Transmission CROSSMEMBER Build on a JEEP Wrangler TJ - HIGH CLEARANCE | Budget Crawler Ep. 9 

Four years later and this is a Master Class on fabrication for wheelers. I could never! Amazing thanks for the great vid.

i installed a b&m short throw shifter in my tj and it really helped a lot. it kept my hand out of the dash and has much firmer and short shifts than factory, well worth the cost.

Love the channel, keep it up

Your 'crude' fabrication is fantastic, it works!

I put a Novak transfer case cable shifter when I installed the low profile TC skid. No issues with binding.

I agree with the Novak cable shifter comment 100% that was mentioned before my post. And I’d make my own skid plate as well. Just use the holes in the original skid as a template on a flat piece of 1/4” hot roll. The nutserts in the frame have a tendency to come loose and become a problem but a couple small tack welds to hold them is easy to do. Great work!

That looks super professional, great job honestly.

Recently stumbled upon your vids recently and wish I had found your channel much sooner. You are well-spoken, informative and give great details.Totally excellent build, sir. At 11:57, you said, "No claims to be a professional fabricator". Umm, you had me fooled. Seriously. I am also meticulous about fit, finish and neatness, so I'm stoked to see someone who shares those tenants. I'm a grateful subber!

Cheap tip, drill the threads out of the joke and use the u bolt style. Stronger and harder to lose in the dirt.

Also an s10 np231 lever flips the linkage up, then some all thread and small heim style joints, couple of bolts makes a good tc shift.

Good job.

I appreciate your videos on this build. I have similar build plans.

@7:29- That's an understatement! What a total engineering failure (with regards to longevity) the factory shift linkage is. Made me LOL because I'm dealing with the mess now. Great shot!

Cant wait to see your fix for the rear shaft!

I once found the remnants of an Armadillo jammed up in mine. 🤣

You have increases the angle of your rear driveling which will be greater if you lift it higher, a motor mount lift should be next. Fun build to watch, keep up the good work.

Jeep liberty has a cable shift u can use also on the cheep form the salvage yards

Nice job on this. I’ve never seen a transfer case raise. Usually guys are lowering the tcase to improve driveline angles. Keep those ujoints well greased.

The rust😭 love the cleanliness of your builds though keep it up!

Use a wire brushed orbital sand and black rust inhibitor on the control arm mounts. I enjoy your content, best wishes.

Such an awesome video, nice work on the welding and fabrication! Thank you!!! PS... Did you buy a new camera yet?

think leaving a 1" drop below the rails for the crossmember and skid would help alot with minimizing issues or should i go flush while im in there

What'd you have to do to get the fuel / brake lines on top of the frame ? Just noticed on mine they run down the side and I don't think there would be room for the bracket on the drivers side without moving them to the top.

I have had my beloved aging TJ since late 1996. As modern cars have become weaker, uglier, flimsier, poor handling, front wheel drive belly daggers, my TJ has become more and more satisfying to me. The decades have taken their tole on my beloved. But I lovingly and dedicatedly attended to her wounds over the many long years together. I credit her longevity to the AMC 242ci I6 engine powering her and the fact that I have never let any, "professional," touch her for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. Every single oil change has been by me. We survived the dreaded death wobble hit in 2010. I briefly considered parting ways with my dear, "Windi," my TJ, that trying 2010. But I stood fast with my beloved and we worked through it together. Friendships fell over the years, a girlfriend painfully abandoned me in 2000. My career, I was supposed to have the rest of my remaining life, left to Southern Mexico. I lost a house and had a horrible backruptcy 2001. Surgeries in 2008 stopped me from work for two years. I could not even drive. So much struggle and pain have passed over the years. Still, my beloved TJ, "Windi," was with me through it all. The end of 2010, I decided the dreaded Death Wobble would not get the best of our long friemdship. We powered through and I replaced the entire suspension in mid 2011, completely alone. I had no friends to help. My dear Windi is my only friend. Today, late 2019, "Wendi," is still with me. She has been the only constant in my life since 1996. Today, the engine has the infamous AMC rattle most AMC inline six engines have when they are older, the seats are worn. She has had about ten sets of tyres. The radio is obsolete. The manual transmission must be double clutched, three soft tops have graced her, and the factory ignition failed over a decade ago so I made a transponder, push button, ignition system. But she still runs strong. Next spring, I will be installing a Terminator AX-15 aftermarket transmission to get my Windi to shift smoothly. She will also get new seats, and perhaps a new removable carpet may also be in order. If anybody knew me, they would wonder why I would put that much money into an aging vehicle that is not worth all those upgrades and repairs. But our relationship runs very deep. It hurts me emotionally that Windi could never possibly return the love I have for her. So I love her enough to compensate that she could never love me back. The deep bond between a boy and his Jeep became the deep bond between a man and his Jeep. Very soon, it will be a deep bond between an old man and his Jeep. At very old age, when death comes near, I will hand select someone to succeed me to care for Windi for their remaining life. Should Wendi be involved in a tragic crash where repairs are not possible. Her devasted remains will go to revive another dead TJ. Should I find nobody to care for my dear Windi after I die, Windi will be buried in a thick metal vault with me. I have plenty of property to do this. She will never betray me. I will never betray her. I love you Windi.

Can you explain how the center bushing works? If it is welded rigid on each side, how does it function exactly?

This is a pretty unique build take. Unconventional and it's only cheap because your labors free.. but very good work.

I’m doing something similar in my TJ but with the auto trans. Have you experienced any issues with the center mount allowing too much rotation? I’m curious if running the center bushing in-line with the Jeep may allow the torque to spin the transfer case up into the floor boards.

I had a 82 chevy 4x4 pickup. The rear universaul joint was so bad the needle bearings were just black dust. Don't know how it stayed in ?

Time to use Novak for the transfer case linkage.

In the beginning of the video you said you didnt like the TMR Customs crossmember but you were only using it because you already had it. If you were doing it over today (like me) who would you buy the crossmember kit from? Thanks! Also great job, watched every episode!

Wow , your skid bolts all came out that easy ???

After a year+, how is this holding up? What are your thoughts on the added stiffness, and extra vibrations?

just did the same thing, savvy shifter, genright crossmember kit. JB conversions super short SYE. you figure out exhaust yet? thats the last thing i have to do

Have you considered a motor mount lift?

Needs a motor mount lift.

How can I do this on a 3 inch lift?

I like the video making the cross member. But you really need to address you frame rust. It looks terrible. I had to replace my whole frame on my LJ last year. Get a bore scope and look on the inside of that frame. You’ll probably be surprised!

Ya... So at a absolute minimum you're going to need a slip yoke eliminator, double cardan drive line and a novak cable t-case shift linkage. And, any ground clearance you gained is now somewhat counter productive considering you have absolutely no under body protection.

You need to paint the frame with "Corroseal" rust converter and fluid film it after that. Seriously

Genright wants $200 for theirs. So, $150 ain’t to bad.

SYE is the only correct answer.

4:29. something is leaking...

I've heard this kit is very good for TJ/XJ 4x4 shifters www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/shifters/sk2x/sk2xc/

DUDE you need to fluid film that rusty frame it's on it's way to junk status

The shovel will prevent .. exhaust Thief’s

What

Okay I'm done watching you're not supposed to weld on a tempered steel that's what the frame is it will crack

Your driveline angle is now completely wrong. Good luck