TJ sort of build thread

[TJDukit]

let me know if you want those arms shortened so you can use them as triangulated uppers. it would take me an hour tops to cut/weld

http://www.currieenterprises.com/html/special/triangulated.htm

I'll have to take you up on that when I can get all the braces so I can do it right. I have to do it a little at a time so it's not such a big hit on the bank account. I really want to get it done and be done with the trac bar.

 

[TJDukit]

Stupid Ebay

Well I got my trac bar and guess what...it's for the front not the rear. I got it cheap enough to just go ahead and put it in anyway and deal with the rear after Moab. I really don't want to deal with trying to get it all sorted out.

I'll call around this afternoon and see if I can find one for the rear locally.

 

[RockChucker]

what track bar mount do you need? if it is an extension to compensate for lift, i know that teraflex plus sells them.

 

[TJDukit]

what track bar mount do you need? if it is an extension to compensate for lift, i know that teraflex plus sells them.

I've got a track bar bracket for the axle for a lift which is the only way to clear the truss, it just brings it up too much even for the 4.5 inches of lift I'm sitting on. I'm just going to deal with it for this week, it's not terrible and everything is solid right now.

Here's a couple pictures as she sits right now, ready to go for this weekend.

I am really not a fan of how tall it is so I'll have to do something about that in the future but for now it will get the job done better than how it was set up.

 

[TJDukit]

I think the next step is to convince the wife that I need to re-gear and get a selectable locker for the rear. I'll probably end up doing a lunchbox locker up front to save some money up front. She really isn't going to enjoy how much this will cost though.

 

[TJDukit]

Well the Jeep hasn't moved in two weeks since I picked up the Duramax. The main reason for this is I just can't take the spool in the rear. Between the grinding on the tires and the short wheelbase causing the suspension to load up and lift the front left, it just isn't fun to drive anymore. I knew this was going to happen but wanted to have the spool for Moab.

So it comes down to a couple choices. I have the limited slip carrier and I also have an open carrier I can swap in. I'm not scared of doing this myself as long as I can get a hold of a dial indicator to set the backlash.

The dilemma now is which carrier do I put in. I can do the open carrier with the option of a lunch box locker in the future or I can do the limited slip and do a locker in the front. Either way I think in the near future I'm only going to be able to do one locker and I know I really want one in the front.

I know the limited slip with a front locker should be much more capable than just a rear locker so I think that's going to be the route I'll take unless somebody convinces me other wise.

 

[RockChucker]

i had a lockrite in the front and limited slip in the rear or my TJ for a few years. I made it through Pritchett and anything else we attempted down in moab. is it as good as lockers front and rear? obviously not, but in my opinion, it is better to have a locker in the front end only than the rear only after having seen both perform.

 

[Cascadia]

I had lockrites front and rear in my lj and I never had a problem or wished I had more. They did everything I wanted them to and I never noticed them on the road.

 

[TJDukit]

I think a lunchbox in the front and the limited slip in the rear will probably be perfect for a while.

I really don't want to run a lunchbox in the rear if I don't have to because of the short wheelbase just for predictability at least with the spool I know exactly what it's going to do. If I had a longer wheelbase I wouldn't have so much of a problem with one in the rear.

Now to find the time in the next week or two to first clean my garage and second get the jeep in there and start getting it torn apart.

 

[GOAT]

I'd lock the front and throw the LS back in the rear. I have a indicator you can borrow. I may also still have the D44 test bearings and shims laying around somewhere.

Give hartwig a shout for the lunchbox locker

 

[TJDukit]

Thanks Marcus I'll probably hit you up on that. I still have your number so when I think I can find the time I will get with you.

The next dilemma I have is my wife really wants four wheelers and in order to accommodate that I'd have to sell the TJ. Now I really want some ATVs but wheeling in an actual rig is my biggest passion. She does understand that. I'm pretty confident I will not sell the jeep but it is kind of out there right now. I guess time will tell but in the mean time I will continue as if I won't sell it. I actually told her once that if I had to choose between wheeling, hunting or fishing I would choose wheeling if I could only do one for the rest of my life.

 

[iamsparticus]

if your afraid of a lunchbox locker in the rear being unpredictable because of your short wheelbase i wouldnt go with a lockright id get a spartan locker. I have a lockright in the rear and yes sometimes it pops but i have never had it actually effect how it drove on the rode. That said i put the spartan locker in my front and it is so much smoother and easier to install.

As for your ATV problem i say go get some $500 ATV's on ksl and call it good besides we all know dirtbikes are more fun anyway

 

[sixstringsteve]

As for your ATV problem i say go get some $500 ATV's on ksl and call it good besides we all know dirtbikes are more fun anyway

x2

 

[DsmRacing]

How do you like your rock guards so far? I just ordered a set.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[TJDukit]

How do you like your rock guards so far? I just ordered a set.

Thanks,

Chad

They are awesome I have used them a couple times and they are well worth the money.

 

[TJDukit]

Ok so i want to look into rebuilding the Lsd I have for the rear. I have heard you can stiffen up the slip action but have no idea what I need to get and I am sure plenty of you know what I will need.

Now I have to figure out what I did to the engine. On the way out to five mile the other night i was having a horrible time keeping my speed up with the wind and the jeep downshifted and the rpms ran up to 4500 and the check engine light came on. Once I let off the gas it stopped flashing. On the way home though she was running pretty rough. It is only noticeable at low rpms but it is pretty rough. Any ideas? Whatever it is I can fix it but I'm just hoping I didn't do any serious damage. I am thinking valves maybe?

 

[RockChucker]

what year is it? does it have the coil over plugs or a cap and rotor? could be the rotor is toasted...do you know what the code is? take it to autozone and they will read it for free, tell you the code and what it means too...even if the light isn't on anymore, they can bring up a history of the codes.

 

[TJDukit]

So while tossing around the idea of converting my AC compressor for on board air I discovered something. The AC in this thing has not worked since I bought and I just never bothered to look into it. Now I know why, the serpentine belt is for a non AC jeep and the compressor is not hooked up to the belt.

Now I think I will go get the right belt to see if the system works and make my decision from there. I know I don't really care about AC all that much with no top or doors most of the time when one would use AC.

I've done one of these conversions before and they aren't all that hard to do so I guess ill see what I decide, the wife might have a say but she never rides in this thing anyway.

 

[TJDukit]

Oh and for the engine trouble. I pulled all the plugs, checked the gaps just because they were out and don't find anything suspicious. It was running just fine though so I will need to run it and get it warm to see if it is still running rough.

 

[TJDukit]

Well I have AC now. To convert or not will be the next decision.