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Finally. My YJ build

67K views 278 replies 62 participants last post by  sps1102 
#1 ·
Well I started on my 88 YJ build last Thursday. Here is what I am starting with
88 YJ 4.2 5spd 3.07 gears non AC
Right now it's running 31's
I have had it little over 2 years and paid $1850 for it.
Frame and body are in good shape so that will be my platform

I have a 95 Sahara that I bought originally to fix up for my in-laws but it was too rusted out so now it will be a parts vehicle for my build

Last Thursday I ordered my RE extreme duty 4.5 lift, ARB locker for the front. Chromemoly front axle shafts and 4:56 gears for the front D30
I have a 8.8 disc brake rear with ARB and 4.56 already at the shop.
I pulled the 4.0 out of the 95 Saturday and got the motor torn down along with the crank and Rods out of another 4.2 I have and they will go to the machine shop tomorrow.

I will have pictures posted tomorrow.

This week I hope to have the body pulled off of my 88, sandblast the underside and inside of the tub and rynolined by next week. After that is done it will be off to the body shop for some minor repair and paint. The color of choice is a color I painted my 67 GTO. It is called medium quasar blue metallic. While the body is it the body shop I should get my motor back and start getting the chassis put together.
Hopefully if everything works as planned I'll have my jeep back together by the end of the month.

I plan on taking lots of picture and hope you guys and gal's enjoy.
 
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#27 ·
So it has been awhile since I have posted but have done some stuff to the jeep. Got the DS in and installed and also got my 33" MTR's in. I have them mounted on my old rims for now till I decide what wheels I am going with. Really thinking about the M/T classic bead lock polished wheels. If anyone have these are have ran them I would like some opinions of them.
Checked with machine shop today. Bottom end will be done today as well as the head. Going to get all that together and then order my push rods. May have the motor back this week. Then the fun will start :)


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#31 ·
Got the body removed from the frame last night. Had a pretty scary moment as the jeep shifted on the lift and dang near fell off. It pitched hard to the right front. Lucky enough no one was under it and it did not hit the ground. No damage to body, frame or lift. I will now gut the tub of all wires, dash, seats and such. Sand blast the inside and under side of the tub. Ryno those areas. Strip the frame of all the old brake lines, fuel lines and wiring, prep and paint. During this time I am going to send the trans out to my transmission shop and have him go through it, order my Teraflex 4.0 low conversion piece, weld up the spring perches on the 8.8 and have all new bearings and seals installed in that. Install the ARB locker and 4.56 in the D30.
Hopefully by the end of October I should be done with him.

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#33 ·
First picture is the body on the roll around dolly we made. Works great for moving bodies or vehicles around the shop.
Decided I was tired of seeing all the dried up mud on it so had the guys clean it and stick it next to the donor YJ.

Second picture is just a shot of the frame with the body off. I don't know why but I like the looks of a rolling chassis with the motor and trans/t-case with no body. Maybe cause I am weird.

This is the TW driveshaft and advanced adapters SYE set up. If anyone sees a problem with driveshaft angle or the angle of the 8.8 please let me know

I worked on the motor last night. Was about half way through the torque sequence on the cylinder head when a light went off in my head. You know that red light that says "Danger Mr. Rogers" I start thinking to myself. "Self, where the hell do the lifters go" I said "Self you are an idiot. You are working on a I6 not a V8" Yep got to pull the head back off and put the lifters in. :banghead:

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#34 ·
Got the head put back on with the lifters installed :)
Hopefully I'll gave the majority of the motor back together today.

I also was thinking maybe I could use a TJ front driveshaft in place of my YJ since I was running one piece axle shaft in the front. So I decided to mock it up and see if it would work. I pulled the front yoke off of a 97 TC I had here
and put it on the 95 231 I am using. Then I took the TJ front shaft and bolted it in. I posted a picture. I believe it will work just fine and now I dont have to go get my YJ shaft balanced.

