How many "hail Mary"s will it take...

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

We'd like to thank Aaron Smuda (Porscheguy on our local forum) for another sponsorship. Aaron donated some adjustable lower control arms (one just needs a new bushing), and also some TJ lift springs that we should be able to use for one of our projects.

Thanks so much for your generosity, Aaron! We owe you bigtime.

I'd also like to thank Frank (COYOTE) from RockSolid Performance for his help in transporting these parts up to Cedar Springs for us. :thumb:

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I mentioned that Aaron Smuda (Porscheguy on our local board) was nice enough to donate some used TeraFlex control arms for Mira's project...very cool. Well, they had not been greased regularly by a previous owner, and had some slop after we eventually freed them up (they were frozen in position from crud/corrosion). They WERE adjustable arms after all.

I contacted TeraFlex about replacement bushings, and planned to just weld the used TeraFlex arms into position, and run them as "fixed arms". Well, after a few e-mail exchanges about Mira's Cherokee project, TeraFlex offered to send us a brand new set, providing we destroyed the used ones we have. So, we're very thankful for a TeraFlex sponsorship that helps her project. Thanks Sterling at TeraFlex Suspensions!

Craig

 

[Cincyjeeprs]

Wow! I think I am going to lop the "5" off the front of my age and go get me some free parts!!

It may still be a little early, but what are the plans for the interior? I am guessing no carpet, but what about all the plastic trim pieces, headliner, door panels, audio, etc? You just mentioned "gray" in an earlier post I saw somewhere.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Wow! I think I am going to lop the "5" off the front of my age and go get me some free parts!!

It may still be a little early, but what are the plans for the interior? I am guessing no carpet, but what about all the plastic trim pieces, headliner, door panels, audio, etc? You just mentioned "gray" in an earlier post I saw somewhere.

We'll be pulling much of the interior out of the black '99 XJ donor vehicle. The carpet in that XJ is in very nice shape, so we will probably just install that. I'd prefer rubber mat, but the carpet will look more refined, too.

Craig

 

[Randyzzz]

Looks like your "Jeep Karma" is paying off!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Looks like your "Jeep Karma" is paying off!

We're definitely thankful for the continued generosity, Randy. It's Proving to be a cool lesson in giving, too - for Mira to see how generous people can be, even to people they don't even know.

Craig

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Mira sportin' her new TeraFlex adjustable lower control arms. Thanks again, TeraFlex! What a wonderful "bonus" Christmas gift.

 

[Major Jack]

You remember the days when we wanted our cars to be a "Chick Magnet". When Mira starts driving this thing to school. Look at what you will have created. Cute girl, ultimate off road rig = "Stud Magnet".

The line at the door will look something like this. ;

Are you ready for that?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

You remember the days when we wanted our cars to be a "Chick Magnet". When Mira starts driving this thing to school. Look at what you will have created. Cute girl, ultimate off road rig = "Stud Magnet".

The line at the door will look something like this. ;

Are you ready for that?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to you, as well. I'll never be ready for that, BTW.


The sad news this Christmas morning...Mira & her sister left at 9:00 a.m. to spend a week with their mother. The upside is that I took advantage of my quiet morning and finished up Mira's Dana 44 rear axle (minus calipers, which still need to be painted). I'm quite happy with the end result.

Craig

 

[revho]

Merry Christmas to you, as well. I'll never be ready for that, BTW.


The sad news this Christmas morning...Mira & her sister left at 9:00 a.m. to spend a week with their mother. The upside is that I took advantage of my quiet morning and finished up Mira's Dana 44 rear axle (minus calipers, which still need to be painted). I'm quite happy with the end result.

Craig

That is a heck of an axle that anyone would be proud of. Don't let your OCD kill you on this project Craig. As said before your past Jeep Karma appears to be coming back for this project as well.

Wishing you and your family Christmas blessings and a happy and safe 2012.

The Bohl's

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

That is a heck of an axle that anyone would be proud of. Don't let your OCD kill you on this project Craig. As said before your past Jeep Karma appears to be coming back for this project as well.

Wishing you and your family Christmas blessings and a happy and safe 2012.

The Bohl's

Thanks Kevin. Merry Christmas to you guys, too!

