11-2008, 11:56 PM
I try to be nice to the dial-up folk, so I like to post thumbnails.

Here is a link to the gallery the pics are hosted on. You can just click through them at your leisure.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2337

Thanks for the good words, folks. Like I said before, my friend Eric is responsible for the fabwork.

jsteves
06-12-2008, 12:00 AM
I try to be nice to the dial-up folk, so I like to post thumbnails.

Here is a link to the gallery the pics are hosted on. You can just click through them at your leisure.
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/details.php?image_id=2337

Thanks for the good words, folks. Like I said before, my friend Eric is responsible for the fabwork.

Mucho better.

SirFuego
06-23-2008, 05:37 PM
I took the robot on a shakedown run this weekend (see the thread on Grand Slam Ontario for pics and videos) and she performed very well. From what I could tell, I had little to no rubbing on the tires (I don't see any evidence of rubbing on the body or tires either). I came down really hard on my rocker cutouts with the shitty welds a few times and there are no signs of fatigue -- but I would still recommend running unibody supports for anyone trying the same thing in the future.

I also blew another valve stem and just ran the tire at 0 psi for the rest of the ride and swapped on the spare when we got to a flat area on the main access road. This is the second time it happened and the Staun beadlock did its job very well.

I don't think much will get done on this rig until mid-July, but the current plans are to continue fixing the floorboards and either bedline or chassis saver/por 15 the floorboards. OBA will hopefully go in as well.

SirFuego
07-14-2008, 12:25 PM
So yesterday I was stopped on a hill with the ZJ turned off. I put my foot on the brake and noticed that the radio turned on (ignition was in the "off" position). When I take my foot off of the pedal, the radio shuts off. When I use the brake with the ZJ on, I get a nice little "christmas-light-like" display across the text on the VIC. I was also told that the brake lights are extremely dim. I now have the joy of finding out where this stupid short is...

As for progress last week:
So last week I:
- Put heat wrap around my transmission tunnel. It's amazing how much that cooled things down inside the Jeep.
- Laid down some heat wrap and window flashing in the rear cargo area and put on a coat of herculiner as a test run for the rest of the floor. It seems to be holding up so far.
- Took my tire to get the valve stem fixed again
- Hit my robot lights off of a few trees and the housing sustained fixable dents, but the lights still keep ticking.
- Blew out another valve stem and needed to borrow a spare to limp home. Staun beadlocks pull through again.
- Buried my ZJ in the same mudpit that consumed me in December.

Good times.

ILikeMud
07-15-2008, 10:31 AM
Those robot lights help you get through some tight spots it seems. Amazingly they are still alive.
Good luck finding the short man. I hate dealing with wiring.

SirFuego
07-21-2008, 10:30 AM
Some wheeling pics this weekend. I have some minor rubbing issues in the front it seems, so I need to be more aggressive with the sledgehammer...

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_802654.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8538) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_417099.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8539) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_75758.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8543) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_154335.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8546)
http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_344821.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8548) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_493388.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8554) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_401081.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8555)
http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_17296.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8556) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_375791.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8559) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_452542.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8560)
http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_198782.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8562) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_230742.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8563) http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1215746902/med_gallery_440_200_88702.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=8564)

jfowlzj95
07-21-2008, 11:03 AM
Says you have to log in to see the larger images.

SirFuego
07-21-2008, 11:13 AM
OK I just removed the thumbnails then. They should work. If not, let me know.

jfowlzj95
07-21-2008, 11:34 AM
Works good now, nice pics. :smt023

SirFuego
07-27-2008, 07:51 PM
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/media/18/IMG_0559.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.com/thegallery/data/media/18/IMG_0560.jpg

I have a couple panels welded in. A few more to go. I should be able to reuse the interior door handle with a little relocation...

ILikeMud
08-02-2008, 08:03 PM
Nice man.
Gonna do the rears too?

SirFuego
08-03-2008, 04:28 PM
Probably not going to do the rears since I see it being more of a pain than it's worth. I'm doing the front to help with visibility. My rear seats are rarely in and when they were in, they were almost always folded down. Cutting up the rears also makes it easier for all of my equipment to get covered in mud. Bottom line -- I can't really see enough gains that outweigh the losses in cutting up the rear doors.

