Bought a 5 speed Classic XJ Jeep

[dpcookson]

A slide hammer like this should do nicely. You just hook the jaws over the bolt head, tighten the collar and start pumping like......

[2000Silverbullet]

Perfect. Not sure if I can rent one of those in this hick town, but I'll try tomorrow.
Thanks.

[99bonnieSE]

In a way, kind of like a stud hammer/stud gun, but for bolts. interesting....,

[dpcookson]

Perfect. Not sure if I can rent one of those in this hick town, but I'll try tomorrow.
Thanks.

Try Canadian Tire, they have a "borrow" a tool program, seriously. You pay full price for the tool ( I prefer using a credit card) then they refund you when you bring it back, free rental.

[2000Silverbullet]

I tried Canadian Tire first. They didn't have the jaws, just a puller. I did exchange the 1/2" torque wrench I broke trying to remove the bolt. Free exchange.

I went to a rental place and they did have the jaw puller just like in the picture. I rented it, jacked the Jeep back up, disassembled the spring and hammered away on it for an hour. It didn't budge an inch! There is too much shock absorbancy due to the rubber eye bushing that the metal sleeve is in so the bolt that's inside the metal sleeve just bounces to the beat.

Guess I'll have to wait until Thursday when it goes into the shop. Can't say I didn't give it a good try, but at least their job should be easy now that the U-bolts are new and the eye bolts are loose. If I could get that bolt out, it would only take me 10 minutes to change the leaf spring now.

[JMH1950]

Paul, if you cut the head off that bolt, do you have enough room to beat it out the other side with a big hammer and a punch?

[2000Silverbullet]

No John. The other side is a box frame and on the other side of the frame are all the brake and fuel hard lines with no access holes and no room around them.

They might have to burn the entire spring eye out with a torch.

I had time to remove the sagging headliner and brought it in for covering. Gonna cost $200. The material is $45 a yard and I need three yards.

Got the ball joints removed from the Bird. I learned the trick of beating it with a hammer......real hard. ......and POP off the come.

[2000Silverbullet]

Back from the shop and the spring is in and the Jeep is level again.

Took them 2 hours to change it out and I was there the whole time watching so there was no milking it!

They had to burn it off. The bolt was catching on both ends so the spring had to be cut in pieces with a torch.








Love the smell of burning rubber.





The new chrome bumper is in so that's my next job...........or should I do the tie-rod ends first?!

I have to replace all the tie-rod joints on the 88 and then replace the 89's with the still pretty good 88's. I also have to re-assemble all the steering linkage with new steering joints for the Firebird. That should keep me off the road for a day or two.



It's NOT a cheap Jeep anymore.

[2000Silverbullet]

Busy day today.

The bumper is on and looking good.

I also installed the new tie-rod ball joints and rod on the 88 and removed same for installation on the 89. They are all pretty good with no discernable sloppiness. Bugger of a job as a couple were seized up pretty good after 22 years.

Completely new front end on the 88 now.

Huge improvement in looks now with the 89 having good body and exterior components. The headliner should be ready tomorrow.



I should have not taken the wheels off the Jeep tho cause the alignment is off quite a bit. The toe in looks a little like this........
I'll fix it in the morning.










I'm getting pretty good at removing ball joints now.

[2000Silverbullet]

Well it is official. I am insane!

Not including the 100 or so hours I've put into this SUV, I've spent about $4,000 on it.

It's a Jeep now, so I'm changing the title of this post to Classic XJ instead of 'Cheap'.

Next week I'll install the new headliner and front end tie-rod joints to complete the build.
It runs great with plenty of power and the looks to go along with it.

[00Beast]

The question you have to ask yourself is, what is it worth to you? Is there another vehicle that you want that does that job in the condition you've restored it to that costs less? I understand you do have one just like it already, but that third pedal adds a lot of fun.

[2000Silverbullet]

Yup, I wouldn't have spent the dough if I didn't like the go.

I'm expecting a harsh winter this year, so I'm ready for it now......with back-up.

The Bonne and the Firebird will stay warm and dry in the garage until Spring.

[*B2*]

I'm really digging this build. I want one now.

[2000Silverbullet]

I just watched a "Trucks" show on Speed Channel. You know it's pretty easy to install a V8 in these trucks due to the long engine bay used to accommodate the straight six cylinder engine.........

But that might be another post, if I come across the right drivetrain and only if this 230 ft-lb twister dies.

It's finally beginning to rain out after three dry months. I don't expect the drizzle to stop until March.
Time to go out and test the wet road traction.

I'm still getting used to using a clutch again. Hard not to spin that right rear wheel in this 89 XJ going up my driveway.
I never had a problem with my automatic with limited slip in the 88 XJ, but it really a 3WD.....front left and both rear with the open front diff.

Guess I'll just have to use the 4WD that's really just 2WD.....front left and rear right wheel with the two open diffs.

[PRD2BDF]

Why not swap in the V8 and keep the I-6 in case the other motor fails?

[2000Silverbullet]

I just HAD to do it.

It was a good deal and too hard to resist now that those smokin speakers are in.

I installed a new Pioneer MP3 CD receiver that has both USB and I-pod front face connectivity. It's a nice 50W x 4 base unit.

Speakers sound much better now and actually have some bump. The biggest motivator was being able to use my USB keys with all my (and Matt's) downloaded music. Don't have to buy CD's anymore.

[2000Silverbullet]

Why not swap in the V8 and keep the I-6 in case the other motor fails?

Maybe next year. I'm outta cash. For now, it's a back up plan to dream about.

[VBCSpangler]

Put an LT1 in it...

[*B2*]

It's purely a utility vehicle. I think the I6 is perfect.

[2000Silverbullet]

Just too much would have to be replaced......rad, fuel lines, fuel pump, starter, electrical, etc..etc...

I'm happy with this torquey straight 6. It's a light SUV weighing only about 3,300 lbs so the 200 hp 230 ft-lb 5 speed moves it pretty well.

I have the new headliner installed. It's not an exact colour match but close enough.

I also did another performance mod today.

Cold Air K&N cone intake. I used the cone that was removed from the Grizz......so it has a little Bonneville heritage now.
It really enhances the Magnaflow exhaust with a deeper tone......and no hissing.

Just have to do the tie-rods now.
They're prepped and ready to go on.

May be a little delay though. I have some "other" work to do that isn't car related.