The TJ stands for Tate Jeep Buildup

[Shaggy]

Trail ready beadlocks made it. :). Time to get to work.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Quit posting and get to wrenchin!!!!

[Shaggy]

Wife and son will be out of town next week so I'll have some time after work.

[Shaggy]

a little progress

[Shaggy]

sorry they are sideways bigger air shocks, new 3 link mount (better geometry), Pitbulls W/ trail ready beadlocks, 37s vs 42s

[Shaggy]

Couple pics from side and wide from rear. Still need to gas up front shocks and get taller springs in back. damn thing is big

[TdmayfieldIV]

I thought it was more of an execution issue than a geometry issue......

[sam_hodnett]

Did you actually use proper technique when welding on your top mount this time? Or are you still just hoping it holds? And I thought you were going 4 link?

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Looks Damn good Tate!

[Shaggy]

Was geometry turns out. Mount is no longer welded to cast. More lift allowed me to put it where it needed to go. I just flat didnt have space for the 4 link so I fixed the 3link.

[JB]

Do you have wheel spacers on there?

[Shaggy]

Yes, the 4 link will put tires into frame with them

[Shaggy]

Got my pump back from PSC. Changed the ends out on the ps cooler to JIC so now no leaks. Works great.
Need a little gas in shocks. Limit straps front and rear. Taller springs for rear. Dana 60 yoke. U-joint and mount seat in back of jeep. I think everything else is ready to go.

[Shaggy]

I am trying to order rear springs for the jeep. What spring rate do I need? 500lbs? I have no idea. Any recommendations on brands. Want something 22-24" not under load and 16-18" at ride height.

[RCcola55]

Probably like a 200-225# or just find out what a stock spring is and stock comparing.

[Shaggy]

Just 4 days then Colorado bound.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

:gigem: Ya'll have fun!

[Shaggy]

Jeep is loaded. Is it Friday yet?

[JB]

No test run before you haul it 1000 miles away?

[KrazyKarl02]

No test run before you haul it 1000 miles away?

He drove it on the trailer....

[Shaggy]

I have been driving it for several days both on and off road.

[sam_hodnett]

Yep, those curbs are gonna be some bad ass tests :flipoff2:

[Shaggy]

I have been driving the jeep a lot lately. Atleast 50-100 miles a week. Today I drove it in a parade. I am really happy with how it is performing now and have really gotten comfortable driving it. Time to go wheeling though.

[Shaggy]

Well Elise is out of town and took Mason so I decided to work on the jeep a little. I pulled the old diff cover with the hole off and am waiting for paint to dry on the new one. I pulled my broken crossmember out and will likely just weld it back up in the morning. I was going to build a new low profile new one but decided to just wait till I get around to ordering an atlas to build that one. Oil is hardly showing on the dipstick. Probably why I kept loosing pressure in Clayton. I don't have anything that I have to do to it to go wheeling again other that that. I would like to order an atlas 5.0, build a cage, new flat belly cross member, and rework steering a little. Wouldn't mind a fuel cell so I can put the bench seat back in the back but the old bronco seat in the back is enough for now.

[Shaggy]

Oh ya. Need rear shocks too

[Shaggy]

Thinks needed to do before TCC
Replace broken grease zercs on links and grease everything (all squeaking bad) have 7 broken zercs.
Throw on a different set of shocks on the rear
Need to find a new trailer before then too.
Damn not a bad list.

[stx4wheeler]

If you cut a small piece of tube and weld it around the zerk it will keep them from getting tore off.

[Shaggy]

Good idea thanks

[Shaggy]

I got all my links greased. I had to swap in one new Johnny joint because I fubared one trying to drill out the broken zerk. It is nice and quiet driving down the road now. I still need to pull te driveshafts to get them greased properly. And the rear slip joint on the driveshaft has a broken zerk that needs some attention. I didn't weld any protectors on the links because I didn't want to weld to the Johnny joints. Still need to dig out some rear shocks out of the shop. Also am going to tack weld my transmission crossmember to the frame because my damn bolt holes stripped and I don't want to spend the time to fix it right. I also need to put in a seatbelt in the driver seat. Mine is broken and won't stay latched.

