MJ ----> DD(Daily Driver)

Here is a short summary of what I have done. I will be expanding this as time allows later. This project started in Feb of 2006. I have been working on it since then. I started with a 2WD 88MJ Shortbed. It did not run and it was in bad shape mechanically. The rest(body,frame, interior) was in ok shape. Did a 2WD to 4WD swap and added an AW4 tranny since old one was bad.

I have been making some small changes to my MJ over the last few weeks. It is becoming more of a daily driver. I got a new front bumper, which meant I would have to swap springs to hold up said bumper. Then that meant I had to lift the rear to match the front. Then I had to cut a little off the front to make the bumper look OK. So it is coming along but there are still some things left to do. I am going to need to replace the Cat. When I do this I am hoping to find someone on here to weld it up for me. Then I will add a new muffler and tailpipe, so hopefully the sound will be a little quieter and more civilized.

Here are some pics from the transformation so far.

When I first got it and it did not even run.

After the 2WD to 4WD swap and at its maiden voyage offroad.

After the bumper install, with the front springs and an AAL.

After some Lift shackles and some trimming, as well as some new to me front shocks.

Didn't trim much but it makes a huge difference.

Next is removing the stripes and doing some body work. It just may have to go wheeling in the next month or so. It looks like it needs it.

MUCH BETTER with the trimming!!!!

CW

Something on the front looks "odd".

Looks good though!

EDIT: It's the white grill with the black header panel trim.

no pics of the bling-bling radio????

:D :D :D

Jeff

the grille and headlight bezels are painted body color but the metal trim strip at the header panel is not.

Trim panel is getting a coat of body color in a week or two. I just had the grill and bezels in the workshop hanging up so I installed them. It will be real sweet when the whole front has that limited feel.

no pics of the bling-bling radio????

:D :D :D

 

Jeff

I will add the Bling radio pics when the inside is done, lights are done and the console is coming.

how did you do your lift? for the front and rear

Front is 4" TJ lift springs. Rear is Rusty's 2" AAL with Chevy 2" drop shackles.

Stripes Stripped. Cleaned it up a little. Still going to drop the molding on the bottom and use gray Herc up to that body line. Should look pretty good.

Looking good, I like the changes...good job

I swapped the console to a T-case Bezel. Also added a cover plate for where the console used to be. I think it cam out pretty good.

Working on the interior moldings next. Then the dash. Should be done in a few weeks.

I have finished swapping out the rear springs for some 4x4 ones I got from 99ncxj(thank you), after they were rehabbed ala mjeff87. They were torn down stripped and painted with graphite paint. Rebuilt with a rusty's 3in AAL, rehung with 2in chevy drop shackles and bolted in with poly bushings.

Shocks had to be replaced so in come the front shocks from a ford F450 Super-duty(Gabriel G63692 to be exact). Rear is kinda stiff but I am hoping that everything will settle in over the next couple weeks.

I had swapped the front springs with TJ 4in lift springs and some longer Rancho 9000 shocks, but I still was chasing some death wobble. Could have been because the axle I used to convert from 4WD was a junkyard find and I did not do the rehab on it when I converted. So on to the front end rehab. I got a full Poly bshing kit which included the rear spring bushings. When I started the front end I decided to use half rubber and half poly. I was hoping to have some sort of decent ride up front more on that later. I used an extra set of control arms so I pressed in sleeves for the poly bushings and some rubber bushings in the lowers. I pressed in sleeves in the uppers for poly. I pressed out the bushings from the axle and found that they were pretty much toast. I put new rubber in the axle. Installing the control arms I found that there is no easy way do go about this. I ended up pulling the wheel and undoing the shocks, swaybar, and compressing the spring to allow the axle to move enough to install the new control arms. When I installed the lower control arms I put the poly on the axle end and the rubber to the body. For the uppers the rubber is in the axle and the poly in the body.

In the kit were some boots for the steering linkage so I put them in. I installed a new steering stabilizer. After all this work I took it for a test ride and guess what...........Death wobble seems to be gone.

Now I need to do some exhaust work, replacing the Cat and everything back from there.

While I was waiting for the springs to be finished I found a nice little something at my local Pep Boys Store on the clearance table.

Now my stance is just about right, may have to drop the rear an inch. Jeff emasured and I think the fender is 21 from the hub up front and 22 1/2 in the rear. with the drop shackles I have the option to drop it an inch, so we will see if it settles.

pictures up top looks just like the one i am working on getting, except the front right fender has been replaced but not painted. it's got the stripes down it and is white. don't know what year yours is, the one i am getting is an 89.

TJ, so what is your effective lift in the back with the spreengs and da chebby chackles? Looooking good Holmes!

Nice score on the bed extender. Just curious, what did that set you back off of the clearance table?

Now my stance is just about right, may have to drop the rear an inch. Jeff emasured and I think the fender is 21 from the hub up front and 22 1/2 in the rear. with the drop shackles I have the option to drop it an inch, so we will see if it settles.

I like the stance as is... I'd leave it. :D

Nice looking truck!

I think the lift in the back is 4.5. front is prob 3.

Extender was around $100. Tried to talk them down but the manager would not budge.

I just got around to getting my winch checked and installing it into the MJ.

I added some hooks to finish off the front and now it is ready to go.

I also adjusted the rear shackles a little bit.

I had too much rake IMHO, so it needed to be more level. I also needed to protect the rear brake line until I could add a bracket to lower it a little.

In doing my front end work I found that I needed new tires. I got some AT's, 30x9.50/LT15's.

They are not a first line brand, but they will work until I can get the gearing done and go to 31's. Now I need to do some exhaust work and then body work.

Just added a new rear bumper. Now on to the exhaust work and then to body work and paint.

Its an Independent4x/Bliley custom original. I think it is perfect for this rig.

nice looking rear bumper, where did you get it?

Address? phone? website? cost?

I did the initial design, but I used a local shop to do the welding and the to plasma cut the brackets. It can be removed from the brackets. has 2in angle on the back side as tabs. Brackets mount to stock bumper location. Get in touch with Matt at www.independent4x.com and I can take mine back to him for measurements and he can make one for you. Just have him give me a call. Not sure on the cost cause I had my own materials except for the bracketry. He can get with you on that. It is a simple bumper. 2x3 tube with receiver integrated. Bumper is tucked under the tailgate and fits flush.

I have not posted much on this build in a while. I still have to do the interior rehab and some body work. Yesterday I found a great deal on a softopper. I could not pass it up.

i like the soft topper, is it meant for a comanche or does it fit something else.

The fit is multi-application. It came off a mid 80's toyota pick-up. you can go to the Bestop website and look at the application list. In the installation guides there are measurements that tell you the bed size they fit. It took some time to find one, but I think it is a real good fit. It will collapse down up behind the cab and leave the entire bed open.

any leakage issues?