XJ Heep 3.0

[M4wdFab]

looks like the same radiator matt runs in the buggy up top.  i think he has a good used unit with minor damage

[TrailTamer]

Replace bent mechanical fan
Front axle removal
New oil pan (rusted through)
New high volume oil pump
New rear main seal
Remove stock upper control arms
Upgrade to 136A alternator
Replace radiator
Replace front calipers
Complete the winch install. Need to redo some battery cables
Replace unit bearing bolts
Replace control arm bushing on top of the D30 (honed out stock replacement bushing to accept 9/16” bolt)
Delete the cam adjuster bracket via weld washers to control arm
Change oil in both axles and install magnets. Upgrade bolts to torx-plus
Repair catalyst converter (pipe broke off!)
Install hood
Install header
Install front axle
Replace rear axle u-bolts to 5/8”

If I have time:
Remove t-case to reseal (leaking at where both halves meets) and to clock it up higher
Finish the floor/cover around the gas tank & shocks (if I have time)
Build skid plates for engine, trans and t-case. Unsure yet about how to protect cat & muffler.
Install the drilled & tapped rebuilt steering box (thank Marc!)
Relocate windshield wiper washer tank

Update: decided to deal with exhaust another time. Stock exhaust hang low. I’ll like to redo exhaust for better ground clearance and to give me more room to build skid plates later.

[TrailTamer]

Plated & insures my XJ earlier today. First drive immediately shown there’s two main problems I may need to address.

1) Steering still feels tight (ball joints are still tight)

2) this is the main problem. Gas on or off, it wants to change lanes. I gotta try swap rear tires to have same diameter and see whether this is why, likely is, though


Current Shocks (doestech) are definitely overdamped.

[TrailTamer]

Made a tiny tail pipe to go over the axle.

Dramatically reduced in cab noises!!!

[TrailTamer]

Did some work on this puppy yesterday and today.

Found D30 pinion bearing loose. It was fine when inspected on ~Aug 21

My guess is pinion bearings are on their way out. I’ll find out soon enough.

[TrailTamer]

Pinion bearings & races show containment damage. Bearing kit & u-bolt yoke on way, thank you Arie!

[mr.mindless]

glad you caught it!

[TrailTamer]

Reused shims

[TrailTamer]

Trying to find out why it have darty steering. Driver side steering knuckle is really difficult to rotate. Knocked both knuckles off for better measurement & ball joint inspection; ball joints checked out good, driver side inner C 1/8” shorter than passenger side. Straightened via bottle jack and now both sides are 8-3/4” (top side to bottom side)

[TrailTamer]

Threw my XJ back together last night. Massive improvement! No more white knuckle driving. The darty, twitchy steering are completely gone. No more surprise lane merge. Super tight & responsive steering, excellent return to center, stops & goes straight, go exactly where I steer it to. Tested good and smooth at +75 mph

95% sure it’s lane merge attempts were from binding ball joints (ball joints misaligned from bent inner C) and insufficient caster. I modified track bar frame side mount, to line up better with drag link and not to rub on tire on tight right turns.

Need to put in real bump stops. But for now I’ll just let drag link & track bar do it’s self clearancing on the oil pan 

[mr.mindless]

wonderful!

[TrailTamer]

Easily will go over 4,500 once I’m done with the build. Scaled at 4,400lbs

[TrailTamer]

I’m 60-70% sure I fixed my XJ’s rear locker drivability problems. Hack n tap SYE’s yoke failed & move back forth on the output shaft, essentially make rear driveline double slip yoke’d. I fixed it via a spacer between yoke and dust plate to hold it in place. 

E-fan died, AGAIN. This is the third fan that died in my XJ. The first two were used units. Third was brand new. What gives...

[mr.mindless]

I think I've killed that many fans in 571 in 5 years of mud racing. That doesn't make sense.

[TrailTamer]

All of 3 efans died after a period of no use. The third (new) was unplugged for the winter. Plugged it in few days ago just to find it screeching, spinning slowly.