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
08-03-2008, 09:16 PM
Your rig is so busted, beaten, haggard, and just genuinely frightening. I love it!

ILikeMud
08-05-2008, 10:37 AM
Very good point.

SirFuego
08-11-2008, 10:31 PM
I went to a place just outside of Rochester called Whispering Pines this past weekend. The place is very stock friendly, but with the rain we've been getting the past couple weeks, it was really sloppy. I was trail leader and didn't really know where I was going, so I was unfortunately a guinea pig to see how difficult some of the muddy areas were. Since everyone here loves mud, here are some pics:

Tried an interesting hill climb rutted out by rigs with bigger than 33s:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08051.jpg
Probably bouncing off of the rev limiter here:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08052.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08054.jpg
No dice, so I tried another line by climbing the side of the hill:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08068.jpg
My bumper works as a nice mud shovel.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08073.jpg
The line swung my rear end over which wedged my rear quarter into the hillside and I was done.
Trying not to fall 4 or 5 feet into the mud:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08076.jpg

Getting winched out with two winches simultaneously:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08089.jpg

And being a guinea pig for another mud pit:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08126.jpg

And someone else trying the same pit but with a different line:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08155.jpg

The aftermath. Clean up was not fun:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08164.jpg

Did I ever mention to anyone that I hate mud?

Here are all of the pics:
http://s536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/?mediafilter=images

MUDDTRACKS
08-12-2008, 02:44 AM
strike a pose:gay: lmao This is a great pic
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08076.jpg
hope you didn't get hurt.

Looks like fun.

Everyone hates the mud but we all have to get dirty sometimes.

slim616
08-12-2008, 07:33 AM
strike a pose:gay: lmao This is a great pic
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/Whispering%20Pines/WisperingPines08076.jpg
hope you didn't get hurt.

Looks like fun.

Everyone hates the mud but we all have to get dirty sometimes.

I bet you use that move on the dance floor all the time:smt082

SirFuego
08-12-2008, 10:58 AM
Oh yeah, that's only the most basic of my white-boy dance moves. The ladies love it!

There was about 4 or 5 foot drop off between where you see the dirt I'm standing on and the mud my rear tire is in. I was trying everything in my power to not fall backwards and not get smashed by my driver's door. That "dance move" was about the only way I could figure out how to accomplish both.

SirFuego
08-18-2008, 09:46 AM
Went to RC this weekend with a buddy from the local club. Both of our weekends were cut short. On friday, I blew a relay to my fuel pump while high centered on Tombstone after some rocks kicked out from underneath. We used my ABS relay and all was well. On Saturday, my buddy broke an outer shaft and ripped off his traction bar crossmember on Big Rocks. After some welding, we head back out where it rips off again on trail 20. On Sunday, I went out with a stock JK for an "easy" day, which turned into me getting towed back to camp when my battery started boiling...

Pics I took (http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/). Pics he took (http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q216/kneumann2/RC---aug08/).

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0561.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0561.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0562.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0562.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0563.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0563.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0564.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0564.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0565.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0565.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0566.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0566.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0567.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0567.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0568.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0568.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0569.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0569.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0570.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0570.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0571.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0571.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0572.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0572.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0573.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0573.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0574.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0574.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0575.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0575.jpg) http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0576.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0576.jpg)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/th_IMG_0577.jpg (http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/RC0808/IMG_0577.jpg)

There are a bunch more I'll be posting later once they get uploaded.

SirFuego
08-18-2008, 12:06 PM
More pics:http://s536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/

Beginning of Big Rocks:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08156.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08162.jpg
Liftin' a tire:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08166.jpg
Just before a bump to get over:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08175.jpg
Showin' off for the camera:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08180.jpg

Now it's Kris's turn:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08192.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08193.jpg
Just before the bump to carnage...
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08201.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08229.jpg

Mike's bone stock JK gettin' it done.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08519.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08525.jpg

How we got my ZJ backed into my garage:
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08526.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/m1ke2005/RC%2008/RauschCreek08528.jpg

wrawls
08-18-2008, 01:35 PM
now this is funny! Great thread!

slim616
08-18-2008, 09:48 PM
man it amazes me how much you beat on that thing and it just keeps on going.

SirFuego
08-20-2008, 10:28 AM
Well, I gotta assess what caused my battery to boil (overcharging from a bad alternator/pcm?) and fix my sliders, before she's ready for big dogs.

