Hello all,
(!Notice: I just realized this is a long post!)
I've been doing some homework, and realized that I should probably ask the pros for suggestions.
Here is my specs:
1997 Sport with 4.0L and 5 speed. I believe my current gears are 3.07 in D35C and D30., which i plan to find out for sure today by measuring the rotations of the drive shaft in comparison to the wheel. My current tires are some Generic 31x10.5x15, which only measure 29". Currently all stock suspension at 99,800 miles.
This is my Daily Driver, and would like to make it my weekend warrior. The trails around here can go from Mild to Wild, but I would like to keep it more on the mild side for my tastes. I do not go off roading very much for two reasons, I need to find some jeep buddies to go with, and my lack of a winch with bald tires scare me! I know I can do everything I want pretty much stock with skill and time. But I want to also have the room to easily further my abilities, and also look good doing it to.
I am the second owner, so Im not sure if it has ever been regeared. I havent seen any tags on the differentials, and everything is coated with like a rubberized protectant.
So my reason for pursueing new tires in the first place is because my current ones are pretty much bald, all the way down to the wear bars. And on top of that, all 4 of the shocks seem to be leaking, which i assume is the reason to the rough ride over bumps.
So from what I read, its best to do what you want the first time. And I really like the thought of running 33" tires. I believe 35" would run to much money to do things properly. I like my "31" tires, but Id like them to be bigger.
I would like to spend less than $3000 if I can including the tires.
The First thing I look at is my gears. I have read that 4.56 gears is highly recommended for my combination. Well if I only have 3.07 gears, I would either need a bigger carrier in the Dana35c or replace with another axle such as the popular Ford 8.8. If I go with a new carrier, I felt I mine as well go with and LSD over Open w/ lockers. So I quickly added up $$$, which is highly unrecommended to dump into the Dana35c axle. This is what tells me I mine as well do the ford 8.8. I am no fabricater by any means, so I would need to pay someone to do all of the conversion. It seems like either option I go, its going to be roughly $1500 which is half of my budget!
Next I look at is the lift. I know its fit commonly in two ways. I wanted to do a 2" suspension lift with a 1.25" body lift. The body lift will set me up down the road if I ever wanted a tummy tuck or high clearance gas tank skid. To save on some money, i was going to run a budget boost instead of replacing the springs. I have mentioned that I do need new shocks, so why not get the OME 2" lift? The only down side is im afraid to go to high where I need an SYE and DS.
I know I want the Wrangler Duratrac's at 33x12.5x15. I have considered only buying four to drop the cost by $200 or so. MY current rims are Cragar's Nomad II's that came from the previous owner. I believe they have 3.75" of backspacing.
So after all this my eyes are just filling up with $$$. This is my first jeep, and kind of hope its my last. I dont mind putting money into it cause I know I'll want to keep it a very long time. And if anything ever happened, I would do my best to get another TJ to move all my mods over to.
Maybe i should just buy a new set of 31"s and call it a day. idk. :/
So if you guys were in my position, what would you do?
(!Notice: I just realized this is a long post!)
I've been doing some homework, and realized that I should probably ask the pros for suggestions.
Here is my specs:
1997 Sport with 4.0L and 5 speed. I believe my current gears are 3.07 in D35C and D30., which i plan to find out for sure today by measuring the rotations of the drive shaft in comparison to the wheel. My current tires are some Generic 31x10.5x15, which only measure 29". Currently all stock suspension at 99,800 miles.
This is my Daily Driver, and would like to make it my weekend warrior. The trails around here can go from Mild to Wild, but I would like to keep it more on the mild side for my tastes. I do not go off roading very much for two reasons, I need to find some jeep buddies to go with, and my lack of a winch with bald tires scare me! I know I can do everything I want pretty much stock with skill and time. But I want to also have the room to easily further my abilities, and also look good doing it to.
I am the second owner, so Im not sure if it has ever been regeared. I havent seen any tags on the differentials, and everything is coated with like a rubberized protectant.
So my reason for pursueing new tires in the first place is because my current ones are pretty much bald, all the way down to the wear bars. And on top of that, all 4 of the shocks seem to be leaking, which i assume is the reason to the rough ride over bumps.
So from what I read, its best to do what you want the first time. And I really like the thought of running 33" tires. I believe 35" would run to much money to do things properly. I like my "31" tires, but Id like them to be bigger.
I would like to spend less than $3000 if I can including the tires.
The First thing I look at is my gears. I have read that 4.56 gears is highly recommended for my combination. Well if I only have 3.07 gears, I would either need a bigger carrier in the Dana35c or replace with another axle such as the popular Ford 8.8. If I go with a new carrier, I felt I mine as well go with and LSD over Open w/ lockers. So I quickly added up $$$, which is highly unrecommended to dump into the Dana35c axle. This is what tells me I mine as well do the ford 8.8. I am no fabricater by any means, so I would need to pay someone to do all of the conversion. It seems like either option I go, its going to be roughly $1500 which is half of my budget!
Next I look at is the lift. I know its fit commonly in two ways. I wanted to do a 2" suspension lift with a 1.25" body lift. The body lift will set me up down the road if I ever wanted a tummy tuck or high clearance gas tank skid. To save on some money, i was going to run a budget boost instead of replacing the springs. I have mentioned that I do need new shocks, so why not get the OME 2" lift? The only down side is im afraid to go to high where I need an SYE and DS.
I know I want the Wrangler Duratrac's at 33x12.5x15. I have considered only buying four to drop the cost by $200 or so. MY current rims are Cragar's Nomad II's that came from the previous owner. I believe they have 3.75" of backspacing.
So after all this my eyes are just filling up with $$$. This is my first jeep, and kind of hope its my last. I dont mind putting money into it cause I know I'll want to keep it a very long time. And if anything ever happened, I would do my best to get another TJ to move all my mods over to.
Maybe i should just buy a new set of 31"s and call it a day. idk. :/
So if you guys were in my position, what would you do?