[TX-WJ]

Then, got tired of the way the chrome ring on the grille looked like, so I sanded and body match spray painted it; while at it, added some mesh grille love : (more on it here.)

before:



after:






Some action shots of the front end, I love the more aggresive look now (Yes, I do have a Freedom ed. fetish ):

This pic. don't do it justice, this is some nasty steep loose gravel Texas hillcountry climb at Cline's ranch "throttle up".

[TX-WJ]

Then the D44a Aussie goes in :





(No, I'm not lifting the Heep by the diff, jst. supporting the axle while in the air.)



The wife giving me grief cause I may be disturbing the neighbors by wrenching afterhours me.



(shiat, I'm getting old, LOL).


Putting the Aussie to the test at K-rocks: (Mopar front, t-case and gas tank skids went in sometime around here, sorry no pics; the front one seems like a waste, the t-case one is pretty bent but has done it's job; the gas tank one is PURE BEEF!, and was a pain in the arse to put in).














"Have you scraped your alum. diff lately?" , damn leaky D44a.

[ANGJetMech]

Nice lookin jeep! Was the grill pretty easy to paint? I'd like to get mine painted black

[Merc1973]

Keep up the great work, my heep is jealous...

[cosjeeps]

Originally Posted by ANGJetMech

Nice lookin jeep! Was the grill pretty easy to paint? I'd like to get mine painted black

+1! I was just thinking yesterday that I'd like to lose the "chrominess" of my WJ's grill, but I'm a total newb when it comes to prepping/painting/finishing. Can't be too hard, but I wonder if someone would be interested in putting together a how-to...

Anyway, that's a good looking Jeep!

[SnowLeopard]

Where abouts in Texas are you? I'm jealous of your Jeep. The color is great, and I have a Freedom Edition fetish as well. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=262271459&dealer_id=72461&car_ year=2004&rdm=1242403313441&model=JEEPGRAND&num_re cords=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=& start_year=2003&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywords rep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&f uel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=300&mark etZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&fir st_record=51&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&pa ge_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price= &drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_m ileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=7 9022&advanced=&end_year=2004&pager.offset=50&doors =&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=280&standard=fa lse

That has me drooling, but I can't pay that kind of money. The HO V8 is awesome. I have an I6, and I know the difference. Anyway, I don't want QTII anyway. :P Selec-trac ftw!

All right then, just wondering as I'd like to meet up with local Jeepers from time to time. Might learn something. Especially since I don't know how to do anything yet. My first upgrade will be the KOR steering brace. Wish me luck.

Geeze, just seeing your WJ in all those pics is making me want one. I'm going to have to really work on my ZJ to make myself happy. It's bronze. That color can work, right? Just gotta wax it enough...

[TX-WJ]

Originally Posted by ANGJetMech

Nice lookin jeep! Was the grill pretty easy to paint? I'd like to get mine painted black

Thanks, just follow the link I posted for some more detailed instructions, but it's pretty easy, just takes some time. (more on it here.)

Originally Posted by Merc1973

Keep up the great work, my heep is jealous...

Thank you.

Originally Posted by cosjeeps

+1! I was just thinking yesterday that I'd like to lose the "chrominess" of my WJ's grill, but I'm a total newb when it comes to prepping/painting/finishing. Can't be too hard, but I wonder if someone would be interested in putting together a how-to...

Anyway, that's a good looking Jeep!

(more on it here.)

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard

Where abouts in Texas are you? I'm jealous of your Jeep. The color is great, and I have a Freedom Edition fetish as well. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=262271459&dealer_id=72461&car_ year=2004&rdm=1242403313441&model=JEEPGRAND&num_re cords=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=& start_year=2003&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywords rep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&f uel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=300&mark etZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&fir st_record=51&make=JEEP&keywords_display=&color=&pa ge_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price= &drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_m ileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=7 9022&advanced=&end_year=2004&pager.offset=50&doors =&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=280&standard=fa lse

That has me drooling, but I can't pay that kind of money. The HO V8 is awesome. I have an I6, and I know the difference. Anyway, I don't want QTII anyway. :P Selec-trac ftw!

