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My Second Jeep: A "Build" thread.

9K views 52 replies 10 participants last post by  htkrph 
#1 ·
Hey everyone. My last TJ got stolen 2 months after I got to San Diego it will be dearly missed; but its time to move on. After looking for like a month for a either a JK Rubicon or a LJ. I found the perfect LJ with the perfect mileage, mods, and price. Everything fell into place. I made the thread so you guys can help me out with what I'm doing recommendations and to make sure im doing it right. I want the jeep to rock crawl, and be able to run in the desert. Im not worried about driving it during the week. I work on an island. So i'm not in town monday thru thursday. SO the jeep can have all the mods i want. and now for some pics...
 
#2 · (Edited)

here is how she sits. Here are the details on the jeep: 05 Unlimited. Pro Comp soft 8s, Pro Comp Mud terrains 33s, Full traction 4" lift. CV shaft, cobra cb radio, alpine radio deck, leather seats, dont know the brand of the rear bumper/tire carrier and or the front bumper, full traction springs, and deutches (or something like that) shocks and the step rails/rock sliders lol. this is how i bought it.
 
#4 ·

my only complaint is that the welded the tow bar to the frame! its hangs low, low!

first upgrades. OME steering stabilizer and Currie anti rock (been wanting one since i first bought a jeep).


quick disconnect my @ss!


help IDing the bumper.

looks right? feels better!

and the anti rock installed! wooohooo yay to swaying! ok, does it look right? are the links too long? i can feel the swaying and i can feel the suspension being more responsive and not as stiff.
 
#6 ·
and the anti rock installed! wooohooo yay to swaying! ok, does it look right? are the links too long? i can feel the swaying and i can feel the suspension being more responsive and not as stiff.
The Antirock should be parallel to the frame and make sure it doesn't make contact with anything while flexing.

The LJ looks good!! And yeah that front bumpers got to go!
 
#9 ·
took the jeep out to ocotillo wells and she rode like a champ. the only problem with the weight from the bumper, tire carrier, the spare, fuel, and all the camping gear the rear started to sag really bad. it looked like a pre runner. even when the back was empty it was still riding like that. thinking of putting new shocks. going with bilstein 5100s.

on one of the washes.

flex test

flex test from the other side.


my lonely campsite.
 
#12 ·
Yesterday. The plastic rod that pushes inside the t handle broke in front of my garage. Did the old chop stick trick and nothing. Jeep wouldn't come off out of parking. Then went underneath the jeep and found this

Coil spring Auto part Suspension part Suspension Fuel line


Went to auto zone and got the piece that holds the nipple together. Works like a charm,

Driving It this morning and it was vibrating really hard while on drive and went away while in park. Then driving the road the check engine light came on and the P2098 code came up. I have to wait a week to work on it.
 
#13 ·
After a couple of hours at the hobby shop I got most of the work done. From changing all 4 coils to replacing the 02 sensors. I'm lucky, blessed, fortunate that the military offers so many services to it's members. Any who taking the front springs was a bitch. Specially the passenger side. Seemed like the driver side would flex until there was nothing left and the passenger side was being held by something.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Bumper


With some help from the guys that work there I was able to get it off and get the new one on. Putting it back together was a breeze. The back was easy and fast. Didn't have to do much. Putting it back together in the rear was a pain in the ass but with some PB blaster and a hammer things workout.

Tire Automotive tire Auto part Suspension part Suspension




Coil spring Auto part Suspension part Shock absorber Suspension

The old full traction and new currie springs

Coil spring Footwear Wire Technology Shoe


The old full traction and new currie springs


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Tire


Gained some lift back. Rides a lot smoother, stiffer and it's even. Can't imagine what new shocks will do. Next paycheck!
 
#14 ·
Haven't been on for a while. Took the jeep for the first "long" road trip to vegas. And it did awesome. Smooth ride all the way. No over heating or been luggish up the mountain pass even thou I needed an oil change and an air filter.

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Tire


Also had the exhausted re routed. The guys at budget muffler and brake in El Cajon blvd took their time and payed attention to detail. To re doing my exhaust so it didn't vibrate against the suspension also made some space for the rear passenger shock. So it didn't hit the muffler. Clean and fast job for a good price.

On order is a set of 4" bilsteins 5100 from 4x4 north ridge. That I got with the forum discount. I'm underway will be installing them next week. Also a new alarm will be going in. Pretty excited about the viper thing. Seems to be better than the shitty one I have right now.
 
#17 ·
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Jeep Tire


I love the stance or the jeep now. I'm still kind of worried of the back it feels like it's "sagging." The ride is a lot better more responsive and stable on the road.



Finger Technology Electronic device Hand Gadget


And now I have a viper alarm! ****ing excited. Next in the upgrade list: changing all the hem joints for the mc duo flex joints and a new soft top. Mine has seen better days.
 
#22 ·
Love the look of your Jeep. Did you have any prblems with the longer lengths of the Bilsteins? New longer bump stops required? Any problem with shocks bottoming out? Reason I ask is ive recently bought new Rancho 9000XLs that are about 1.125" longe collapsed and about 3.45" longer extended than my exsisting shocks. Was told the new shocks could cause me problems since at this time I don't have a double cardan drive shaft in the rear and the lone shocks could allow my axles to droop to low.
 
#23 ·
I really don't know the exact length of the shocks. I remember getting a message from northridge4x4 that they didn't want the ones I wanted or the recommended ones. But that they could send me the closest to them. The ones I got worked perfect. So far. I wheeled with them 3 weeks ago and it was smooth.
 
#30 · (Edited by Moderator)
Nice looking jeep! I have the same rear bumper/ tire carrier. I love the looks but man its loud.
and Questions about your rig. For the first 6 or 7 months I used to always keep the swing arm with the tire and the gas tank and the hi lift I think for all that and the opening. The jeep started to sag to the right and now it kind of leans to the right and back. Does yor do that?
 
#32 ·
Yea I have noticed a slight lean to the right. Only when parked in certain spots but iv noticed it. Never really thought about it being from the tire carrier, but it makes sense. And the ubolt that latches it has dented and scratched my tub to shit!
I thought it could be the swing arm because of all the weight that's on the arm. I have since ran the arm empty until I go on a trail ride or something. Then yeah my is scratched to shit! And it is super loud!
 
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