Lurch634's First Jeep Build Journal

LURCH634 · 10-02-2009, 01:21 PM

Hello all, Let me just start by introducing myself. My name is Casey, I am from TX and I have a beatiful wife and two little girls. I an 29 years old (Turning 30 in Nov.) My wife and I have always wanted a JEEP. Now she probally didn't want a JEEP for the same reason I did but I know she will like it when it is done.

Now to get started. I bought my jeep a little over a month ago. It is a 2006 TJ 6-speed with 17K. Right away I had some idea of what I wanted to do. Lift, tires, sound, ect.

Here it is on the dealers lot when I bought it.

not very good pic's I know

The first thing I did was ordered A RC 4" lift, upgraded shocks, steering stablizer, and shock boots.

After about 3 days I installed it with a lot of help form my brothers friend Jerry, who is my friend now for sure.
Here are pics after the lift was put on.

After spending the money on the lift I could not afford tires yet. But I did go ahead and order my fenders.

I think they look great. But after seeing them on with the stock tires all of a sudden I had money for tires in the budget

they finanlly came in

Took a pic of the under body as they where getting put on

After install I decided to get an alignment since I needed one any way

here ARE SOME picS right after install.

By the way I installed my wheel spacers as soon as I got home.
I will get some pics after they got put on maybe tonite and I will try to find some pics when I first got it bone stock. I will continue adding to this as I go on with the build. Thanks for looking

**PurpleTJ** · 10-02-2009, 02:27 PM

edit: he got his pics working. still looks great

**Imped** · 10-02-2009, 02:47 PM

You still have a bunch of blank pictures in there man. Try again.

**Imped** · 10-02-2009, 03:10 PM

Nice looking jeep.

Opinions:
Lose the bushwacker flares. Stock look better and don't take up as much clearance.
That's a pretty funky grill guard
You could have done the "alignment" yourself with about 10 minutes and a tape measure.

And just so you know, you have an NP231 transfer case and NSG370 transmission. 3.07 or 3.73 gear ratio.

LURCH634 · 10-02-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imped4now

Nice looking jeep.

Opinions:
Lose the bushwacker flares. Stock look better and don't take up as much clearance.
That's a pretty funky grill guard
You could have done the "alignment" yourself with about 10 minutes and a tape measure.

And just so you know, you have an NP231 transfer case and NSG370 transmission. 3.07 or 3.73 gear ratio.

1. May change flares later
2. grill gurad was on ther when I bought it
3. how do you do that
4. On the transfer case and tranny, is that standard?

LURCH634 · 10-02-2009, 03:25 PM

Daddy's future JEEPER

**Imped** · 10-02-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LURCH634

1. May change flares later
2. grill gurad was on ther when I bought it
3. how do you do that
4. On the transfer case and tranny, is that standard?

Basic Jeep Front End Alignment

You have a solid front axle. There's literally nothing to it. Camber is fixed and not adjustable, period. Caster is only adjustable (reliably) with adj. control arms. Otherwise, you're stuck where you are. The only thing that's adjustable is the toe. I would check yours to make sure the alignment shop put the toe at no more than 1/8" in. It's very likely they did since they use the factory angle, which only applies to small factory tires. Obviously, 1/8" difference over a distance of 32" is different (shallower angle) than 1/8" over 28". Any change in the toe will result in the steering wheel being off center. That's where the drag link comes into play. It's all very easy....give it a shot. Yes on the t-case and tranny. Every TJ except the Rubicon has the NP231. 05-06 manuals have the NSG370. It's a mercedes-sourced gearbox.

LURCH634 · 10-03-2009, 10:54 AM

Here some pic's after the wheel spacer where installed

With a little help from a couple members that told me how to use a torque wrench.

LURCH634 · 10-03-2009, 10:57 AM

I also installed my WARN steering box cover (bad pic)

LURCH634 · 10-03-2009, 12:27 PM

couple full body side shots

LURCH634 · 10-03-2009, 11:06 PM

I need a couple of ideas?
1. I was thinking of getting rid of the grill guard
2. I was thinking anout painting the WARN steering box cover white. what are your opinions? Do the make a hammer finish paint in white?

LURCH634 · 10-04-2009, 10:13 PM

So for thoose of you that have seen by build so far, you have noticed the ugly grill guard that came withe the jeep when I bought it. I traded it along with the factory bumper for a WARN rock crawler bumper. It had a few rust spots on it, so I sanded it down and cleaned it. Then I painted it with 3 coats of RUSTOleum paint. Is there anything else that I need to do for protection or am I done. suggestions will be apperciated.

LURCH634 · 10-09-2009, 01:49 PM

After the 3 layers of black, I give it 3 layers of the black hammer paint, then finished it with the satin paint. Looks great

**spyder6** · 10-09-2009, 01:53 PM

looks great!

flexsaharatj · 10-09-2009, 01:56 PM

looks great! IMMO put the stock flares back on, and paint your chrome headlight bezzles black it will look SWEET especially on a white jeep

CONGRATS!