2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade project

rustyclockwork · 07-22-2002, 04:39 AM

Hello everyone,

I've been waiting nearly five years to get a new Jeep, I miss my two Scramblers I had before, and it's been a tough call to decide which Jeep I'm going to order in a month or so... The Wrangler or the Liberty... keep in mind this will be my only vehicle (which isn't a bad thing to me, it's a jeep). And after a few test drives... I came to an easy decison... I'm going to order a Jeep Liberty Renegade, I also found out that the 2003's are getting all wheel disc brakes...

I'm going to weld up a really sharp-looking roof rack, similar to the "ultimate rescue TJ" and I've picked out a Ramsey 8000 mult-mount winch. The thing is, I might have to raise the rear tire carrier about an inch or so, and I have to keep in mind the clearance for the rear window, and I have to find out how to safely install & weld the 2" receiver mount up front... I would like to keep the front fascia as stock looking as possible, and I also need to keep the stock "entrance angle" the same.

I'll probably remove the stock side rails, replace them with rock rails or something... and I'm not sure about a K&N filter setup, those extra horses and mileage also brings in extra dirt, that "cleaner" is breathing easier for a reason.

I'm happy with the stock drivetrain, but is the stock limited-slip differential option a good deal? I think it'll be fine since I'll only be doing light trails (up to a five rating at the most). any opinions?

Inside, I'll do a modification of the dash, to incorporate a tiny CB, a digital compass or GPS, and removal of the stock radio for my JVC MP3 player. I'll add a fire extinguisher, some cargo storage things in the back, a First-Aid kit of course... possibly an DC to AC converter (a small one) and put it where the factory cd changer would go. I want to do this so well, that it will look like it's from the factory.

Later I'll do a true dual exhaust since I've got a friend who is a WIZARD at that stuff... I know the chevy truck guys get away with leaving only the catalytic converters on, since they are built so well, and not bothering with mufflers, somehow the cops don't bother them in Indiana... So I might get two high performance cats, and see how it sounds and performs.

I might try to make some decent tail light guards as well... same design cues as the roof rack.

is there any manufacturer who offers a 2" mount for the front of the Liberty yet?

what do you guys/gals think of my project?

oh, it's coming with a sun roof... so I'm keeping that in mind when I'm making the roof rack... it should look really cool though.

hopefully I can do most of this upgrading for under my budget of $2500, I have my own fabrication shop, so it should be real real fun.

Jason
(I miss the jeep wave)

KJRenegade · 07-27-2002, 10:32 AM

Good luck on the project Jason, it sounds like you've got your work cut out for you..

One question I have is, why install a digital compass if you can get the overhead trip computer which includes it? If you do opt against getting the computer, I would look around for the rear-view mirror replacement which has a compass built-in. It looks really slick.

I have a Renegade 2002 (or 2002.5 depending on who you ask..), and I love it so far. I am looking to do some mods a bit down the road. So far I've planned on a PowerTrax Locker in the rear, a 1-2" lift (possibly by using a higher spring rate coil/coil over, but I have much more research to do on that), a set of 30.5 - 31" tires, and a front grill guard and winch. Eventually I feel I'm going to replace the rear drum assemblies with disks, but that may be a ways down the road. The first mods will most likely be a K&N drop in. If I have to, I'll swap the factory filter back in when off-road. First I'm going to do some reasearch to find out the filter rate of the K&N in microns, and compare it to the size of a grain of sand. If I'm right, the K&N will be able to filter just about any "dirt" I may encounter. Hell I've had K&N's on my last 3 vehicles, and I got rid of them all with well over 100k miles, and no oil burning, or power loss, so the K&N's can't be that bad! And then follow that with a Borla cat-back exhaust.

Come to think of it, it sounds like I have my work cut out for me also.

PS- I hate to tell you, but the Jeep wave is all but dead (at least in my area)..

RideRed04 · 08-01-2002, 02:46 PM

I am hard core into atv's, and if you run a k&n on a quad, you generally run an outerwear. Outerwear is a company that makes fabric covers for filters. They do custom stuff, so check into that. With the outerwear, you loose some filtration, but you get an almost inpenitrable (spelling? lol) filter. As a plus, it beads water too.

IELiberty · 08-01-2002, 06:36 PM

K&N has been using my vehicle as a test rig. Spoke to one of their techs about my concern with dirt particles and my thought of running the FIPK with the pre-charger. He told me the pre-chargers work really well, dirt and dust just bounce off of them. He also felt that the performence loss was quite negligible with it on. My thought is that I'll run with the pre-charger on in the dirt, and run open on the street.

jobuz · 08-02-2002, 11:24 AM

Jason, your project sounds fun, but I wasn't too impressed with the stock trac loc differential (see my post "trac loc differential on Liberty" posted a few days ago.) I was in some mud and which ever back wheel had the least traction got so much of the torque that the wheel with traction was 100% stationary. I didn't expect this. Have fun with your project.

