TJ sort of build thread

[TJDukit]

Going to be doing some minor mods to the TJ finally. To start it's got some V8 ZJ front springs for 3" of lift and some 3" lift springs in the rear.

So far I've got the bushwacker flat flares installed and my congo cage by kargo master put together and installed. The flares would have been a great fit if I hadn't bent the crap out of my fenders with my lack of bump stop extensions, it took little bit of love with a hammer to get them to go on good.

I've got to either build a roof rack for it or find one cheap enough.

I put the steering box skid on and the pro comp front bumper.

When I was putting the front bumper on I broke the nutsert or whatever it is Jeep uses to bolt the bumper on the top. I'll have to take it back off and get a new nut welded back on to get it bolted up properly. I've got the matching pro comp rear bumper to put on but I've got to make some backing plates to get them bolted in so that will happen in the next couple days.

Later on this week I'll be picking up my D44 for the rear from Goat, once I get the limited slip put back in, in place of the spool I'll throw it under the rear.

There will be a few more things coming in the near future. Hopefully a locker for the front as soon as I sell some parts to help with the cost of one. I think I talked the wife into some Trail Gear sliders which will be money well spent and a good upgrade from the home brew sliders that were on it before I had to take them off to put the flares on.

 

[RockChucker]

this is sweet. reminds me of working on my jeep when i first got it. one step at a time!

 

[YOUKNOW]

Yeah, it would be nice to see what others are doing to their TJ's. In college right now, so its good to get ideas for the future.

 

[Bart]

Great to see some Jeep content here. Sounds like you're making wise choices on the mods. Congrats on the rear 44, you'll love it.

 

[TJDukit]

I'm trying to go about this a little different than my last TJ. My last one was a 2.5l and I put a bunch of money into a lift, bumpers, sliders and a winch. Never even gave the axle a second thought.

This one I want to keep more streetable and keep myself more comfortable with the beating I will surely put it through just like I did the last one. This one is so much more capable with the auto and 4.0L already.

 

[sixstringsteve]

lookin good. I think those TG sliders are definitely worth the money.

 

[GOAT]

Later on this week I'll be picking up my D44 for the rear from Goat, once I get the limited slip put back in, in place of the spool I'll throw it under the rear.

It'll be ready for you to install this weekend. i'd leave the spool in it and see what you think

 

[TJDukit]

It'll be ready for you to install this weekend. i'd leave the spool in it and see what you think

Well after getting off the phone with six states today I think I will just put it in as is for now and see how it goes. We are buying the wife a beater so I'll be driving the truck mostly anyway so it might be alright.

 

[GOAT]

Well after getting off the phone with six states today I think I will just put it in as is for now and see how it goes. We are buying the wife a beater so I'll be driving the truck mostly anyway so it might be alright.

Wouldn't sweat the spool. DD my ZJ spooled on 35s for a year and never had an issue.

 

[skullysxj]

The only problem I'd see with running the spool is you'll wear out tires like crazy. I toasted a set of tires in 10k miles on a lock right that wasn't put in right so it acted like a spool.

 

[webyepn]

Looks good. Putting on new toy's is the best!

 

[TJDukit]

Got my backing plates for the rear bumper made. They are nothing special but they will get the job done. I made them out of some 3/8" plate I had laying around, probably a little over kill but with a bumper it's better to have too much than not enough. I think these plates were something my buddy had ordered from ballistic for his Toyota, guess he really didn't want them when he moved out. They looked like spring plates of some sort with a 3/8" ish hole drilled in the center.

The drill press and the chop saw was amazing, my wife is awesome for picking those up for me. I did the first plate with my dewalt drill because I didn't have a vise for the drill press yet. I think I broke four drill bits and decided it would be best to wait to pick up a vise.

I remember putting this bumper on my last TJ and it is a PITA so I'm really not looking forward to it but it needs to get done.

I think later today I'm going to pick up some hockey pucks for bump stop extensions.

 

[TJDukit]

Wouldn't sweat the spool. DD my ZJ spooled on 35s for a year and never had an issue.

The only problem I'd see with running the spool is you'll wear out tires like crazy. I toasted a set of tires in 10k miles on a lock right that wasn't put in right so it acted like a spool.

Yep I'm not to terribly worried about it. I would have to choose between getting the TG sliders or having the spool swapped in and I would rather have the sliders.

My wife saw them and said all excited "Is that a step?" she is pretty short so any kind of step for her is a big bonus.

 

[sixstringsteve]

are you going to get the trail gear ones? Good call on getting sliders of the LSD.

 

[TJDukit]

are you going to get the trail gear ones? Good call on getting sliders of the LSD.

I just ordered the TG sliders that were on sale, can't beat $153 shipped for sliders that actually mount to the body mounts and with the tubes on the sides.

 

[sixstringsteve]

that's a way good price.

 

[TJDukit]

Well this is what I get for ordering used parts without being there to look at them and measure. It looks like the bumper is for a CJ. It won't be too much of a problem to drill the correct holes but it will take a hot minute.

 

[TJDukit]

So I got all my holes drilled for my bumper without noticing that two of the holes on each side are inside the frame rails. So that's just not going to work at all. I'm either going to have to figure out some sort of mounting brackets or just weld the thing on.

 

[TJDukit]

Well I don't think it's worth trying to make this bumper work so I can at least sell it and get my money back out of it and buy the right bumper.

Hopefully my sliders will be here this week.

I should also be getting my axle this afternoon. Hopefully I can get that swapped out tomorrow and get this thing ready to wheel finally. I really can't wait to see it, Goat went through the trouble of re-painting it for me and putting new fluid in it

I also put my hockey puck bump stops in. The driver side is bolted in but the passenger side has too many brackets in the way, I'll have to pull the spring out to drill the hole to bolt it in, for now I gooped some silicone on it to glue it in. One puck was perfect, it keeps my tire just about an inch away from the fender.

 

[GOAT]

Thanks again, and let me know if you need anything