YJ Build Plan

[yj-mike]

I would like some comment on my build plan before I go ahead and start spending a ton of cash on things I shouldn't, etc.

So:

- 1988 YJ frame, stripped, cleaned, painted with Rustshield w/ extra hardener added - DONE

- 2004 TJ 4.0L engine w/ 4K miles - picked this up for $1400, includes wiring harness, stage 2 chip, throttle body, computer, radiator, alternator, starter, exhaust header, etc. Should be here next week.

- 2004 NV3550 - 0 miles (brand new, no bellhousing or ext slave)

- Ford 8.8 in the rear - Currently 3.55's, but will probably go with 4.56's eventually

- D30 front - again 3.55's, going to 4.56's

- NP231 xfer case w/ 27K miles - getting this for $550 (includes bellhousing and external slave cylinder for xmission)

- RE 4" lift kit

- 1" body lift

- 33" meats

- Picked up a hard top for $350, just gotta score some full doors

- This Jeep is going to be a graduation present for my son. It will be his daily driver. I wanted to build him a good rig with a new(er) power train that he can wheel on some reasonable trails.

- Now for a couple of questions:

- Do I need a SYE and CV shaft with this setup, or can I just go with a 1" MML and call it good?
- Is the transfer case bracket for the shift mount from Advance Adapters necessary? I know it is only like $41, but it all adds up.

Please provide constructive criticism if you see anything that I should do differently.

I also have some parts for sale to help finance this thread. I will put them up in the selling forum and add a link here.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[jon]

Go with the SYE  you will want it. 

if you wan tyou can use it with a regular driveshaft as long as you have the pinion set to the proper angle.

I would go something better than a dana 30 in the front since you are doing a frame up build. 

Personal shpoice would be a pair of 44s for the dd/wheeler.  8.8 is great, but you won't get a front axle to mount the bolt patter with decent strenght.(maybe 44 front and redrilled 8.8 shafts?)

 

[garysoupy]

1st. I'd go with 35's.
2nd, I'd use an XJ front drive shaft in the rear. It has the CV. Couvilles charges like $150 to shorten and rebuild them.

 

[jipjip]

l like the 8.8rear d30front setup. that's what i'm going to run on mine, and being the front d30 is high pinion, they are pretty darn strong. just upgrade to chromoly shafts, and a good locker of some sort, and it will be almost bulletproof.
my .02c

 

[yj-mike]

Thanks all for the information. As for the D30, I looked around for a pair of D44's from a waggy and had no luck. So I purchased the 8.8 since the bolt pattern matches. I will look into chro-moly front axle shafts for added strength.
I will be able to set the pinion angle on the 8.8 as the old spring perches have been ground off, and I have the install kit from M.O.R.E. to weld-on. I can always install a SYE later if necessary, but I do have a tight budget.

If 35" meats fit in the budget when the time comes then fine, otherwise I may need to go with 33's initially to save some cash.

As an update, i just ordered the RE 4" lift today, as well as the 1" Daystar MML kit. I hope to have these and the engine next week so that I can get started on installation.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[yj-mike]

Unfortunately the RE 4" springs are on backorder, so the lift kit isn't going to ship until Thursday at the earliest. I start a week off on Thursday and was hoping on having the lift then and being able to devote some serious time to it.

Oh well, best laid plans and all that,

Mike

 

[yj-mike]

Here is an update:

Got the axles installed onto the leaf springs, and some of the steering gear so that the front wheels operate in unison instead of flopping all over the place. Front shocks are installed also. I can't install the rear shocks until the pinion angle is set on the rear axle. Can't set that until all the sprung weight is on the vehicle as I have been told.

Next is to finish saving up the beans for the gearing install.

 

[ghiradelli777]

sounds good...i hope that you can get it all done before he graduates in a month


the SYE will be important to get done asap with that much lift

 

[yj-mike]

I removed the flywheel and flexplate from the engine (was originally attached to an auto tranny) in preparation for attaching the NV3550. In between the flex plates and the bolts was this ring:

Does this get re-used with the manual tranny flywheel? I looked at my Alldata subscription, but I couldn't find any reference to it.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[yj-mike]

Made a little bit of progress lately. I traded another YJ frame that I had for a set of these:

They have quite a bit of tread left on them, and they are 33's. A decent trade in my opinion.

