Two years ago after our second visit to the Hammers and running Clawhammer, Sledge Hammer and Big Johnson a friend and me both decided that to keep our daily driver Jeeps in one piece something a bit more carried away was needed to have fun and keep our Jeeps from looking better than something that sits in a junk yard. So after some horse trading and side work I got my hands on a 2004 TJ that had been rolled. I ended up with the Jeep minus axles, transfercase and suspension.
Here she is after I knocked the tub back in shape, sitting next to my little Jeep.
Once that was done the axle hunt was on ended up with a 14 bolt for the rear and a Dana60 HP out of a 79 Ford F350
Once I got some more side work done I really got going on it last May
I wanted everything underneath flat so no control arm brackets, skid plates or anything beneath the frame
Since I was waiting for some parts started to think how the transfercase was going to go under there
Whole bunch of sheetmetal had to go to make that fit
Had to modify the frame a bit to get some clearance for the axle and some room for the steering
Cut the front of the frame off and replaced it with some rectangular tubing, this way the steering box can come forward to accommodate the front wheel base Stretch. Front axle moved about 6 inches forward
Time to mess with the center console, the stock stuff had to go to make enough clearance for the shifters and I wanted it gone period
Plenty of room for more switches and idiot lights
On to trying the lockers out
Also in betwixed and between made a rear bumper with some shackle mounts
The finished product
Time for it's first road trip and shake down
Finally got a trailer to drag it to the trail.
The fenders on the trailer did not clear so out came the plasma and of the came. They are now easily removable
This week's chores were to install a rear anti rock and make an engine and trans skidplate
Well that took eleven months of all my free time and vacation time
So that's all folks I need a break and I am going wheelin
Pretty much everything is hand made by me, I bought 2 brackets, the rest I made my self. Very little store bought stuff on my toy nor did anybody else do any work on it
Looks great Art :thumbsup: It's nice to see it all consolidated together in one thread. I'v been following the build up on "what did you do to your TJ today" thread and the other site you linked too.
Any future plans after wheeling? Looks like a beast as is but there is always something more lol
For now it's pretty good, will fudge with the rear suspension a little, good thing I drilled extra holes in the brackets I made. On climbing some ledges it wheel hops a bit. We did Clawhammer, Jackhammer including the gatekeeper thing which is pretty darn cool, We could not run Lower Sledgehammer since it was blocked by a broken down Jeep. After finishing Jackhammer we walked down Sledge to see if these folks needed any help. Once we got back to the Jeeps we ran upper Sledge which was way cool might get some pics of that in a bit. Carnage for the day my tiedown straps got cut and the front diff cover peeked back a bit and leaked a little other than that She took her beating without complaints. So overall I am very happy with how the Jeep wheels.
Big Jeeps ride so much nicer on tough trails. Really didn't have any real trouble following my buddy that has his Jeep on 42's
Working my way up upper SledgeHammer, the quality of the video is poor, my buddy was to busy spotting and trying not to fall on his behind
Still pretty cool though
Thanks man, I am very happy with it, got a Jeep now that I can go roam around JV with and park it afterwards with not much worries or work to do before heading out again
It looks like a great time man :thumbsup: I didn't realize till the video that you were rockin' the 2.4l in that beast. That's awesome, gives me even more inspiration for my own 4 banger :2thumbsup:
Yea they scream but to be honest with you I'v never felt underpowered on the trails in 4lo (I especially wouldn't if I had that 5:1 Atlas your running :drool.
5.86 gearing would be awesome, but alas not to be had for the axles I have.
In low range it feels nimble and light on it's feet, launches up ledges pretty good. 4bangers wheel different from the Jeeps with 6 cyls, they have to be wound up some to get places, both my 4 poppers have taken me so far wherever I cared to put the tires lol. My little Yellow one drives well on the street and wheels like a champ too.
On todays outing the powersteering had a fit so after doing half the trail, I turned it around and putted back to the trailer. Just pulled the steering box of and will dive into that tomorrow. Have to get that resolved before wednesday, such a busy life lol
A wheelin buddy hooked me up with a used Steering box, pretty cool.
Will see if I can marry the 2 together and come up with one that will function the way it should after I come home from work
Thanks man, the even better news is that a friend had a used TJ steering box laying around so I can gut that and stick the part in my housing and of to the Hammers I go for some more fun this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Wheelin heaven Hee Haa
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