For the record, my sliders did take a few nasty hits and protected the doors. However, because it was only (shittily) welded to the pillars, one is now angled like a boatside. This happened at the very beginning of "O" where there are a couple boulders you need to go over before getting to the trail. So hopefully I can get the supports to the unibody in before big dogs.

MyNameIsJerry
08-20-2008, 03:49 PM
It really does look like Johnny 5. I love it, great pics.

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
08-20-2008, 08:07 PM
That avatar is hysterical. Great pics!

ILikeMud
08-21-2008, 09:27 AM
Awesome man.
Great pics, glad to see you still beating on that thing.

dangerousdave
08-21-2008, 10:21 AM
I know about having jks pull me around too. The group i ride with is pretyy much nothing but jks. They seem to do real well though. The few lifted ones we have are pretty nice.

ILikeMud
08-22-2008, 04:44 PM
JKs are awesome.
Something about wheeling a $35,000 rig though.........

SirFuego
08-28-2008, 11:04 PM
She is "Big Dogsable" now (I hope)!

My Optima was junk, so I should be getting a new one thru the warranty tomorrow or Saturday. So in the interim, I got an extra battery for testing from a friend.

After finding out that the fuel pump was getting no power and checking the fuses/relays, I swapped in a PCM from a 94 with the 5.2L and she started up like a champ. Ran it for a while at a higher RPM to make sure the battery wasn't getting overcharged. I'm so glad it ended up being a cheap fix.

SirFuego
09-13-2008, 10:00 PM
Nothing major, but my robot lights were not easily aim-able and the headlight kept falling out of the bezel. Despite the added ground clearance, they still stuck out too far for my liking (and of course were incredibly ugly). So I just ripped them out and started over from scratch and did something much, much simpler. And I can aim the headlights, too. I actually like it now...

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=5

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=6

I also added some ricer driving lights pointed outwards on the hood and mounted a fog light just inside the fender for some rock lights. Gotta add in the passenger side though.
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=3&pictureid=7

SirFuego
09-24-2008, 09:31 AM
Went to big dogs this weekend and I screwed up my steering. Stupid dirt was so loose around some of the rocks, it was just throwing me around.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/Photo_09.jpg

Also my Clayton's belly skid took a bunch of abuse can came away with only a small dent in the middle and some scratches:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p302/SirFuego/Photo_09-1.jpg

SirFuego
10-13-2008, 02:11 PM
More wheeling this weekend. Went to an event in Eau Claire, PA. Nothing extreme, but the trails were fun and I still managed to find some interesting lines. Dented the hood after running into a tree after bumping it over a ledge -- twice. No major carnage.

Ralph's Sex-90. This thing is incredibly impressive on the trails
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0849.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0856.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0871.jpg

Me
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0850.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0852.jpg

That rock just inside of the driver's front tire was not cooperating much...
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0854.jpg

Phil -- I think there is a diesel in his ZJ...
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0860.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0864.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0866.jpg

Turning Austin Powers style:
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0865.jpg

Geoff shortly before tearing a sidewall (he lost his muffler earlier in the day, too)
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0861.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0862.jpg

JeepGeneral -- his brakes gave out part way up this climb. He was luckily able to back up down the trees without problems.
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0875.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n261/JeepGeneral/BDS%20Eau%20Claire%2010-08/IMG_0877.jpg

SirFuego
11-09-2008, 06:41 PM
I'm waiting for the pics and vids to get posted, but...

This past Saturday, I was just outside of Erie, PA for a comp run sponsored by ErieJeepPeople (local Jeep club there). Due to my two lockers, I was put in the "unlimited" class up against 4 folks with 35-40" tires.

When all was said and done, I came home with a shattered rear passenger door window, my passenger B pillar pushed in about 1/2", 2 slashed sidewalls, a beer cozy and a first place trophy. Let's just say that the first place trophy was not earned with finesse ;-)

Jeeperoni91
11-09-2008, 11:09 PM
damn man, thats great to hear your doing work with the zj

MoonWorks
11-10-2008, 01:15 AM
Sounds like a good time...minus the 2 slashed tires that is! :(

SirFuego
11-13-2008, 11:52 PM
More stuff from the comp run...

