[ranger140892]

Brother you get worked up too easily. No one meant any slight or insult toward you. Just idle comments.
Reasoning I'm using? 18.5 years of watching "Joe" blow combat pay and bonus's on things he tears up. I do hope you're the exception. Have fun with the build, keep safe on deployments, and we'll continue to enjoy your posts.

Originally Posted by Curlee

Sure, I could have put the money in the bank, and then sat and watched it grow. OR I could put it towards something I have always wanted, and then go out and do things that I love doing. I dont know where you were deployed to or what you did, and Im not downplaying what you have done, but my deployment have given me a much different outlook on life. Of course, I could have gone to the strip club every night and then drank the rest away as well. We all have our vices.

Ranger, I really dont understand what kind of reasoning your following when you say my jeep will be operable for 6 months max. Did you actually read any of what has been said in this thread? Im not wasting anymore time responding to this comment.

Chris - I am fully aware what a body lift will mean for my jeep. Hence the "I am NOT a big fan of body lifts" Of course ANY lift on a vehicle is going to raise the center of gravity, and therefore increase the chance of roll over. Also, the engine and trans actually do not weigh much more than the stock components, so weight is negligible. But I do appreciate the constructive post, over these off the wall comments I have been getting lately.

LS-1 CJ - Full cage is on the list after I actually get it rolling.

[bman9089]

Originally Posted by thedirt

Maybe it's just where I live, but it seems like all the trucks around here run suspension lifts. I rarely see one with a body lift.

Also, the gap between the frame and the body a lot of times is normal. My parents have a completely stock F150, and there's a small gap between the frame and the body that you can see through (IIRC).

I know small gaps are normal, but the ones I see are quite large. It's obvious most of the time, especially if the pucks aren't black.

The wheel well space gives it away too.

[Coils Rule]

Hey thats a kick *** build my man. Keep up the good work and keep the writeup coming.
I love that engine we have it in out 07 trail blazer ss. It's got a lot of poop

[Greg_Volkman]

I know what you mean, I was in iraq myself and came back realizing how precious life is, but so do the guys that buy pocket rockets and cream themselves upside the barriers on the highway.

I have spent more than my fair share on my jeep - too much, in fact, but giving you some advice from a guy that's been in well over the "half way mark" - I wish I started saving a long time ago. I guess having a family gives me a different perspective, but I just spent 17 month away from family and I don't want to leave again soon - you may one day too get that "I am about to walk" feeling and might need some money in the bank saved up to do it.

Originally Posted by Curlee

Sure, I could have put the money in the bank, and then sat and watched it grow. OR I could put it towards something I have always wanted, and then go out and do things that I love doing. I dont know where you were deployed to or what you did, and Im not downplaying what you have done, but my deployment have given me a much different outlook on life. Of course, I could have gone to the strip club every night and then drank the rest away as well. We all have our vices.

Ranger, I really dont understand what kind of reasoning your following when you say my jeep will be operable for 6 months max. Did you actually read any of what has been said in this thread? Im not wasting anymore time responding to this comment.

Chris - I am fully aware what a body lift will mean for my jeep. Hence the "I am NOT a big fan of body lifts" Of course ANY lift on a vehicle is going to raise the center of gravity, and therefore increase the chance of roll over. Also, the engine and trans actually do not weigh much more than the stock components, so weight is negligible. But I do appreciate the constructive post, over these off the wall comments I have been getting lately.

LS-1 CJ - Full cage is on the list after I actually get it rolling.

[Coils Rule]

Originally Posted by Greg_Volkman

I know what you mean, I was in iraq myself and came back realizing how precious life is, but so do the guys that buy pocket rockets and cream themselves upside the barriers on the highway.

I have spent more than my fair share on my jeep - too much, in fact, but giving you some advice from a guy that's been in well over the "half way mark" - I wish I started saving a long time ago. I guess having a family gives me a different perspective, but I just spent 17 month away from family and I don't want to leave again soon - you may one day too get that "I am about to walk" feeling and might need some money in the bank saved up to do it.

Oh for gods sake this is a Jeep build up thread not a "this is what to do in life thread"

Greg thanks for your service, it is greatly appreciated. Ufortunatly more than you will probably ever know. but it's time to shut up now and enjoy the best build I have seen in a long time.