[Sparling]

How the hell did you break all the grease zerks?

[Shaggy]

Rocks

[Hellbent]

why does everything have to involve your welder... do you have other tools?

[Shaggy]

Nope. All I have is the welder and some 10 year old wet electrodes. **** you

[sam_hodnett]

Also am going to tack weld my transmission crossmember to the frame because my damn bolt holes stripped and I don't want to spend the time to fix it right.

So that means that this year JB and I will have to drag you back to camp with your transmission dangling under your jeep after falling out instead of your axle? :flipoff2:

[TdmayfieldIV]

So that means that this year JB and I will have to drag you back to camp with your transmission dangling under your jeep after falling out instead of your axle? :flipoff2:

That is if you ever fix your scout...............

[sam_hodnett]

**** off, ive got the last part and the socket is ordered. Sorry I have a life outside of working on my vehicles

[Sparling]

Watching TV doesn't count as a life outside of anything.

[sam_hodnett]

got me

[Shaggy]

I got a lap belt installed. Turned out to be more work there that. I planned. The wiring is in on the dodge so it is ready to go now. I worked on the rear shocks for a while. Turns out fancy shocks require lots of modification to my jeep to fit. All I really got done on it tonight was all old stuff cut out and cleaned up as well as cutting another chunk out of the body for clearance. I can reuse the bottom mounts just at a different angle. I am going to have to make new uppers though because the old ones were cut down and won't work. Other than the shocks I just need to fuel and load up. Gotta dig though the shop and bring plenty of spare parts for my brothers jeep.

[Sparling]

what shocks are you going to run?

[Shaggy]

I got the jeep done earlier today. I spent atleast 4 hours making the upper shock tabs that I could have ordered for a couple bucks if I had realized I needed them. It turned out ok and I guess I needed the workout of a grinder so oh well. This is a pick of my jeeps butt.

[Shaggy]

And it drives a million times better now. Can't wait to put it on the rocks and crawl up things that it tried to hop up before.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

lookin good. it's come a long way from 'the little jeep that could' in clayton. :D

[MR.ZAP]

Looks sick, Tate!

[Hot Pocket]

Nice ass Tate

[Shaggy]

Atlas ordered. About 8 weeks out.

[KrazyKarl02]

What ratio? 2 speed?

[Shaggy]

Atlas 4 (1:1, 2.72:1, 3.0:1, 8.16:1), Speedo tail housing, disc parking brake, 1350 CV Flange on rear, 1350 non CV on front

[DRAGOONRANCH]

There was a pretty good wait when I ordered mine.

[Shaggy]

They are quoting 8 weeks right now but have been running ahead of schedule and getting them out in 6. So I am thinking I should have mine received in 8 hopefully. It will likely take me a few weeks to get it installed with new cross member, running shifters, making space for everything to fit tight under there might require some floor work, drive shaft modification...

[texasxj]

What are you doing with your 231?

[Shaggy]

I'm going to rebuild it and put it in my brothers Jeep

[Shaggy]

It is the teralow 231 case from Busa's YJ

[Shaggy]

Advanced adapters just called to confirm my order from a month ago. They will start building it tomorrow. I should have it in hand by the end of the month.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Good stuff!

[Shaggy]

Atlas finally shipped today. Should have it Friday. Damn I can't wait.

[Shaggy]

Shifters came in Monday. Case came in Tuesday. Disc parking tail housing should be here Friday.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

After you put the parking brake on, come put mine on. It's still in the box from 4 or 5 years ago! :laughing:

[Shaggy]

I am def putting it on. I want an inspection sticker. Have been driving the jeep for 2+ years without one

[Sparling]

I have never had anybody check for a mechanical parking brake on any of my vehicles.

