YJ rebuild with my son. stretch, 5.3 swap

Benderff said:
Thanks again for sharing your build. We read a bunch and really liked how you cut and filled in and copied ya!
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No worries, glad to hear it helped. I saw so many people cut in the middle of the wheel well and though they were wasting a ton of space. Cutting like you did makes behind the seats feel cavernous compared to stock. I have dumb ideas about a little tool box ahead of the wheel well with a door outside, like a late 70's F250 camper special. Maybe one day...

I am halfway through installing some Motobilt YJ unlimited boatside rockers. The kit is great and fits well, but it's about 4.25" short for the way I cut my wheel opening at the back end and short about 4.75" at the front. I wonder what yours will fit like.
 
YJLOPES said:
No worries, glad to hear it helped. I saw so many people cut in the middle of the wheel well and though they were wasting a ton of space. Cutting like you did makes behind the seats feel cavernous compared to stock. I have dumb ideas about a little tool box ahead of the wheel well with a door outside, like a late 70's F250 camper special. Maybe one day...

I am halfway through installing some Motobilt YJ unlimited boatside rockers. The kit is great and fits well, but it's about 4.25" short for the way I cut my wheel opening at the back end and short about 4.75" at the front. I wonder what yours will fit like.
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Thanks again!

Oh, that’s a bummer! We’ll have to take a look at that.
 
Little more progress. We were able to use some sections from the old frame for the 14 7/8” frame stretch.

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Cut the frame at the third body mount. Went back and forth on a couple options. Wanted to keep the factory tank.

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Bent some 1/8” to size and made inner sleeves, and holes for plug welds.

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Frame stretch in place. Mocked up the body for a test fit. Need to figure out the windshield fitment with the Rally top. On factory tops the corners of the windshield frame need trimmed, this top looks like it needs more.


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This is what I get for not measuring first. We picked up a replacement panel to make the top rail patches. We cut the patches out, went to start stitching them in and found the they are wider then the factory rails.

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While we wait for a different panel we did some for mock up. The rockers are short. It bugs me to much not to extend them.


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The engine went into a local small machine shop a couple years ago. The owner turned out to be a D-bag. He ended up in jail, along with legal problems. He was released last summer but refused to give anyone their stuff. Obviously that pissed me off. I linked up with a large group of guys in the same situation. Several filed in small claims court. The dude has 22 unpaid cases against him last I heard. The cops wouldn’t do anything, saying it was a civil matter. I decided to “terrorize” him. After 8 months of calling, texting, going to his house every day I was the only person to get stuff back.


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Picked up a cheap parts jeep. He had a blast driving it around and doing donuts in the field. He tore it down, sold parts we didn’t need. After the body panel we bought had the wrong profile we decided to try the two tub method for the stretch



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School and sports take a lot of his time. He’s been doing football, wrestling, and MMA. First legit broken nose. Then the animal decides to wear a “Hannibal lector” face mask and wrestle in a tournament a couple days later.

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Scored a never used LJ soft top before we finish figuring out the cage plans. Picked up 3 TJ belt rails to make LJ length rails. The hardtop fits much better with them and should make the soft top fit better vs using the YJ style bolt on rails.

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He installed studs in the main caps. Looking at the cam bearings I had my reservations about putting everything together without a look over plus I wanted to see if the mains needed honed or the caps cut. Glad we took it in, machine shop found a laundry list of work the first shop did that needed fixed. Should have the engine back next week.

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YJLOPES said:
Pretty sick build. I think it makes the perfect Jeep. I don't think I'll ever get rid of mine.
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Thanks. Learned a lot from your build. I told him I’d kick his ass if he ever gets rid of it 🤣
 
Winchested said:
What no leaf springs? Blasphemy!

Should be a wicked build and glad you're kids doing a bunch of it!

Knowing he built it, he will respect it!
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🤣🤣 probably would have been easier to stay leaf springs, but I have a bad habit of learning the hard way.

Knowing how I was at 16 I’m hoping he respects it after all his hard work.
 
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