Found out that I scored a 919 on the RTI ramp with my limit straps connected -- the lowest of the unlimited group and behind the winner of the modified group.

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_1289_225_161154.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9082)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_1289_225_132386.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9078)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_1289_225_66406.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9079)

Link to EJP Pic Gallery (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=user&user=372&op=view_album&album=226)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_25340.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9113)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_74881.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9115)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_67355.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9118)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_131541.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9119)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_31376.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9123)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_17522.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9124)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_62584.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9132)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_98988.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9135)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_14236.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9137)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_128665.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9140)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_6203.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9143)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_156151.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9148)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_27630.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9153)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_67738.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9154)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_16829.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9158)

http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/gallery/1225880226/gallery_372_226_158479.jpg (http://www.eriejeeppeople.com/ejpforums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=9165)

ILikeMud
11-14-2008, 11:06 AM
Awesome man.
Good to see you beating that thing up.

Oh, I'll be in Buffalo the weekend of Dec. 13. I'll give ya a ring.

ogdak
11-14-2008, 02:30 PM
nice pic's

SirFuego
12-20-2008, 05:32 PM
36" Iroks. Bumped up the rear to 5.5", but I may go back to 4.5". Front is still at 4.5". I'm no where close to rubbing in these pics, but I'm no where near close to being flexed out either.

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/IMG_0652.jpg

http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/IMG_0653.jpg

Matt
12-20-2008, 06:13 PM
Last pic needs to be in the 2010 calender!

It's beautiful. :heart:

CTeunuch
12-20-2008, 06:39 PM
lookin badass. i just started work on my budget zj, and ill be following your thread for ideas. keep up the good work.

Derek33
12-20-2008, 06:44 PM
Your zj is the epitomy of bad-assery.

Sudz
12-20-2008, 09:30 PM
some good 'ol lake effect ;)

SirFuego
12-20-2008, 10:37 PM
Last pic needs to be in the 2010 calender!

It's beautiful. :heart:
Yeah, I know. Dave would be a fool to not include that in the next calendar.


lookin badass. i just started work on my budget zj, and ill be following your thread for ideas. keep up the good work.
The budget route went out the window when I went with the long arms. Also, if you copy my idea for the rockers, make sure to run supports to the unibody. I've only done it on one side so far and it's held up great. My other side is boatsided because it wasn't enough support.


some good 'ol lake effect ;)
Actually, this was the same storm that hit Las Vegas. We are supposed to get lake effect tomorrow morning though.

EDIT: Forgot to add. Part of ATL_ZJ's old rear unibody still lives on -- his old spring isolator is in the rear of mine now

MoonWorks
12-23-2008, 12:47 AM
So you did decide to go with the Iroks. They look good...you'll like them!

SirFuego
12-24-2008, 01:01 AM
Yeah between buying the Iroks and selling the 33s, I made some money that will probably go into chromos and/or a cage. I wanted to do the rock rings, but with the tires already mounted, I'm going to hold off unless the rims get really bad.

I am starting to save up for a house like I should have been for the past two years, so I'm forcing myself to spend less on the Jeep.

Jacked UP ZeeJay
12-26-2008, 05:24 PM
Wow, this is the first thread I read on this forum

I am impressed, that thing is always getting messed up, but its still goin!

SirFuego
02-10-2009, 03:42 PM
It's been a while so, I figured I'd update this...

By the end of the month, the ZJ will be in a friend's garage undergoing some changes. Stay tuned for more details... :D

zj95maxx
02-10-2009, 05:11 PM
tons?

dp96zj
02-10-2009, 05:54 PM
BFH to the body to make it look better? Newer robot lights??

C'mon man tell us!

:popcorn:

slim616
02-10-2009, 10:17 PM
My guess its a new body. So how much of the sheet metal are you cutting off?

MoonWorks
02-10-2009, 10:37 PM
He's been talking about a cage for quite some time so that would be my guess. I'd guess some type of exo mixed w/ an internal cage...possibly cutting the back half off. :)

Sudz
02-10-2009, 10:43 PM
By the end of the month, the ZJ will be in a friend's garage undergoing some changes.
wow, i didn't know it was possible to sex change a ZJ :smt057

sandman
02-11-2009, 06:43 AM
i really like your bumper design.

