My 'ffroader:

[Power Giant]

This is my 1981 Toyota. It started out as a pickup that I found for $250. I then built an off road capable, but street legal truck. After a really hard barrel roll in the rocks, I made a purpose built rock crawler out of it. Now, there are no body panels to worry about, and I'm surrounded by a steel roll cage this time. The engine runs off of propane, and it has two transfer cases mated together for about a 150:1 crawl ratio. It has fully hydraulic steering and the axles use chromoly guts with differential lock. The suspension is of the link variety and uses air (nitrogen) springs.

The day I bought it:

8184

It's first competition:

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The propane installation:

8187

8188

[Power Giant]

Second comp:

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8191

[Power Giant]

More action:

8192

8193

Them's the breaks:

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8195

[hunter63]

LOL, kinda running out of truck there ........looks like fun.

[Power Giant]

Linked the suspension and tubed the chassis:

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Another event:

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[Power Giant]

Finished tubing the front, and moved the radiator to the rear, out of harms way:


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[crashdive123]

You've been busy. Cool hobby.

[Power Giant]

Hit the big time- August issue of Off Road Magazine. Now my ego matches my tires.

8203

[crashdive123]

Pretty cool. Congratulations.

[hunter63]

Can I have your autograph?....BYW- DD and SIL are mud pit racers is LA. and AR

[Power Giant]

Actually, I'm going pro. My first pro comp is in a week and a half. I'm a little nervous about it, but not too much. It's in Goldendale, WA, out in the desert.

[Kamel]

so jealous, looks badass

[crashdive123]

Good luck with your first pro showing.

[Power Giant]

Well, didn't do real well at Goldendale, but learned a bunch: like how to flop on your side!

8265

[Power Giant]

8266

We winched out of it, but with a 30 point penalty for winching. Lame rule IMHO.

[crashdive123]

You'll get em next time.

[hunter63]

Remember, speed cost money....How fast do you wanna go?
Back in the day, with food clothes and shoes for the kids, I barely had enough to keep my race car running......
Cool pic's, keep them coming......

[Power Giant]

8568

A recreational trip up the Compressor creek trail outside of Mullan, ID. The trail leads to an old silver mine up in the mts.

[crashdive123]

Looks like a great place to spend time.

[ElevenBravo]

Cool project! Even minor upgrades & mods are very rewarding! Still saving money to the the trans rebuilt in my K5 Blaz. My "War Wagon". Miss driving it pretty bad.

[Power Giant]

Idaho Tuff Truck Challenge 2013: Third place

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x208/AlfromnorthID/1234abcd_zps6456f651.png

[hunter63]

Nice....and good to see ya check in, man.....
Not much truck left........Thanks for posting.

[Power Giant]

I tried posting more pics but the site said they were too large- said I had to downsize 'em.

[crashdive123]

Cool truck. Congrats.

[1stimestar]

WOOT WOOT Congratulations!

[Rick]

Four tires up for a good job!!!!

[Jessthebuilder]

The truck looks awesome. If you don't mind me asking, what's it cost (ballpark) to convert a $250 pick up into a machine like that ? What kind of man hours went into it?

[Power Giant]

The truck looks awesome. If you don't mind me asking, what's it cost (ballpark) to convert a $250 pick up into a machine like that ? What kind of man hours went into it?


Most of the components are available through Trail Gear, in kit form. The man hours depends on how proficient a person is with mechanicking and fabricating. Most of the time was spent welding and fabricating. The suspension kits go pretty quickly. Welding and fab work is painstaking. The propane conversion was also in kit form from Got Propane, down in Phoenix.

[Batch]

Most of the components are available through Trail Gear, in kit form. The man hours depends on how proficient a person is with mechanicking and fabricating. Most of the time was spent welding and fabricating. The suspension kits go pretty quickly. Welding and fab work is painstaking. The propane conversion was also in kit form from Got Propane, down in Phoenix.

See he and now I were actually looking for a monetary number (ball park) and a rough estimate of the time you have in this beast.

