Mild build suggestions for a treet duty and fire road LJ

[andy9743]

hey guys. i've read and looked at alot of build threads so i think i that i have a decent gameplan on what i want to do with this new to me LJ (pick it up friday). its on 06 flame red automatic non rubi. 90k miles and appears pretty clean, and stock. i would like to use it as the title states to cruise and run some fire roads in northern michigan. it will not see any real wheeling ever. this will be a father son project that my dad i and i will work on. i have had several tjs and my current lj so i'm fairly familiar with the platform.

i want to run 35's. my Lj has 35's i think it needs 35's. purely for ascetics. it will be a mall crawler, ice cream getter, beer run machine.

lift plan. either bds 3" front springs, 2" rear springs or OME 2.5 springs (unsure of part #) and front 3/4 spacer, rancho shocks and 1.25 body lift. or possibly zone combo kit and rancho shocks. my dad will drive it more then me and i'd like it to ride as nice as it can for him. we will run stock or cut front bumper and some rear bumper (undecided) that incorporates a hitch and a full size spare. no winch, no heavy bumpers. 1" mml. i'd really really like to avoid any t-case drop or messing with with a sye or driveshafts at all.

regear 5.13's? any brand that's better or worse then another?

brakes centric rotors and bmb pads.

we will go through it mechanically and make sure its all sound, tune up etc. and probably upgrade to the zj steering. i'll add a trans cooler also when we exchange fluid.

any suggestions or thoughts? specifically on gearing choices and or suspension thoughts? i appreciate it.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

For 35's I'd go with a 4" suspension lift and a 1" body lift, you really want that kind of clearance for that size tire. I'd absolutely not go with anything less than 4", which could be a 3" suspension lift plus a 1" body lift. But my recommendation is 4" + the 1" body lift.

And yes 5.13 gearing is what you want assuming your transmission is an automatic. Don't let some 4x4 shop yahoo talk you into 4.88 which is not enough gear with the particular automatic transmission 2003-6 TJs came with. If you had a Rubicon I'd be recommending 5.38 but the standard Unlimited's front Dana 30 axle limits out at 5.13.

 

[andy9743]

Thanks for the reply Jerry. If a go with a full 4 inch spring and I inviting the opportunity for driveline vibrations? It is an auto, I'll stick with 5.13 gears.

 

[pagrey]

All of that money just so it "looks cool?" Just run 31" tires at the mall, it still will look great, take a look at what @Irun has done. Big tires are such a massive performance hit if you don't need them.

 

[andy9743]

All of that money just so it "looks cool?" Just run 31" tires at the mall, it still will look great, take a look at what @Irun has done. Big tires are such a massive performance hit if you don't need them.

I appreciate the response. I dont need the LJ. I want it. I also want 35s.

 

[pagrey]

I wasn't suggesting want vs need. Simply that the 35" tires will make the driving experience worse all around. If the looks make up for that I get it.

 

[andy9743]

My LJ had new Mt atzp3s on it when I picked it up. Great tire It just looked to small on my jeep. Although it does have flat fender flares on it. Maybe I could live with 33s with stock fender flares. I do understand the drawbacks of the large heavy tire combo. The look is important for us.

 

[L J]

I wasn't suggesting want vs need. Simply that the 35" tires will make the driving experience worse all around. If the looks make up for that I get it.

I drove my LJ for near ten years and 100,000 miles in OEM configuration (tires and suspension anyway) before diving head first down the 35s-done-right rabbit hole and I couldn't disagree more. I've never enjoyed driving the LJ more than I have after going to 35s and a lift. It's all about quality components and more importantly competent set-up.

 

[psrivats]

I drove my LJ for near ten years and 100,000 miles in OEM configuration (tires and suspension anyway) before diving head first down the 35s-done-right rabbit hole and I couldn't disagree more. I've never enjoyed driving the LJ more than I have after going to 35s and a lift. It's all about quality components and more importantly competent set-up.

