Here's the concept: Started with a pretty much rust-free 89 YJ with a 2.5, 5-speed, and a 231 tcase. Took a hit to the driver's front which blew out the tire, broke the driver's leaf, bent the knuckle, and exploded the tcase. At first I was just going to put it back together, throw some 33's on it and drive it. Plans changed as I came across some new 4" springs (to go with the 2" body lift) and I decided to try to find some 35-36's. Next, I fell into a good deal on a TBI 350/700R4/231 combo that basically comes with everything I need to make it work/run in the jeep. Lastly, during a night of "bench racing", someone asked what color I should paint it. My response, "why not pink?" At first it was a joke, but the idea grew on me and I think I'm going to paint it like Barbie's jeep and wheel the crap out of it. Plus I think it'll make for some pretty good trail stories (who want's to be the one pulled out by the bright pink Barbie jeep?? ;D) Anyways, here's some pics of where I started and where it's at now.
*Edit: Can't seem to load the pictures as attachments because they are too large. I'll put them in my photobucket tomorrow and then post them.*
The day I brought it home
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5304.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5304.jpg)
During the install of 4" springs
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5361.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5361.jpg)
As it currently sits
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5363.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5363.jpg)
Test fit with 35's
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5373.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5373.jpg)
sound awesome cant wait to see pictures
Sounds Cool Travis. But we need pictures.
Matt
Cool. It looks like it is in the exact same condition mine is except you have white doors.
WOW ''PINK'' REALLY............ ==sick ==sick ==sick loll loll
*Update 12-1-09*
Not huge progress, but little by little it's getting there. I'm currently working on an 03 Rubicon for a friend so time on my YJ is very little at the moment. I picked up some 35's from another GotMud? member on here and mounted them up last night (it's handy having a tire machine, even if it is old). Cleaned them up a little bit today on some spare rims that I had and I like the look of it. It's not road worthy yet, but hopefully will be by the 12th (SwampStomper Christmas party). I would like to say "thanks" for the nice comments. That's one of the reasons I posted a build thread here. On other sites, they would just flame me for not building a buggy or because of the color I want to run. Here, it's just about individual respect for what each other does and likes (with some fun and laughter too!!)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5492.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5492.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5497.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5497.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5496.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5496.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5494.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5494.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5493.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5493.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5495.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5495.jpg)
Its cool that you are replacing the color of the Jeep. Red is the most over used and most common color for these wranglers.
Looks good, do you have the small block setup in there yet?
theres nothing wrong with driving a pink truck.. ive pulled people out with my pink truck!
loookin good! travis! ==thumbsup
Quote from: SUCKYJUNK on December 02, 2009, 04:24:56 AM
Looks good, do you have the small block setup in there yet?
Not yet. It'll probably be spring before I start to tackle that. I want to make sure I have everything else set up the way I want it because when I do the engine swap, it'll be the perfect time to tear it down and paint it.
Quote from: MORGZILLA! on December 02, 2009, 04:36:13 AM
theres nothing wrong with driving a pink truck.. ive pulled people out with my pink truck!
Actually I considered buying your Bronco because it is Pink already lol. Part of the pink is for the stories it'll lead to. I can see it now "Yea Ed, I had to have the Barbie Jeep pull me out. I feel soo ashamed" lmao
nice jeep!! I have been looking for one like that!!
lookn good man
looks good
==cl Jeep!
Sweet. Someone has the balls to paint there rig a girly color.
applaudd
I am not going to lie but there used to be a pink TJ that drove around Hartland. I always wanted to buy it and Put a stickers on the sides saying REAL MEN DRIVE PINK JEEPS.
I would so drive Morgan's Bronco btw.
Quote from: Cannaert on December 13, 2009, 09:55:28 PM
Sweet. Someone has the balls to paint there rig a girly color.
applaudd
I am not going to lie but there used to be a pink TJ that drove around Hartland. I always wanted to buy it and Put a stickers on the sides saying REAL MEN DRIVE PINK JEEPS.
I would so drive Morgan's Bronco btw.
i seen that thing today. thats so not the greatest thing to admit btw ==roll
*Update 12-14-09*
I've been trying to bust my a$$ in the garage and finish up some other projects that have been in the way. It looks like this will be coming in the garage for a partial tear down the week of Christmas. Right now the plan is to make it streetable. I have a good t-case to put in, newer Rubicon Express shocks, t-case drop, upgraded brakes/axles shafts for the D30. Beyond that I'll probably play h3ll with trying to get the top to fit, but I hope to have it ready for it's maiden road voyage before the new year. I figured I might as well get some snow wheeling in with the current drivetrain and get the suspension woes figured out now. Parts are stacking up nicely for the drivetrain swap in the spring. Thanks for all the nice words. Little by little, this thing will get done GotMud?
what happened to those bfg's? if you might want to part w/ a couple let me know. i need to complete my set of three eventually loll
Quote from: Fraser on December 20, 2009, 08:40:55 PM
what happened to those bfg's? if you might want to part w/ a couple let me know. i need to complete my set of three eventually loll
The 31's that where on it when I got it?? I mounted them on some different wheels and sold them. Pretty much sold off what I wasn't going to use to help offset the cost of the jeep.
Quote from: mrclean on December 21, 2009, 08:08:08 PM
Quote from: Fraser on December 20, 2009, 08:40:55 PM
what happened to those bfg's? if you might want to part w/ a couple let me know. i need to complete my set of three eventually loll
The 31's that where on it when I got it?? I mounted them on some different wheels and sold them. Pretty much sold off what I wasn't going to use to help offset the cost of the jeep.
no, these lol-
Quote from: mrclean on November 25, 2009, 02:40:02 AMTest fit with 35's
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5373.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/DSCN5373.jpg)
Those where "borrowed" from a friends jeep just to see how they looked. For some reason he wouldn't leave them on there for me.
