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Tj's 01 WJ Build thread

70K views 388 replies 35 participants last post by  Bama_WJ 
#1 ·
Well figured I would start my own build thread, seeing as how I have gotten so many ideas of others thread, I figure maybe I can do the same for someone else so here it goes.

Cant find any pictures of when i bought it new, so ill just start with the oldest pics! Right after purchasing it I went to a local off road shop and ordered a 2in bb and some US Wheel D windows
 

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#56 ·
Thanks for the compliment. Variloks are basically jeeps version of limited slips (or posi) exept unlike most posi units they use clutches instead of gears. But same difference kinda. The are found in all limited wj's with quadraDRIVE. Quadratrac is open carriers (one wheel peel) Although variloks are found in many jeep models, the only direct bolt in axle assembly for the wj are wj axles. The reason I'm swapping in these axles are 1 better traction off road without using a locker (as much as I want one the general response is that they suck in snow, and my jeep gets me to my plow truck in winter so that's no good.) the other benefit is the rear axle is a danna 44a (or 44hd) which is a great upgrade to the weaker Dana 35 that is factory in the rear of most laredo's.

As for the shocks, I'm running rough country. They ride just like the name, ROUGH! When I did my lift I was running low on cash, rc's were the cheapest I could find in a hurry. You did great going with bilsteins! Most everyone says they are a great riding shock and do just as well offroad. When I get the extra cash I will be getting a set for myself.
 
#58 ·
talk to kolak when you buy those bilsteins. he set me up. 5100's front and 5125's rear i made out good shipping was a flat rate (at the time) $10 all in all they ran me bout $310
but prices go up and down with availiblity. i waited about 4 weeks for mine to come in, i hear bilsteins are back ordered right now for extended length shocks. i have heard a guy on hear who waited 7 weeks for his bilsteins.
x3 post or not i got my answer and im sure there are many others out there reading who got their answer as well! keep us posted on that Jeep TJ, hoping you get your list of **** done before that bun in the oven is ready;)
 
#59 ·
So life has been crazy lately, and i havent had time to update this any. So long story short, the "bun in the oven" came out May 20th at 1:03pm. Little Arhiana Lee, its a crazy thing seeing your baby being brought into this world, and its definitly made me a different man. After all the madness of a new baby setteled down, i got to get back to the jeep. I finished the varilok axle swaps, and even managed to squeeze in a little wheeling. Now here are the pics

Only about a min old


thought red calpiers would look good, and since they were new i figured it would help fight corrosion



Wheeling at JeepSkool





when i attempted this, i broke an axle shaft and dented my pass front fender pretty good. I will say this, the variloks performed flawlessly! After being winched through the rest of the hole, i was able to drive out of the rest of the trail in 2wd, which amazed me!

 
#62 ·
Thank You! :D

As you can see from the pics from this weekend, im starting her off early at 2 months old. The following is from the charity even my club helped put on this past weekend calle Crush for Kids. It was a charity event to help rais money for the boys and girls club of cleveland. We managed to raise 694 dollars i believe, which was amazing considering this was the first year.

















 
#63 ·
Figured id put these here, Jeepskool Aug 2011





















Finally Jeepskools "mudslinger nick" about went end over end in front of me. Luckily he stopped instead of trying to continue to make it out on his own power. My uncle was able to snap a picture while i was getting my jeep out of the way and heading to grab his winch line. I was rather impressed with the line speed of that 8274 winch he has.

 
#65 ·
The variloks perform amazing offroad! I wasnt to sure about them at first, that was untill i broke my front cv shaft. After a quick tug out of the massive mud hole i fell into, i was able to drive completely out of the overly rutted and muddy trail in 2wd. Although it was challenging and i had to constantly get some running starts, i still made it out under my own power.

Since then ive tried to pay attention, and watch the ls "lock up," and its helped me every time i need it. By no means is it a locker, but i would take them any day over an open diff.

As for the front driveshaft, im running a stock front double cardon shaft out of a 96 v8 zj.
 
#66 ·
yeah i want a locker but the wife drives this thing in the winters here in Maine, i def do not need to be pulling my jeep out of ditches everyday. (she couldnt handle a locker on snowy roads)

As for the driveshaft i was just curious as you sold me your carolina in the classifieds here.
i have had 5,000 miles on it so far and have even seen speeds of 85mph (on the speedo, so maybe a lil faster)
The only thing i did have an issue with was a vibration at first install, would come on at 40mph little vibration. so i unbolted the front yoke spun the driveshaft 180degrees and reattached. now im all good!
And have yet to feel any vibration since. I'am at 5 3/4" lift in the front and 5" in the rear.
wheeling i haven't had any serious trips but the usual trails with one other WJ buddy.
Im wondering if that was your problem as well?
I was just curious why you would have gotten rid of your carolina for a stock ZJ one?
 
#67 ·
That was one of the other deciding factors of going with variloks, i wanted better traction, but didnt want to have a locker because i hear they dont perform well in the snow. I will get a locker one day, but thats after the variloks wear out.

Got rid of it cause money got tight for a little while with the baby, and i knew i could get some $ out of it and use my spare zj shaft so i didnt have to go without 4wd.
 
#69 ·
will a zj front ds work on a 2000 limited v8? i was in a squeeze when my factory repenzza ds went out and ended up getting a new one built. needless to say... bad decison i have gone through 3 of them in two months at stock ride hight, all on the shops tab of course. and now im 4wdless while trying to gain a refund from the shop.
 
#74 ·
Tj- I waslooking at the pull-a-part website and saw that I could get an entire axle assembly for 125$.
If I found a v8 wj with a 44 and the quadradrive- could I just swap it on? I've done brakes, axle shafts, control arms so I feel like installing it back on to my jeep wouldn't be that hard.
 
#80 ·
It was good finally getting to meet you as well. Thanks for the hook up!

Ill do an update to this thread for anyone who may be following along, tomorrow.

With the claytons ill be installing:

231HD with sye, wide chaing kit, 6 pinion planetary, and terra 2lo that I built and is sitting on my bench.
505 performance stage 1 cam kit
6 hole bosch injectors
Ill be porting and polishing my intake and cylinder head
Rocker panel delete with 2x6 3/16th tubing put in place
Tank tuck

And there are probably a few other things that I forgot about.
 
#83 ·
If your going to build a 231 mated with big axles, I think the 2 lo kit is a must. Especially for how cheap it is. the 4:1 kit on the other hand is freaking pricey! As much as I wanted to do a 4:1 while I had the case apart, I just couldnt justify the extra grand. At that point I might as well just started off with a 241OR from a rubi. But... if I find a deal on a 4:1 kit for the 231 I will jump on it and just tear the box apart again.
 
#85 ·
yeah, but that requires getting out and into the mud/rocks/sand/whatever. The beauty of the terra 2 lo is that you can shift in and out of 4lo/2lo on the fly. Its mostly used to make sharper turns with a locked front diff (which with a wj you can use all the help you can get for tighter turns). Also, if your front wheels have no traction, but your rear wheels are bitting, you can remain in lo and send all the engine power to the rear wheels instead of burning it up sending power to the front.

Its a VERY simple install for any 231 case. Hell, anything on the 231 is easy to do. Its one of those things that if your already into your t-case (sye install or whatever) you might as well do this too, its that simple.
 
#86 ·
That's why I got an e locker :)

I've been looking and reading at the 2lo kit. I may just have to get it since I'm putting in an sye.
 
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