I bought another Jeep! - Page 2 - RC-Monster Forums

gtxracer · 12.29.2009, 02:13 PM

You're so angry.

You wanna know about my Jeep or yell at the guy? lol

HomeGrown · 02:33 PM

sorta.. i meant in the front where the "amber" blinkers are.. but i like those too.. and if u need a set of 4" round LEDs i have a pair i'll sell you.. lol.. or i have another pair but i was guna custom make LED tail lights for my Dodge RamCharger.. but for the right price i spose i would sell them.. lol.. did i mention im obsessed with LEDs?.. they are so fun! lol

gtxracer · 12.29.2009, 02:35 PM

Like this

I did front and rear hah

HomeGrown · 12.29.2009, 02:36 PM

indeed man.. lol

gtxracer · 12.29.2009, 02:45 PM

Yup, tore off that crappy front bumper and side steps, flat fendered the front, ripped out he stock airbox and threw on a cone filter, swapped in a HP30 front axle, and found a spare 231 transfer case with SYE for cheap.

Thinkin about throwing a set of FJ80 axles under it...

HomeGrown · 12.29.2009, 06:44 PM

should be a pretty solid ride man! i like the black..

gtxracer · 12.29.2009, 06:50 PM

Thanks! It's the opposite of my last TJ, I like this one a lot.

gtxracer · 01.06.2010, 06:37 PM

Time for an update...

Started messing around with the transfer case and found out why the levers weren't working - they weren't hooked up. The previous owner put a drop kit on it and apparently didn't know how to install it. I'm at a loss trying to figure it out myself, it doesn't make sense. Seriously, as an engineering major, it doesn't make sense. So I'm going to use a rod through the original tcase opening to push and pull the lever when engaging 4wd. Oh, and 4wd low works gooooood :D First time with 4lo in the TJ, I'm excited to get a couple spares and start wheeling.

Onto the future plans...

Picked up a '91 FJ80 front axle. 4.10 gears, 63.5" WMS, Hi pinion 8" third member, beefy everything. These are bigger versions of the regular Toyota mini truck axles. They're wider and bigger in all the right places. If I manage to explode the ring and pinions, I'll make a hybrid 80/9.5 axle using a FJ62 center chunk or go to a Dana 60. I think it will be a while before I get to big enough tires to blow apart these things.

I'm planning to run a Dana 300 with cable shifters, twin sticked, coming through the stock Tcase lever location with as little modification as possible. There's a good chance I'll have to have a 1" body lift or make some cuts to the sheetmetal but we'll cross that road when it comes. I know for sure I'll have to reroute my exhaust, get a new rear driveshaft (going with a Toy CV with flange) and get my front driveshaft shortened (possibly not) with a flange adapter. I'd rather keep my front shaft the same length so I can sell it for all TJ owners if I stretch the front. I want to get 2" out of the front and the rest out of the rear to make it 100" wheelbase when I finally longarm this rig.

Plans for the rear are one of three options: Zuk 12 bolt rear (cheap but random and doesn't match the front), Tacoma rear, or full float FJ80 rear. The 80 rears are rare and can be expensive. The Taco rears are versatile and plentiful. The 2wd V6 axle shafts are 5 x 4.5 Jeep pattern so I could run those in the back with the HP30 front until I swap in the new front. Then I swap in 4x4 shafts and I'm good to go. Leads me to my next point, which is room to grow. Picked these up for cheap. 37x12.50x17 MTRs at 50%

Started on a stubby front bumper that doesn't increase my approach angle. It's merely for protection and deflection purposes, not a permanent solution. It's the first time I've welded something significant with this $100 Lincoln I found on craigslist. It worked pretty good, used 6011 rod and got some good arcs. I'm also using this time to get my welding skills back since I haven't used them in 5 years.

I'll let the pics speak for themselves mostly. If you have any questions, just ask.

regular stock, 1/8" thick I think. I got it for $5 so whatever

Jig

design

Drill holes, make sure they're square

Drill out for bolts

gtxracer · 01.06.2010, 06:38 PM

first cut

ready to bend

bent (adding material later)

Ran out of cutting wheels so I had to resort to welding

pics of welds, I know there are weld nazis everywhere. It's just a bumper, but I thought this was decent for being rusty. It was a 2nd pass since I didn't like the first one at all. Good penetration and heat. Burned 'em in at 60amps.

Cleaned up, need to add the lower part once I cut out the back of the bumper to fit over the frame. The sides are there to protect the sway bar and hopefully deflect the rig away from whatever I hit. I'm sure if the object is strong enough or I come down with enough force, it will bend or break, but it will do for now.

gtxracer · 01.13.2010, 12:30 AM

More progress...

George16 · 01.13.2010, 12:48 AM

I should have joined the Air Force so I can have more free time for myself. Good job.

I'm thinking of taking back with me a 1997 40 year edition of the Land Cruiser.

gtxracer · 01.13.2010, 12:56 AM

Thanks! I'm not active anymore, Guard now, going to school on the GI Bill.

Are those the ones with the elockers? FJ80? Out of the box, they're pretty great rigs.

George16 · 01.13.2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxracer

Thanks! I'm not active anymore, Guard now, going to school on the GI Bill.

Are those the ones with the elockers? FJ80? Out of the box, they're pretty great rigs.

Yes, they came with the elockers. FZJ series.

I currently have a 99 4runner with an elocker in the rear and an ARB locker in front. Unfortunately, it's in storage until I finish my tour of duty here in Japan next year.

gtxracer · 01.13.2010, 01:43 AM

When do you come back? If you do bring home a FZJ, slap a spare set of axles in the back for me

Your 4runner sounds like a good rig already, so that's a tough call. It's already locked and it looks like it's pretty clean, but I wouldn't turn down a FZJ diesel!

George16 · 01.13.2010, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxracer

When do you come back? If you do bring home a FZJ, slap a spare set of axles in the back for me

Your 4runner sounds like a good rig already, so that's a tough call. It's already locked and it looks like it's pretty clean, but I wouldn't turn down a FZJ diesel!

December 2011. I plan on scouring all the junkyards out here for the front and rear ends.

The 4runner in my avatar is my offroad and highway rig. I have a set of 285/75/R16 BFG K/O for offroad only.

FZJ diesels are the best in my book (3.0 turbo diesel). However, it will cost a lot of money to make it US compliant.