hoverlover’s “there are many like it, but this one is mine” extra long title bs thread and build too

Whoa that’s awesome thought you sold it.

 

I did, in 2009, but it’s twin found me.

I stumbled on it looking for a stroker for my XJ.

This one is a first edition Rubicon, like my original, had one owner, 78026 on the clock (I traded mine in 3 hours down the road with 78193 miles), and was very clean considering it’s from the heart of the NE rust belt. When I saw they only wanted $12k, I bought it without a second thought.

One I get it back on the road, the XJ will go up for sale.

 

that’s staying there

 

You lucky dawg!!

 

Thanks man, I can't wait to test it out at HF soon. Hoping I don't snap these D44's, though. It'll be some time before I can fit 60's under it.

 

You gonna leave them stock or get’em trussed and chormoly axles?

 

Trussed, sleeved, and chrome-moly shafts are going in when I put in the 5.13's

That should support the 37's for a while

 

Like where this is going.

 

This time next year I want to be stretching the wheelbase. If I can afford it, Dynatrac 60's, and ORI struts. When the engine gives up, LS swap. Probably the LS2.

 

I knew it! It's a Prius with Jeep fenders!

 

Lol nailed it

 

Now that the cat's out of the bag, I can dump pics

 

Here's what I'm working on today

I drilled more holed in the frame for a couple more sleeves to go in.



My welder is rated for 3/16 but I've been able to do 1/4" by going real slow and creeping the puddle where I need it. The sleeves and frame are 5/16", the welder is struggling to penetrate. I've resorted to pre-heating the sleeve and the frame to red-hot and then attacking as much as I can before 1) I pop my shitty circuit breaker and 2) the metal cools too much to work. It's slow going.

The welds aren't pretty but I did them myself in my garage with my tiny welder





They're getting ground flat anyway to fit the new center skid and control arm mounts

 

Before - nasty and rusted underneath



After - Like new

 

Where's the rust?

 

Pretty much on everything from the tub down

See how the paint looks lumpy? And the bolt is all rusted? Underneath that rubber under coat it all looks like this



They covered up the issue, which doesn't stop rust so I'm fixing it by grinding it all the way down to the steel and repainting it, completely eliminating the rust altogether.

 

Welp.

I need a bigger welder.

Once the sleeves are in place, I need to use the sleeve as a guide and drill a 9/16" hole through the back side of the frame. The problem I'm having is the drill bit seems to be grabbing about 3/32" of the sleeve. Over the length of the sleeve, the drill bit produces enough torque on the sleeve to spin it, breaking the shitty weld.