Here is a shot of them installed:

I think I gained somewhere around 2+" of ground clearance.

Also, I ordered the urethane transmission mount for the NV3550 from Q-Tec, as well as the following parts from AA:

- NV3550 -> 4.0L bellhousing kit
- External slave cylinder kit
- Clutch disc and pressure plate

I am also picking up a manual tranny flywheel from a local salvage yard. This will allow me to get the engine and tranny bolted up and installed on the rig.

Next is to order a new 23 spline NP231 w/SYE from AA ($895 beats Q-Tec's $1100, and JB Conversions $975). I looked into rebuilding the 21 spline that I have, but the HD SYE kit goes for $300, a 23 spline input gear goes for $150-190, and a rebuild kit and new chain will add another $200 or so. That all adds up to $650 or so, but for another 2 bills I can have a new one. That seems to make more sense to me as I don't have to do all the work tearing down and rebuilding the case. Plus the kid will basically have a brand new power train (engine has 4K miles, tranny has 0).

Thanks,

Mike

 

[CrzyFrlssJeep]

Nice ...keep us updated as the progess goes along.

Always nice to read about buildups like the one you've got going on.

Thumbs up from me. :grinyes:

 

[toyworx]

You won't need that ring for the manaul flywheel. Oh...and...nice work!  :clap:

 

[yj-mike]

Toy,

Thanks. After comparing the flexplate (thin, kinda flimsy) to the flywheel (very meaty), I realized that the ring is just for reinforcing the flexplate. Of course the bolts that held the flexplate on are too short to hold on the flywheel, so those are on order from the stealership, s'posed to be in tomorrow.

Bellhousing, clutch, pressure plate, external slave and some other parts are due from Advance Adapters on Thursday, so hopefully I can make some more progress. I also picked up a complete wiring harness from an '03 that I have to go pull on Monday, and maybe I can get the engine running.

Mike

 

[graves14]

I have a set of hard doors for a yj.  They are in pretty good shape.  nothing is rusted through.  glass is all good.  there's a little pitting but nothing a little bondo wont smooth out.  Need to be painted(just primered black right now) need the latches replaced/fixxed(they stick sometimes)  I picked them up this winter from cjron for 200

let me know if your interested

 

[yj-mike]

Please post or send me some photo's.


Thanks,

MIke

 

[yj-mike]

BTW,

Does anyone know what size bolts I need to mate the flywheel to the crank. I tried the Lowe's/HD thing with no luck. So I called Valenti's in Mystic (Jeep Dealer) and ordered up what I needed. Turns out the counterman ordered me the same short bolts that are used in the auto tranny to bolt up the flexplate.

I could really use a little help on this.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[CrzyFrlssJeep]

I would'nt use anything other than what is supposed to be used for that. That means Lowes an HD are out of the equation.

Lots of twisting force where that flywheel and crank meet together.

Use the right bolt's and save yourself a headeche later.

 

[yj-mike]

I would'nt use anything other than what is supposed to be used for that. That means Lowes an HD are out of the equation.

Lots of twisting force where that flywheel and crank meet together.

Use the right bolt's and save yourself a headeche later.

Yah, I was thinking along the same lines. I went back to the dealer this morning and we got things straightened out. The right bolts are on order, and will be in on Tuesday.

Mike

 

[yj-mike]

Brown Santa showed up today bearing gifts:

4.0L -> NV3550 Bellhousing, new Centerforce clutch and pressure plate, external slave cylinder kit, pilot bushing, throwout, etc. Finally I will be able to make some more progress once the flywheel bolts show up tomorrow.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[yj-mike]

I found a set of hard doors, so I can cross that off the list. I do have a question about the crank position sensor though. Do I need to install the tone ring from the auto tranny flexplate onto the flywheel for the CPS to work? If not, do I have to go with the Hesco harmonic balancer type CPS?

Thanks,

Mike