John

tehlers2 · 08-08-2002, 12:17 PM

Jason, the project sound pretty cool but why are you choosing the Renegade to do it with. It cost a little more then the rest and it sounds like you are going to be removing some of the extras anyway. You can buy aftermarket lights to attach to your roof rack that will probably be cheaper and work better then the stock roof lights. If it was my project I would consider a limited or even a sport since you are oging to swap so much stuff out. Anyway, good luck on the project, sounds like a ot of fun!

Also, the LSD is great if you are doing light off-roading or in the snow etc. For serious mud, sand and rock though you can't beat a locker.

jgoalie · 08-08-2002, 09:37 PM

I just set up a cheap K&N set up. Rusty's off road outfitters has an air tube and k&n cone filter for about $70 that replaces the snorkle and first air box. It plugs into the stock rubber air tube and frees up ALOT of breathing for the Liberty. Performance Products also has those filter raps. If nothig else, you save money in the long run by never having to pay for another filter again.

07-27-2002, 10:32 AM	#2
KJRenegade Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 13 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Good luck on the project Jason, it sounds like you've got your work cut out for you.. One question I have is, why install a digital compass if you can get the overhead trip computer which includes it? If you do opt against getting the computer, I would look around for the rear-view mirror replacement which has a compass built-in. It looks really slick. I have a Renegade 2002 (or 2002.5 depending on who you ask..), and I love it so far. I am looking to do some mods a bit down the road. So far I've planned on a PowerTrax Locker in the rear, a 1-2" lift (possibly by using a higher spring rate coil/coil over, but I have much more research to do on that), a set of 30.5 - 31" tires, and a front grill guard and winch. Eventually I feel I'm going to replace the rear drum assemblies with disks, but that may be a ways down the road. The first mods will most likely be a K&N drop in. If I have to, I'll swap the factory filter back in when off-road. First I'm going to do some reasearch to find out the filter rate of the K&N in microns, and compare it to the size of a grain of sand. If I'm right, the K&N will be able to filter just about any "dirt" I may encounter. Hell I've had K&N's on my last 3 vehicles, and I got rid of them all with well over 100k miles, and no oil burning, or power loss, so the K&N's can't be that bad! And then follow that with a Borla cat-back exhaust. Come to think of it, it sounds like I have my work cut out for me also. PS- I hate to tell you, but the Jeep wave is all but dead (at least in my area).. __________________ 2002 Liberty (KJ) Renegade 4WD - Light Khaki Metallic/Dark Grey Interior - Custom Built 6-21-02. AT (couldn't wait for the 5 speed), Command Trac, Heated Mirrors, Overhead Computer, Sun Roof, All Stereo Upgrades, CD-Changer.

08-01-2002, 02:46 PM	#3
RideRed04 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Strum, Wisconsin Posts: 1,245 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I am hard core into atv's, and if you run a k&n on a quad, you generally run an outerwear. Outerwear is a company that makes fabric covers for filters. They do custom stuff, so check into that. With the outerwear, you loose some filtration, but you get an almost inpenitrable (spelling? lol) filter. As a plus, it beads water too. __________________ 1989 YJ: 3.5" of lift, 36" irok's, warn 9.5ti, d44's 1998 XJ classic for DD, a little lift, a little tires

08-01-2002, 06:36 PM	#4
IELiberty Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 21 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	K&N has been using my vehicle as a test rig. Spoke to one of their techs about my concern with dirt particles and my thought of running the FIPK with the pre-charger. He told me the pre-chargers work really well, dirt and dust just bounce off of them. He also felt that the performence loss was quite negligible with it on. My thought is that I'll run with the pre-charger on in the dirt, and run open on the street. __________________ 2002 Patriot Blue Liberty Daystar 2.5" lift, Ranch RSX, Boulder Bars, Skid Row Tranny Skid, Gibson exhaust, K&N AirCharger, Kenwood Excelon HU, Infinity Reference 6.5"s, Yakima roof rack, 255/70/16 Pirelli Scorpion AT LLL=15.25"

08-08-2002, 09:37 PM	#7
jgoalie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 6 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Filter Setups I just set up a cheap K&N set up. Rusty's off road outfitters has an air tube and k&n cone filter for about $70 that replaces the snorkle and first air box. It plugs into the stock rubber air tube and frees up ALOT of breathing for the Liberty. Performance Products also has those filter raps. If nothig else, you save money in the long run by never having to pay for another filter again.

08-02-2002, 11:24 AM	#5
jobuz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 3 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Jason, your project sounds fun, but I wasn't too impressed with the stock trac loc differential (see my post "trac loc differential on Liberty" posted a few days ago.) I was in some mud and which ever back wheel had the least traction got so much of the torque that the wheel with traction was 100% stationary. I didn't expect this. Have fun with your project. John

08-08-2002, 12:17 PM	#6
tehlers2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 8 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Jason, the project sound pretty cool but why are you choosing the Renegade to do it with. It cost a little more then the rest and it sounds like you are going to be removing some of the extras anyway. You can buy aftermarket lights to attach to your roof rack that will probably be cheaper and work better then the stock roof lights. If it was my project I would consider a limited or even a sport since you are oging to swap so much stuff out. Anyway, good luck on the project, sounds like a ot of fun! Also, the LSD is great if you are doing light off-roading or in the snow etc. For serious mud, sand and rock though you can't beat a locker.