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No longer basic, no longer DD TJ build

33K views 256 replies 34 participants last post by  JohnnyJ 
#1 ·
I decided its time for a build thread, since I have actually been building this jeep since I bought it. I've owned 6 XJ's over the years, two with rusty's 4.5" lifts on them. My first two xj's ended up in MiniBeast's hands, cj7on44's now has my other 2 door, and I just sold my lifted 4 door xj because I found a good deal on a lifted TJ.



Thats the only picture I can find at the moment before any modifications. It has a 2" spring lift, and 2" body lift, on 33" BFG's, 4.0, 5spd, 4.10 gears with lock rights front and rear. D30/35 combo.

First up were new bumpers:





Big thanks to JCR for working a great deal on these, those guys are great and are building some awesome products.

Along with the new bumpers came a new smittybilt xrc8 comp winch, I wanted the synthetic line for weight savings and ease of use. I can tell you after dog party, that it performed very well.



Need more ground clearance, hung up on shovel and fuel tank skid here, once out of the ruts she crawled right up this hill. Made that line the next time around without winching.



I also have a pair of GenRight 4" flare tube fenders waiting to be mounted, since the stock ones have the usual rust on them.

Future plans are as follows:

Install the tube fenders

3-4" long arm lift, loose the body lift.

Upgrade axles: currently planning on a pair of waggy 44's unless you guys can talk me out of this for some reason. The cost of mounts, gears and lockers may end up reaching the point where I'm better off finding a set of rubicon 44's ready to go. I plan on running 4.56 or 4.88's and a 37" tire.

Once axles are upgraded, I plan on purchasing a set of of trailworthyfab's recentered h1's with the 37" mtr. Since this is my DD, the tires will hold up to the street well, the double beadlock will let me air down low enough that the tire should have decent traction offroad (especially if we groove them), and replacement tires are dirt cheap.

Those are the plans at this point, I'm open for criticism, ideas, concerns, etc. Especially open to ideas for axles, I'm not really looking to go to 60's though, just don't want the weight and cost involved. I would be open to an 8.8 rear and 44 front, or 9" rear, something along those lines, just don't want to go full width, I'd like to keep it a little narrower for the trails.
 
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#44 ·
Box of goodies came last night, so I thought I'd quick swap in a rusty's intake and k&n filter and a rusty's cat back exhaust. wrong. I should have known better. The existing exhaust took 3 hours to remove since the shop that removed the cat failed to leave enough room to get a saw in to cut off the front of the muffler, and my torches are empty. After install I was ready to fire it up, only to be pissed at the sound coming from the cherry bomb pro muffler that was included in the rusty's kit. This thing sucks, sounds like a ricey honda some 17 year old douche would drive ( ok, maybe not quite that bad). Anyone looking at this kit from rusty's should definitely upgrade to the flowmaster muffler. on a side note, the kit fit great and only took a few minutes to install once the old one was removed.
 
#45 ·
I'd like a little input here, I'm looking at the trailworthy fab rims and wondering if its worth the money to have rock rings welded on. This will be my daily driver/weekend wheeler, and I doubt its worth the added weight and expense at this point in time. I also doubt that a TJ has enough weight to compress those military tires to the point that the rim is in danger, at least the way I drive. Thoughts, comments opinions on this are welcome.
 
#67 · (Edited)
I just picket up some 37 pit bull rockers. My Tj has a 5.3 and with 5psi in the goodyear oz tires they didn't move an inch. Your going to want some tires with softer side walls than 37" oz's for a DD

oh and I went with a rubi housing cause I have an 8.8 in the raer and wanted to keep the same bolt pattern. Also lockouts cant really handle over a 33" tire
 
#51 ·
If I recall, to get brackets welded on was around 1200, pretty decent gear prices and install, should be done for 2k, probably less. Sounds like a lot, but go price some used rubicon axles sometime, and I have the advantage of lock out hubs and true 44's. I'll be installing lock rights myself in the future, although I debate welding the front.
 
#55 ·
Tire Vehicle Automotive tire Auto part Car

Genright 4" flare ready for fitting

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Bumper


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Automotive tire Tire


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Automotive tire

Fitting definitely takes some work, alon. With the BFH to get everything just right. Ready to be pulled off and painted.

Table Room Floor Furniture

I did basecoat-clear coat to match the body color, if I were to do it over, I probably would skip the hassle and just have them powder coated black. We will see tomorrow or the next day when I get them in place, hopefully they look nice and clean.
 
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