Not how much time it would take someone else. Just about, roughly a guesstimate at how much cabbage and muscle you have put into that thing. LOL

I have a jeep that wants to be a swamp buggy. But, I am starting with jeep running gear. The tires ain't bad, but they ain't good. LOL

So how big was the rabbit hole for you?:D

[Power Giant]

See he and now I were actually looking for a monetary number (ball park) and a rough estimate of the time you have in this beast.

Not how much time it would take someone else. Just about, roughly a guesstimate at how much cabbage and muscle you have put into that thing. LOL

I have a jeep that wants to be a swamp buggy. But, I am starting with jeep running gear. The tires ain't bad, but they ain't good. LOL

So how big was the rabbit hole for you?:D

If you want ideas for your buildup, you should try: www.pirate4x4.com Go to the Jeep, or the Mud section. This will give you a glimpse into what it takes to create an off road vehicle. About the cost: If you have to ask, maybe you should be taking up a different hobby. Its a lifestyle and an obsession that I've been doing since I was a teenager and I am near 60 years old now. I live, breathe and eat trucks and I work on them for living. I'm just sharing my obsession with the community here on this site.:)

[Reel water]

I would suggest getting a XJ and do a budget build ( which is what I'm slowly doing ) and here's a junkyard list of parts on the cheap. Plus doing it yourself will come with bloody knuckles, hair pulling, restless nights, well you know
Any way for everyone's enjoyment


Hey guys for the sake of everyone doing budget junkyard builds I was wondering what parts from other vehicles will fit an XJ with little or no modification that will help the performance/offroad capabilities of the XJ....feel free to post your mods and links to build threads if you have them.....this thread is to help new guys on a budget get started

***note that these are not all bolt in mods, but can be done by most who are mechanically inclined with the right tools

Here is the latest re-cap of what we have found:

Suspension & Lift:
1. ZJ V8 Upcountry Coils = 1-1.5" lift
2. F-150/Bronco Coils ('70s-ish) = 4-4.5" lift
3. S10 (P/U or Blazer) leaf packs (cut eyes off S10 main and bolt pack under XJ main) = 3-4" lift (may require use of degree shims)
4. Dakota Bastard Pack (do same as with S10 pack) = ~4" lift
5. JK shocks = slight mod to fit 2-4" lift (some dispute)
6. MJ Shackles = 1/2" lift
7. Camaro Spring Isolators = 1.5" lift
8. Full size Blazer Bastard Pack (do same as S10 pack) = 4-4.5" lift (may require use of shims) may be stiffer than S10 leafs
9. ZJ spring isolators = stronger, metal core, can be stacked
10. GM fullsize pickup shackles ('95-99) = 1.5" lift, better shackle angle
11. Thunderbird Front Coils ('83-97) = 3-4" lift (varies in lift and softness by year and trim package), will need top plate from strut too
12. Any 2.5" wide leaf spring can be used between to make a bastard pack (they may differ in stiffness and lift)
13. S10 Shocks (Rear only) = good for the lift you will get when you do a bastard pack
14. TJ Lift Coils (front only) = provide 1" less lift on an XJ than on a TJ

Brakes:
1. WJ brake booster
2. WJ Master Cylinder
3. YJ Brake Lines = 3-4" longer
4. Dodge Ram Van Brake Lines = 10-12" longer (for big lifts)
5. WJ Rotors/Calipers = bigger brakes and more stopping power (will fit 15" rims)
6. ZJ brake booster, master cylinder, proportioning valve = may need for disc conversion
7. XJ '95+ brake booster and master cylinder = dual diaphragm
8. Dakota Rear Softlines ('95-00) = 6" longer
9. GM C/K1500 Front Softlines ('90-95) = 6" longer
10. KJ disc brake set-ups can be used for a conversion on your XJ axle

Axles:
1. Ford 8.8 inch ('97+) = need spring & shock mounts (3.55, 3.73, or 4.10, maybe LSD, Disc Brakes)
2. XJ I-4 & some V6 = may have 3.73, 4.10, or 4.56 gears may have vacuum discos
3. XJ C8.25 ('97+) = bolt in and upgrades to 29 spline (strength comparable to D44)
4. XJ D44 = found in some but not all '87-'89 XJ's with Towing Package
5. Lincoln Lockers = welded spider gears, operates like a spool, must be a GOOD welder
6. MJ D44 = need new spring perches and shock mounts
7. XJ D30 = ('95-'99) non-disconnect, larger u-joints, high pinion, bolt in
8. Homebrew posi-locks for '84-90 vacuum disconnect D30s, eliminates vacuum actuation (use search function)

