supposed to be stock tj...

[smichaelR22]

truck is still at the dealer trying to be fixed, most likely ill be getting a new dullie next week, but for the mean time paul was throwing around some rear bumper / tire carrier ideas for the TJ.  I said bring over some steel and let me borrow the Jeep for a few days again next week.


So last night i came home to a TJ in my driveway and some steel and supplies in my shop paul had dropped off earlier in the day.  I had some time so i got started on it last night, and finished up the hitch / base this morning.  It needs a few more materials for the tire / jake swing carrier- but its looking good so far with the base, recovery points, hitch, and swing pivot complete.

[Wingman]

Make sure to tie it into the frame.  The rear crossmember won\'t be enough to stand any good pulls.

[ollllllo]

Looks really good!
Are those d ring tabs going to hold up to a side pull?

[smichaelR22]

i thought about the d ring tabs, they are out of 3/8\"s and i welded the crap out of them.   the ones on my CJ5 were really under sized at 1/4\" on the rear, and i never had any issues yanking or side pulling the crap out of them.  

[ollllllo]

Sweet.. they dont look like 3/8 in the picture!
those should be plenty strong!
yea paul, lets get that TJ out on the trail!

[carchameleon]

stopped by to see it tonight, it looks awesome
thanks again smike

[smichaelR22]

swing carrier almost done.  

[carchameleon]

sweet  :-D

[jimsh]

very nice.  Wish i had one like that on my tj. Need a bigger piece of property so i can have the workshop and not be doing everything in the yard. Which is my priority. The tj will get some minor mods to make it a little more trail compatible but the wife is keeping me on a tight budget as far as the jeep is concerned. Our addition  on the house has been slow going and that comes first. Insulation and sheetrock is where i am at. Maybe she let me go buy some steel pretty soon , ha ha ha

[Wingman]

Maybe if you leave it parked in smike\'s driveway long enough, one will magically appear... :-P

Lookin\' good, smike!

[jimsh]

I should make it up to a meet and greet in either june or july. Looking forward to meeting you guys. For a temp. measure im going to add a couple rear tow point to the frame left and right. they will hang below the bumper but i need tow points for the 19th at w.p. i know the calendar has a bunch of events listed but is anyone going to wp on the 19?
WNYoffroad is holding a meet and greet there, so far about 20 trucks. like the way the bumper is turning out, may want to see if smike can build another one in the future.  

[carchameleon]

so after hearing loud banging noises and getting back to my parent\'s house, my dad and i looked under the tj to figure out what happened. looked at joints and whatever else...  then we both looked up at the upper control arms and realized that they weren\'t attached to the frame anymore...
i guess its a common tj problem
i would do long arms if i had more money, but for now fix to drive is the option or drive the cj (thats what i\'ve been doing since my bike has an electrical issue...)

smike came to help make a plan
use angle for the underside and inside of the frame and flat plate for the outside
cut a slot in the lower arm mounts to slide the angle in and weld it to making it more solid too
2 bushings and some box to make a 3rd conrol arm instead of the 2

so i figured as long as its out of use, i should look at and fix a few other problems and smaller/cheaper wants

-fix exhaust hole (sleeve over hole) & use better bolts at flange
-parking brake issue...
-rip out carpet and fix rust then bedline inside of tub
-replace front twisted upper control arm (finally)
-anything else i can think of that won\'t cost too much

[carchameleon]

heres a couple of pics of the damage after i took it apart today to get the control arms out of the way and some other stuff out of the way too
one of each side from the inside
then a pic of my work area :-)

[rejeep]

i cant believe thats a 97 TJ....

[smichaelR22]

ya, the wonders of NY.  We will get it patched up.  Its only steel.