[Shaggy]

And I suppose you are with them in the vehicle at all points of the inspection too. I have tried several times at several places and that is the thing that kept it from passing every time.

[Sparling]

Yeah i am. The guy who inspects my mustang doesn't even drive it. The parking brake on my mustang hasn't worked as long as I've had the car.

[Shaggy]

Well it is safe to say you are not doing it legal. I don't have any connections here in Victoria so I have to do it right. Besides I would feel a lot more comfortable with one in my standard jeep. I have heard of way too many accidents of them popping out of gear. On the last trip my transfercase was slipping and wouldn't hold my jeep in gear so I had to park it on trees and such to keep it from rolling down hill.

[Sparling]

I don't know the guy. I just drive up and pay for an inspection. You just have to find a lazy inspection center.

[Sharpe]

Or you can just do it right.

[Sparling]

I am def putting it on. I want an inspection sticker. Have been driving the jeep for 2+ years without one


Or you can just do it right.

Originally, this was his reasoning, not I'm tired of looking for trees to park on. If getting an inspection is what you want, there's an easy button for that.

[Shaggy]

I have been driving the Tate Jeep a little lately. Last Friday I went to start it and it was dead. So I hooked up the battery tender and she started the next morning. She didn't want to stay running. Would not idle. I drove it about 10 miles or so and she started running fine. Today I aired the tires up to 12-13 lbs and fueled up and drove it to work. Had to back road it and keep it under 55 because the bias tires haven't worked the flat spots out yet. I think it will smooth out after I drive home. The transfercase def has a bearing out. Sucker screams at higher speeds. I really need to make some time and get that atlas in.

Just a rant but moral of the story is I really need to drive this thing more. Only put 219 miles on her is the past 11 months and that is with two wheeling trips. 71 Miles to go to toll 27K miles. I want to put that on before taking it under the knife.

[Shaggy]

Spent all damn day working on the dodge today. Changed axle u-joints. They were so sloppy it was silly. I don't know why dodge decided to go to non serviceable bearings throughout this truck. Not one grease point on it. Well now it has one zerk in each axleshaft ujoint. I also found my unit bearing hub assembly to be shot. One side was so bad I could hardly turn it when off the truck. The other was very dry but still moved freely. I got it all back together now and all it cost me was a day of work and about $700 in parts with my companies reasonable discount at napa. I also learned that my power steering box is leaking. It was replaced back in December before the warranty expired. That is a project for another day though.
This truck has spent more time getting worked on than any other I have owned ever. And I only have 111k miles on it. Next new truck I get I am going to make sure it wasn't built in Mexico like this one. My 08 was atleast built in America.

[Sparling]

Doesn't matter where it's assembled, pretty much all the parts come from mexico and china.
I know at least for the ford trucks, you can buy grease-able abs plugs so you can grease the unit bearings.
If you're paying for it, what about upgrading to a psc or redhead gearbox?
So you're telling me that dodge is dumb because you have to replace the u joints due to everything being non-servicable yet there are grease zerks on the u joints?

[AggieTJ2007]

It is a dodge what do you expect? My chevy was built in the US by union worker (not sure if that last part is good or bad)

[Sparling]

Parts are still made in other countries.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

So you're telling me that dodge is dumb because you have to replace the u joints due to everything being non-servicable yet there are grease zerks on the u joints?

The new u-joints he just installed have zerks on them now.

[Shaggy]

Looking at upgrading the cage in the Tate Jeep. Is this http://shop.poisonspyder.com/TJ-Full-Roll-Cage-Kit-p/14-19-010.htm a viable option or should I just try and make some time to go use someone's bender? It looks decent enough and would be easy enough to get in in my spare time here(I don't really have any)

[AggieTJ2007]

I would get one that has the through dash bars instead of the side plates. Also make sure that it gets welded with a mig welder and fit up good

I like this cage better even though it builds off of the factory B pillar

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/Synergy-Jeep-LJ-TJ-Cage-Kit-p-20215.html#.UmGg7VNwBRw

[robertf03]

Also make sure that it gets welded with a mig welder and fit up good

I think that is key. If you are going to use that generator stick welder I think the stock cage and windshield would be best.