SirFuego
02-11-2009, 12:42 PM
He's been talking about a cage for quite some time so that would be my guess. I'd guess some type of exo mixed w/ an internal cage...possibly cutting the back half off. :)
Yeah something like that.

SirFuego
02-24-2009, 12:58 PM
The robot was taken to my friend's garage last night.

My instructions, "If you want or need to cut something off, cut it off". :smt029

SirFuego
03-03-2009, 04:09 PM
Updates.......

Tying in/beefing up rocker protection so it can act as a cage tie-in. And also fixing the floors/seatmounts.
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09004.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/2-25-09005.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09005.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09003.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09002.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09014.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-2-09013.jpg


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/2-25-09001.jpg

JordanA
03-03-2009, 04:50 PM
looking good.

I like the old Chevy too.

SirFuego
03-03-2009, 04:55 PM
That's Mike's Chevy -- who is doing the work on the ZJ. He restored it a couple years ago.

ATL ZJ
03-03-2009, 04:57 PM
All right! It has been way too long since we've seen one of these builds. 11 sticks of tube, plus one stick of small tube? Hope it's not all for the robot!

SirFuego
03-03-2009, 05:02 PM
3 sticks and the small stick are for some friends. 8 were bought for the robot -- which we are expecting to be too much. Mike has other uses for them, so he's buying whatever is left over.

EDIT: Notice that the door hinges were cut off, too. The doors aren't going back on :-D

slim616
03-03-2009, 05:30 PM
Are you going with any type of tube bending software or you just going to eyeball it? Tell you what the learning curve can eat quite a bit of tube in itself. Also those tube notchers are worth their weight in gold when it comes to saving time.

SirFuego
03-03-2009, 06:17 PM
Mike has bent some tube before (he built his own K5 buggy pretty much from the frame up and did a kick ass cage on a friend's CJ). So it seems like he's got the process down. I'm pretty sure he uses the "chalk on floor with a 90 degree template" method. I should be helping him along the way (mainly with the easy stuff -- painting, moving stuff around, buying beer, etc), but he'll be doing the important stuff that I suck at (like the tube bending and welding).

Goosed76
03-03-2009, 09:23 PM
:rock::smt023

zj95maxx
03-04-2009, 11:42 AM
Is there an ETA on when this is supposed to be done?

SirFuego
03-04-2009, 04:55 PM
Nothing official, but we are thinking by the end of the month. There are a couple other issues that need fixed like a small cold coolant leak and leaky wheels (rims are dented a bit and need straightened out) -- but that hopefully won't take long to fix.

Icebreakers is a real possibility, but I'm not committing to or rushing for anything until it's wheelable.

BigClay
03-04-2009, 05:07 PM
Maybe a dumb question but what is an icebreaker?

SirFuego
03-04-2009, 05:08 PM
Wheeling event sponsored by Big Dogs in VA (same place GSE is held)
http://www.bigdogsoffroad.com/?q=node/17

Brad S
03-04-2009, 05:41 PM
what are the specs on the tubing?

SirFuego
03-04-2009, 05:51 PM
1.75"x0.120

Goosed76
03-04-2009, 07:05 PM
3
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/18/IMG_0653.jpg
I have a 93 also, and white, and as ugly as this is, I want mine to be identical:best:!!

SirFuego
03-06-2009, 12:40 AM
Not really robot related (didn't drive it because the rigs needed to be street legal), but our club had a snow run a couple weeks ago on a seasonal road. It was quite interesting given some of the snow drifts.

This hill climb required a lot of engine
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/12/DSCF2291.JPG

Jake getting out of his XTerra
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/12/DSCF2296.JPG

Ed's TJ with new custom tube fenders
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/12/DSCF2299.JPG

Everyone got stuck at least once
http://photos-h.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v2389/71/87/1222180363/n1222180363_30349903_6534.jpg

I need to lose a lot of weight, but it came in handy here
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/56/Picture_098_Large.jpg

I had to shoulder my way through the snow just to get where I was. The drift itself was at least 8 feet or so high, so I'm still standing on a few feet of snow.
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/56/Picture_105_Large.jpg
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/56/Picture_109_Large.jpg

Notice the winch line from the TJ going through the snow
http://www.wnyoffroad.org/thegallery/data/media/56/Picture_108_Large.jpg

SirFuego
03-06-2009, 12:50 AM
I have a 93 also, and white, and as ugly as this is, I want mine to be identical:best:!!
No you don't. With the exception of the auto-dimming mirror, pretty much all of the creature comforts of the ZJ are gone. :smt026

Goosed76
03-06-2009, 03:18 AM
Lol, Creature comforts? Thats what the tow rig is for, right? I'm thinking about when I finally can have a tow rig, a DD, and just wheel the ZJ.