Front End & Steering:
1. ZJ V8 Tierods = beefier & bolt in
2. WJ Knuckles/Tierods/Draglinks = beefier and crossover steering
3. Durango Steering Box = beefier
4. 350 or 351 Power Steering Pump = helps with oversize tires (requires welding)
5. WJ LCA's = more tire clearance (some grinding required)
6. ZJ pitman arm = 1 inch drop over stock
7. WJ rear LCA's = replace XJ front LCA's, 2" longer to accommodate a lift, some grinding required
8. WJ power steering pump (fits '96+, plug return hole, and use XJ pulley)
9. V8 ZJ front sway-bar
10. JK rear UCA = use as XJ LCA, its about 1-2" longer

Engine/Transmission/T-case:
1. Newer XJ intakes (may require some modification)
2. Mustang 5.0 Injectors = near bolt in (have 4 holes instead of 1, more fuel, better spray)
3. ZJ V8 alternator = more power to run accessories (some grinding required) 136A (for 1991 and newer XJ's).
4. Ford Electric Fan ('90-95 3.8L Taurus, '87-93 5.0L Mustang) = replaces mechanical fan, more cooling (8C607)
5. 2.5L Dakota Alternator = bolt in, upgrades to 117A
6. Dodge Neon Injectors = better throttle response
7. '94+ V6 Dakota AX-15 = bolt in (but must use XJ bellhousing)
8. ZJ and WJ stock tranny coolers with stacked plates (even an upgrade for us with the stock fin style)
9. 5spd crossmembers give 3/4 inch t-case drop on autos with no loss in ground clearance
10. Hoodvents (i.e. Lebaron, Laser, Turbo Thunderbird etc.) = help keep ur 4.0 cool at low speeds
11. You can convert the closed system to open without replacing your radiator by using the fill cap from a 4.7 durango or dakota, cutting it into your upper hose, and replace your bottle with an MJ overflow tank or any that fit. Then cap off or eliminate the T'ed lines in the heater core.
12. Homebrew Slip Yoke Eliminator (use search function)


Body/Interior/Armor:
1. 97+ mirrors are direct bolt in to older XJ's and allow you to fold them in on tight trails.
2. MJ/2 Door XJ Bucket seats = tilt forward, bolt in
3. ZJ gas tank skid = can be modified to fit 97+
4. GM power antennas replace your broken XJ's with little modification
5. XJ '97+ doors onto older cherokees = one piece windows and better mirrors
6. XJ overhead console = most commonly found in '00-01 or higher trim level, provides space for switches etc.
7. '97+ center console = can be made to fit '96 and older, gives you cupholders!
8.'96-00 Ford Explorer hatch shocks = lift your hatch about 3" lower but are beef (ever see one that doesn't work?) need modification for '97+
9. OEM skid plates (Front, Tranny, T-case, gas tank, found on "up-country" package XJ's)
10. OEM swing-out tire carriers, get the bumper with it, found mainly on '84-'90 XJ's

*feel free to ask questions about any of these mods

**Also Blazin Den has made a list of links to build threads for us! Recap with Links!

***Here is the Link to the thread on Jeepforum.com where most of this info came from Budget Builds: What Junkyard parts will fit an XJ?
Stole it from cherokeeforum.com

[Reel water]

Opp's

NICE RIG DUDE :)

[Power Giant]

9735

My namesake: 1958 Dodge Power Giant. Chrysler 440 on propane, Rockwell deuce axles, blah, blah, blah. LOL

[Power Giant]

9737

An acquaintance of mine from Alaska. He drove his Dodge to the bus that Chris McCandless stayed in, camped for a week, then drove back home.

[crashdive123]

A couple of great looking trucks.

[hunter63]

Always kinda liked the '58 Power Wagon.....Very nice truck.

[mukappa56]

*******************

[mukappa56]

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