The LJ I have always wanted

I have been starting and mostly stopping builds on my Jeeps for years and years, this has always been my dream. I had a YJ that changed build direction so many times that I need to start fresh and just install the parts I have been acquiring. So here she is my "about time" build. I started with an LJ, requirements to buy were Auto, Hard top and working AC. I wanted to try and get my wife to go with me again. I found this one, it had a Teraflex LCG Enduro kit with 35" tires, bumpers that were just not my style and a few little issues that I had worked out. the first time I went to head up the canyon to test her out the transmission went into Limp mode. Not the best way to start. So it sat around for 4 months. Then the adventure began. I had to get a new TCM and I worked out many of the little bugs. Then I loaded it up on the trailer and took it to MOAB. It has evolved rather quickly since. I debated between an LJ and a 4 dr JK for a little while and I am very happy with my decision. This has turned to be EVERYTHING I have ever wanted and more. It has tested my build skillz

Owners Name & City-
Matt in Lindon, UT

Make, Model & Year of Vehicle-
2005 Jeep TJ Unlimited - but seriously its an LJ

Engine-
4.0 throttle body spacer and a chopped Air tube

Transmission-
42RE

T-Case-
Atlas II 3.8

Axles-
Front - King Pin D60 narrowed 4" Solid Axle knuckles out 35 spline Outers ARB 5.38's the ARB is actually new old style RD-35
Rear - Dynatrac ProRock 60, Warn Full Float kit (yep from back in the day) Dutchman Double spline shafts kicked up a bit Yukon Zip Locker with 5.38 Gears

Suspension-
3 Link front Long Arm using Artec Frame brackets and #inartecwetruss
Triangulated upper 4 Link Long Arm Rear
Falcon Shocks - TJ Front (for now) 2 dr JL 3.3 fast adjust with SP2 in custom (Carl built) Shock Towers
Teraflex Speed Bumps ( might be the best mod I have done for Ride quality

Wheels and Tires-
Trailready HD17 Wheels 5x5.5" bolt pattern
BF Goodrich 39 x 13.50 KM3's stick to the rocks so nice

Winch-
Warn Zeon 10 with Synthetic Rope and Factor 55 Splicer

Favorite Trails-
Moab is my happy place its been on everything from Chicken Corners to Pritchett, Learning how fun Sand Hollow can be.

Other-
Poison Spyder Hi Line Fenders, Artec Corners, Swag Rear Bumper, Custom Front Aluminum stubby bumper, PSC Hood Louvre, Teraflex Gas Tank Skid TNT Sliders (at the moment) Double DIN Radio with Car Play

What it looked like when I bought it more or less


Next step

Current

 

[I Lean]

Glad to see this on here!

 

[glockman]

Nice. I've been loving this jeep on lj Nation.

 

[Bart]

It's about time is a great name for this. Matt has helped me with every one of my rigs and had wheeled a ZJ for way too long. This build is amazing, and to see it work on the rocks puts a huge smile on everyone's face. Thanks for finally posting this.

 

[LJTim]

I love the backstory to this build, and obviously a bit biased to LJ's, but I'm glad you have found your love. I don't think it gets any better than a stretched LJ. I had a blast wheeling with you last week, and hopefully we'll get a chance to do much more of it, maybe with a smaller group

 

[UPNO4]

Glad to see this on here!

Thanks Carl you have helped with some pieces on this Jeep as well.

 

[UPNO4]

Been awhile since I have added been having to much fun on the rocks I guess. I finally decided it was time to get a little cagey. Looks funny without the cage. I have been adding a piece here and a piece there this year, but it is time to get serious about safety. So here a few pics... I will take some better finished product pics in the next couple of days when I finish it. I still have 4 bars to go and then prep and paint.

 

[TJustin]

The cage looks great! I rode shotgun with Tim during The Fallen at TH this year and got to watch you run up the obstacles. Loving the rig. Clean build, and puts its money where its mouth is!

Side note, pretty sure I have a paparazzi shot of this rig a few years ago at Harbor Freight in Orem. My son wanted a pic next to it.

 

[Bart]

The cage turned out amazing Matt. So fun to see the upgrades on this rig. Let's go wheeling.

 

[mesha]

Nice build Matt!

 

[UPNO4]

The cage looks great! I rode shotgun with Tim during The Fallen at TH this year and got to watch you run up the obstacles. Loving the rig. Clean build, and puts its money where its mouth is!

Side note, pretty sure I have a paparazzi shot of this rig a few years ago at Harbor Freight in Orem. My son wanted a pic next to it.

Trying to think if I ever drove it there but it is possible I guess

 

[UPNO4]

Nice build Matt!

Thanks Davy it has been fun building a Jeep for myself again. Being selfish has been a little fun ROFL

 

[Bart]

I don't think the work selfish comes into play here. More like long overdue.

 

[Donnie]

Nice build👍 Wanting to start my own LJ build soon. Is that the Genright cage?

 

[UPNO4]

Nice build👍 Wanting to start my own LJ build soon. Is that the Genright cage?

No I bent and built it myself. I took some of the things I liked from cages I have seen and incorporated them into what I wanted. I thought long and hard about using the very Genright look of the shoulder bar but I liked that it would work better (IMO) with the windjammer. A couple of the key points I wanted to make sure Incorporated were works with the Hardtop, factory soft top, and my Safari Bikini, Duster and Windjammer combo. I lost the use of the Wrap around windjammer but I didn't like driving with it anyway, I felt to enclosed. I have been wanting to build my Cage my way for a long time some of these tubes were actually bent up to go into my YJ project. I still think there may be a couple more things I will add but I want to live with it for a little while and see.

 

[UPNO4]

 

[UPNO4]

 

[UPNO4]

Here are some more pics pretty much done and ready for Winter 4x4 Jamboree 2021
CB is mounted up high in the cage so I can hopefully hear and see it now. I mounted the Antenna mounts to the back corners of the cage. All my tops and accessories work. PRP Seats are looking even better. Harness's mount to the cage. I used Lizard Skins Bat wrap on the grab handles so there is a bit of padding. Cage still mounts to the Windshield Frame. The wiring is attached to the cage using Zip-tie tabs. The Sound Pods are reinstalled. Before I reinstalled everything, I lined the floor with Kilmat double layered on the Trans Tunnel to hopefully keep some of the heat and noise levels at bay. I hope I don't regret that someday.

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Boatsides would look good on there 🤗. (....shameless plug, missin my LJ and trying to get rid of the few reminders left, ha)

 

[UPNO4]

Boatsides would look good on there 🤗. (....shameless plug, missin my LJ and trying to get rid of the few reminders left, ha)

I have thought about that a few times but.... not ready for that yet