[Shaggy]

Ya no crappy welding. It would get done mig.

Do you think the plate mounts around the dash are really that much weaker. I really like that they keep the dash intact.


I think I am going to take a week or so off beginning of next month to get Clayton ready. Transfercase and all that it takes to get it flat belly first and maybe cage if I have any time left

[Shaggy]

And poly performance used to carry an entire pre-bent cage about a year ago. I really liked it. I wonder if I ask of they can still build one. The majority of my jeep was built using them anyhow.

[Seth]

So why no stick welder? If done right, I think it would be fine. Maybe not as pretty, but that's what pipeline guys do their x ray welds with...

[AggieTJ2007]

If it is done right it is fine with a stick welder, but it is much harder for your average hobby welder to do it right. That being said there are plenty of crappy mig welded cages as well.

Sure I would trust a pipeline welder to weld a cage using 7018s and his lincoln 300d. Plus if you are going to use a DC stick welder you might as well get a scratch start tig rig and tig weld it.

[Shaggy]

Less than 7 weeks to Clayton. I started tear down Friday. Goal is to have atlas and all that entails, cage, fenders and new top.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Give 'em hell son!

[Shaggy]

I ordered two tops, two sets of fenders, a set of rock sliders and a cage today. One top, sliders, fenders are for my brother's Jeep. Also putting my sport cage in his jeep.

[AggieTJ2007]

who did you get a cage from?

[Shaggy]

I got it from poison spyder. They had the nicest complete cage I could find. I spent a little more time on it today and am probably one or two nights away from having tear down done. It sucks I don't get to start till 9:30 after kids are in bed and I really only get 1:30 or so before I need to get cleaned up. I plan on taking a week of vacation in a few weeks to get the atlas in. I'm not super worried about the cage. I will wheel even I I don't get that in.

[Seth]

If it is done right it is fine with a stick welder, but it is much harder for your average hobby welder to do it right. That being said there are plenty of crappy mig welded cages as well.

Sure I would trust a pipeline welder to weld a cage using 7018s and his lincoln 300d. Plus if you are going to use a DC stick welder you might as well get a scratch start tig rig and tig weld it.

10-4.

[Shaggy]

I made good progress last week on it. I got the atlas placed where it will end up. Still lots of work to get it back together. I haven't been able to work on it for a while because my daughter is sick and in the hospital. I have vacation scheduled for next week planned to work on the jeep but if she isn't better I guess I will be watching her. My wife has already been off since Friday and can't take next week too.

[FJAggie07]

I made good progress last week on it. I got the atlas placed where it will end up. Still lots of work to get it back together. I haven't been able to work on it for a while because my daughter is sick and in the hospital. I have vacation scheduled for next week planned to work on the jeep but if she isn't better I guess I will be watching her. My wife has already been off since Friday and can't take next week too.

That sucks Tate, hope the little one gets better soon!

[Shaggy]

Dr said she gets to go home today. She should be back in daycare Monday he said. All is good I guess.

[Sparling]

Good news man

[BroncoJo]

Sorry to hear that, but y'all will be in our prayers. ( me and the wife )

[Shaggy]

Got some more bad news. Poison Spyder sucks and said they would have all my stuff shipped within two weeks. I called today to check seeing as it has been almost two weeks and they are 2.5-3 weeks backlogged in production. I won't see these parts till the week of the trip and I'm not rushing the welding of the cage. So pissed. Guess I have to put everything back in my jeep that was in there before.

