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SuperWade2's TJ Build Thread

170K views 1K replies 98 participants last post by  SuperWade2 
#1 · (Edited)
I've never started one of these build threads for my TJ but have some other threads in the Tech section that I might Link to or reference

Here is one of the only "before" pics I can find...



I'll start with a list, my last couple of years and what plans are next...I'll add pics later where I have em...comments, questions and criticisms welcome...

Pre 2007 (mostly 2003-2007 after I found JeepForum)
Rubicon Express 2" Budget Boost - (Removed, but installed pair of Spacers on front of my MJ)
31" BFGoodrich AT's - (Sold when I upgraded to 33" MTZ's)
AtoZ Fab Rocker Skids- (Removed/SOLD, replaced with Alum/Savvy Stainless Steel Rockers/Sliders)
Hanson 60" Front Bumper - (Removed/SOLD, replaced with Savvy Front Bumper)
Teraflex Quick Disconnects - (Removed, Installed on my MJ)
Kilby Gas Tank Skid - (Removed/SOLD, Replaced with Savvy GTS)
Kilby Steering Box Skid- (Removed/SOLD, Replaced with Savvy Steering Skid)
Warn Diff Skids Front - (Removed/SOLD, Replaced with Solid Diff Covers)
Jeep Medic Engine Skid - (Still installed)
1" Performance Accessories Body Lift - (Removed Replaced with Savvy Body Lift))
M.O.R.E Motor Mount Lift - (Removed Replaced with Savvy MML)
K&N FIPK II - Air Intake - (Still installed):brickwall
Airaid Throttle Body Spacer - (Still installed):brickwall
Tuffy Glove Box/Console Insert - (Still installed)

2007 (the first BIG Year of Upgrades)
Hanson Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier (Sold, not yet replaced, don't carry spare)
33x12.5-15" Mickey Thompson MTZ's (Sold when I upgraded to 35" MTR/Kevlar)
Rock Hard Sport Cage (Removed and Sold, not yet replaced)
Solid Axle HD D44 Axle Swap with ARB (4.56)
AlloyUSA Grande 30 Kit with ARB (4.56) (Removed/SOLD, replaced with Currie RJ D44)
Rubicon Express 4.5" Tri-Link Long Arm
Teralow 4:1 / 2 Low
Tom Woods CV Driveshaft / Teraflex HD SYE
SuperWinch EPi9.0 / Viking Synthetic Rope/Thimble

2008
sPOD/The Source
Currie HD Steering
Transmission Cooler/Deep Trans Pan
ORO Swaloc
Vanco Big Brakes
Novak SK2X T-Case Shifter (Replaced with Novak Cable Shifter)

2009
12Volt Guy In Cab Winch Switch
ORO LiteDot's / LitePlate (Removed, Installed Savvy LED Tail Lights)
Currie Explorer Rear Disc Brakes
Front HPD30 Swap
Savvy Aluminum Gas Tank Skid
Viking Fastback Soft top (Sailcloth)
Savvy Front Bumper

2010
Savvy TJ Full Corner Aluminum Armor

10# Ultimate Air Co2 Tank
Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar 35x12.5-15
Rancho 9000XL Adjustable Shocks
Currie CE-9120TJJ Front Track Bar
MrBlaine Custom Driver Side Tie Rod Flip
Currie CE-9102 Upper Johnny Joints
Savvy Rock Stainless Steel Sliders
Savvy Off Road LED Tail Lights
Rear Shock Outboard (PolyPerf Kit with Rancho 9000XL, Currie Rear Bumpstops)
Savvy Rear Bumper
Savvy Wrecking Ball Tub Rails
Savvy Ultimate Tie Rod
Skinny Pedal EOM LED Rock Lights

2011
48mm Calipers and Black Magic Pads for Vanco Kit
XRF Ball Joints (Died quickly and replaced with Synergy Ball Joints)
Savvy MML
Lightforce Striker 170 Fog lamps
Savvy Winch Hoop
RocDog Fab Hawse Fairlead License Plate Mount (Removed, replace with TRE License Plate Mount)

2012
Savvy T-6061 Aluminum Trail Doors
Mac's Custom Tiedown VersaTie tracks 2' length
Synergy Suspension Ball Joints
Bed Tred Interior Kit

2013
Barnett Front D30 Diff Cover
Poly Performance Grab Handles
Savvy Front Bumper "Hardcore Upgrade"
Savvy Steering Box Skid

