Project "Cheaper 'Den Hell"

[96grandbeater]

to make a long story short i got my 96 zj laredo as a junkyard gem for 250$ because the yard owner thought it had a junk motor and trans.... cap, rotor,and one plug wire later the engine was purring like a kitten and after a quick filter change and govenor preasure solenoid cleaning it was shifting perfectly
so i decided to stick with my super cheap trend and try to accomplish the most 4wheeling with this truck while spending as little money as possible.
i went with a junkyard f>r swap useing front mercury cougar springs for the front, grabbed some rear lower arms to use in the front lower pos. and then welded up some extended front upper arms. now i figured while i was severly cheaping out on the arms and springs, and thinking about extending the trackbar or something equaly as silly i should really go for a lil safer route with the trac bar and ordered up a iro adjustable.



after a few weeks i stumbled on a rear D44HD for free and did a quick swap with my turdy5, with a little lincoln locker action while i was there. annnnd while i had it onthe lift i decided to trash the sway bars... muuchoo better flexytime




somewhere around that time a xj friend of mine got rid of his jeep and gave me his safari snorkel, i hated the dryer vent looking ducting they had so i made up my own with some saab turbo tubes and connectors and useing a lebaron air filter housing for a much heavier duty duct work



i got invited to a scout club outing in newjersy pinelands somehow, so i sipped the crap out of some junk 33's to hit what i was told was going to be "mud" which ended up being some kind of almost liquidish sand... an alternator, 3 blower motors(sand in the motors), a plugged heater core(fins full of sandyassmud), and about 10-15 hours of cleaning later..... i think im turned off of mud for life...



near future plans are boat sides and bumpers.. all home made and cheaper 'den hell of course





(dont make fun of me for the queer pictures either my "friend" was trying to be "artsy fartsy" with his picture taking haha)

[5.9 ANDY]

id like to see the control arms that you wipped up....
not bad looking though.

[96grandbeater]

theyre not the prettiest ever... but ill see if i can find a pic somewhere

[Fingers]

NICE!!!! I love cheap builds. Anyone can build a nice rig if they have deep pockets but its a lot cooler to build your own stuff.

[AgitatedPancake]

it looks like you're already flogging the shit outta it, well played man. I like cheap builds because you don't have to care

[96grandbeater]

ok heres the pic of one of the uppers (only one i could find)



and a few more recent freebies


not sure who the manufacturer is but it looks pretty beefy

[Arsonist_Bob]

i like budget builds. looks like your off to a good start, but hangin around here you'll be on at least 3/4 tons in no time

[96grandbeater]

i like budget builds. looks like your off to a good start, but hangin around here you'll be on at least 3/4 tons in no time

i dunno bout 3/4 tons buuuut i do have a line on a free shortened ford 9" housing... and possibly a very cheap wagoneer front 44

[1ABrian]

So how are those extended control arms workin for ya? I thought about doin this myself for the rears and fronts. Are you gonna box them in where the extention was welded in for strength?

[BigClay]

Wow, nice cheap build.

Just in case no one has told you, wheeling with no doors can tweak the uni, you probably don't care but just an FYI.

Oh and I hate mud too!

[96grandbeater]

there working ok as far as street driving, i dont do much wheeling in the winter months. i am however planing on boxing them in before i do any serious wheeling as well as boxing the lower arms and getting rid of that stupid tire chewing lip, reinforcing all frame mouning points, and axle mounting points. unfortunatly, after a job change and getting into a new house i find myself without a welder soooo if you know anyone selling one realllly cheap let me know!

[96RedZJ]

i got invited to a scout club outing in newjersy pinelands somehow, so i sipped the crap out of some junk 33's to hit what i was told was going to be "mud" which ended up being some kind of almost liquidish sand... an alternator, 3 blower motors(sand in the motors), a plugged heater core(fins full of sandyassmud), and about 10-15 hours of cleaning later..... i think im turned off of mud for life...

Looking good

And yea, the pines are hell. Ask "Sudz" I know he makes a trip every month or 2.

So far looking good. Cheap builds ftw.

[SirFuego]

not sure who the manufacturer is but it looks pretty beefy

That's a Crane Hi Clearance diff cover. They used that logo on their covers a couple years ago (mine looked identical to that). It's pretty much bombproof and the "lipless" design is nice for acting as a ramp. Just keep tabs on the lower three bolts because they can easily get rounded off after dragging them over a few rocks. It's not a huge deal, but they can turn into a PITA to remove if they get too rounded off.

[Jeep Whore]

That's a Crane Hi Clearance diff cover. They used that logo on their covers a couple years ago (mine looked identical to that). It's pretty much bombproof and the "lipless" design is nice for acting as a ramp. Just keep tabs on the lower three bolts because they can easily get rounded off after dragging them over a few rocks. It's not a huge deal, but they can turn into a PITA to remove if they get too rounded off.

I thought he was joking....

[96grandbeater]

I thought he was joking....

i was refering to the tir rod bar in the other pic.... but thanks for the tips on the bolts fuego

Wow, nice cheap build.

Just in case no one has told you, wheeling with no doors can tweak the uni, you probably don't care but just an FYI.

Oh and I hate mud too!

thanks
mostly what ive read says no doors is ok just never wheel with the rear hatch off without some kind of reinforecement. do you think half doors or tube doors are a good stand in then? i just cant picture myself ever wheeling with full doors on haha

[96grandbeater]

just finished my snap-in rear windows today







all 3 windows for under 30$

annd im seriously considering making snap windows on all the doors as well. that could really shave some pounds off the fat bastid haha

[1ABrian]

man those windows came out awsome. Is that a bead of silicone around the perimeter of the back window or is that the glass seal from when the glass was removed

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

Those control arms are... special.

[96grandbeater]

man those windows came out awsome. Is that a bead of silicone around the perimeter of the back window or is that the glass seal from when the glass was removed

thanks! yea thats just some left over window glue, i ran out of spray paint by the time i got to the rear. ill paint that area up on my day off

Those control arms are... special.

dont hate! appreciate! haha have you ever seen a altered factory arm that wasnt... special?

[1ABrian]

so any updates on this build?

[Ramsport59]

What did you use for the windows?

Rick

[96grandbeater]

so any updates on this build?

nope, been working way too much and any free time i have had has been spent doing all the early summer house work... yuck haha. ill have some updates soon though i got a ton of stuff to do to get it inspected and a few other things

What did you use for the windows?


Rick

it was the first and hopefully last time ive been in a JoAnnes Fabrics haha i just asked for the heaviest clear plastic they had and thats what i got. its not quite as clear or as strong as actual convertable top window material but at 4$ for a square yard ill deal with it