I try to keep this updated with tech regarding my Jeep. Direct links are imbedded in this first post, and many others. Check the links, read, learn and ask questions
My goal is a fairly capable general purpose Jeep. It sees general utility usage, crowded city parking garages, long highway drives, lots of snow and ice conditions and scenic mountain 4x4 trails in Colorado. It's not a rock crawler...its more of a general purpose expedition Jeep and its going to go be a jack of all trades, master of none.
Index:
The beginning:
My comprehensive 33" tire build:
Mods for 33" tires
Additional Completed Mods:
Still in process:
Off-Road Utility/Camping Trailer Build
Wish List:
You don't NEED all this to run 33s, but above is what I would consider a comprehensive 2.5" lift kit to bring all steering, suspension and driveline geometry to where they should be, while still providing an exceptional daily driver and capable off road rig.
Removed mods:
JKS front track bar
Reason: didn't work.
JKS rear track bar
Reason: didn't work.
Riddler Diff covers
Reason: major clearance problems, front track bar & gas tank skid interference.
Homemade 23mm bumpstops
Reason: Removed from front. Welded on 3/8" plate & tapped spring pad for bumpstops. Used in the rear to make 1.3" bumpstop extension.
Homemade t-case drop (6061-T611 aluminum)
Reason: installed SYE/CV shaft.
Zone Off-Road front cam bolts
Reason: installed Rokmen control arms. Caster now at 6.2 with HP D30 swap.
Daystar 0.75" spacers for front & OME 933 front springs
Reason: went with 934 front springs after installing winch.
Homemade Tire Carrier
Reason: weight reduction & trade for Unichip Q (for hi-perf engine mods to come)
Kilby Gas tank skid
Reason: weight reduction - went to Savvy gas tank skid.
2 Explorer fans and 2 "Severe Duty" fan clutches
Reason: Overheating issues while idling, belt squealing at higher RPMs, didn't work as good as stock. More info here in this Explorer fan thread.
Explorer 46mm calipers from Vanco kit
Reason: Upgraded to Explorer Sport Trac 48mm calipers with Black Magic Brake pads and Centric rotors thanks to mrblaine (www.blackmagicbrakes.com)
Currie 1" MML
Reason: Chasing driveline vibes. Replaced with Brown Dog rubber w/ super block brackets. Did not notice a difference in vibes between the two.
JeepMedic engine skid & tummy tuck
Reason: Weight loss program - went to Savvy UnderArmor tummy tuck and engine skid. But the JeepMedic is still a great design.
Rear TrueTrac
Reason: Jeep no longer a daily driver in snow, so went to ARB.
Front TrueTrac
Reason: Jeep no longer a daily driver in snow, so went to ARB.
My goal is a fairly capable general purpose Jeep. It sees general utility usage, crowded city parking garages, long highway drives, lots of snow and ice conditions and scenic mountain 4x4 trails in Colorado. It's not a rock crawler...its more of a general purpose expedition Jeep and its going to go be a jack of all trades, master of none.
Index:
The beginning:
- JeepMedic engine skid & tummy tuck
- JKS 1.25" BL, Currie 1" MML
- JKS body mount skids
- 31" BFG All Terrains
- Skyjacker steering stabilizer
- Poison Spyder Customs Roll Cage
My comprehensive 33" tire build:
Mods for 33" tires
- 33x12.50R15 Goodyear Duratrac
- NP231 w/ AA SYE & CV shaft
- Springs: OME 2.5" - 934 front, 949 rear
- Shocks: OME N66 & N67
- Custom front track bar with the Loose Track Bar Bolt Fix.
- Custom rear track bar made from the stock bar and RE heim end.
- Front Bumpstops: 1" Performance Accessories "Big Block" body lift puck + 3/8" steel piece welded to spring pad
- Rear Bumpstops: 1.3" + Airlift bags, with modified jounce bumper
- JKS front sway bar disconnects and stow away cams
- V8 ZJ Tie rod
- RE rear sway bar links (9.5" eye to eye)
- Crown stainless extended brake lines
- Clevite/JJ adjustable control arms for pinion angle alignment and caster correction.