[LS-1 CJ]

I wouldn't sweat the weight/lift issue. The ls2 IS lighter than the original equipment but tranny may weigh more. Is the atlas aluminum? If so it is lighter too. We made sure to get my ls as low and far back on the cj as angles and driveshaft lengths would permit. Also moved the front axle forward about 2" to increase wheel base. Plus those fatty axles for sure weigh more to help keep you planted. Also be conscious about what elevation your adding accessories at. I try to locate tire carriers, jacks, batteries, air pumps, tools, lights, etc at the lowest levels possible. That means, dont mount your jack on the hood! Every little bit counts.

As for the 6mo or less comments? The LS1/4l60e I installed had 100k and I have added another 20k with no mech. issues. Just keep your foot on the gas and thank god you didn't put a FORD in there.

[neZZr]

Originally Posted by LS-1 CJ

I wouldn't sweat the weight/lift issue. The ls2 IS lighter than the original equipment but tranny may weigh more. Is the atlas aluminum? If so it is lighter too. We made sure to get my ls as low and far back on the cj as angles and driveshaft lengths would permit. Also moved the front axle forward about 2" to increase wheel base. Plus those fatty axles for sure weigh more to help keep you planted. Also be conscious about what elevation your adding accessories at. I try to locate tire carriers, jacks, batteries, air pumps, tools, lights, etc at the lowest levels possible. That means, dont mount your jack on the hood! Every little bit counts.

As for the 6mo or less comments? The LS1/4l60e I installed had 100k and I have added another 20k with no mech. issues. Just keep your foot on the gas and thank god you didn't put a FORD in there.

I'm sure you are correct that the NV4500 surely weighs more than a stock Jeep trans, but the Atlas most likely weighs more than a stock NP231. The NP231 is also aluminum, but it has a thin cast case, and a chain transfer. The Atlas is a billet case milled from a solid block of aluminum, and it is fully geared (no chain)...

I didn't have the time, but a quick check of the Advance Adapters site would turn up the actual weight to compare.

[jeep06]

Originally Posted by neZZr

I didn't have the time, but a quick check of the Advance Adapters site would turn up the actual weight to compare.

I checked their website and the Atlas II weighs 110lbs. dry and the Atlas 4speed weighs 125lbs..... now you know.

[Haik]

What difference does it make how much anything weighs when you have over 500lbs of mud caked to the bottom, sides and top of your jeep?

[jeep06]

Originally Posted by Haik

What difference does it make how much anything weighs when you have over 500lbs of mud caked to the bottom, sides and top of your jeep?

Exactly!!!

[Coils Rule]

Well speaking of weight my Trailblazer weighs a WHOLE bunch more than that TJ and I just took my Trailblazer to test and tune and ran a 13.906
I can only imagine how much fun this Jeep will be when it's done.

[timothywrsham]

Hey man this is a really nice thread and its great to know u are in el paso too I would love to see your jeep in person and i even saw your axles down at 4wp Hopefully you can show me your jeep when its completed if you dont mind

[Brice014]

Any updates from the weekend?

[Curlee]

Few minor updates,

So the throttle body from Holly came in. I tried going through edelbroc but they were being a pain in the butt, so I canceled it and went with Holly. Again, if your going to do an LSx swap from a vehicle with electronically controlled throttle into a TJ, your going to need to buy a new cable controlled one. You can get them used off people, but the holly one was so nice I couldnt pass it up. Plus it will add a few ponies to boot. If you are buying a used one, make sure it comes with a bracket for the throttle cable as well. Most people will neglect to throw it in there. Its like a 5 dollar part on ebay, but most will make you pay more for shipping than the bracket itself.



This pic shows where the shift tower is in relation to everything. As you can see, its really close to the dash.




The jeep as it sits now, with the 3" body lift, and the old 33" tires.


Also, as you can see from the last pic, they were working on it when I came in. They are finishing up the custom cross member for the tranny, Also the Transfer case was mounted temporarily, to get measurements for the driveshafts. We are still waiting on a seal, that should be in Wednesday. I would of had some pics of that, but I didnt want to get in the way, and I only had time to snap these few pics, because I had other stuff to take care of.

[bman9089]

is the stick going to hit the dash? Looks pretty close...