I always like to see builds so here my recent build. I bought this 2003 4.0 Auto on October 23, 2007. It slid off a trail backward then rolled several times in Yucca Valley in July 2007. The only body part that was not damaged was the cowl A-pillar panels. Everything else was bent or damaged. This project is for my 15 year old son. I have tried to repair as much as I could and keep the cost to a minimum.
This is how I found it:
It would not start (found only a fuse was blown and it started right up
I finally got to see it during the day and it is really cool! I'll be wheeling all week in Moab and I'm excited to test it out. I didn't have time to get it all painted up but after I get back and Blaine does a once over then I'll get it all spruced up. I using all of the new space I've gained.
I finally got to see it during the day and it is really cool! I'll be wheeling all week in Moab and I'm excited to test it out. I didn't have time to get it all painted up but after I get back and Blaine does a once over then I'll get it all spruced up. I using all of the new space I've gained.
it doesnt have a savvy rear bumper? i know Blaine wont warranty it if you use it to pull a trailer but Gerald, you need to get a reciever rear bumper. Speaking of which, do you have any reciever rear bumpers in yet? i need to go ahead and tell the wife im buying one.
not knocking Blaine, but have you seen everyones work?
Blaine, i need to win the lotto or get a second job:wave: so you can take my jeep from me and do some work to it, then i could come out and Gerald could show me how to tear it all up in JV, while you watched!
He prefers that folks think of him as a clueless nimrod, which is fairly disarming to most and I'm generally okay with that until it comes to taking credit that's not mine to own.
So why did you say "He" and not "You?" Sorry to get so far off topic :rofl:
So now for something real. That hood is pretty sick. Are you going to build some sort of inner guard? I know you guys play in the rocks, but I have seen some dirt/mud in the beginning of the thread.
I saw you in moab when you were there, I've looked through this thread atleast 10 times, and I can't believe I didn't realize it was your jeep I was :drool: looking at. It was just on trailer in a hotel parking lot and I did a few drive:drool: by's. It looks awesome in person, I hope to spot it again one day.
It needs a stiffener glassed in around the front edge where it sits on the grill. The sides are molded too tight around the headlight buckets and it's cracking the front edge open on one side.
The return lip on the sides is too thin to sand down for some clearance, so I'll bend up a rod that will hold them open and glass it in.
They are the Bestop doors and I wouldn't run them if you gave them to me.
haha, im going to be doing similar work to this soon to my jeep, rolled it on the highway
Do you mind if i ask you how much you spent on the windshield and roll bar?
Mine does not seem to be as damaged as yours is, for my i just need to repair the windshield, new doors, new front roll bar supports, maybe a new hood, and new front fenders...
Got back from Moab and didn't like the way the Jeep worked with 39s. It didn't climb like it use to. So, Blaine is going to have to do some work on the rear suspension. Looks like he'll have to lengthen the wheel base and back half the frame to accomodate the new shock positions. A new cossmember for the links is in order.
Otherwise, had a fantastic time in Moab. If you haven't been, you need to go!
Got back from Moab and didn't like the way the Jeep worked with 39s. It didn't climb like it use to. So, Blaine is going to have to do some work onbthe rear suspension. Look like he'll have to lengthen the wheel base and back half the frame to accomodate the new shock positions. A new cossmember for the links is in order.
Otherwise, had a fantastic time in Moab. If youhaven't been, you need to go!
I'm curious as to what you mean by it didn't climb like it used to. Are you saying that the increased circumference of the tire without increasing the wheelbase put you at a disadvantage (i.e. the space between the inner edges of the tires were closer than they would be on 35's)?
What was happening with my Jeep is when I was climbing the rear wheels seem to drive towards/under the front while the Jeep was vertical. So it was very a tippsy feeling when trying to climb waterfalls and the front seems like it in unloading but actually is was the rear drive under the Jeep. The tire size changed the suspension geometery and it was doing wierd stuff. For instance, with the lockers on while hard turning the front wheel would raise off the ground easily. When I was climbing a wall I could see the front tire losing traction as soon as I many a small turn. Not good!
In that video you posted Gerald, we can definitely see where the rear suspension wants to go under the jeep. Its kinda like what my short arm suspension does.
what wheelbase are guys going to shoot for? This build just keeps getting better and better!
I think 106 is what i'm shooting for. I like the short wheel base for the technical stuff we do at Johnson Valley. In Moab, there are a lot of good climbs with unbelieveable tractions that the longer wheel base is needed.
I should have said an increase of 5-1/2%. I was just assuming a 100 in. wheel base to start with. But you're correct, it may not be a 1:1 relationship. I don't know, that's why I'm asking.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Jeep Enthusiast Forums
18.5M posts
726.8K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to all jeep owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, engine swaps, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!