2014
Tactical Recovery Equipment Safety Thimble Fairlead
Tactical Recovery Equipment License Plate Mount

Next Planned Mod's (*in no particular order, when $$$ avail and Subject to change)
Savvy Tire Carrier (If they ever release one)
Maybe figure out a new front axle option for D30's
Tube Fenders/Flares
PSC Hydroassist Steering
Vanco Hydroboost
<new add="">Beadlock Rims (Undecided, but thinking Walker Evans or Racelines maybe)

</new>
 
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1
#35 ·
Sold my OEM TJ Hardtop today....It had been painted from original Tan/Spice to Black (Krylon Fusion Rattle Can) and had been sitting on a cart, under cover in my back yard for almost a year. Posted on Craigslist. First guy that responded, came to look that night, came back with the TJ and Cash a couple days later (Today). Probably the smoothest Craigslist transaction I've been part of.

Helped him take down the OEM Softop (first time it had been dropped) and install the Hardtop.

Sold with a Bestop HOSS Cart/Cover and Hard Top Hoist in exchange for (9) $100 Bills... Not Bad I think and $$$ to go towards my 35" Goodyear MT/R Kevlars once someone has 5 of them in stock!

Wade
 
#37 ·
$900 for a hardtop, hardtop cart/cover and a garage hoist? You let that guy steal it from you!

I can't find a hardtop alone for less than $950 around me.

But other than that, can't wait to see the 35s :2thumbsup:
 
#39 ·
Yea, I decided not to pull the trigger on the ORO's in case I decided I wanted the Savvy's...My only issue with the Savvy taillights is they aren't protected and they are expensive.
 
#48 ·
I saw your post in the vendor display. Looks good, and sounds like a pretty good deal. You have no problem with the loss of space?
 
#49 · (Edited)
Maybe, probably, possibly....

I previously had a OEM Instra-Trunk that I was able to fit all my tools, Air Compressor, First Aid Kid, Shovel, spare stuff under the closed lid, and then I kept my recovery bag (tow straps, tree saver, gloves, d-rings, ratchet straps, etc) on top of the closed instra-trunk behind the seat.

To get the Co2 Mounted, had to remove the trunk. I tried to fit the Co2 mount horizontal on the top of that, but there wasn't enough room on between the latch and my Viking fastback top.

So without the trunk thing in there, and now the Co2 tank, I'll have to figure out how everything will fit... I could likely skip the portable compressor as long as I have Co2 in the tank. It was a little like Tetris getting everything in before, so I'll just have to figure a new stacking methodology that keeps everything in. I might think about something to strap or hold everything down, so I don't have anything bouncing around and hitting my kids in the back of the head (if they are wheeling with me).

Need to go get the tank filled next week and will hopefully get to test it out next Sunday.

Wade
 
#51 ·
Looks like everything fits nicely. I always love when the stuff I load sits about even with the tailgate. I guess I am weird that way.

I have no idea how large your compressor is, but it may fit behind the roll bar, or at least in front of it in case of emergency (who knows if you run out of air because you forgot to fill your tank). If there is nothing in the little accessory tray under the hood, it would fit nicely there too.
 
#52 ·
Did some Wheeling @ Hollister Hills yesterday... Blew a Front Shock and I was getting a high pitched ping/snapping kind of sound from the driver side...need to check the unit bearing, or Swaylock on the Driver side...didn't sound U-Joint Axle related.

Didn't get a bunch of pics of me, but here are a couple!









 
#53 ·
I tore down my Front end today... blew a front shock, so ordered some new Rancho 9000XL Adjustable ones.

I also removed my Rubicon Express Track Bar Drop Bracket and i'm going to order a new Currie CE-9120TJS from Gerald @ Savvy. So I'll eliminate the track bar drop bracket and go back to a stock pitman arm (Thanks to Robncar).

I'm also going to do the tie rod flip on the driver side and weld on some new sway bar link brackets (with some assistance from MrBlaine on the flip and brackets)

I'd take a pic, but it just looks like and axle with no steering, no track bar, no springs and no shocks, so not very exciting right now.
 
