Derek's Daily Driver TJ

Owners Name & City-
Derek M - Orem, UT


Make, Model & Year of Vehicle-
2001 Jeep Wranger


Engine-
Stock 4.0L I6


Transmission-
NV3550 Standard


T-Case-
NP231J - Currie Slip Yoke Eliminator, Tom Woods DS


Axles-
Front - Dana 30, Rear - Dana 44- Spartan locker 4.56 Ratios


Suspension-
4" Currie Coils, Teraflex Monster Flex Short Arms, Rancho RS9550 Adjustable shocks


Wheels and Tires-
Black 15" Steelies, 35x12.5 BFG KM2's


Winch-
In the future plans


Favorite Trails-
Hell's Revenge, Poison Spider, Little Moab


Other-
This is my daily driver. I keep it street legal for the most part, it hauls my little family on most trips. My goal is to be able to keep it driveable to and back from Moab 4-5 times a year.

I have been active on this site for a couple years, this is my intro thread: http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?75937-Im-new!-but-not-to-wheelin-and-not-to-Utah!&highlight=


This is how my TJ looked when I first bought it:

I will slowly add pics of the progress since March 2010.

 

[DerekM]

The first thing I decided to do was replace the bling and balding (quickly) super swampers.
I decided on the 35x12.5 KM2 mainly because the Goodyear Kevlar was on a 90 day back order.

Because of the cost of spare tire carriers, I decided to build my own:

 

[DerekM]

I love the look of a frameless soft top, and my wife finally let me get the rampage bowless top:

Some of my first wheeling trip to Rattlesnake:

 

[DerekM]

I broke the Jeep in on that first trip through rattlesnake:

I installed some Led lights right before EJS 2011:

 

[DerekM]

My wife bought me some front fenders from Modern Classic Enterprises for christmas. They are basically a plastic flat fender. I like how flexible they are.
Before:

After:

In the last pic, I replaced the old Rubicon Express arms and coils with Teraflex Monster flex short arms and Currie Progressive rate coils. I also installed a Spartan locker in the rear. It did awesome in Moab this past weekend!

 

[DerekM]

This is how it sits currently:

I love how much lower it sits now, it doesn't want to unload while ascending as much.

My future plans are a belly up skid, 37's, winch, Body and Frame stretch to fit an LJ Soft top, and more trips to Moab!
I will update as I make more progess.

 

[311WJ]

nice! :thumbs:

 

[DerekM]

nice! :thumbs:

Thanks! I read through your thread and it gave me inspiration

 

[311WJ]

ha ha well mine isn't anything special ha ha

i love the soft top.. i've been debating getting one for the LJ

 

[STAG]

That new top look great on it

 

[DerekM]

I love this top, especially on the LJ. Someday when I grow a pair, I plan on stretching the frame and body then fitting an LJ frameless top!

 

[Greg]

Nice build, looks like a clean, well thought out TJ. Keep us updated as the modifications come, I love the TJ to LJ conversion idea!

 

[Bart]

Nice rig. Fun plans for the LJ stretch. Lots to consider when doing that. Good luck.

 

[mesha]

Glad to hear the spartan worked out well for you.

Keep us updated on the progress.

 

[Cherokeester]

If you go 37's what are your plans for axles and lift, any changes there? Your Jeep looks great, I have a similar TJ on 35's and have often pondered 37's.

 

[DerekM]

Thanks guys, hopefully my wife will let me get chromoly shafts up front and another spartan for the D30 soon! I will be contacting you, Davy when the time comes.

As far as the stretch, it is going to take some time to gather a welder and some parts, plus my second son is due in the next two weeks. I don't know when I will be able to park the Jeep for a few weeks/months.

 

[DerekM]

If you go 37's what are your plans for axles and lift, any changes there? Your Jeep looks great, I have a similar TJ on 35's and have often pondered 37's.

When I go to 37's I don't plan on changing anything, other than axle shafts. Everyone says you can't run 37's on the D30 but I'm stubborn and willing to find out for myself. If I find a HP30 for a reasonable price, I may go for it.

 

[311WJ]

Glad to hear the spartan worked out well for you.

Keep us updated on the progress.

I have been meaning to talk to the guys at alljeep

 

[mesha]

Thanks guys, hopefully my wife will let me get chromoly shafts up front and another spartan for the D30 soon! I will be contacting you, Davy when the time comes.

As far as the stretch, it is going to take some time to gather a welder and some parts, plus my second son is due in the next two weeks. I don't know when I will be able to park the Jeep for a few weeks/months.

I just picked up a rubicon 44 for the front of mine so I will have a spartan and some chromoly shafts for a d30 soon I hope.

 

[RockChucker]

My dad ran 37's on his 30 for 3 or 4 years. It did hold up, but not great. He had to replace his balljoints at least twice and it might have been 3 times and he did unit bearings once. The cost of 37s on a 30 will add up in a hurry and before long you will have paid for a 60. Especially when you consider the cost of regearing and lockers. Just some food for thought. I'm not trying to deter you at all. Just sharing my observations.