A rebuild of #miRustyJeep...

[Mike_H]

I had to add 3” bumpstop for my shocks, which have 10.73” travel. Are you not bottoming out your shocks? Its hard for me to see how you’re only needing 1.5” bumpstop.

They have a different can length...Plus they are not charged so no floating piston. I'm bumped for tires and other hard parts. The shock has an inch or so left in uptravel. I could install Bar Pin eliminators and gain that on down travel. They are just under 10" travel too, so a little shorter than yours. I have about 4.5" uptravel right now. The shocks are probably too short, honestly...but until I spring for the "good stuff" I'm gonna leave it alone.

If you wanted to start moving mounting points, you'd be able to shorten your bump stop too...To get any more than about 10 inches of balanced travel, I'm convinced that moving the mounting points is required

 

[JMT]

They have a different can length...Plus they are not charged so no floating piston. I'm bumped for tires and other hard parts. The shock has an inch or so left in uptravel. I could install Bar Pin eliminators and gain that on down travel. They are just under 10" travel too, so a little shorter than yours. I have about 4.5" uptravel right now. The shocks are probably too short, honestly...but until I spring for the "good stuff" I'm gonna leave it alone.

If you wanted to start moving mounting points, you'd be able to shorten your bump stop too...To get any more than about 10 inches of balanced travel, I'm convinced that moving the mounting points is required

Apparently I'm at the point where I can't just bolt things on. I need to get tools and learn to use them to go further. Thank you. Maybe next year will be the year I start to gather tools and more skills. It's been a journey for someone totally blank on anything related to automobiles. You've been a great help to me. Thank you again.

 

[Wildman]

How are the spec's on the Walker Evans shock @JMT ? Will they give you anymore up travel? Or are they the same as the Rancho's?

 

[JMT]

How are the spec's on the Walker Evans shock @JMT ? Will they give you anymore up travel? Or are they the same as the Rancho's?

I measured once awhile back. I need to go back and measure again. IIRC, they were longer than my Rancho’s, so less up travel and more down travel, resulting in an overall down travel bias. Moving mounting points can put them into use. Just set it up and go!

 

[taylormade73]

Looking really good Mike. Nice work sticking with the cycling to make things play nicely together. It so easy to say fuck it and cut corners and skip steps.

 

[Mike_H]

Looking really good Mike. Nice work sticking with the cycling to make things play nicely together. It so easy to say fuck it and cut corners and skip steps.

I was there a couple times. Had to walk away and do something different. In the back of my brain, there was always a little voice asking me, "WWBD?" That's when I decided that a half inch uptravel WAS worth it, and to press on.

 

[Mike_H]

Apparently I'm at the point where I can't just bolt things on. I need to get tools and learn to use them to go further. Thank you. Maybe next year will be the year I start to gather tools and more skills. It's been a journey for someone totally blank on anything related to automobiles. You've been a great help to me. Thank you again.

If you can pull the springs and support the jeep, you have all the tools necessary to see what's possible. Once you figure that out, pulling the possibility to reality might require new tools, but looking to see what you have is just an investment in time.

From starting with no knowledge of mechanics and working on cars, you've done well, Jeremy.

 

[Wildman]

If you can pull the springs and support the jeep, you have all the tools necessary to see what's possible. Once you figure that out, pulling the possibility to reality might require new tools, but looking to see what you have is just an investment in time.

From starting with no knowledge of mechanics and working on cars, you've done well, Jeremy.

Totally agree. And BOTH of your Jeeps are great looking rigs and perform off-road too. And isn't that the point of all this?
Damn I don't hardly remember what it feels like to drive my Jeep.

 

[JMT]

Totally agree. And BOTH of your Jeeps are great looking rigs and perform off-road too. And isn't that the point of all this?
Damn I don't hardly remember what it feels like to drive my Jeep.

I know. Really would like for you to get back in your Jeep and just drive! I think it’s going to be a whole new experience!

 

[Mike_H]

Little bit more driving around today. I have something going on with my steering. Not sure what, but its a bit clunky on center...like the steering wheel moves easily a few degrees, then the resistance pick up and I can tell the tires are moving. I can't see it by eye (it looks like my tires move as soon as I move the wheel) but I can feel it. Not sure where the slop is, but in the last 12 months...I've had a LOT of the system apart (with the tub swap and all). I'll have to go through it methodically and make sure everything is tight and positioned properly. Its the only thing, right now, that I don't like...there is a bit of directional instability when the roads get a little rough. Its not bad...just something I'd like to fix.

I also found that one of my 130% Phillips H4 bulbs burned out. I got 3 years out of them...so not terrible for a 25 dollar set of bulbs. I elected to try some Beamtech LED replacements for the H4 housing. We'll see how I like them. They were 33 bucks, so if they suck, I'm not out too much. I really debated this...I think the housings should be designed for the way LED's work (they are very directional) but I've read some good reviews, and the bulb mfg states that they designed the specific emitter to replace the incandescent version..so the housings should reflect the light properly. We'll see...the descriptions are typically bad chinese translations.