Can't stress the importance of this enough. Parts are only a subset of the equation .. everything needs to work in unison and harmoniously. Otherwise no matter the components, it will end up being subpar.

 

[pagrey]

I couldn't disagree more.

I have a feeling you could, you're just not putting any effort into it.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Thanks for the reply Jerry. If a go with a full 4 inch spring and I inviting the opportunity for driveline vibrations? It is an auto, I'll stick with 5.13 gears.

Your LJ has a long wheelbase so it's less sustainable to drivetrain vibrations than a standard TJ is. I suspect a pair 1" motor mount lifts would eliminate them. Savvy's 1" spacers would work well. If not then a small added tcase drop of 1/2.to 3/4" would very likely do the trick.

 

[L J]

I have a feeling you could, you're just not putting any effort into it.

Not much effort needed. You made a ridiculous generalization.

 

[pagrey]

You made a ridiculous generalization.

Ya, less weight is better, is that wrong?

 

[L J]

Ya, less weight is better, is that wrong?

In the proper context? Yes. However, your statement

Simply that the 35" tires will make the driving experience worse all around.

is simply wrong. Ya.

 

[Irun]

I'm going out on a limb here, but based on what the OP posted he wants to install, @pagrey is correct. If however he ups the parts by a few thousand dollars, then there's some merit in what @LJ said. Bottom line, I don't see a BDS or Zone lift, paired with Rancho shocks and stock brakes, even with Centric Rotors and BMB pads, resulting in a better performing ride on 35" tires. There, now I sound like a politician!

 

[pc1p]

I'm a bit partial to an LJ on 35"s, but that said - I do tend to agree with others that for general cruising, dirt-road driving, and similar, 35"s is often a frustration point for many. Throw in the fact that even with 5.13's the 42RLE will still suck some fun from life, and I would seriously consider 33"s. Now if you're absolutely heart set on 35"s, take LJ's advice on quality components. I'd consider nothing less than 4" of lift personally. You're probably going to need a BBK for 35"s with the auto, though living in NW Ohio, you may be able to make just the pads work.

Curious to see what you end up with!

 

[andy9743]

I'm a bit partial to an LJ on 35"s, but that said - I do tend to agree with others that for general cruising, dirt-road driving, and similar, 35"s is often a frustration point for many. Throw in the fact that even with 5.13's the 42RLE will still suck some fun from life, and I would seriously consider 33"s. Now if you're absolutely heart set on 35"s, take LJ's advice on quality components. I'd consider nothing less than 4" of lift personally. You're probably going to need a BBK for 35"s with the auto, though living in NW Ohio, you may be able to make just the pads work.

Curious to see what you end up with!

after digging through some more pics i think i could deal with putting together a build around 33's. that said will a 3" spring and 1.25 body work ok for me? still target 5.13 gearing?

thanks guys

 

[JPHikr]

We go all over AZ, NV an CA Desert back roads and trails in our LJ Rubicon.

We live out in the middle of nowhere just to get to our house is down a dirt road.

The Cooper SST 265-75-16's are 30in tall.

They work fine in sand, rocks and snow.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

We go all over AZ, NV an CA Desert back roads and trails in our LJ Rubicon.

We live out in the middle of nowhere just to get to our house is down a dirt road.

The Cooper SST 265-75-16's are 30in tall.

They work fine in sand, rocks and snow.

View attachment 302273

…and they look pretty good to boot.

 

[pc1p]

after digging through some more pics i think i could deal with putting together a build around 33's. that said will a 3" spring and 1.25 body work ok for me? still target 5.13 gearing?

thanks guys

It doesn't sound like much, but fitting 33"s is a lot less headache than 35"s. For 33"s, 3" + 1.25" should be good, though it's dependent on tire selection (some 33"s are closer to 32"!) and wheel choice. Regardless of what you choose to do, you'll want to spend some time making sure you shocks and bumpstops are properly fitted.

For gearing I would absolutely go 5.13 for 33"s on the 42RLE. That trans has a 0.69:1 overdrive, so it needs all the help it can get.