[Shaggy]

Who has time and a bender that can help me scratch bend one up before then? I really don't want to go back with the factory cage just to tear it out again.

[FJAggie07]

Got some more bad news. Poison Spyder sucks and said they would have all my stuff shipped within two weeks. I called today to check seeing as it has been almost two weeks and they are 2.5-3 weeks backlogged in production. I won't see these parts till the week of the trip and I'm not rushing the welding of the cage. So pissed. Guess I have to put everything back in my jeep that was in there before.

Man it's SEMA. Same thing happened to me with some custom wheels for my car, supposed to be built and ship in three weeks, and then SEMA happened and oh they are being delayed a week and a half. Gah!

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Who has time and a bender that can help me scratch bend one up before then? I really don't want to go back with the factory cage just to tear it out again.

I MIGHT have some time next weekend (16/17th), let me check with the SO to see if she still has the weekend off. We might could talk Creighton into bringing down his bender this weekend if he's headed this way and I could grab it and bring it down. (Would need a bed/couch to crash on though :gigem: )

[Shaggy]

Poison spyder called me back because I said I was going to cancel the whole order. They have a fully welded kit that another customer backed out of. They are shipping it tomorrow without the 500 increase in price they charge to fully weld them. Only catch is it has been painted so I have to sand blast it before powder coat now.

[AggieTJ2007]

Sweet deal, what color is it right now?

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Bad ass.

[JB]

How do you ship a fully welded cage

[Sparling]

You throw money at it. I'd guess a freight company.

[FJAggie07]

I'd guess a freight company.

You would guess right, not that hard to strap to a pallet.

[Shaggy]

Black. The order was pallet already. I was getting it shipped to my business to save on shipping. The only reason I really ended ordering fenders and sliders and stuff from them was they could throw it on the same pallet and it not cost anymore. I looked at pictures of it and it is missing the behind the seat bar and grab handles so I'll have to weld those on. It also has holes drilled for full door surrounds which is ok I guess because I have full doors (have not been on jeep in a couple years though). I am pretty sure the paint is just rattle can black. I want to powdercoat it and not ever worry about pulling it out again. Waiting for them to open up so I can confirm my order and get it out today. I think I am going to lean on them to throw in a set of inner fenders for my brothers jeep just to sweeten the pot. Pretty sure Ill need a set for his so I don't have to relocate everything under the hood like I have already done on mine.

[Sparling]

You would guess right, not that hard to strap to a pallet.

I know, I guess I just have it in my head that a jeep cage is bigger than a pallet.

[Shaggy]

they make pallets of all sizes

[Shaggy]

everything is palletized already and will go out by lunch. I should see no later than Wednesday.

[TdmayfieldIV]

This is a good thing.

It's all fun and games making fun of stick welding until a cage weld breaks in a roll over.

[Sparling]

He has a great big miller mig machine now.

[sam_hodnett]

This is a good thing.

It's all fun and games making fun of stick welding until a cage weld breaks in a roll over.

No more stick for tate, he is now the proud owner of a Miller 251

[Shaggy]

Fed ex tracking says Thursday. Guess they are counting Monday as a reason to delay. Oh well I should be able to get it test fitted, a little tube added and delivered to powdercoat by The end of the day Friday. Can't wait till Clayton.

[Shaggy]

I started on the crossmember/skid sucker is going to take lots of work to get right. I am building it out of plate. I have one kid home with me so that heavily limits how much time I get to work on it. Hopefully the dr will clear her to go back to school soon so I can work on it non stop.

[Shaggy]

Paige got released to go back to daycare. So I get I wor on the jeep today. It is 39 out. I got the heat on in the shop but the jeep is under the carport outside the shop. Cold and windy. This is going to be rough morning. Please warm up soon.

[FJAggie07]

Paige got released to go back to daycare. So I get I wor on the jeep today. It is 39 out. I got the heat on in the shop but the jeep is under the carport outside the shop. Cold and windy. This is going to be rough morning. Please warm up soon.