All right then, just wondering as I'd like to meet up with local Jeepers from time to time. Might learn something. Especially since I don't know how to do anything yet. My first upgrade will be the KOR steering brace. Wish me luck.

Geeze, just seeing your WJ in all those pics is making me want one. I'm going to have to really work on my ZJ to make myself happy. It's bronze. That color can work, right? Just gotta wax it enough...

I'm in San Antonio; yeah you're right, selec-trac FTW!

[Madmike4790]

Am i the only one to notice the stacked spacers???

[TX-WJ]

Originally Posted by Madmike4790

Am i the only one to notice the stacked spacers???

Ummmhh, there aren't any stacked spacers anywhere in this Jeep, r u talking about the BB? ; the fronts go on top, the rears at the bottom as per Daystar's instructions. The factory rubber isolators are suposed to stay in under the BB.

[SnowLeopard]

I think he's talking about the spring seat, whatever you call it. There's that small piece that the spring sets against and then the spacer on top of that. Though it looks like you could use some spring retainer post extensions. Had any issues with that? You'd said your bumpstops weren't any good either. Do you have problems with that?

[robiec04wj]

beautiful jeep, i happen to have a freedom fetish too, just bought an 04 inferno red freedom, its only downfall is open/open diffs and the i6, fixin to do locker in the rear and 245/75/17 at's, and also thinkin about spidertrax spacers. have heard they don't ride well though, bein a dd and all, anyways, good luck with the build.

[TX-WJ]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard

I think he's talking about the spring seat, whatever you call it. There's that small piece that the spring sets against and then the spacer on top of that. Though it looks like you could use some spring retainer post extensions. Had any issues with that? You'd said your bumpstops weren't any good either. Do you have problems with that?

Yeah, I think you're right, he's referring to the spring isolators, they are suposed to stay in AFAIK. I do have spring retainers / post extensions somewhere in the pile of parts siting in the garage, awaiting for the next phase of the build . Since so far I've been running stock arms, the droop is limited by the arms themselves, so not enough droop to pop a coil . See max droop below:

(as a side note, you can see the small loop with a velcro strap that I screwed inside the wheelwell to secure the swaybar when disco'd, not in use in the pic).

[TX-WJ]

Originally Posted by robiec04wj

beautiful jeep, i happen to have a freedom fetish too, just bought an 04 inferno red freedom, its only downfall is open/open diffs and the i6, fixin to do locker in the rear and 245/75/17 at's, and also thinkin about spidertrax spacers. have heard they don't ride well though, bein a dd and all, anyways, good luck with the build.

Thanks, inferno red was the color I always wanted on a WJ, but never found one when I was in the market for one. I've been running 1.25" Spidertrax for 2 yrs with NO issues whatsoever, and I DD'd the WJ forever, so fear not and git'er done . Just recheck torque on the spacers with every tire rotation or oil change and you should be good.

[SnowLeopard]

MX6 goodness? I don't know how I missed that before. I have to wonder, what with all the expensive upgrades you've made so far, why the BB? I'm planning on the OME springs myself. I have a list of mods so long I'd need to work three jobs and not sleep to pay for them all. :P I guess that's what they're talking about when they say, "It's a Jeep thing." I am surprised the droop is so restricted by the stock arms. Do you have an adjustable trackbar, and if not, how's the steering? Were you able to get it aligned?

[TX-WJ]

Originally Posted by SnowLeopard

MX6 goodness? I don't know how I missed that before. I have to wonder, what with all the expensive upgrades you've made so far, why the BB? I'm planning on the OME springs myself. I have a list of mods so long I'd need to work three jobs and not sleep to pay for them all. :P I guess that's what they're talking about when they say, "It's a Jeep thing." I am surprised the droop is so restricted by the stock arms. Do you have an adjustable trackbar, and if not, how's the steering? Were you able to get it aligned?

I do have a JKS TB , LOL; I got the BB/UCs combo for cheap over on JU a while back, it was, as for most of us, just a starting point and honestly I must say I doubt 3" coils would have been that much different on or offroad. Anyways, the BB will pass on pretty soon, stay tuned .