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Tom95YJ's "The Smurf" Build

86K views 521 replies 64 participants last post by  Tom95YJ 
#1 ·
Ok guys I am starting a build thread for my 89 islander edition Dubbed The Smurf the name stems from an obvious resemblance to a smurf ! This is my 6th Jeep and 2nd YJ , I have been around the block a few times so I am not new to this Obsession as my wife would say.

Heres the back story with a little of idea of how it will be morphing over the next little bit of time :


Last May, I had traded my Auto-X Project/DD Miata for a Pretty clean '89 Wrangler Islander . After looking for someone to trade for almost 2 years I found someone was willing to trade.

Specs on the YJ :

1989 Islander Edition (Pacfic Blue A.K.A. Smurf Blue )
4.2Lw/ Ba10 (works for now)
Hardtop with Full steel doors
208,000 miles
RUST FREE minus the P/S front fender

The Bad : Jeep would not idle on its own, and front axle would not engage in 4 wheel drive. Minor repairs that would scare away most who are not too knowledge able with Jeeps .

My Plan for this Jeep is to keep it simple, and a Budget friendly since it will be DD/ Medium Duty trail rig I had several thousand in my 95 YJ and I was given a Ramen Noodle/ Steel Reserve budget with this one since I am now a Home Owner, Have 2 Kids , and I make about 1/2 as much as I used to 7 years ago. My 95 was build on a Filet Mignon and Topshelf Bourbon Budget.


Mods I intend on doing will be :

4" Lift
TJ Flares
PSC Rear 1/4 gaurds & Sliders
4:10 gears (4banger Axles at first 8.8 rear later on)
F/R Lockers (Spartans)
SYE w/ XJ shaft
TJ Grizzly wheels
Bedlined Interior
Front and rear Bumpers (2x4 boxed steel front stubby with Swing out carrier rear)
8000# winch
Bestop Supertop w 2 piece soft doors

Here are some pics from the first day once I got home with it.



 
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#129 ·
It's crazy how much better the 258 runs with relatively cheap after market carb and HEI. I did the carb first then 2 weeks later installed the HEI I think the HEI was the best bang for the buck out of the two. I like the sound your getting out of your exhaust I'm thinking I may do something similar soon.
 
#132 ·
I noticed a wheel wobbling today so I jacked up the jeep on a lift at work and noticed My rear axle shafts are bent so I may be picking up a 29spline 8.25 off my neighbor from his old XJ. I'll need to get new perches, ebrake cables and u bolts to do the swap. The 8.25 with chromoly shafts will support 37 with a truss so I might be building up a 8.25. I can attest to it holding upto 35's in stock form on my YJ.
 
#145 ·
Yes I was quite suprised how well this lift rides and flexes If I had lockers I could have enough traction to really flex it out but Im currently limited to what I can climb by traction :(

It flexes Just as good as the RE 4.5" I had on my 95 but it rides smoother. But not as good as the Alcan springs I had after I replaced the RE stuff
 
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