Good Luck Buddy!

[Shaggy]

I have made reasonable progress on the crossmember/skid today. It takes a long damn time to build something like this. I think it is going to be pretty nice though.

[Shaggy]

I guess when I put the new fenders on the radiator moved and put the fan into the shrout. Burning up the fan clutch and then blew the top out of the radiator. I better hurry up and find some parts.

[Sparling]

What were you doing when this happened? You had to have really overheated it to do that, or your cap wasn't doing its job.

[Shaggy]

The guy at napa said I needed dex cool cause it was orange in ther. Turns out that is gm only. Bad news mixed with what was in ther

[Shaggy]

I had put in half a gallon yesterday

[Sparling]

:facepalm: Yeah, dexcool sucks. Also, almost every vehicle manufacturer puts dye in their coolant from the factory so people think they have to go to the dealer to get the same color coolant. I would be up NAPAs ass about a new radiator. Make sure you flush the crap out of your block before you put new stuff in there.

[Shaggy]

I pulled the radiator and was going to install the new one but it has the universal fittings to work with auto transmission. Need to get some plugs to cap those holes.

[KrazyKarl02]

If you are running a standard leaving those holes open won't hurt anything.

[Shaggy]

fluid won't come out of them?

[mudtoy67]

No. The fittings go to a heat exchanger inside the radiator tank. It is fully enclosed that the trans fluid does not mix with coolant.

[redcagepatrol]

fluid won't come out of them?

No. You can use it for a power steering cooler if you want too. If fluid came out of it, the tranny fluid and coolant would be mixing all the time. It's a seperate path

[Shaggy]

cool wish I would have known that last night I would have had the jeep back together already

[Shaggy]

Already have a separate PS cooler but might be usable for something in the future.

[TdmayfieldIV]

Come on Tate, I bet Sam even knows that! :flipoff2:

[AggieTJ2007]

get off the internet and back to work on the bronco TumTum

[sam_hodnett]

Come on Tate, I bet Sam even knows that! :flipoff2:

:flipoff2:

[robertf03]

shower heat exchanger

[Shaggy]

Jeep did great in Clayton. Loving the atlas. I need on board air. Need to lift the motor 1/4" to keep the fan out of the shroud. Think I might get rid of the fan and go electric too. Next few mods are to make it street legal. Need to hook up the drive line parking brake, add either cj or JK front blinkers and wire up a horn. I'll likely not mess with it until after the first of the year being busy the next few weeks. However I am going wheeling locally with some JK rubicon guys that live here in Victoria. Should be interesting to see what 400 acres in Shrader looks like.

[Shaggy]

Schroeder, tx after looking up the spelling.

[KrazyKarl02]

Why not lower the shroud 1/4" or just cut the lower part of the shroud out? I did this on my bronco so I could remove the fan shroud without pulling the fan. Electric fans seem like a good idea, but if you do not have the alternator to back it up, you will regret it.

[Shaggy]

I already lowered it 1/4". I think going 1/2" would be too much. Also I think if I bring the engine up a little it will help my rear driveshaft angle a little which is pretty much maxed for the CV shaft. I have a badass powermaster alternator that I bought for the bronco and never installed that I might look into putting on the jeep. Thinking of putting in my spare optima also. I already have everything for the dual battery setup from the bronco.

[Shaggy]

Wheeled on 400 acres in Schroeder, Tx just 26 miles from the house today. Pretty cool place. Had some decent tight trails cut in the woods as well as some great creeks and hill climbs. There were some neat rigs out there. A TJ on 42s that has a fresh 8.1 in it. I saw this jeep years ago at the old Katemcy and he had a Cummins in it then. A power waggon that was actually pretty cool all of the weak things in the dodge 60 have been corrected. Lots of money in that axle. He put that thing through some very tight trails. I did a trail that they have only had someone make once on a RZR with a 50MPH launch. I had to put it in 3rd because it wasn't crawlable. The other TJ on 42s then tried it and made it too. The place was pretty mild but still a cool couple hours of wheeling very close to home. I know where Elise is going to get some practice in her jeep now.

