YJ Wrangler Expedition project

[96discoXD]

I recently acquired this 1994 Jeep Wrangler and am in the process of building it up for expedition/hunting/camping and just plain four wheeling.
It is a 4 cylinder 5 speed which will have to do for now, but long term I plan on putting a small block chevy V8 in it with a 700R4 transmission, and probably Dana 44 front and Ford 8.8 rear at the same time.
So far I've added a custom front winch bumper built by a local gentleman along with a rear bumper with a built-in 2 inch receiver. Both bumpers include plates for 3/4" D-rings to be added for recovery points. I just had them bedlined instead of powdercoated as I figured it would be easier to touch up.
I'll be mounting a Smittybilt XRC-8 (8000lb) winch on it as soon as the bedliner cures sufficiently.
I also had a couple of light tabs added to the upper center bar so I can add a couple off road lights later on.
I just installed a Uniden CB today along with the cable and antenna bracket. I still have to drill a hole in the tub and bolt the bracket to it to better secure it. The antenna is a 4' wilson fiberglass whip. Once I get the power and ground wires hooked up I'll work on getting it tuned.
I also removed the factory soft top and installed a hardtop I picked up locally for just $100. It has a couple nicks here and there but is structurally in good shape. I gave it a quick coat of satin black and have installed it on the truck. I also have hard doors for cold weather but the window regulators need work to get them functioning properly. I pulled the driver's side door completely apart today so I can set about fixing it.
I also ordered my OME 2.5" HD lift today along with an OME steering stabilizer. My plans are to install 31x10.50R15 BFG Mud Terrain KM2's after the lift is installed.
I also removed the rear seat and will be building a modular carpeted storage platform for the rear of the jeep. I'll have a lower level that will be the same height as the fenderwells inside the tub. This will have one or two drawers that will be behind the tailgate. I will have an additional section that can be bolted to the top of that with just a couple of lift-up storage compartments that will be lockable. The plan is to leave enough space up high to be able to slide in one of my large rubbermaid action packers on top. I'll be incorporating tie down rings into the platform to secure any loose items sitting on top so they don't shift while off road.
Eventually when the V8 gets installed I will build a trailer with a roof top tent, but for now I'm planning to purchase a tent that has a sleeve that can be attached to the rear of a SUV. This will allow me access to the rear of the jeep and the cargo platform from inside the tent.

 

[Mr. D]

great start and nice looking jeep

 

[CoronaKJ]

I will be following closely as i am also doing the same with my 95 yj...right now i am looking into sound deadening the tub and for a used hardtop to do the same....but it is great to see another guy out there with the same equipment and motivation as my self...have fun!

 

[Sknowskier]

I'll be watching

:Astrologist:You might want to look into AC with that hardtop. I like what you have planned I'm doing something similar with my 95. I just finished the 350/700r4 swap. I just have to get it wired.

 

[96discoXD]

Yeah, I've got a herculiner kit that I will probably use for the floors in the front and perhaps for the rear bed area. My OME lift should hopefully be here by this weekend so I can at least start working on installing it. I also ordered some rear boomerang shackles and my 31" BFG Mud Terrain KM2's today. Happened to look at Discount Tire Direct's website and they have a $60 mail in rebate on a set of four or more tires, and since they only show 16 in stock in their warehouses I jumped on it. I'll have those mounted and balanced by the time the lift is on the jeep if all goes well. I will take lots of before and after pics.:victory:

I'm not worried about AC. I'm keeping my half doors so I can easily run sans top or with just a bikini top in the summer and just park the jeep in the garage. The hardtop will be mainly for cooler/cold weather use. I will probably pick up a set of soft uppers for the hardtop too so I don't always have to run full steel doors. I'm jealous on the V8 swap, you're definitely ahead of me there!

 

[Piet]

Cool build. Will be watching. I have an 1988 YJ (with a CJ Front end). Debating stretching it or going with a 4 door.

 

[96discoXD]

Cool build. Will be watching. I have an 1988 YJ (with a CJ Front end). Debating stretching it or going with a 4 door.

Love the CJ front end! A customer of mine just did a resto on his CJ and went with a 1-piece fiberglass front end. I may be acquiring his old hood and grill and getting some new fenders to put a CJ front end on my YJ down the road too. Definitely better than the YJ, which has a face only a mother could love with the square headlamps!:coffeedrink:

 

[96discoXD]

Look what the big brown truck brought to my house today...:drool:
I decided to skip the factory alloys and go with a little less backspacing so I don't lose any turning radius with tires rubbing on the springs in the front, especially with the lugs on these babys! I ordered a set of 15x8 black Cragar soft 8's with 4.75" back spacing that should be here tomorrow.

