The 89 XJ was having some trouble starting and coupled with some rough idle issues lead me to believe the CPS needed replacing.

Arggh. I hate it when I spend 90 minutes figuring out how to take something off, then when I replace the new one, I figure out the way I should have taken it off. The reinstall only took 90 seconds.

I picked up the part from Advance Auto Parts, they are on sale this week.

I love stock backspacing, remember I run a hub conversion on the front and a 1″spacer on the rear. So maybe I don’t really love stock backspacing just stock rims. Sue me, I like my rig to look stock with mods; does that make sense?

I have a serious dilemma. I really need to increase the reliability of my beads. While on Indy last week I popped 2 beads. I like the look of these steel rims, but they only come in a 4.5″ backspace. I guess without my spacer on the rear I am sitting at about the same in the rear, but the front will stick out another 3/4″. I love the look on my TJ Canyons, heck I even drilled them out to except my hub conversion. Oh well they should bring some decent $$s on eBay.

Holy smokes it’s been a long time since and update has been posted here.

A few weeks ago the pinon gear got tore up; missing 2 1/2 teeth. I’m not sure how it happened. At first I thought it was the front driveshafts double cardon joint. I had some trouble with that while in Moab back in October. After turning off the hubs I relized it was in the rear. I first went to the thre rear driveshafts double cardon. I has it checked out and re-balanced. It turned out the balance was slightly off, but nothing was worng with the joints.

Advice on NAXJA said to pull the cover. I did and found the teeth missing. I friend of mine has a contact who does a tremendous job putting in gears. After a few phone calls he was nice enough to come up from Colorado Springs to help me out. Last nigh I put the first 15 minutes on the gears, and then let them sit overnight. The installer said that is the best way to break in a new set.

Why he was working on the gears I was busy with my own project, removing the front and rear doors. The guy at FormattFab are hooking up with a set of their tube doors. I really wish I had removed them a long time ago. The felling of cruising doen the highway without doors in ir trulley very “Jeep Like”. I did save the hinges and plan on atl east getting everything all lined up to put them back on if need be.

The next step is to finish the fender trimming and add a cage.

The past few days have been great.

Air System Install: I spent a ton of time getting all the fittings I need, the local ACE Hardware has been very helpful. I even found a pressure regulator with gauge and valve at Walmart! Who would of thought? I drilled two 1 1/4″ holes in my floor board under the storage area in the center console. This hole will let the main air line in and the other is to let the four air lines out to the lockers. I also ran the switch for the relay. I need to find some firewall rubber inserts to seal up the holes I drilled.

Compressor Mounting: I have decided to try and go a cheap route and not have anything built to hold the compressor. I decided to try cutting down the stock air box and attaching a hinged lid to the top of it; then attached the compressor to that lid. I’ll let you know how that works out.

Tranny Temp Gauge: Since my last XJ was parted out due a bad tranny, I want to make sure this tranny is well maintained and watched closely. I decided to add a tranny temp gauge. I used a simple 2″ AutoMeter unit. Bought the fittings from a local race shop and started the install. I loosely used Jason’s write-up on Jeepin.com. I mounted the gauge in the center console just in front of the t-case shifter on the angled piece(97+). I will post some pitchers soon on the LUVMYJP.com site. I am also thinking about pulling the tranny lines off the stock cooler and just using the aftermarket cooler. When the tranny cooler was installed it was installed so that the cool fluid runs throughout the stock cooler them back to the tranny. This could be heating the tranny fluid before sending it to the tranny. It’s running at 200-210 tops.

Tomken Gas Tank Skid: Pretty easy install. My custom exhaust needed some adjustment. I had to remove the tube past the hanger. I then installed the tank and had a new pipe shaped and welded in place.

Before the weekend I plan on running the air lines run, installing the compressor, JKS SuperNerfs, JKS boomerang shackles,

Today’s progress was good. I took a few minutes and picked up a relay, pressure regulator and some plugs for my on board air set up. I need to have a plate to hold the air compressor and relay. I’ll be build one out of cardboard then headed over to the metal shop to have it fabbed up. After I’m done the plate will fit in the stock air box position. I will be working on the air on Saturday afternoon.

The Tomken gas tank skid is on its way.

I found the Johnney Joint trackbar end locally, so the one I ordered from Currie will be an extra for the tool box. The more I think about this set-up the more excited I get. I think it’s really going to work great. This set up will also work with a standard RE1600 trackbar and HD bracket. Something to think about for those of you with that bar.

I meant to get this blog started while building the ’98 XJ, however with all the work to be done it wasn’t at the top of the priority list. So with the build 3/4 of the way complete I am getting started.

NAXJA Moab ’04 is looming and there is a lot to complete. The XJ must have the rock rails and onboard air system run. Next weekend I have to work so that leaves only two weekends to complete the XJ. For me that is pushing it.

AIR: I have some remote idea how to complete this, but I really need to enlist the help of some others around here to help sine my knowledge level about OBA systems is limited.

ROCK RAILS: The JKS SuperNerfs will ship in the next few days.

SHACKLES: The JKS boomerang shackles will also ship in the next few days. Those should help level out the rear and make the XJ look and ride a little better.