[kyle_craig]

• CJ tailgate swap on Page 25, 26, and 27.
• Wheelbase stretch/Rear Dana 44 swap (via reversed XJ leafs and Canadian YJ Dana 44 with 4.88s and TJ Rubicon air locker) on Page 32
• Rear shock out-boarding process on Page 36
• JKS Budget Motor Mount lift Installation Write-up on Page 54
• Making my soft top fabric and windows nice again Page 54
  
• Tummy tuck Page 55 and TeraLow Page 59

Recent pictures:


















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From the beginning:



The first day driving it home was very interesting. The soft top leaked rain onto me the whole ride home, the two dash speakers were barely audible, and with broken sway bar links, the thing handled like a floaty death trap on the freeway...I loved it.

I soon bought some black "rock crawler" 15x8 steel wheels from quadratec, got some 265/75/15 Nokian vittiva a/t tires, and bought a 2" spacer lift off ebay and installed all of it in a weekend. I thought it was a big jeep.




The girlfriend and her parents pitched in and got me a new black tinted soft top for graduation and receiving the rank of eagle. No more getting rained on through a ripped up soft top!

Also installed a cheap CB and antenna, a Northern tool brand Hi lift, and bought a 30' tow strap for it.


The first weekend of school in Steamboat Springs CO I had to cave in and hit some trails. So the closest OHV trails were hit within the first week of school.

[kyle_craig]

[gixxerphil]

welcome to the addiction

[kyle_craig]

I soon learned that in Colorado, what I thought was my big jeep, was really a baby Jeep. But that didn't mean it was incapable.

I got to hit the few local off road trails that were close to the school before a snowy winter hit and I had to stay on the road with all the snow.

Somewhere along the way I painted fender flares, headlight bezels, added some Cheapo Hella lights, and built some home made rocker guards with 3/16" steel.


For spring break I turned down a chance to fly home to Minnesota on my parents dime...
Instead I made a trip to Moab Utah with a few buddies from school!

[kyle_craig]

Originally Posted by gixxerphil

welcome to the addiction

Thanks man! It truly is an addiction. Every paycheck I get I think about what I want for the jeep. Once you do anything to it. You just want to do more. Its like crack!

[kyle_craig]

More Moab Pictures....

[kyle_craig]

I'm now back at work and in Minnesota for the summer.
The other day I installed a 1.25" Body lift...To make room for some new tires that I hope brown Santa will deliver tomorrow...

[kyle_craig]

Now on 33" BFGs and a 1.25" body lift

[kyle_craig]

Thinking about trimming the flares slightly...Any opinions?

[AustinTexasXJ]

I say go for it! I just trimmed mine and I like it alot.

[kyle_craig]

I ended up not trimming my flares...still not sure if I like it or not.
Instead, I chopped my bumper. I plan on pulling out dad's welder and boxing off the ends and welding all the little the holes shut.
I chopped 5 1/2" off each side and cut an even angle on each side from half way up with a cut-off wheel. I wanted an LOD but if I end up happy with this once I finish it I might just run it.

[kyle_craig]

And I got bored after work today and did a couple other things. First things first, I removed the extinguisher from the roll bar and re mounted it on the floor next to my seat. It seemed like a more clean spot for it.

[kyle_craig]

On my way home from work I stopped at Ace and picked up some semi gloss black and hammered metallic Grey spray paint. Took out my jack, took it apart, and sanded all the pieces. Then I started spraying! Should look classy.




I will post up some more pictures of it once the paint dries and I put it all back together.

[kyle_craig]

And I thought this shot was kindof neat.

[kyle_craig]

Any comments?