 

[Mike_H]

Its nice lately, that every adjustment and part I'm installing is improving the driving experience. A buddy came over last night and helped me wiggle the steering, looking for looseness. The only thing we really found was the steering box is very loose. I am getting 20° of rotation at the input before the sector shaft moves. The bigger my tires have gotten, the more this has been felt in the wheel and in a lack of directional stability. Since I had a spare 67000 mile box sitting here (purchased a while ago off facebook) I thought I'd take some time and install it. First, I followed the adjustment procedure in the service manual. My off center rotating torque was about 5in-lbs...which is right where it should be. The manual says to adjust the lash bolt so that the on center torque is 5-8 in-lbs higher than the off center torque. I set it to about 12 in-lbs. What a difference! The steering is so much better.

I also took my tires down to 26 psi from the 40 the tire shop set them too. Overall, driving has become a one handed, confident affair. Its getting me excited to experience what this can be with some GOOD shocks, mounted properly.

Just cuz a post isn't complete without a picture...here is my steering box that came out. Its leak free, and I am going to try to adjust it tight again. If it works, I'll put it on the shelf.

Things left to tackle before Oct 8. I need to get some new crush washers for my rear Pass caliper. I've noticed some wetness around the line. Then Re-bleed the brakes and break in my BMB pads, again. I need to lubricate my centering ball on the TW rear DS too...I can't find the grease zerk, so I'll need to pull the shaft and look for it on the bench. I need to put another bend in my front trakbar. Noticed at ride height, the JJ barrel is not level. It will limit my droop if not corrected. Finally, I need to re-center my axles. Or, at least check them. I think they are both off.

 

[Mike_H]

Working through a couple issues today, just minor little tweaks that it takes to really make all this stuff work together. I've been having a hard time with my trackbar fitting just right (Its a JKS). Since I'm stubborn and obstinate, I've been cutting and bending it to make it fit vs buying new. Got it fitting half decent earlier, but I missed on the angle of the JJ barrel when I welded it together. The barrel was not neutral when the trackbar was installed. This was limiting my downtravel on the passenger side.

Today I pulled it all off and with a little bend here, and a little bend there (20 Ton HF shop press has come in SUPER handy) I have it fitting much better. I'm still not convinced that I won't need to buy a Rock Jock Trackbar eventually, but for now, I think I'm set. Went to the shop to do a little Hi-Lo Flexing...

It looks pretty good. Clearances are tight, but everything moves...I might have an issue in the rear of the tub.

I pushed it up until the driver's rear pulled off the ground. @mrblaine and @jjvw talk about balance all the time. I'm starting to see a little more what they mean. My front tire has more travel to give

But my rear shock is at the travel limit and pulling its tire off the ground... I'm going away next weekend on a wheeling/color tour trip, so I won't have time to fix it till after. I also need to move my axle around or trim my tub away in back. The tires are definitely touching the tub. I don't think they are smashing hard though. No bulges...

Fun Stuff!

 

[jjvw]

You're well into the fun stuff of trying to make it all work together. It isn't at all easy, but the satisfaction is high when you figure it out.

 

[Mike_H]

Its hardtop season, sigh....

Since I'm driving the jeep instead of trailering this weekend (5'ish hours) I decided to put the hardtop on for the first time in a couple years. It looks pretty good, I think...but I still miss the softtop.

 

[bobthetj03]

Right behind you on the hard top install. Drove in to work this morning topless, 52* and cloudy and was wishing I had it on. Yeah, I know, 52* is probably balmy for you, but I'm old and can't tolerate the cold like I used to. Hoping to hold out till Halloween to put the old nag on.

BTW, Jeep looks tits!

 

[PRNDL]

Just caught up on part 1 and part 2 of your build. Really, really impressive stuff that I'd never be brave enough to tackle. Great looking Jeep! Absolutely love the Pintlers. Glad to hear you like the Grabber X3s. They are on my short list for tires next spring.

 

[Mike_H]

Just caught up on part 1 and part 2 of your build. Really, really impressive stuff that I'd never be brave enough to tackle. Great looking Jeep! Absolutely love the Pintlers. Glad to hear you like the Grabber X3s. They are on my short list for tires next spring.

Thanks! That means a lot. Oh, and never say never...The first clutch I ever changed was on this vehicle. Lots of firsts on the ol girl!

 

[PRNDL]

Thanks! That means a lot. Oh, and never say never...The first clutch I ever changed was on this vehicle. Lots of firsts on the ol girl!

Yeah, yeah... never say never lol. Funny you should say that though. Right after this post, i thought "maybe I should get a welder and learn." And so it begins...

 

[rasband]

Yeah, yeah... never say never lol. Funny you should say that though. Right after this post, i thought "maybe I should get a welder and learn." And so it begins...

I've saved myself a good bit of money already since buying my welder... The more I use it the less expensive it becomes

 

[PRNDL]

I've saved myself a good bit of money already since buying my welder... The more I use it the less expensive it becomes

I'm thinking i should just do it. I'm just starting my build, I'm sure I'll find tons of uses for it as I go.