flatlander757's 03 TJ build/update thread

[flatlander757]

It's a nice little compressor, it gets the job done in a reasonable amount of time for little $$ so it's perfect for me

Here is the compilation vid I promised:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6058027465067794403

Let me know what you guys think!

[jeepdog5]

great lookin jeep man. i picked up that same comp. @ costco couple weeks ago. gonna hardwire it in soon. love the rock lights too, what lights did you go with? whats next for the jeep? bumpers perhaps? seems like you could use some recovery points

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by jeepdog5

great lookin jeep man. i picked up that same comp. @ costco couple weeks ago. gonna hardwire it in soon. love the rock lights too, what lights did you go with? whats next for the jeep? bumpers perhaps? seems like you could use some recovery points

I just bought some cheap $15 or $20 "driving lights" from Walmart. They're oval and have blue-ish lenses, I'll get the name of them next time I'm there.

Bumpers eventually, I was planning on front and rear bumpers by Beserk from the forum but that will be put back just a bit because now I NEED a rear CV shaft, rear upper adjustable CAs, and a rear trackbar as I have some crazy vibes that I believe are from the rear driveshaft wallowing out the slip-yoke

So I am sure I will do a home-made tummy tuck w/ the help of my friend who can weld shortly after that stuff is done. Hopefully this will be done in the next month or so. Freaking holidays are draining my pockets

[00jeepsahara]

nice build.
i use that compressor to, airs up my 36's from 8 psi to 22 in a few minutes.

[john NC]

nice build man, great idea on hardwiring the compressor, i have the same one

[flatlander757]

delete post.

[MB98XJ]

Love the Full Traction Lift. What do you think about the shocks? How long did it take you for the install? Hopefully less than a weekend. Where did you order from?

Also about the tires... how top heavy does it seem? I'm concerned about roll-overs and at what speed do you take your turns and does it feel safe? I like those tires, however I'm not sure if 33X12.5's would fit on a 15X8 rim? If i got those 33X10.5s and put them on a 15X8 would it feel safe.. And do you think they would fit temporarily on my 15X7 Grizzly's?

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by MB98XJ

Love the Full Traction Lift. What do you think about the shocks? How long did it take you for the install? Hopefully less than a weekend. Where did you order from?

Also about the tires... how top heavy does it seem? I'm concerned about roll-overs and at what speed do you take your turns and does it feel safe? I like those tires, however I'm not sure if 33X12.5's would fit on a 15X8 rim? If i got those 33X10.5s and put them on a 15X8 would it feel safe.. And do you think they would fit temporarily on my 15X7 Grizzly's?

I did it in over the course of a weekend. I did the entire front and some of the rear Saturday, and buttoned up the rear and rechecked the torque of everything Sunday.

It doesn't feel top heavy at all, I take corners just a bit slower than before, I have pushed it to nearly 40mph onto an on-ramp without tippage. I do it normally around 30-35mph and feel safe. Off-road though you just need to get used to it. It will feel a little strange off-camber.

33x12.50s will work on a 15x8 nicely, you could air way down too off road. On your grizzlys the 10.50s would work nicely, though 12.50s would be a bit much. Also you'll need a non-stock wheel or wheel spacers to clear the spring perches in the rear if you go with 12.50 wide tires. You need like 4.25" backspacing at least IIRC. Stock is 5.5".

Ordered from Northridge 4x4. Nothing but good business from them

[MB98XJ]

Where did you purchase the tires from? Are those the radial TSL's or the regular TSL's...? I checked on their website and theres many different kinds.

[flatlander757]

Originally Posted by MB98XJ

Where did you purchase the tires from? Are those the radial TSL's or the regular TSL's...? I checked on their website and theres many different kinds.

Got the tires from a local 4x4 shop, Slick-Trick Performance/Off-Road. They price-matched 4wheelparts so I got them for like $160/ea at the time. They are TSL Radials.

Haven't really updated this thread with pics in a while as it's been cold out, but I've done a SYE, Tom Woods driveshaft, and JKS rear upper CAs. Going to order an adjustable trackbar and CV bracket this weekend(payday). Also dumped the noob-tube side steps. Haha. I'll get pics soon.

Next up with be a rear bumper/tire carrier, some rocker-gaurds, engine skid and then who knows what?

Some things I'm planning on are bead-locks, Vanco brake system, front bumper and winch, 1" BL, ORO dual rate Sway-loc, a front Aussie locker, then a regear for 35s

[flatlander757]

Here are the up-to-date pics finally...













I must have forgotten to snap a pic of the SYE/CV shaft but you've all seen plenty of those. I also cut up the stock front bumper, looks 100x better now IMO. It should help me ward off the temptation to buy an aftermarket one for a while.


Edit: there is now an RE rear track-bar and CV track-bar bracket and PS steering box skid on the way from Red Rock 4x4

[toddaroo]

What made you decide to go with an SYE? I've read over and over that a 3" lift doesn't need one. And I'm in the process of setting myself up for a 3" Full Traction lift and 33x12.5 TSL Radials (so obviously your buildup has been an awesome read!)... so I am intensely curious as to why you added one.

[flatlander757]

When I got back from Uwharrie I had vibes that I couldn't get rid of, I ended up tracking them down to the t-case rear output shaft... it bent. I read around and found it's not terribly uncommon if you have it lifted, flex it out, then come down hard... it will push upward on the t-case output shaft and bend it. Mine was about 3/8" off center I'm sure I could have just beat it back into place with a BFH, but now I don't have to worry about it again.

I also plan on doing a belly-up eventually and a SYE is required for that.

If I were you I'd do the lift then just add rear adjustable upper CAs, and an adjustable rear trackbar whenever you can, then buy the SYE/CV shaft, and the angled CV trackbar bracket so it doesn't seem like as much $$ at once.

On my Excel spreadsheet, I'm $2655.53 worth of mods into the Jeep, and about $8762.22 to go

[toddaroo]

I was think that eventually I'd add one, just because it would be a piece of mind investment with added benefits in the long run. But, after everything I'd read, I didn't think i'd need one. When I saw you'd added one, I wanted to ask and make sure - since you have pretty much exactly the build I'm looking for.

If only I were in a position to spend as quickly as you have! My Jeep has about $1300.00 in mods down and it looks like $2997.00 to go.

[flatlander757]

So on Saturday it was crazy nice out so I washed the Jeep and stripped it down for the first time topless and doorless since the tires and lift










Here's the SYE and TW CV shaft:





RE trackbar and angled bracket:





Here's a head-on shot, you can sort of see the PSC steering box skid: