Justin's TJ

Owners Name & City- Justin, Payson

Make, Model & Year of Vehicle- 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport

Engine- 4.0
Transmission- NV3550
T-Case- Advance Adapters Atlas ll 5.0:1

Axles-
Gear Ratio: 5.38
Rear: Currie HD60 - Yukon Zip
Front: Currie Extreme HD60 -Detroit Locker

Suspension-
Hybrid: 3" BDS Coils, Currie Antirocks Fore and Aft, Home-brew 3-link front, Triangulated 4-link rear M.O.R.E. 1" Body Lift

Wheels and Tires-39" KM3's, 17x9 Raceline Avengers

Winch- Warn 9.5 CTI

Favorite Trails-Maze, Papa Smurf, Cliffhanger

I bought it in Oct 2008. It was wrecked, but still had a clean title. Fixed it up, and daily drove it for years. It has gone through several iterations over the years, first on a 4" lift and 31's, then 4" lift and 33's, then 4" lift and 35's, then 4" lift, 1" body, and 35's, now 3" lift 1" body and 35's. Since getting married, progress on this has been slow, usually 1 major thing a year. 2 years ago was tires, last year was the HP30, and this year was Corbeau Baja RS seats.

 

[TJustin]

Got a call from the SLC 4WP on Thursday explaining that my Core 44 axle had arrived. I ordered it with 4.88's and a Detroit. I told them I would be up there on Friday to get it. Picked it up along with a pair of JK shock mounts, and headed home.

After eating some lunch, I unloaded from the trailer using my carport and a come-along, and got to tearing it down. Because of the front stretch and 3 link suspension currently on the Jeep I had to remove the upper control arm mounts, track bar mounting bracket, and coil buckets.

Took a quick shot of the gear pattern.

It took me a solid 4 hours and a number of cutoff wheels. Fortunately now it is ready for re-assembly.

 

[Hickey]

What are the specs on this axle? Is it pure TJ specs? Or is it JK? The inner C's look beefy.

 

[TJustin]

What are the specs on this axle? Is it pure TJ specs? Or is it JK? The inner C's look beefy.

They do. It is all TJ specs.

 

[TJustin]

Finished up the bracketry and Hydro assist on the new axle a couple weeks ago, and began the install of the axle that same weekend. Last week I finished up the install of the axle, filled it with fluids, and took it out for a shakedown run out at Little Moab.

Surprisingly it went together with very little issues. I typically will plan for some gremlins to work out, and so far, they have been minimal. I need to better center the steering ram in the middle of the travel, figure out a way to have the WJ steering knuckle steering stops adjusted so the jeep cannot turn so sharp, and figure out a way to keep the front brake lines away from the tire.

Here's a poser shot with it flexing while testing to ensure everything is clearanced properly.

For interested parties, here is a link to a YT video I made of the maiden voyage. The JL in the video is my father's new-to-him JL. He recently sold his YJ of almost 25 years, and is the source of my new 5.0 geared Atlas II. He bought the Atlas for his YJ, but since moving to the JL, he no longer needed it. Lucky me. I'm loving the crawl ratio with the 5.0 gearing. Before, I had 4.3 gears in the t-case, and it made a noticeable difference, especially with the manual trans.

 

[mbryson]

Looks like a super capable but streetable TJ. Tough to go wrong with that

 

[TJustin]

Most of my buddies have moved to LJ's, JKU's or JLU's. Decided after Trail Hero that I wanted to do a rear stretch on the TJ. Just needed to find a way to fund it. Rather than pull funds from the savings account, I decided to sell my Banshee. Sold it, and then used some of the money to finish getting power and heat to the shop that I installed earlier this year, and began to start collecting parts for the build.

We pulled sufficient amperage to be able to run my welder, window AC unit, lights, mini fridge, and other misc tools. I also installed a dual fuel propane / natural gas ventless heater in there for the winter. Hard mounted it to the wall and ran pipe to outside of the building for the propane tank. If I ever get ambitious, I'll run a natural gas line from the house out to the shop. For now, the propane is working fine. It keeps it warm enough to be comfortable with a hoodie or even a t-shirt at times.

The completed shop, installed in August.

Finishing up the wiring, mid December.

Here is the rolling weld table that I made using plate and some scraps from Metalmart. Measures 48x48x36

Finally started on the TJ build late December.

Using a bunch of poster board, I experimented with various cutout options for the wheel well. I settled on this iteration below. I then transferred the cutout to the armor and made the cuts. I do not desire to cut any aluminum with a jigsaw again. Gummed up too many blades in short order.

Had to trim the crossmember nearest to the rear axle to allow for full bump during suspension travel. Took probably 5-6 hrs to cut it, bend existing material and weld back together the cross member. I will be adding a nutsert to the center of the cross member to retain the same number of gas tank mounting locations that the pre-chopped crossmember had. Not the best fab work, but I'll take it.

Notched the frame for the Barnes 4WD TJ stretch coil buckets. Planning to burn them in this week.

With the way the cutout was done for the rear fender well, I could not retain the stock filler location. After spending a number of hours online looking for an alternative to the Genright variant, found nothing. Bit the bullet. They do know what they want for those things.

