My XJ seems to be an expedition vehicle

[Black Dog]

There's a lot of steering upgrades you could do regardless of RHD or LHD. Have you ever considered a hydraulic ram assisted steering or even full hydraulic steering? There's other things that aren't quite as big of projects, like a Borgeson steering column or over-the-knuckle linkages, these aren't huge upgrades but they make things a lot less failure prone.

 

[Steve F]

There's a lot of steering upgrades you could do regardless of RHD or LHD. Have you ever considered a hydraulic ram assisted steering or even full hydraulic steering? There's other things that aren't quite as big of projects, like a Borgeson steering column or over-the-knuckle linkages, these aren't huge upgrades but they make things a lot less failure prone.

None of those would be road legal, we have an inspection every year if we want to keep it on the road. Even over the knuckle is tricky because we cant have weld in inserts on the steering knuckles.

Cheers
Steve

 

[OverlandZJ]

Welcome to Expo Steve! One of my favorite XJ's..

BTW, thanks for the gutter mount pics.

 

[Black Dog]

None of those would be road legal, we have an inspection every year if we want to keep it on the road. Even over the knuckle is tricky because we cant have weld in inserts on the steering knuckles.

Cheers
Steve

The weld-in inserts are the cheaper way to go, but if you're willing to spend a little more money you can buy whole new steering knuckles set up for over the knuckle steering. I know Teraflex makes some and I think there are a few other brands too. If that isn't street legal then its time to start thinking of ways to fool the system!

 

[Steve F]

The weld-in inserts are the cheaper way to go, but if you're willing to spend a little more money you can buy whole new steering knuckles set up for over the knuckle steering. I know Teraflex makes some and I think there are a few other brands too. If that isn't street legal then its time to start thinking of ways to fool the system!

And there's the issue, the knuckle is setup for a LHD, have a look at the pic showing my steering gear on the first page, I'd need a knuckle setup for OTK steering but for RHD. RHD steering is a mirror image setup of LHD and nobody makes a knuckle for OTK steering for a RHD, not at a reasonable price anyway. I've seen one offered here in Australia but it was $1500.

Cheers
Steve

 

[reece146]

WJ knuckles are available in RHD format.

You would still have to get an engineer to sign off but maybe it would be easier?

 

[Steve F]

WJ knuckles are available in RHD format.

You would still have to get an engineer to sign off but maybe it would be easier?

True, maybe one day.

Anyway, the roof rack is finished, it was too hot out to put all the bolts in but at least the paint got baked on nicely You can see the other two holes on each mount that still need bolts, I'll put those in later this afternoon or in the morning when it's cooler.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Got a little more done, replaced the front dead OME LT shocks with some Bilstein 5150's also did BPE and pin to eye conversion. Rides nice and now I just need to sort out the back.

No where near flexed out but you get the idea.

Cheers
Steve

 

[wjeeper]

WJ knuckle swap requires a 1/4 unitbearing spacer to be welded in........might send up red flags to astute inspectors.

If your considering upgrading your steering and the LHD-RHD thing is an issue you could maybe install the steering off a v8 powered RHD ZJ grand cherokee. I know in the US they have thicker wall tubing and they have exactly the same outward appearance so an inspector would never know. Its certianly not as tough as other options here in the US, but its an upgrade.

Other countries sure have it rough.......some inspection stations here in Utah have a "if it made it made the drive to my shop it done did passed" mentality.....hell according to wikipedia 13 US states dont even have safety of emission inspections, scary, just scary :Wow1:

 

[Steve F]

WJ knuckle swap requires a 1/4 unitbearing spacer to be welded in........might send up red flags to astute inspectors.

If your considering upgrading your steering and the LHD-RHD thing is an issue you could maybe install the steering off a v8 powered RHD ZJ grand cherokee. I know in the US they have thicker wall tubing and they have exactly the same outward appearance so an inspector would never know. Its certianly not as tough as other options here in the US, but its an upgrade.

Other countries sure have it rough.......some inspection stations here in Utah have a "if it made it made the drive to my shop it done did passed" mentality.....hell according to wikipedia 13 US states dont even have safety of emission inspections, scary, just scary :Wow1:

No V8 ZJ Grand sold here, so I'm guessing they are very hard to find in RHD

Cheers
Steve

 

[BIGdaddy]

No V8 ZJ Grand sold here, so I'm guessing they are very hard to find in RHD

Cheers
Steve

haha, all these american tinkerer's (fix-it men). I don't think you ever mentioned being overly worried about steering, did you?

Just that you had you're eye out for possibly upgrades?

These blokes have your rig torn apart with grinders and welders flying...haha!!

:coffeedrink:

 

[saburai]

Hey Steve, Great XJ! Any pics of the engine compartment? I'd love to see how you did the dual battery set up...

 

[BigAl]

That is a sharp jeep, watch out for this buy on your trip

 

[mudbutt]

That is a sharp jeep, watch out for this buy on your trip

That was a sick movie.... "Head on a stick....."

 

[Steve F]

Trips all done Report is here

Cheers
Steve