Also ordered my Bilstien 5100 shocks and my teraflex 4.1 low transfer case half yesterday. Shooting for middle to late Oct to have him back on the road,

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#35 ·
Got the motor painted up this weekend. My book keeper brought me some pink play do from her kids stash so I could check clearance between oil pan and pick up screen. :rofl: Worked like a charm.

I decided to go with the blue engine color cause on my old eyes it is easier to see any oil leaks than the black. Plus it gives a bit of color to the engine bay.



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#37 ·
Red jeep is my mom's. I built dad an 81 Scrambler and mom didn't like driving it so she got this one and I fixed it up for her. White one is my wife's.

UPS dropped off some stuff today. My tera-low TC half and my Bilstein shocks.
As soon as I get done with laying floor in the last room of the house it will be all hands on deck so to speak with my YJ.

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#41 ·
Frame is ready to go to go get powder coated. Transmission off the motor and ready to go to the transmission shop. Tera-low is together and going to go to the transmission shop with the trans to make sure I did everything right and there are no parts that need to be replaced. 8.8 is at the welder getting the spring perches welded on. I will send the front axle to my mechanic up the street to install the 4:56 and ARB. When he is done with the front and when my C-clip eliminators are in I'll send the rear to him to replace all the bearings and seals in the 8.8. Tomorrow night we will start on the body and get it ready to ryno-line. Moving along.
 
#44 ·
So I didn't get to sand blast the tub last night because harbor freight didn't have any machines in stock. Guess that was a good thing cause my buddy has one he is going to let me use. I decided to go ahead and send the tub over to my body shop so he can fix an area on the lip where the top sits down.
Frame will be back middle to end of next week from powder coat and then I should be able to start putting my rolling chassis together.

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Any comments are welcome. Beginning to think I am talking to myself. :)
 
#46 ·
Got the tub back from the body shop after they fixed a couple of places where new metal needed to be welded in. Not rust related just pieces where the metal had fatigued and broke out.
Sand blasting wasn't really going as fast as I wanted it because of all the years of grime and crap on the underside of the tub so I went and got some paint stripper and putty knifes and we went to work. Now its ready to be blasted down to metal. After that I will seal the metal and the apply the rafter liner. I have used the rafter liner material before and really like it. I really like the spray type of application over the roller. Can get in more areas that way VS the roller.

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#47 ·
Oh and the frame will be ready to pick up Friday from powder coat. Can't wait to see it. If anyone is wondering, this rig will not be a trailer queen or one that just sees highway miles. I plan on beating on it. I just wanted to powder coat the frame because.
1. For $375.00 I could not strip and paint it for that.
2. I believe that powder coating is the best bet for keeping rust and rot away over a traditional type of paint.
3. It looks bad ass :)
 
#48 ·
Motor is coming along also. Going to get the dist cleaned and installed tonight along with the throttle body. That's a new exhaust manifold since my original was cracked. $100.00 from Bishop Industries out of Dallas TX. They handle all kinds of new and reconditioned engine and transmission/parts. Good quality and good company to deal with.

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#51 ·
Yes washed it off and then went after it with the paint stripper. Its actually a pretty easy job with the paint stripper.
Body is ready to start sand blasting but we have been slammed this past week at the shop. Plus I fired a problem employee today so we are back to being short handed.
That's OK though, we will get it done :)
 
#53 ·
What type of paint stripper? The orange puke lookin stuff (aircraft paint stripper)?
Sorry to hear youre short handed again, hard to find good help these days.

Use that Purple Power stuff and let it soak. Then after take the pressure washer to it. I had to use a brush in a few places, but not many and my underside is uber clean. Best pic I have of it...
My problem is that I'm in Kalifornia...and using almost any cleaner is damn near impossible. EPA Nazi's out here. I will look for Purple Power at the parts stores, not sure we have it here. Hope so because the underside of your Jeep looks awesome!
 
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