- Front HP D30, mini-truss, Vanco big brake kit with 48mm dual piston caliper upgrade, ARB air locker, Yukon 4340 Chromoly shafts
- Rear D44 ARB air locker & G2 4140 Chromoly axle shafts
- Regeared to 4.88s
- Comments regarding alignment specs for lifted Jeep.
Additional Completed Mods:
- NP231 w/ AA SYE & CV shaft
- Junkyard Roof Rack
- Hard Top Hoist
- Bestop Tire carrier
- Third Brake Light #1 and Third Brake Light #2
- GPS Mount For Roll Bar
- CB Mount for Roll Bar
- Diehard Platinum P4 battery
- Air-Lift Load Leveling Airbags
- B&M Trans Temp Gauge and transmission cooler after 42RLE transmission died at ~52k miles.
- Superwinch EPi9.0S + Warn winch mount
- Viair 1 gallon tank & push-to-connect air fittings
- Custom downpipe/cat setup after stock pre-cat failure, and a Dynomax muffler & tailpipe after turning stock exhaust into pretzel.
- Hesco high flow thermostat housing
- Savvy Off-Road Gas Tank Skid
- Alternator: 2004 Durango 4.7L 160amp swap, 6-groove pulley - Autozone Duralast PN #12328
- Drake Off-Road Radiator, new Mopar water pump & new Mopar fan clutch.
- loud *** horn part 1 , Part 2. It's a POS and died quick (Wolo Dominator). Replaced with 1970s Cadillac 4-tone horns.
- Brown Dog 1" MML Ultra-Flex Rubber w/ Super Header block brackets
- Savvy UnderArmor tummy tuck and engine skid, with custom made mounts to attach engine skid to underside of motor mounts
- Savvy double adjustable aluminum control arms
- Mopar block heater
Still in process:
- Homemade outboard lower rear shock mounts for long travel shocks
- Homemade front bar pin shock mounts for long travel shocks
Off-Road Utility/Camping Trailer Build
Wish List:
- NV3550 manual trans
- highline fenders
- dual rate front sway bar
You don't NEED all this to run 33s, but above is what I would consider a comprehensive 2.5" lift kit to bring all steering, suspension and driveline geometry to where they should be, while still providing an exceptional daily driver and capable off road rig.
Removed mods:
JKS front track bar
Reason: didn't work.
JKS rear track bar
Reason: didn't work.
Riddler Diff covers
Reason: major clearance problems, front track bar & gas tank skid interference.
Homemade 23mm bumpstops
Reason: Removed from front. Welded on 3/8" plate & tapped spring pad for bumpstops. Used in the rear to make 1.3" bumpstop extension.
Homemade t-case drop (6061-T611 aluminum)
Reason: installed SYE/CV shaft.
Zone Off-Road front cam bolts
Reason: installed Rokmen control arms. Caster now at 6.2 with HP D30 swap.
Daystar 0.75" spacers for front & OME 933 front springs
Reason: went with 934 front springs after installing winch.
Homemade Tire Carrier
Reason: weight reduction & trade for Unichip Q (for hi-perf engine mods to come)
Kilby Gas tank skid
Reason: weight reduction - went to Savvy gas tank skid.
2 Explorer fans and 2 "Severe Duty" fan clutches
Reason: Overheating issues while idling, belt squealing at higher RPMs, didn't work as good as stock. More info here in this Explorer fan thread.
Explorer 46mm calipers from Vanco kit
Reason: Upgraded to Explorer Sport Trac 48mm calipers with Black Magic Brake pads and Centric rotors thanks to mrblaine (www.blackmagicbrakes.com)
Currie 1" MML
Reason: Chasing driveline vibes. Replaced with Brown Dog rubber w/ super block brackets. Did not notice a difference in vibes between the two.
JeepMedic engine skid & tummy tuck
Reason: Weight loss program - went to Savvy UnderArmor tummy tuck and engine skid. But the JeepMedic is still a great design.
Rear TrueTrac
Reason: Jeep no longer a daily driver in snow, so went to ARB.
Front TrueTrac
Reason: Jeep no longer a daily driver in snow, so went to ARB.