Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

What I did to my TJ today

4M views 43K replies 4K participants last post by  LowCountryLJ 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Please feel free to add your own vehicle wrenching / adventure stories to this Thread.
4502663
 

Attachments

See less See more
2
#28,722 ·
Mine drives at the top of the governor's limit: 96. No problems, handles fine, too. (I have read several times that the engine has a speed governor that is set for 96 and mine has never gone above that and tops out at it on a slight downslope with a tail wind. Handles just like when I am going about 75 on the Interstate, but I have only done this twice, and then only for a few moments. I mean, I am not *completely* crazy...)
 
#28,724 ·
Show off... pic or it didnt happen.
If I ever get her back up and running again with the new 4.56 gears I will take a pic. That speedo thingie *can* be pushed up pretty close to that little "100" mark.

I am an older fart, however, so I will have to be on a clear, straight stretch with zero other traffic.

:beerme:
 
#28,725 ·
Mine drives at the top of the governor's limit: 96. No problems, handles fine, too.
Same here. I feel lucky sometimes, but might be that I've put 98k of the 103k miles on my rig. First owner only put 5k on it. He bought it new back in 03, I bought it in 04. I drive it down the highway couple times a week and maintain 75-80mph (even on the many steep grades) with zero issues. RPM's only shoot up when fighting headwinds on the uphill. And I still have room to push the pedal...
 
#28,727 ·
Not to the TJ, but for it. I am one step closed to doing my regear. I have finished reading all the stuff on Pirate and am on my second time through Randy's excellent Differentials: Identification, Restoration & Repair 2nd Ed.

I'm diggin' on my new tools, too, man. Brown Santa came today and left me two boxes of Jeep Joy.

These are like the nicest things I have yet purchased for working on my TJ. I have some other stuff to buy for the re-gear, but these were the two that I researched the most. After the TJ I have three more axles to either re-gear or simply rebuild. These will get used enough to justify the expense to me. I hate-hate-hate crappy tools.

I need to thank several machine shop guys who strongly recommended these over the course of my researching what to look for as well as what to expect from several top brands and some of the dogs.

I cannot afford as near as much as some folks here, but more than others. I have been trying to appease my addiction through meaningful upgrades using the best parts and tools I can possibly afford so that I do not have to do a job twice and so that my tools will be there for me whenever I need them to be.

This has dragged me up from a set of AutoZone wrenches, Craftsman sockets, and Home Depot screwdrivers and hammers to a fairly nice set of tools that improves a bit each season. Of course, that means that it is growing, too, since I never toss a tool that works. So my tool box has grown into one of those rolling carts the size of a dishwasher but about chin high to me. I used to keep it all in a green, plastic tackle box from Walmart.

The TJ is forcing me to become a better mechanic and also a bit of a tool junkie.

If not Jeep parts, tools. The costs never seem to end, man. They never seem to end. HAHAHA!!!
That's awesome man. Stay determined. Stay humble. My story is ditto.
 
#28,728 ·
Wanted to see how fast I could get her.
4 in lift 33in tires (from 99) 4.0 3.73 gear auto and 110k miles

Down hill foot to the floor. Little shaky. .. a lot but still got this pic.

View attachment 1719122
I can do at least 75, highway downhill on accident. 4.11 on 35's. I have a rule of never going over 70 with mud terrains. too much rubber rotating around..
 
#28,729 ·
Got my TJ a friend. Homie of mine decided he wanted a wrangler. Found a 98 TJ Sport with 116k. No leaks anywhere. Runs well. Interior is ok. 3" suspension lift on 33" tires, with matching 5th and tire. Full doors. $5500 which is retardedly low here in AZ.

I was under, around and inside jeep for probably 45 minutes to an hour. Pretty confident with purchase. He's stoked. I'm glad I could help instill confidence that it was truly a great deal and not a lemon. Brutal round trip to get it.

Thanks to everyone on here who has helped the past couple months. I'm learning my wrangler inside and out. Super fun. I gotta stop ignoring my other vehicles lol
 
#28,730 ·
Mine drives at the top of the governor's limit: 96. No problems, handles fine, too. (I have read several times that the engine has a speed governor that is set for 96 and mine has never gone above that and tops out at it on a slight downslope with a tail wind. Handles just like when I am going about 75 on the Interstate, but I have only done this twice, and then only for a few moments. I mean, I am not *completely* crazy...)
I guess I really lucked out with my Jeep then, 146k 373 on 31s and I can easily top out the rev limiter at 96 on flat ground or even slight incline. I've done 2-3 hour drives between 85-90 (Albany to NYC) with 0 issues, and as stable as any other vehicle I've ever been in... Is this not the average experience?
And yes the speedo gear is correct And Gps confirmed speed
 
#28,732 ·
Mine drives at the top of the governor's limit: 96. No problems, handles fine, too. (I have read several times that the engine has a speed governor that is set for 96 and mine has never gone above that and tops out at it on a slight downslope with a tail wind. Handles just like when I am going about 75 on the Interstate, but I have only done this twice, and then only for a few moments. I mean, I am not *completely* crazy...)
Mine won't top 70, BUT with the engine I got I can pull a H2 out of the 6 foot deep mud covered ditch on Damn Neck Road without going into 4wd, and a F350 Super Duty out of the mud on Ballahack Road in Chesapeake
 
#28,734 ·
Wanted to see how fast I could get her.
4 in lift 33in tires (from 99) 4.0 3.73 gear auto and 110k miles

Down hill foot to the floor. Little shaky. .. a lot but still got this pic.
Hmm. I have the same setup except 5 speed and it will roll at 75 no problem.
 
#28,738 ·
This is what i did at midnight... just bc i wanted too...

how it started

how it ended



Barricade front HD bumper with winch mount... feels awesome, sturdy as a maaaaaaaaaaaaa:censored:aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Winch comes in on tuesday and i cant :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored::censored:wait
And lights! Looks badass
 
#28,739 ·
Tried to extend the spare tire bump stops today but mine is only missing by about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch and it is hard to cut PVC that small. Thinking on getting the bump stops from Quadratech, any advice out there?
I just did mine 1/4" no problem. Place the PVC in a vice with 1/4" sticking up then use a hack saw blade and cut across the top of the vice. Nice even cut.
 
Top