 

[N-Smooth]

Most of my buddies have moved to LJ's, JKU's or JLU's. Decided after Trail Hero that I wanted to do a rear stretch on the TJ. Just needed to find a way to fund it. Rather than pull funds from the savings account, I decided to sell my Banshee. Sold it, and then used some of the money to finish getting power and heat to the shop that I installed earlier this year, and began to start collecting parts for the build.

We pulled sufficient amperage to be able to run my welder, window AC unit, lights, mini fridge, and other misc tools. I also installed a dual fuel propane / natural gas ventless heater in there for the winter. Hard mounted it to the wall and ran pipe to outside of the building for the propane tank. If I ever get ambitious, I'll run a natural gas line from the house out to the shop. For now, the propane is working fine. It keeps it warm enough to be comfortable with a hoodie or even a t-shirt at times.

The completed shop, installed in August.

Finishing up the wiring, mid December.

Here is the rolling weld table that I made using plate and some scraps from Metalmart. Measures 48x48x36

Finally started on the TJ build late December.

Using a bunch of poster board, I experimented with various cutout options for the wheel well. I settled on this iteration below. I then transferred the cutout to the armor and made the cuts. I do not desire to cut any aluminum with a jigsaw again. Gummed up too many blades in short order.

Had to trim the crossmember nearest to the rear axle to allow for full bump during suspension travel. Took probably 5-6 hrs to cut it, bend existing material and weld back together the cross member. I will be adding a nutsert to the center of the cross member to retain the same number of gas tank mounting locations that the pre-chopped crossmember had. Not the best fab work, but I'll take it.

Notched the frame for the Barnes 4WD TJ stretch coil buckets. Planning to burn them in this week.

With the way the cutout was done for the rear fender well, I could not retain the stock filler location. After spending a number of hours online looking for an alternative to the Genright variant, found nothing. Bit the bullet. They do know what they want for those things.

I love stretched TJ's without comp cuts. Looks great.

How big is the shop?

 

[TJustin]

I love stretched TJ's without comp cuts. Looks great.

How big is the shop?

Thanks. Agreed with the non-comp cut TJ's.

The shop is 350 sq ft.

 

[N-Smooth]

The shop is 350 sq ft.

20X17.5 or what? I'm thinking hard about a 20x20 and like seeing similar spaces.

 

[Bart]

Love stretched TJs. Wish I could see the pics. Good luck.

 

[TJustin]

20X17.5 or what? I'm thinking hard about a 20x20 and like seeing similar spaces.

Yes. 17.5 wide 20 long. You may want slightly longer for a vehicle longer than a TJ, but works just fine for me with the short rig I have in there.

Love stretched TJs. Wish I could see the pics. Good luck.

Try it now, should have it fixed. Thanks!

 

[RockChucker]

I can’t see pics either. Sounds like a great plan though.

 

[TJustin]

I can’t see pics either. Sounds like a great plan though.

Looks like Google Photos isn't cooperating today. Just uploaded them directly to the post.

 

[Bart]

Really like the little shop and the build.

 

[TJustin]

Finished the build to the point where it was drivable. Filled up the tank and drove it from Payson to Little Moab. I am stoked with how it turned out. Wheelbase ended up at 101.5". Love how it feels on the rocks, no hopping, feels planted, and seems stable so far on the steep stuff.

Just a few details to iron out before EJS next week.

Little Moab #1

Little Moab #2

 

[Gravy]

Looks good!

 

[TJustin]

Been wheeling the TJ as it sits for a couple years now with anticipation of eventually going tons and 40’s. The opportunity arose sooner than anticipated.

Scooped up a pair of Currie 60’s off a JK. They’re JK width, 5.38’s, Detroit Front, Elocker rear, and semi float. Some might raise an eyebrow on the semi floats, but for this rig weighing 4,000 lbs wet with the old axles I think these new Currie axles will be plenty stout. Plan is to use the Genright Twisted Pitman arm and stretch the front as far forward as possible while retaining the steering box in the stock location. I’m hoping I’ll end up around 105”-106” wheelbase.



While at TH, I got a new set of Raceline Avengers, and a Yukon Zip from Dustin Sexton, both items at super good deals. I originally planned to get an ARB to replace the Elocker (bad previous experience with them) but the deal was too good to pass up. What I’ve learned, the Zip should do just fine.





I’ve ripped out the old axles and sold the front G2 Core 44 to a friend. Just now needing to sell the rear 8.8 and 37’s KM3’s.

 

[RockChucker]

I’ve got nearly 40k miles on my zip lockers. Just recently had my first issue….the air collar orings wore out and were letting oil into places it shouldn’t be. New orings and it’s good to go

 

[kmboren]

I replaced our rear arb with a zip because the arb wouldn't keep the inner seal very long. The zip has been great for us.

 

[TJustin]

I replaced our rear arb with a zip because the arb wouldn't keep the inner seal very long. The zip has been great for us.

I’ve got nearly 40k miles on my zip lockers. Just recently had my first issue….the air collar orings wore out and were letting oil into places it shouldn’t be. New orings and it’s good to go

Glad to hear others have had good experience with them. Dustin mentioned getting a compressor pressure switch that will shut the compressor off at a higher psi. I want to say he said to go with a 120-150 pressure switch. Have either of you done this?