Democracy in Action

What's the Plan, Stan???

Posted April 24 2009 02:39 PM by Christian Hazel
Filed under: Custom Jeep Projects, Jeep Enthusiast Culture, Christian Hazel

Alright, you've spoken. Most want me to keep up with the stock-type tech on my YJ for a while. No problemo.

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I was all set to raise hell with a 500hp LS engine, but if most of you want me to keep the banger and little tires for a while, then so be it. I'm all about democracy - up to a point.

So, whadya wanna see me do to my YJ? An AX-15-to-2.5L conversion? Gears and locker tech? Safety and interior widgets? I'd be all over a turbo except for the fact that my '89 is the TBI 4-cyl and not the MPI. I don't think I'll be able to get enough fuel into the engine to support the hairdryer.

Speak up with your project ideas 'cause the summer is upon us and when it's 110-degrees outside I'd rather be on the boat than dreaming up Jeep projects to sweat over in the garage. Make 'em good and I'll make it a story in Jp.

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16. Show what a budget somewhat stock jeep can do. Light armor, skidplates, small suspension, and fix the weak links. In other words a jeep most of us can afford, keep, and enjoy with minimal work. It's more fun to do things with the jeep.

mc89140 - Posted April 28 2009 09:05 AM

17. Who ever mentioned running the underpowered idea and squeezing the most you can out of something like an ecotec would be wicked cool, and I bet it's something that can translate to a lot of builders - I'm thinking they may be some available as teenagers wrap their Cobalts and Solstice's around telephone poles.

If I may spitball some ideas: I am thinking in the thread of what I would try to build if my parts list came from looking at what the j-yard has available, as opposed to what someone may necessarily have in their 'dream build' list. Maybe score a d-44 from a wrecked LJ, a random narrow width d-44 or whatever for the front end whenever one surfaces. Flip a dana-300 or score a Rubicon transfer case. I realize that 'auto recycler' prices for axels are up there around the cost of dynatrac and curry, but it's something to kick around for a bit. Maybe not a completely mapped plan, but an evolution of a build up.

OR ignore everyone because deep down, Christian, you want giant horsepower, big gnarly tires, and you know no one reads your build up stories for the feasibility of recreating them on their own budgets. Your projects are the Victorias Secret catalog, for the most part those models are out of our league, we know but we still look.

fjduesel - Posted April 28 2009 04:33 PM

18. If I wanted info on keeping it stock I would read the service manual or the crappy Chilton manual. Go for a modern Hemi swap with all the fixins'.

right_turn_clyde - Posted April 28 2009 07:41 PM

19. Well, the axles are already under it. At least for a while. I've got the stock axles loaded with 30-spline shafts and Eaton E-Lockers, the rear has a Superior truss, and some 4.88s are going in shortly as part of a 4-cylinder power adders - vs. - gearing story I've been wanting to do. I had the junkyard Wagoneer D44 I nabbed for free (see the blogs elsewhere here) but got rid of it when I rationalized that my upgraded high-pinion D30 was nearly as strong as the D44 I would've been swapping in. Plus, the D30 was already under my Jeep. When it's axle time the YJ may or may not get the front Currie aluminum Rock Jock front and Geartech HD GM 14-bolt rear axles from Project Murderous Overkill, but it'll be sporting the D30 and D35 for a while to come.

I also just revamped the stock T-case for a story in the June '09 issue, so if it hasn't arrived yet, look for it. It'll now easily live with 500hp and/or big tires.

I don't hate the idea of a small, powerful 4-banger like an Ecotec, but the computer and fuel system are gonna make it a hassle. I'll mull it over, though. Good thoughts.

I did some stock armor upgrades like the fuel tank and aluminum rockers, but I'm not gonna plate the oil pan or anything like that 'cause it's not a hardcore rock crawler. I'm gonna hold off on the corner armor until the big tires are on it 'cause I'll most likely be moving the wheelwell opening back a bit. That's the bummer of a buildup - order of operations. You can't please everybody when they want it.

For those who have asked, it'll still be the source of some cheap tech as well as some not-so-cheap tech.

Keep the ideas coming guys. It's not that I'm out of ideas. On the contrary - I've got enough build plans to keep a small army employed building my hairbrained creations. I just enjoy reading people's thoughts.

Christian Hazel - Posted April 28 2009 09:20 PM

20. Make a hybrid elcetric 4x4 out of it?

wildwilly4x4 - Posted April 30 2009 05:03 PM

21. Make a hybrid electric 4x4 out of it?

wildwilly4x4 - Posted April 30 2009 05:03 PM

22. Why not do a "real" Budget Build Up? Every "Budget Build" I've ever read begins with, "the first thing we did was order up an Atlas II and a Pro Rock 60..."
Continue with what you started. Low buck YJ with low budget tune up. Now keep it a YJ and do a shackle reversal, spring over, Junk Yard Axles, SYE etc., and do it as if you were us doing it with buddies in your drive way.

TBird48 - Posted May 20 2009 08:19 PM

23. Eh, I'll be doing it by myself in the driveway. My buddies are smart enough to disappear when there's Jeep work to be done.

Here's the update:
*Stock axles are staying, although they've been upgraded with lots of Superior Axle parts and some new Eaton E-Lockers I'm testing
*AX15 conversion is gonna happen to get rid of the weenie AX5
*T-case has already been rebuilt and beefed by me at home in the garage
*I'm eventually gonna stuff a Chevy LS engine in front of the AX15. The engine I'm gonna use won't be any joke, but you'll be able to duplicate it on the cheap using a junkyard 4.8L, 5.3L, or 6.0L Chevy from a wrecked pickup.

Tires are 31s now and they'll be 31s for a while. I may eventually put some 32s or 33s on and then maybe 35s, 37s, or even 39s, but I won't be changing the 2.5-inch Rubicon Express spring under suspension that's currently on there.

Christian Hazel - Posted May 21 2009 07:18 AM

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