BigClay
03-06-2009, 09:53 AM
No you don't. With the exception of the auto-dimming mirror, pretty much all of the creature comforts of the ZJ are gone. :smt026

I have a white 93 as well, and I wish I had an auto diming mirror! :D

Goosed76
03-06-2009, 01:20 PM
I have a white 93 as well, and I wish I had an auto diming mirror! :D
And power seats(I see those switches on that seat)

SirFuego
03-10-2009, 11:32 AM
The point of no return...
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09002.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09003.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09005.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09007.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09006.jpg



http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09011.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09014.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09015.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-9-09016.jpg

ATL ZJ
03-10-2009, 11:39 AM
Keep cutting! Less is more! :smt038

zj95maxx
03-10-2009, 11:41 AM
C-Channel, Triangles, Flat stock...did you just find any metal you had lying around and weld it to your sliders, haha? :smt106

SirFuego
03-10-2009, 11:46 AM
Keep cutting! Less is more! :smt038
More will be cut later, don't you worry. But the plan is to still keep the stock roof, B pillars and windshield -- at least until I shatter the windshield.


C-Channel, Triangles, Flat stock...did you just find any metal you had lying around and weld it to your sliders, haha? :smt106
I doubt those sliders are going anywhere!

MoonWorks
03-10-2009, 12:00 PM
C-Channel, Triangles, Flat stock...did you just find any metal you had lying around and weld it to your sliders, haha? :smt106


Its pretty obvious that function is more of the focus on this build vs fashion!

We need a smiley with a sawzall! lol :smt027

BigClay
03-10-2009, 12:33 PM
Can't wait to see the final product!

Is your buddy's beer of choice Miller? :partyman:

jfowlzj95
03-10-2009, 02:04 PM
Well theres your problem, part of your roof is missing. :-D

slim616
03-10-2009, 08:18 PM
The first and last cut is always the hardest. The first because its a virgin, but the last is the hardest because you always want to cut more off. You better get more beer and get a move on because big dogs is only a month and a few days away.

SirFuego
03-13-2009, 10:07 AM
A little more cut off -- more will be cut later (such as the inner fender). Keeping the rear uni for now because it was in good condition and it saves a bunch of work in redoing spring perches, limit strap mounts, shocks, floors, etc. It will get some more reinforcement, too.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/th_3-12-09006.jpg (http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-12-09006.jpg)

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/th_3-12-09007.jpg (http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q159/sb406/Jared/3-12-09007.jpg)

zj95maxx
03-13-2009, 11:10 AM
Ever thought of resizing those pics?:smt068

MoonWorks
03-13-2009, 11:11 AM
That should help with your departure angle!

I'm jealous of the wood stove. I've been looking for a free one or something on craigslist. Its cold as shit and raining right now and I need to go do some work in the garage...so yeah, heat would definatly help motivate me.

SirFuego
03-13-2009, 01:18 PM
Ever thought of resizing those pics?:smt068
Changed them to clickable thumbnails.

ATL ZJ
03-13-2009, 02:05 PM
you planning on pushing those rear fenders in for an easy dovetail?

SirFuego
03-13-2009, 02:09 PM
Pretty much. We haven't finalized cage plans yet, but the dovetail should follow the tube going around the back where the gas tank will be (either reusing the ZJ tank or using a free TJ tank for the time being). Mike also wants to chop up the original tailgate to close off the rear so it still is a bit ZJish. But we'll see how everything turns out before doing that.

SirFuego
03-13-2009, 02:17 PM
Oh and the rear is about 18" shorter than factory.

CTeunuch
03-13-2009, 05:11 PM
wow, i hadnt checked in on your build in a little while, but it looks awesome. youre making me want to go grab the sawzall....

ILikeMud
03-13-2009, 05:59 PM
:o
Holy chit you're going buggy.