89 Wrangler (YJ) - Project "Barbie's Jeep" (Update 7-05-2011)

[mrclean]

*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 

[Fraser]

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

[mrclean]

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

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.

[Fraser]

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

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-

Test fit with 35's

[mrclean]

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. 

[Fraser]

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 

[SUCKYJUNK]

Well, hows it going with Barbie?

[mrclean]

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

[SUCKYJUNK]

I just sold the ZJ and now buying new stock parts for the YJ

[SUCKYJUNK]

last week was warm and nice..... updates please

[mrclean]

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.

[mrclean]

**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.

[SUCKYJUNK]

hows it going?

[94chevy_4x4]

sweet! 

[mrclean]

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.

[mrclean]

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.

[SUCKYJUNK]

That TJ sure is clean. Why don't you keep it till the YJ project is finished?

[mrclean]

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. 

[mrclean]

*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!

[RIP_K52007]