[BroncoJo]

Is it open to the public?

[Shaggy]

It is private land but you can come out with me next time if you want.

[BroncoJo]

Cool, let me know

[Shaggy]

I bought this jeep 6 years ago today. And had my first carnage the very next day. It is still alive and thriving. I just fixed the carnage from the last trip and will be driving it to work tomorrow. Thanks & Gig em'

[Shaggy]

Put about 60 miles on the jeep today. Ran great. Didn't like the crazy wind much in the afternoon. I threw it on the scale and it weighs 4600 full of fuel equipped with everything but the beer cooler I wheel with.

[robertf03]

What do you normally keep in the jeep?

I put a spread sheet together of everything I keep in the rover during a long trip with estimated weights and was close to 6000 pounds.

[Shaggy]

I really don't carry that much in there anymore. I have some small tools and small spare parts as well as straps and snatch-block. For the most part I keep stuff at camp to keep the weight down and because I don't have the space in the jeep as I did in the bronco. The jeep is pretty much built to not need trail spares now. I need to add some sort of air supply that will add a small amount of weight. And with the cooler, snacks, me and a rider should still be under 5000#

[Shaggy]

Well I need to get back to work on the Jeeps. The Tate Jeep has a link that needs replaced, one air shock that is cracked that needs to be replaced or rebuilt, and the upper mounts on the air shocks need some work. Also need to mount the 42s back on the rims, I had broken them down to try on the Busa jeep but ran out of time before the trip to mount them up to it. I need to pull the steering pump and send it off to be fixed, I had to rev engine up to get jeep to turn. The Busa jeep needs anti-wrap bar fixed, rear u-joint/yoke, new rear leaf springs, and front passenger caliper is locked up. I think the next run I am going on isn't until March so I have a little time.

[Shaggy]

19611

I picked up the new jeep last night. It is a 2008 JKU X. 3.8L 6speed. Plain vanilla. 139K miles. Body is not perfect (dents and scratches). The doors are what sold me on this one. I can fit my whole family in this one. I plan on taking a Colorado trip in late July. I need to figure out what all I want to do to is soon so I can get started.

[KrazyKarl02]

Before figuring out your final game plan I would go ahead and remove both front and rear axles plus the engine.

[robertf03]

Before figuring out your final game plan I would go ahead and remove both front and rear axles plus the engine.

a ford 400m would be a nice replacement for that 3.8

[Sparling]

#lsswap

[Shaggy]

I already found a cheap atlas 5.0 here in Victoria. My buddy is doing an LS swap and is going to an atlas 3.0 with the new engine.

[sam_hodnett]

I think a cummins and large cummins windshield banner would be pimp bro

[Shaggy]

I am trying to figure out what I want to do with axles. I really badly want to have 8x6.5 bolt pattern but superduty axles are cheap and really beef.

[KrazyKarl02]

I am trying to figure out what I want to do with axles. I really badly want to have 8x6.5 bolt pattern but superduty axles are cheap and really beef.

It's a family cruiser, be practical, go with rockwells.

[jerryg79]

comp cut first, then come up with a budget

I would go Flem's tried and true method.

[robertf03]

Why do anything to it? it will already handle every trail in CO that you'd do with 3 kids in the car

unless it has to drive like **** and leak everywhere, In that case proceed with the axle and cheap worn out transfercase swap

[Sparling]

LS swap, superduty axles, body protection and done.
More power helps more than hoping you have enough traction to crawl with a minivan motor.
SD60s are great because they are already set up for radius arms and easily converted to coilovers.

[jerryg79]

Reading back through this thread cracks me up.

Am I a bad person for hoping this jeep takes a similar path to "fruition".