1988 BII Build

[88_Eddie]

i'll have to do something a little different that that ^ since i've welded up one side already. but that one is awesome. i wish i had a press to make those dimples.

haha...i just noticed that it said GM performance parts on it when i was making my last post. i've had that thing for 3 years too lol. that must be the why it's a giant POS....sometimes i can sit there and pump the handle and nothing happens.

 

[4.0B2]

sometimes i can sit there and pump the handle and nothing happens.

that's when you should tighten the screw or handle... then pump it.

 

[88_Eddie]

even when the screw is tight it'll do that. it's on the list to get replaced

 

[4.0B2]

even when the screw is tight it'll do that. it's on the list to get replaced

get one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/rapid-pump-15-ton-compact-aluminum-racing-jack-68053-html-7814.html

with a 20% off coupon. it's well worth the money..and it's easy to move around.

 

[brinker88]

I have their 3 ton steel rapid pump. Cost me $65.00 out the door. It's needed on lifted trucks as that little one is too short. I absolutely LOVE it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-heavy-duty-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-68048.html

 

[88_Eddie]

got that bastard in there tonight. welded it up and bolted it in. it was PITA though, i think it warped while welding. next time it comes out, it's getting rebuilt.

hooked up the arms

just need to run out and get more grade 8 bolts, only had a couple.

 

[88_Eddie]

oh, and i 45'd the brackets on the bottom. it was dark by the time i stopped working, but you can sorta tell

 

[brinker88]

Looks great bud. You're almost there!

 

[88_Eddie]

yeah, i guess i'm happy with it. it's my first attempt at building one. metal fabbing is still pretty new to me. i tend to get irritated when things dont go exactly as i'd planned or how i assumed they'd go lol

 

[brinker88]

I just noticed you have a Low pinion Dana 30....

I have a high pinion dana 30 sitting in my backyard lol.

 

[88_Eddie]

yep, it was the only 373 D30 i could find. i found tons of HPD30's, but they all had 345's or 3.07's or something else useless. they were cheap too, $50-$75, but i'd have had to regear them to 373 (waste of money) or regear them and my 8.8 (i dont have that kind of money lol).

i'll eventually throw a HPD30 in it and regear to 4.88's front and back (do the regear myself to save some coin) or find a full width d44 and cut it down to EB width. we'll see what kind of trouble this axle gives me. i guess i could also get a HPD30 and throw the LP ring and pinion in it, wouldnt be too hard to set that up i dont think

 

[brinker88]

Wouldnt work. The gears are different rotations. I would have found a HP D30 out of say a wrangler and gotten the ballistic fabrication XJ coil mounts with integrated shock and track bar mounts. That way you coulda found a 4.10 axle and grabbed a 4.10 expo disc 8.8. Would have been hella cheaper.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/XJ--TJ-Jeep-combo-bracket-upgrade-kit_p_1542.html

 

[88_Eddie]

Wouldnt work. The gears are different rotations. I would have found a HP D30 out of say a wrangler and gotten the ballistic fabrication XJ coil mounts with integrated shock and track bar mounts. That way you coulda found a 4.10 axle and grabbed a 4.10 expo disc 8.8. Would have been hella cheaper.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/XJ--TJ-Jeep-combo-bracket-upgrade-kit_p_1542.html

i had already bought a LS 373 8.8 like 2 months before i decided to SAS it. otherwise, that's what i would've done. a guy on a local forum here in NC had a 4.10 disc 8.8 for $200 about a week after i bought the 373 8.8 . oh well, i'd rather have 488's anyhow, i plan on doing the 4.0 swap when we buy a house and i have a nice 2 car garage to work in.

EDIT-i looked at those coil mounts when i was doing this swap, but i wanted to coils to go directly above the tube.

 

[88_Eddie]

made the driver side upper arm tonight, added 2 gussets to it. that thing isnt goin anywhere

bolted it up, just need to design the rear bracket for it

started looking at my track bar position. good news is the factory TJ track bar is gonna be plenty long enough to use. i just need to make sure it isnt gonna hit anything since it has the bend in it. i'm thinking about sleeving the end with some 1.5"x.25" wall DOM i have left over. then putting a heim on the end so i can adjust it. like so

getting the steering box in tomorrow after work so i can see where the pitman arm is gonna sit.

 

[88_Eddie]

got the steering box in tonight. what a PITA to do by yourself.

i'll have plenty of room between the DL and track bar, but i think i'll need to move the track bar frame mount further to the right than i was anticipating. otherwise i could have some clearance issues with the cross member. i'd rather not have to trim it.