#54 ·
You are completely wrong. You say that it is not very exciting which implies that there is a certain amount of excitement. Not being able to drive your Jeep is not exciting at all:laugh:


Good Luck with the new steering and shocks :thumbsup:
 
#55 ·
You are completely wrong. You say that it is not very exciting which implies that there is a certain amount of excitement. Not being able to drive your Jeep is not exciting at all:laugh:

Good Luck with the new steering and shocks :thumbsup:
Thanks... I think I'm going to go ahead and remove the axle completely...will make the welding easier. Now I need to decide if I want to also spend the extra $$$ to go ahead and get it trussed while it's off. It doesn't get stripped all the way down/get removed often, so I don't know when else I'll have a chance. But after shocks/trackbar and unit bearing, I'm already spending more than I would have liked right now. My 35" tires might have to wait again.

I think the Treks/TnT D30 truss would look awful nice! on there. I sure got a buttload of $$$ tied up into this D30 Axle already...uggg!
 
#59 · (Edited)
Ok, here are a couple tear down shots...

In taking everything apart I also discovered that I have a trashed driveshaft U-Joint... at at least I assume so since both ends at the yoke fell off in my hand...I've been carrying some spares and now have an excuse to use them.

"The hole"...only thing left to pull is the Drop Pitman Arm!


The Axle...need to clean it up and get ready to weld some new swaybar brackets on it...
 
#60 ·
Looks good. I love tear down pics for some reason.
 
#62 ·
Yah, it's not a big deal to take it off...putting it back all together by myself takes a little more work...

Oh, also I need to add a grenaded Axle U-Joint to the list of broken stuff that I am now replacing (including shocks, unit bearing, drive shaft u-joint, etc). I really didn't think I was THAT hard on my stuff... some of this might be residual from the axle bend/replace last year...all of this stuff (the driver side) are things that didn't appear "busted" then, so didn't get replaced. All the passenger side stuff was destroyed and replaced already.
 
#63 ·
Sold my Rear Hanson Bumper and Tire Carrier today to a club member...got enough to hopefully buy the Savvy Bumper and eventual Tire Carrier...

BTW, the Hanson I removed was 63 lbs, plus the 49lbs for the tire carrier that I've had off for a while... will be replacing 112lb with 20-25ish for the rear (unless things have changed) and whatever the tire carrier ends up being.

 
#64 ·
I thought the rear was about 17lbs. I would imagine the tire carrier is going to be about 20-25.

So, what are you going to do for a spare?
 
#66 ·
Today I also pressed my u-Joints out of my Axle shafts, went and bought 3 new Spicer 5-760x u-Joints (To install 2 new and 1 for spare). I didn't get the new Joints installed yet... Waiting on a new Superior outer stub for the driver side from Gerald, and will then install em.

I also got my shocks today...Some Rancho 9000XL Adjustable...you can see the body size difference between these and my old Rubicon Express Monotubes.

 
#72 ·
Rubber mallet? I know you said you tried the vice, but try using the vice just as a way to hold it for when you smack them. If you don't have a rubber mallet, take a cloth and wrap it around the shock, stick it in the vice lightly, and tap the bar pin with a regular hammer. Don't forget the wd40/pb blaster/kroil to help make it easier.
 
#74 ·
So I assume I don't have to worry about "damaging" the bushing with the large flat head of one of the sides? I use a u-joint press for my u-joints... I could probably make that work for this also.

I was just looking for an excuse to grind stuff... I don't get enough chance to use it...

Wade
 
#76 ·
You Suck... :p I saw the pics...looks REALLY nice!

I called a couple places early this week and got the same story... then I spent most of my tire $$$ on parts to fix my front end, which without it working, tire size not very important!

So I'm probably on hold mode on tires....maybe I'll get em for myself for my B-Day in June...
 
#82 ·
Have you gotten your unit bearings yet? I'm looking for a decent vendor.

The Ranchos look nice! Mine aren't doing any good sitting on the garage floor:shhh:
 
#83 ·
Have you gotten your unit bearings yet? I'm looking for a decent vendor.

The Ranchos look nice! Mine aren't doing any good sitting on the garage floor:shhh:
Not yet... I actually ordered from Amazon.com... A couple bucks more, but free 2 day shipping (with the Prime) and no tax... I think that were just over $80 out the door.
 
#87 ·
Uh... no... actually it hadn't crossed my mind, but much like the Air Actuator for the ORO Swayloc, it seems to try to take something that is already really really easy and just attach a "gadget" to it, and adding just one more thing that could possibly go wrong or fail.

Its a couple hundred dollars that I could use elsewhere right now honestly.

I expect that I'll spend some time figuring out which setting I prefer for the street and which I prefer off-road and just get my fat lazy butt out of the driver seat and switch between them Just one more thing to do when I'm airing downing the tires and flipping my SwayLoc lever.

Wade
 
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