I appreciate the concern, too. If we were trying to get it done in 6-8 months, I'd end up burning Mira out, and probably myself, as well. We have plenty of time, though, and will keep a decent pace. I'm also going to take a bit of a break from Mira's XJ and work on my LJ this winter. I'm tired of it being on jack stands, and I want to drive it!

Take care, man. It's great to hear from you.

Craig

 

[jims chop shop]

Looking real good, I am happy for ya
I have alittle OCD myself , and it can stop me completely ,

By the way,I scored a xj Dana 44
Not as purty as yours though !

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

B-I-G thanks to TJontherox (Ryan) for donating a NEW late-model XJ grill insert to Mira for her XJ, and for Alix (alix4d) for transporting it to us from the East side of the state! (Both of these guys are from GreatLakes4x4.com). Much appreciated, gents!

With the weather breaking, and with my '05 LJ on the final stretch to being done, we can get cracking on Mira's XJ again.

Craig

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

And it shall be dubbed "Muttly". Here's Mira's XJ with the updated ('97+) front clip. Door install and axle reinstall is next on the docket, as well as building the JCR Offroad DIY front bumper.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Dang you...! I've been eyeballing that DIY bumper as well. lol! Are you going to do the rear cut and fold one as well? Swing out tire carrier?

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Dang you...! I've been eyeballing that DIY bumper as well. lol! Are you going to do the rear cut and fold one as well? Swing out tire carrier?

Hey jeepdreamer. We'll probably do JCR's DIY rear bumper, as well (no tire carrier, though). I have the luxury of them being located only an hour from home, and 45 minutes from my work. Pick-up sure helps vs. having stuff shipped, although the flat nature of the DIY parts definitely helps on the shipping front.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Today's project was Mira's JCR Offroad DIY front bumper. So easy, even an 11-year-old can build it! Overall, this was a very straightforward project, and well worth the money. I did realize that I have outgrown my Miller 115V welder, though. I have to save for a 220V unit.

Mira cutting out the hole for the 2" receiver hitch - it comes partially cut already, and just has 4 tabs holding it in. If you don't want a front receiver, you can weld in the cuts, then grind smooth.

The JCR DIY bumper kits come pre-cut. You just have to bend them into shape, and weld them together. We used a combination of clamps/wood block/hammer...

...and a large crescent wrench and a piece of 1" x 2" rectangular tubing for additional leverage.

Here's Mira sportin' her new bumper after tack welding, but before the D-ring mounts & receiver hitch. While Mira has done some welding before, I actually gave her a break from the heat today, and did the welding myself.

And the mocked up JCR bumper test-fit on Mira's XJ. We have to do a little treaking on the position of the bumper mounts (original bumper was tweaked slightly, so things may be slightly out of true.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Unfortunately for me, Mira & her sister are with their mom on this long holiday weekend. I took advantage of the time, though, and finish-welded Mira's JCR DIY front bumper, and started the slow, semi-tedious process of grinding & sanding the outer edges all pretty 'n stuff. It's going to look really nice when it's done.

 

[Bad Karma]

nice!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

So we have made H-U-G-E progress. We grafted in some rear doors, painted it red, and...

Not really, but the project has changed direction. A giant "thank you" to Travis (mrclean) for basically managing the entire purchase/pick-up of this super clean 1998 XJ Classic for me. Thanks man!

It's a 200K+ mile 1998 XJ Classic that was originally from Missouri, and it doesn't even have so much as any surface rust on the underside. That's the VERY good. The less-than-good (but still not horrible). It's throwing some codes (Injector Circuit Open Cylinder 4, Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected). The engine will likely be pulled & parted out/sold, along with the AW4 trans, and the 8.25 rear axle (3.55 gearing).

After a family discussion between me, Mira & her little sis Maeve (9 1/2 years old), we decided that we're going to apply all of Mira's accumulated parts to this red 1998 XJ, and Maeve is going to take over the build of the 2-door XJ (we also have a beautiful leather-interior'd, all-the-bells-and-whistles 2000 XJ on the way as the driveline/interior donor for Maeve's XJ). We'll start another build thread for Maeve's build.

The red XJ will be getting the 94K-mile '99 XJ drivetrain that we bought last year, as it runs perfectly. It'll also get a lot of the near-mint interior bits from the '99. Mira's first job will be to start swapping interior stuff over. It'll also be getting the 50K-mile '05 LJ axles (Dana 30/Dana 44 that we have been working on making pretty.

Craig (and Mira)