Quote from: mrclean on December 22, 2009, 09:11:12 PM
Those where "borrowed" from a friends jeep just to see how they looked. For some reason he wouldn't leave them on there for me.
that stinks, o well :D
Well, hows it going with Barbie?
Quote from: SUCKYJUNK on February 14, 2010, 04:11:21 PM
Well, hows it going with Barbie?
Barbie has been put on the back burner, but should be coming back into the garage with the month. I actually had to drive it today and it fired right up after sitting in the snow for a few months
I just sold the ZJ and now buying new stock parts for the YJ
last week was warm and nice..... updates please
Quote from: SUCKYJUNK on March 13, 2010, 06:44:30 PM
last week was warm and nice..... updates please
Sorry, haven't thought about this thread in a while. I was really wanting to work on it more over the winter, but paying jobs took up that time pretty well. Mostly I've collected parts, but things should be coming together quickly in the next month or 2. I was going to run the 4 cyl. for a while, but it has a cracked exhaust manifold and a broken t-case that I don't feel like dealing with. I have 95% of all the parts for my drivetrain swap, so I'm just going to do it now instead of later. Scored a 350 TBI complete with harness, computer, manifolds, etc. with 90k on it, a fresh rebuilt 700R4 with shift kit, and a chevy 231 tcase. I also have a Griffin 4 core aluminum radiator, Flowmaster mufflers, engine mounts, etc. The cost I have into all of this is insanely low, but that's the beauty of "horse trading". Also, I traded some "work for work" and am having a full roll cage built with 6 point tie in to the frame. The axles will remain the same for the moment, but one of the last pieces I'm looking for is a Ford 8.8 with 4:10's, a LSD, and disc brakes, also with the larger splined shafts. As for updated pics, it still looks the same (at the moment) but has the inside filled up with parts at the moment.
**Bump from the Dead**
I officially started working on the tear down of this thing. Unfortunately life, finances, and other money making projects got in the way of me working on this. It's in the garage right now and I plan to start pulling the existing drivetrain this weekend. I've started doing a little other work as well: removed the rear bumperettes and stock spare tire carrier so I can put on my swing out style carrier/bumper from a past TJ. I also swapped out the stock bucket seats for a set of 03 Grand Am seats (much more comfy!). I'll grab some more pics soon and post them up.
hows it going?
sweet! ==kp ++peace
Quote from: SUCKYJUNK on February 15, 2011, 03:58:43 AM
hows it going?
It's been going sloooooowwwww but soon to pic up speed. It leaves monday to go to a friends house for a "small" upgrade. Going from leaf spring in the front to a TJ coil spring set up with a TJ D30 with 4:10 gears, bigger shafts, blah, blah. All of the old drivetrain is out and sold, new drive train is about ready for mock up. Not much for pictures at the moment, but I'll do something soon.
I blame this for slowing me down. Decided to get an 01 Wrangler as a DD. Did a little budget boost, than bigger tires, then flares, and kept going. It's going up forsale in the next week so I can concentrate more on my other projects.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/cars%20forsale/01TJ11222010001.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/cars%20forsale/01TJ11222010001.jpg)
That TJ sure is clean. Why don't you keep it till the YJ project is finished?
Quote from: SUCKYJUNK on February 21, 2011, 12:49:14 AM
That TJ sure is clean. Why don't you keep it till the YJ project is finished?
The TJ was an impulse by/good deal, that's why I did it. Now I remember why I got rid of my first wrangler as a DD. They are a fun toy, but I don't want one to have to drive everyday again. Plus selling it will free up some $$ and motivate me to do other things.
*Update 2-26-2011*
Looks like it's leaving monday for major front end work (going from leafs to coils) and found yesterday a Ford 8.8 that has 4:10 gears (keeps them matching), a detroit locker, disc brakes, etc. that is set up for a YJ already. This takes care of modifying a rear axle to fit as well. Bolt in and go, couldn't be happier. With a little luck, I'll be driving it by June!
==cl
sweet project ++peace
Quote from: lilred on February 26, 2011, 11:13:07 PM
==cl
what did u do with the seats out of it? wanna sell them?
sounds and looks great
**A small update but picking up steam** (also, the stock YJ seats where sold a while ago)
All of the new front suspension is tacked in place and is being welded in professionally as we speak as well as a full custom roll cage (pics to come very soon!). Also picked up a set of 35" KM2's that are like new for an unheard of price (came with wheels too!). As soon as it's back it'll be getting the drivetrain put in as well as the custom built 8.8 with disc and detroit locker. As of right now, plan to have it ready to go for a August 4-6 Silver lake trip.
Some sample picks (sorry for the poor quality)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJ.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJ.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJprogress.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJprogress.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJProject.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89YJProject.jpg)
looking good GotMud?
Some updates from last night:
** Engine and trans are hopefully in for the last time. Had to get some new gaskets for the 231 t-case, but it's ready to go in now as well with it's fresh SYE installed. Front axle has been installed for the last time and the Dana 35 finally got swapped for a disc braked, Detroit locker 8.8 rear. Hope to be driving this in about 3 weeks. We'll see what happens.
Old suspension gone
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/partsmarch312011001.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/partsmarch312011001.jpg)
New suspension in
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011001.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011001.jpg)
Engine/trans going in
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011003.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011003.jpg)
Now sitting in their new home
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011004.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011004.jpg)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011006.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011006.jpg)
8.8 before install (with my friend Eric)
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011008.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/trav340/89%20YJ%20-%20Barbie%20Jeep/89YJproject2011008.jpg)
I'll try to post more pics, just been busy trying to find time to work on it. Still have a ton to do, but where there's a will there's a way!!
What is the status of your Jeep today?