 

[96discoXD]

I'll have to post some updated pics soon. Since my last post I have installed the following:
- OME 2.5" HD lift with new springs, shocks, bushings and steering stabilizer
- 31" BFG Mud Terrain KM2's mounted on 15x8 Cragar soft 8's
- ARB Safari Snorkel
- Crosby 3.75 ton D-rings on the front and rear bumpers
- Full hard doors are mounted (probably won't bother painting them until spring)
I hope to get my oversize tire carrier installed on the tailgate tonight and my winch on the front in the next few days. I'm going to make a carrier from the old spare mount to allow me to carry my hi-lift jack, and a shovel and/or axe on the back of the jeep when needed, but quickly remove them for the street. I'll post on that project when I get to it soon.
It's been slow progress with a little one at home, but it's getting there.
I just can't wait to get out and do my first trip with it.:coffeedrink:

 

[PhotoJeeper]

Love the CJ front end! A customer of mine just did a resto on his CJ and went with a 1-piece fiberglass front end. I may be acquiring his old hood and grill and getting some new fenders to put a CJ front end on my YJ down the road too. Definitely better than the YJ, which has a face only a mother could love with the square headlamps!:coffeedrink:

I think you can't tell the difference between a square and a rectangle. The lights are rectangle.

 

[BigAl]

I'd stay away from the round headlights. I helped my buddy do a CJ clip on his YJ. He ran into a lot of fitment issues, all can be resolved, but what a hassle. The biggest downside I think was the need for a fast and the furious open air filter. They have no place on an off-road vehicle. Your rectangular lights look cool. Round headlights remind me of a dog's face if you were passing him up latter and accidently slipped a thumb into aft facing orifice.:ylsmoke:

Another easy upgrade to a weak link you should consider is getting rid of the straps that hold the drive shafts to the axles. Several companies make kits to switch over to u-bolts. I had a strap let go and ended upside down

 

[96discoXD]

I think you can't tell the difference between a square and a rectangle. The lights are rectangle.

Are you sure? Cause I checked all over the interweb and wikipedia says they're square!:victory:










Yes, I know they are rectangular, and not a square per se, but thank you for taking time to point out the obvious anyway.

 

[96discoXD]

I'd stay away from the round headlights. I helped my buddy do a CJ clip on his YJ. He ran into a lot of fitment issues, all can be resolved, but what a hassle. The biggest downside I think was the need for a fast and the furious open air filter. They have no place on an off-road vehicle. Your rectangular lights look cool. Round headlights remind me of a dog's face if you were passing him up latter and accidently slipped a thumb into aft facing orifice.:ylsmoke:

Another easy upgrade to a weak link you should consider is getting rid of the straps that hold the drive shafts to the axles. Several companies make kits to switch over to u-bolts. I had a strap let go and ended upside down

Yeah, the more I look at my YJ the more the front end is growing on me. I still prefer the classic round headlamps, but I'll probably leave well enough alone. If I really "need" round headlamps I'll just wait a couple of years and pick up a JK rubicon unlimited for my new DD. As for the aircleaner, I'm running an ARB safari snorkel and I plan on retaining it not matter what I do. I will probably be doing a V8 conversion this winter/spring and will fabricate an airbox to enable me to keep running the snorkel even with a carbureted engine.
Thanks for the heads up on the u-joint straps, I'll look into that.

 

[BigAl]

A V8 conversion sounds like fun:smiley_drive: I swapped a 4.0 in place of my carburated 258. I have some diagrams scanned of the pin outs you need. Basically just 5 wires. If you want it, I'll try to find it.

 

[Root Moose]

I was originally going to do a V8 swap. Decided to use a XJ drivetrain (4.0/AW4) instead. Sold my Gen I SBC. Decided the PITA and $$$ for a SBC was not worth the effort since a YJ doesn't need a V8. Maybe if I lived at altitude I'd feel different about that.

If you are going to bother with a V8 swap do at least a GenIII/IV SBC. The older stuff is not as nice. A Toyota 1UZ or 2UZ might be interesting. I like all iron engines in a truck though. They tolerate overheating much better than aluminum engines. That's another reason why I stuck with a Jeep engine. I think all the Gen III/IV stuff has at least aluminum heads to get the compression ratio up.

Just some thoughts. I haven't seen a v8 swapped YJ yet that I didn't like.