Jeep Cheap Cherokee Build

[RockMonkey]

I got a new drag link and track bar last week, courtesy of ILean's home machine shop. Thanks!

I centered everything up and made a very temporary axle-side track bar mount so I could cycle the suspension and see if the track bar clears everything in its new higher position. I pulled the springs out and dropped the suspension to full compression, and found the track bar solidly contacting the oil pan. In fact, I wasn't careful enough and managed to dent the oil pan. Woops... That means in order to get the track bar perfectly parallel to the drag link, I would have to tear out and rebuild my frame-side mount. I really don't want to do that.

I built the axle side mount as high as possible, without hitting the oil pan. It's really close to parallel so I don't think bump steer will be an issue, but if I have to, I'll rebuild the frame side mount.

I took it for a drive and could tell an immediate difference. It no longer has much "steering roll", where the suspension leans over to one side when you turn the steering wheel one way, and the other side when you turn it the other. It handles much nicer. I can't wait to try it out on a trail.

 

[mesha]

With as awesome as the rest of the jeep is the frame mount needs done

ask Santa maybe he will hook you up.

 

[Greg]

Looks much better Braden, nice work!

 

[RockMonkey]

With as awesome as the rest of the jeep is the frame mount needs done

ask Santa maybe he will hook you up.

It's just that I already did it once, and I'm happy with how it turned out. It would hurt a bit to cut it out just to make it less than an inch longer. For now that's on the bottom of the list, way below axle paint, a transmission shifting solution, etc.

 

[RockMonkey]

Looks much better Braden, nice work!

Old steering linkage

New steering linkage

 

[Herzog]

Big difference! I bet that feels nice to steer.

 

[RockChucker]

if you were sneaky, is there any possibility of mounting the draglink under the highsteer arm? would that put the geometry off in the opposite way, or make it right on? just a thought. awesome work. this is my favorite xj for sure.

 

[RockMonkey]

if you were sneaky, is there any possibility of mounting the draglink under the highsteer arm? would that put the geometry off in the opposite way, or make it right on? just a thought. awesome work. this is my favorite xj for sure.

I think that would make the mismatch worse, plus I would probably have to take the arm off to install the drag link from the underside. I would also have to drill a new hole and ream it from the bottom. Thanks!

 

[Gravy]

Hotness!
I'm going to come over and paint that other knuckle pink

 

[RockMonkey]

Hotness!
I'm going to come over and paint that other knuckle pink

Paint the rest of the axle too while you're under there!

BTW, I ordered one of these last week, after enduring your ridicule.

New center console seems to be the next phase of the project.

 

[Gravy]

Excellent reason

 

[mesha]

What is that thing? It looks like the controls to an old school arcade game.

 

[RockMonkey]

What is that thing? It looks like the controls to an old school arcade game.

They might be made from old arcade machines! It's an electronic aw4 transmission shifter. I'll be using this instead of the TCU I've been procrastinating on installing.

http://radesignsproducts.com/14Shiftcontrollers.aspx

 

[Herzog]

Let me know when you get that thing. I might come over and check it out. I've been considering one for my aw4.

 

[jmaxj]

They might be made from old arcade machines! It's an electronic aw4 transmission shifter. I'll be using this instead of the TCU I've been procrastinating on installing.

http://radesignsproducts.com/14Shiftcontrollers.aspx

Rorys setback rock shifted with the rail shifter is just awsome. Been using it for almost a yr now and love it! I highly recommend it to.anyone .

 

[Badger]

What is that thing? It looks like the controls to an old school arcade game.

From what I remember he machines them himself or has it done. It's just two micro switches sandwiched between the two aluminum blocks with a rod that slides to activate them.

 

[RockMonkey]

Let me know when you get that thing. I might come over and check it out. I've been considering one for my aw4.

Will do. Have you been using the stock tcu?

 

[Herzog]

Will do. Have you been using the stock tcu?

I have but it's been acting up on me and I've been considering making my own switch to choose between 1st & 2nd, as I started wanting to use 2nd gear a lot more before I tore the last buggy down. It would be nice to have a little more control over the gears. In the past I've just jumped between 3rd & 1st as needed. It's worked really well but there have been climbs where 2nd gear would have been optimal.

 

[X1994J]

Paint the rest of the axle too while you're under there!

BTW, I ordered one of these last week, after enduring your ridicule.

New center console seems to be the next phase of the project.

You will love this upgrade! Any reason you didn't go with the Rock Shifter as well? I love having mine moved back where I can shift / select gears with the flick of me wrist.

For reference here's where mine ended up with the setback version of the rockshifter.. I still need to build a cover for the console where the original shifter was.

 

[Bart]

Great purchase and upgrade. I had the first controller that came out on my old 88. Loved it.