98 TJ Take 3 or 4 or something

[jeepwrangler97]

Jk front springs in. I may still run a spacer up front.

I think the jk rear springs I have may be too stiff for what I want, but we'll see. I had jk 57s or 56s in my last TJ with a small spacer in the front.. But the 8.8 in the rear cancelled out the spacer. The leftovers I have here are 58s, so we'll see.

Now I need to figure out some LCAs as the procomp ones don't seem to be stock length.

There procomp track bar is just about on the diff. Metalcloak tb is coming soon.

Medium sketchy doing this on soft sand/dirt.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Does the XJ run shorter studs? I don't remember my last TJ having such short studs?

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Jk rear springs in. They seem about right. Once I add corners and a gts. Maybe 1? higher if that right now. I'll adjust after armor and everything. For now it'll be cheap shocks and change it the track bar up front and the rear track bar bracket.

Also need to change out the LCAs

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Future sye candidate + a front ds for shortening.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

If I want to get rid of this stupid steinjager steering, do I need to swap knuckles?

I have someone willing to sell me a rolling chassis with a tub for dirt cheap. I could nab the dana 30 off of it, the tilt column, and maybe a few other items...but not sure it's worth having to get rid of the tub and frame after


Edit: I do need new knuckles. I may just look for an HP30 and build that up until I can get rid of the POS steering

 

[G Beasley]

Stein Hager drills out the taper , but you could get a tapered insert.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Stein Hager drills out the taper , but you could get a tapered insert.

Like these? https://www.extremeterrain.com/teraflex-high-steer-kit-stock-taperedsert-sleeve-driver-side-9706-tj.html

That'd be way easier than new knuckles...

 

[G Beasley]

Like these? https://www.extremeterrain.com/teraflex-high-steer-kit-stock-taperedsert-sleeve-driver-side-9706-tj.html

That'd be way easier than new knuckles...

Yes , just check your current bore size to make sure they will work.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Yes , just check your current bore size to make sure they will work.

Thanks. Yeah, I think that's the route I'll go for now. I'll order some inserts and ZJ tie rod this week or next.

Hopefully, I can drive it around soon. I have the valve cover gasket already, but will likely order an oil pan gasket and the oil pressure sending unit. I want to get it driving reliably until I can get the 5.2 stuff all gathered and prepped

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Metalcloak tb, tapered inserts for the knuckles, ZJ tie rod & drag link, pitman arm, oil pressure sending unit, oil pan gasket, timing cover gasket, & longer wheel studs on the way.

Plugs & wires this week. I put some front stock LCAs in this week & the rears are going in in the next few days.

Only had about 20mins to work on it today after house stuff and side work.

Took the valve cover off tonight and most of the bolt were completely loose. Not even finger tight.

Going to finish cleaning the valve cover and head tomorrow, maybe replace a few bolts for it and hopefully no more leaky valve cover.

 

[G Beasley]

Looking good , and moving crazy fast!

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Looking good , and moving crazy fast!

Trying to get the Mini and the Jeep in tip top shape quickly.

Plus I have a work trip in August & it'd be nice to drive the 1200 miles each way and/or visit my in-laws in the fall about 1000 miles.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Also going to bypass the heater core for now. The AC works and I can save the heater core for the fall and hopefully do a front cage and put in a tilt column in one go with the dash out

Edit: hc currently leaks into the cab

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Plugs and wires done. Now plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil are done.

Valve cover gasket done. Also cleaned the cowl drain while it was easy access (I did cover the head while doing this).

May do shocks and rear LCAs if I get time today.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Front shocks in, all LCAs replaced with new oem.

The rear shocks are "in", but definitely too short. They're fully extended at ride height. All well, they were $13/shock from Rock Auto.

The fronts seem about right, but I really didn't think I was sitting that much higher in the rear.

With bumpers on and a hitch it'll be a little lower, but off initial measurements, I may be looking at something like Zone 3" rear shocks

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Pics

 

[G Beasley]

If you decide to buy some better shocks the metal cloak sports are a great bang for the buck.

 

[jeepwrangler97]

If you decide to buy some better shocks the metal cloak sports are a great bang for the buck.

I'll check them out. Right now, I'm likely going to cheap out, but we'll see. I don't like doing mods twice. I may even just run some stock JK rears for now, as they are all over the place for next to nothing & actually seem to be the right length (they were too long for my last TJ with a similar setup, but I also had an 8.8).

 

[jeepwrangler97]

Picked up jk Rubicon springs and shocks tonight locally for $25. I may change out the front springs as they're the 18's and I have 17's in now.

The shocks are rusty, but should work fine for now. May be a little long? Not sure what I should realistically aim for up and down.

Working on the Jeep in the grass with all the heat,  bugs, and mosquitoes is worse than in a cold alley.

 

[Florpro]

I had JK shocks on mine for a minute with a 2? spacer lift. 
You could always get some rear lower shock extenders for the time being.