kj junkyard budget build

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

WhitbyKJ wrote:

you dont even need to do that. three bolt holes in perfect locations... custom made bracket would be way easier than a whole truss.

Yeah that too if not lifted ad high as me, but i need a truss for where im going.....i have looked at them alot. You would have to raise the bracket up some to keep those bushings from binding up (my buddy has one on this wj that binds) hince the truss to raise the mount, make the arm more level and strengthen the axles. But them again im already sleeved and locked in the rear end.....

Now this is all theory from what i have gathered from my buds WJ.....i wanna test it all out and see. Making a bracket is easier than a truss for sure.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:15 am

I had a wj I was building when the drivers door fell off (I then got pissed and called a scrap dealer $1500 into this thing). So I am a little familiar with it, but not an expert.

A buddy of mine at work has a dub, totally stock. I measured the eye to eye on his tri link and it matched mine, an 04 kj. Keep in mind I am only referencing the body eye to eye and not the distance to the axle.... --------> but consider this:

If your a massive corp (like Dcx) and you have an excess of parts (rear upper boomerangs), would it not make financial sense to just instead of retooling an entire factory line (parts manufacturer) to just swap out the axle mount type deal?? The problem with the wj upper axle bj stud was that it kept breaking off. They realized this in 99. I am assuming that when the kj was drawn up they (engineers came up with a "quick fix") changed it.

So they were able to continue producing boomerangs, but just attached a bj to it instead of a wj bushing.

Hard to explain while shovelling snow (like I am currently doing)

Let me know if you follow or not.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:35 am

Follow what you are trying to say, but not how it is

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 11:57 am

meh,

I guess what I was trying to say was that dcx used the same boomerang but just put a different end on it.

so if IRO's wj tri link is adjustable and the kj and wj share the same mounting points, it is very very likely that one can buy a wj adj tri link from iro and adapt it onto the libby. iiRC the iro link is adj up to 4 inches of wj lift??

if it were me, I would buy a used one and bend it slightly. just to see what happens? would it take the stress off the bushings or just screw up the arm?

I put forth the idea and leave it to you gentlemen (with the experience) to figure it out.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:02 pm

I have some wj rear lowers and I know for fact that the set I have is half an inch to 3/4 of an inch longer, eye to eye. same style and thickness too!

albeit the wj lowers are not as "tall" as the post recall (that I have) arms, which may work in our favour if one was considering clearance issues. I know its a stretch and highly exaggerated to say that WJ lower rears are the perfect swap, but hey. they fit.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

So the WJ Lowers are a bit longer

And the WJ Upper arm bolt holes at thw frame is the same as a KJ?

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:58 am

The only thing I am no sure about is the bolts themselves. If they are the same.

What I want to know is about the gas tank. Can the v8 wj tank be swapped I to the kj?

I k ow about the recall, still have to take that in lol. But from what I remember the dub tank is shorter, but a bit ... Longer? I dunno.

Up here we have a junkyard called standard auto wreckers. Every Saturday they have a free parts day, in the spring of course. 50 bucks and whatever you can carry out the door is yours. I am a pretty big dude in decent shape. I can carry a lot of stuff.

You guys list your ideas and this spring, when I tear down my lib for cradle and tcase drop, I will try them out.

Provided I can find the parts.

John3:17 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:42 am

WhitbyKJ wrote:

but consider this:

If your a massive corp (like Dcx) and you have an excess of parts (rear upper boomerangs), would it not make financial sense to just instead of retooling an entire factory line (parts manufacturer) to just swap out the axle mount type deal?? The problem with the wj upper axle bj stud was that it kept breaking off. They realized this in 99. I am assuming that when the kj was drawn up they (engineers came up with a "quick fix") changed it.

Good luck I havnt found a blessed thing that will work on a KJ other than TJ rubicon wheels and an Evic. Not a headlight, temp sensor, or overhead manifold sprocket.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

And TJ adjustable rear lower arms will fit the KJ also.

Looks WJ rear lower arms are a bit longer (good news for me)

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:10 am

Tj rear lowers?

Got any good suggestions for a decent set?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:15 am

Unless you are going to redesign the whole rear suspension TJ lowers won't help you any really.
LCAs have to stay where they are and the KJ lowers do a good job

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

tommudd wrote:

Unless you are going to redesign the whole rear suspension

Maybe thats what im doing.....

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:30 pm

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

tommudd wrote:

Unless you are going to redesign the whole rear suspension

Maybe thats what im doing.....

Well I know you are :wink:

Have a good idea of your direction, but others may think they need longer LCAs or ??? :lol:

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:18 pm

I can't help but smirk.

I plan on redesigning my rear end. I am going for a 6 inch lift with 2.5 inch cradle and trans drop.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

WhitbyKJ wrote:

I can't help but smirk.

I plan on redesigning my rear end. I am going for a 6 inch lift with 2.5 inch cradle and trans drop.

Sounds like a plan....keep us updated

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:33 pm

Didn't read this thread throughly, but sounds like trying to cut corners on a KJ to save a few $$$.

When the members say on here "What's tried and tested over the past XX years works."...They really do mean it.

Pay more for quality parts, or you'll regret it later.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:33 pm

WhitbyKJ wrote:

I can't help but smirk.

I plan on redesigning my rear end. I am going for a 6 inch lift with 2.5 inch cradle and trans drop.

Steel front diff I assume, 4.88s then ?? or ??

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

tommudd wrote:

WhitbyKJ wrote:

I can't help but smirk.

I plan on redesigning my rear end. I am going for a 6 inch lift with 2.5 inch cradle and trans drop.

Steel front diff I assume, 4.88s then ?? or ??

Dont need all that for a "so-cal style" Jeep.

In all honesty, IF you know what you're doing and know how to fabricate and design then making your own suspension lift using Bilstein coilovers or Fox coilovers isn't really all that difficult. Especially if you know what parts to use. I run hey jeepinbyal 4 inch coilover lift kit with the steel Dana 30. After looking at these parts it isn't really all that difficult to make your own. But then again I have a few years with the liberties and a few years in welding and fabrication.

I want to see what this guy comes up with. After all the cradle drop is it really difficult to make. The hardest part would be the knuckle extension for the front. But a few days at the CNC machine can fix that.

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:58 am

The name is Ryan

I have been welding for over 6 years and been a millwright for about 3.

Trust me.

This can be done.

I will show you

Already been to hell and back with my Libby twice, two different lift kits and a pile of parts keep her alive.

Some of my other experiences are with the 10 years I spent with the army in the armoured corp. seen me some pretty sexy setups and took some notes *wink*

I have owned 4 Cherokees one wj and one Comanche, a handful of other fwd cars and stuff. Been wrenching all my life.

It would be an honour to deliver you guys a finished product with an open book policy.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:21 pm

and still no answer to my question :roll:

kj junkyard budget build

Who is online