Project Grizzly Prep

[4x4Dalton]

Ok gang some of y'all have seen my other XJ. Well me and my girlfriend are goin to start planning what we want t do to it. It's gonna be strictly off road. What I'm wantin to know is where are any old military scrap yards,junk yards. I have some ideas for the suspension and it calls for military parts.

[4.3LXJ]

I know where they are in Cali, but not TX

[4x4Dalton]

Hmmmmmm....road trip :)

[4.3LXJ]

Looking for axles?. If you make it to SoCal for some Rockwells, might as well come up north with Wayne and Jim in Aug for some camping and wheeling

[xj4life2]

Looking for axles?. If you make it to SoCal for some Rockwells, might as well come up north with Wayne and Jim in Aug for some camping and wheeling

Hey you need to keep me posted on the arrival of them boys, I'd love to join ya'll for that trip , Bronco should be ready by then , and that's all I'm sayin'

[4x4Dalton]

I'm goin to sit down next week and figure out what type of axles and all I want to go with. This build is going to be thought out and planned and gone over good before we even start.

[xj4life2]

Hmmmmmm....road trip :)

Just do it !!!!

[4.3LXJ]

I think these guys moved to cheaper real estate. I could swear they were in SoCal when I looked them up a year or two ago.

http://www.boyceequipment.com/#!m1008-1-25-ton-gm-pickup/c1voe

[4.3LXJ]

Ha, found it again

http://www.100dollarman.com/trucks.html

[XJ Wheeler]

I've been wondering what you were doing with the other one, just never remembered to ask ya. By the sound of it, its gonna be cool if military parts are involved.

[bluedragon436]

Ha, found it again

http://www.100dollarman.com/trucks.html

I was looking at picking up a single axle duece from him... and/or some 1 tons for the XJ... He is a pretty cool guy to talk too, and I've bought some small stuff like ammo cans and such from him..

[4x4Dalton]

I've been wondering what you were doing with the other one, just never remembered to ask ya. By the sound of it, its gonna be cool if military parts are involved.

Yea I've been bouncing the idea round in my head for bout a year or so. Want it to be a rock crawler but still be able to go thru the mud with the best of them.

[XJ Wheeler]

Yea I've been bouncing the idea round in my head for bout a year or so. Want it to be a rock crawler but still be able to go thru the mud with the best of them.

Ooow, a rock crawler. Ya got my attention. That's more my style. Don't get me wrong, mud can be FUN. But there's just something about twisting through a big pile of rocks. Just wish there were more around here. :rolleyes:

[4x4Dalton]

When I was in Virginia we had rocks,mud the whole nine yards so I miss the rocks. But I've heard of a few places down here that have rock and that's what got the whole idea goin a year ago.

[4x4Dalton]

All the glass will come out and be replaced with plexi. Going to reinforce the whole frame and body. It's gonna take time to get it like I want. Probably build an Exo also. Motor swap etc.......

[XJ Wheeler]

So your going BUILT then. I like it. :D

[4x4Dalton]

So your going BUILT then. I like it. :D

Oh yes there will be Awesomeness

[XJ Wheeler]

Oh yes there will be Awesomeness

Coooool... I hope i can be a part of the build! :)

[4x4Dalton]

Yep. Got a feelin once we start sooner or later we will need tons of help :)

[bigjim350]

Why military axles? A d60/14bolt will handle 44's all day locked. And are a ton easier to find.

[4.3LXJ]

Rockwells are cheaper if you source them right. Lots of them around

[4x4Dalton]

Like I said I'm gonna look at all the options. Just when I first thought about it the military suspension was the first I thought of. Cause I knew it can take a beatin and ask for more.

[bigjim350]

I have a 60/14bolt that came on a frame with a running sbc/th400 and np205. Bought the whole thing for less than $1k

[bigjim350]

Like I said I'm gonna look at all the options. Just when I first thought about it the military suspension was the first I thought of. Cause I knew it can take a beatin and ask for more.

You have to run huge tires to get ground clearance on those (have you priced 44"+ tires?) Plus you have to do lots of custom engine mounts and oil pan mods to have any decent amount of up travel.

[4x4Dalton]

You have to run huge tires to get ground clearance on those (have you priced 44"+ tires?) Plus you have to do lots of custom engine mounts and oil pan mods to have any decent amount of up travel.

To be honest I have thought about it. This is gonna be a long build cause I want to make sure it all fits and works right the first time. I'd rather spend 5 k once then 2k several times tryin to accomplish the same thing. Yea I know the tires are gonna be $$$ but I'm bouncing another idea round bout them. Got to do some research first before I say it.

[bigjim350]

if it were me id go with a 1ton axle. Rockwells or unimog are just too much of a hassle. While your researching make sure you research wheel options too. Have you seen a Rockwell up close before?

[4x4Dalton]

I've seen a couple. Yea wheels is a definite I'm gonna be lookin at. Those and the mods for rear coils.

[Brasscatz]

Yep. Got a feelin once we start sooner or later we will need tons of help :)

Cool, you just have to make sure to schedule during my free time :D

[4x4Dalton]

Cool, you just have to make sure to schedule during my free time :D

Yours? Dude have you forgot the $&@%# schedule I work? Lol

[Brasscatz]

Yours? Dude have you forgot the $&@%# schedule I work? Lol

nope, no excuse!

[4.3LXJ]

Hey Bear, I have gone through this same thing. Where do I want to end up when I am done? One thing that was mentioned was the size of the diff pumpkin. Those 14 bolt rears can be a real land anchor out in the mud. Same with a stock D60. Which is why I rejected both.

[4x4Dalton]

nope, no excuse!

That's my story and I'm stickin to it :D

[4x4Dalton]

Hey Bear, I have gone through this same thing. Where do I want to end up when I am done? One thing that was mentioned was the size of the diff pumpkin. Those 14 bolt rears can be a real land anchor out in the mud. Same with a stock D60. Which is why I rejected both.

Yea was thinkin that to. I have a few crazy ideas in the ole head so ill do some lookin and figurin.

[4.3LXJ]

Me too, but halfway there now :D

[bigjim350]

Id rather worry about the clearance under a d60/14b than have to worry about the clearance OVER a rockwell. Tons of fab work involved there, verses just shaving the bottom of a D60/14b

[Mudderoy]

Meanwhile 4x4Dalton does some thinking...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9ed0f22b8270677a85dcb6ca7297e058/tumblr_mgle597EBf1r5mtd8o1_500.gif

[4x4Dalton]

Meanwhile 4x4Dalton does some thinking...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9ed0f22b8270677a85dcb6ca7297e058/tumblr_mgle597EBf1r5mtd8o1_500.gif

:D

[xj4life2]

Rockwell's and unimogs are great axles and tough, draw backs however are numerous ,wheels are tough , but the toughest is the connection between the pinion and the driveline, a real PIA in fact a friend of mine scraped his build and went to a Sterling 10.5 rear and a 60 front and actually saved money. With the addition of a locker or two and some chrome moly if you break , your tougher on the rig than you should be. Just my two cents Bear but keep it in mind plan the $$ on paper first. When the build gets rolling maybe I'll be in TX and came stop by and lend a hand.