The '90 by 1990JEEPXJ

13 minute(s) of a 112 minute read

making more progress on the 30. dropped it off to have the locker installed on thursday. should pick it up monday. today i bought some used ten factory alloys off of a fellow NAXJA member as well as a ruffstuff cover with lube locker gasket.

i decided to finally mount the calipers tonight. the WJ calipers are HUGE compared to factory XJ stuff. i also made my new tie rod out of 1.75"x.375" DOM. shouldnt bend that one. ill be using one ton tie rod ends on the new setup because of the bigger cover, and the clearance issue with the draglink and the JKS trackbar mount. i also drilled the WJ rotors to the XJ bolt pattern tonight.

next up is to get the housing back and begin reassembly. i am just waiting on one tube adapter and the reamer for the tie rod ends.

then off to KOH on thursday. just crossing my fingers that my rims will clear the calipers, or that i will be able to simply grind a little off the wheel and/or the calipers

2-5-2012

in other news, i got the axle back underneath and the jeep back on its own weight. only three things left, ream knuckles, weld tube adapter, bleed brakes.

so whan i picked up the axle the guy that did my locker install said that guy that did it last did a terrible job. i guess backlash was about .025" while spec is .007-.012. ans the pinion was way too deep i guess too. now the axle never made noise or acted up in any way. the gear oil was even flake free. so it couldnt have been too bad. so this guy got the best pattern he could without pulling the pinion and completely redoing everything. ill run it and see what happens

heres the good pattern ill be running. 

i figured that while i had the axle out id make some control arm skids out of some 3/16" i had

getting the control arms mounted

and all done....mostly

and just for size reference, heres my old DOM tie rod material (1.5"x.25" wall) next to my new tie rod material (1.75"x.375" wall)

and what i was worried about with this swap was how much the calipers would hit the rims. it turned out to not be very bad. i simply gound down the elevated areas of the calipers until they cleared with a little room to spare. it didnt take much.

3-4-2013

Thank you sir. 

I just got bak from a wheeling trip this weekend. Was a successful weekend. Only lost a front blinker lens and a jeep logo off the hatch. 

I also decided that turning while all four tires are locked stinks. But having the lockers was amazing. Got denied in two obstacles. One I think I could've made had I tried a couple more times but a loose brake line at the caliper forced me to concede. 

Thank you.


I still have a significant oil leak. This time I know what it is. The front two oil pan bolts won't tighten. The threads into the timing cover are stripped. It's making my whole front axle a mess.

That and I want to replace my valve cover with a later model one that has a better CCV system. Mine just sucks and leaks and hoses come undone. I also plan on getting the spectre cowl intake as it is CARB approved so I can smog it

3-10-2013

Well I went on a spur of the moment camping trip to the nearby desert for some shooting and exploring mud caves. Had a little too much fun in one of the washes and laid it over. Damage isn't bad. Need a new door and windshield. Needed a new windshield for years anyway. No major damage. Flipped it back over and started it up and kept driving.

3-29-2013

Began my half door project

4-4-2013

finished them up last night and threw them on today

4-7-2013

6-30-2014

Thanks. I'm sure I'll be more than satisfied with them. In other news, I added some big hooks in the cargo area for tie down points. I also removed the carpet in the back and bed lined it. Very happy so far.

I can fit all of my tools and fluids, compressor, spare front shafts and full size spare all tied down with the hatch closed and the seats still folded up.

8-17-2014

picked up some 2x6 to use for the crossmember instead of the 2x4. the 2x4 wasnt quite wide enough. also got some 2.5" square to use for the upper link mounts. hopefully can get started on the 3-link soon.

just debating on clocking the case at the same time so i can go flat belly.

i also trimmed the front fenders some more as well as used the bfh on the front part of the inner fenders where I was rubbing before. also had to trim the ends off of the JCR bumper.

8-25-2014

Converted to an open style cooling system. I was never able to burp the closed system. More annoying than anything. Wasn't overheating. Would just have huge temp spikes on my gauge everytime I hit the brakes or was facing down hill. Went with a cheap radiator since the general consensus nowadays is that they are no worse than these CSF and other big brands, short of ******* out a ton for a griffin.

11-26-2014

Parked the jeep to do some much needed work and some significant mods. Going to do a timing chain replacement, all the main seals that are prone to leaking, t-stat and housing replacement, 3-link, flat belly, clock t-case, 231 swap, traction bar out back. Hopefully 3 straight days of work can get it done.

12-1-2014

Started the project today. Got a lot done. New timing chain in. Transfer case is clocked. Drop brackets and arms removed. Front axle out.

Tomorrow starting to prep inner frame and floor for plating and crossmember. Pan gasket replacement and put all stuff back on motor

12-5-2014

12-7-2014

Side by side size comparison of 242 and 231. 

12-10-2014

Got crossmember done and arms in place

12-16-2014

Fabbed it all my self. Got the jeep back on all fours yesterday. 

3-4-2015

Got bumper on. Had to cut and weld a little because the shackle relocation brackets lowered the subframe of the bumper. But it's damn solid

3-12-2015

went wheeling this past weekend. i love the stance with the 35's. destroyed another set of RE leaf bushings, had a new set of 3.5" leafs and swapped those in. also did a much needed tune up. plugs, cap and rotor, O2 sensor, air filter. 10-11mpg wasnt cutting it. was an absolute dog on the highway, even with 488's.

4-11-2015

Decided to be all fancy and install a spectre cowl intake. When I did that I also made myself an oil catch can so I stop soaking my intake in oil.

Made the catch can out of a small paint can and some brass fittings. Should work just super. I'll get pictures up one of these days

5-2-2015

Bought a tow rig for the Jeep. Much needed now with how slow and uncomfortable it is on the road anymore.





2007 GMC 2500 Duramax. 93k miles, LBZ, 4dr, long bed, 4wd, leather, bose, sunroof, and a slew of aftermarket goodies such as OBA, air horns, gun rack in the shell, intake, exhaust, intercooler, and other fancy gizmos.

Should tow it without a hiccup. Next I'll be shopping for a flat bed trailer

10-31-2015

Been doing a lot of little things lately

Novak cable shifter for the tcase
Psc hydro assist
Vhf radio

11-3-2015

1-11-2016

Also picked up a set of rebuilt 12" 7100s. Cut off the factory lower shock mount and made simple ones.

1-29-2016

2-5-2016

Got all of the beadlocks mounted. Holy crap are they heavy. I'm guessing 100+ lbs per wheel and tire combo. We shall see how well they hold air.

2-17-2016

3-15-2016

Found out that flat towing with hydro assist does not work. Went wheeling last weekend and having the hydro assist is amazing.

Next major upgrade is seats and cage. Just need to wheel the poo out of it as it for now

Also had to trim a few more inches off my front bumper due to tire rubbage

5-3-2016

Well I had an exhaust leak. Minor understatement there. Manifold was cracked in 3 places. #5 was cracked all the way around. Lol. Probably why it was running like poo. Also had low vacuum and it looks like I also had an intake leak at the gasket. New felpro gasket and stock replacement manifold are in. While I had it apart I decided to replace the injectors and valve cover gasket. Just waiting for injectors to arrive. Motor is surprisingly clean inside.

5-15-2016

Splurged at 4wp last few days. Got new ball joints which were much needed. Went with the new Teraflex ones. I also bought alloys and an artec truss for the rear axle.