Please Critique My Build List

mrblaine said:
This forum is not unique in the ability to figure out why something is fucked up and recommend against it.
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True.

mrblaine said:
Stop blaming the forum for folks pointing out ...
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Not 'blaming' the forum; just summarizing its reviews of K&N. OP wants forum feedback on his mods, and I've only ever read negative reviews of K&N on this forum. So, I shared an FYI about this forum members' take on K&N.

I removed my K&N based on posts from this forum. But, to your point, I also could have just checked for dust in my intake tube and throttle body. So, touché.
 
AdalinesDad said:
- Brian
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  • K&N 33-2114 Air Filter
    • Go back to stock. A K&N lets way too much dirt and fine dust into the engine. Really. Take a look at this chart from an ISO lab test of various air filters, the K&N was dead last in terms of its ability to filter. Especially note the last part in bolded text, the lab's words not mine.

      K&N Chart with Text.JPG
  • Replaced Transfer Case Fluid with Valvoline ATF+4 Synthetic
    • Fine
  • NGK ZFR5N Spark Plugs
    • Fine
  • Crankcase Breather Hose Mopar 53030615
    • Fine
  • Clean/Adjust Rear Brakes and Parking Lever
    • Good
  • Replaced Hood Latches with Crown Auto 13104-32
    • Fine
  • Replaced weeping radiator with Mopar 55037652AA Radiator
    • Excellent choice
  • Proactively replaced water pump with Mopar 68382492AA
    • Excellent Choice
  • Proactively replaced belt tensioner with Mopar 4854089AB
    • Good choice
  • Proactively replaced idler pulley with Mopar 4854092AC
    • Good choice
  • Proactively replaced serpentine belt with Mopar 53013209AC
    • Good choice
  • Proactively replaced heater hoses with Gates Premium 19038 & 19039
    • Good choice
  • Trucklite 27270C LED Headlights
    • Good choice
Futures
  • Detroit Truetrac LSD front in Dana 30 with chromoly axle shafts & Spicer U-Joints at the same time (4.10 Gears?)
    • Dana 30 chromoly shafts are not needed for a Truetrac on 31" tires, not even close.
  • Detroit Truetrac LSD rear in Dana 35 with chromoly axle shafts & Spicer U-Joints at the same time
    • Do NOT use chromoly axle shafts in a Dana 35, go STRICTLY with 1541H as a material. This is what happens in to chromoly shafts in a Dana 35, they do not have sufficient surface hardening for the raceless type of outer bearing used in a Dana 35.

      Dana 35 bearing worn shaft.png
  • Replace awful Kenwood radio with a restored factory radio from 1FactoryRadio, possibly with bluetooth
    • Good
  • Mild 2" lift so I can get the max suspension travel out of the 31x10.5R15 that the PO put on there (I like that size and would like to stick with it) NEED OPINIONS ON THE KIT
    • All you need are 2" taller springs, keep the factory control arms. Adjustable length control arms are not needed for a 2" suspension lift.
  • New Shocks (Bilstein? Rancho? Teraflex 9500?)
    • I'd go for the Rancho RS5000x, the Bilstein 5100 is too stiff/jittery. Don't know about the Teraflex, they just rebrand some unknown shock.
  • Teraflex SYE
    • You don't need a SYE with only a 2" suspension lift. Not to mention installing a SYE then means you need to also install an aftermarket DC (double-cardan aka CV) driveshaft with adjustable length upper and lower rear arms which is all very expensive. Again, a 2" suspension lift does NOT require a SYE to be installed.
  • 20" Rear Driveshaft
    • Not needed if you don't install the SYE kit.
  • Metalcloak Adjustable Control Arms
    • In my personal opinion I wouldn't TOUCH MC control arms. For a 2" lift the factory control arms are a very good choice. If they're worn out there are replacements made that are OEM replacements. This design offers great flex on the trail, better than many aftermarket control arms. Not to mention in my personal opinion MC Duroflex bushings/joints don't last. Don't believe the hype.
  • JKS Sway-Bar disconnects
    • Good choice
  • Bosch 4 hole injectors from KSuspension
    • No benefit to them over the factory injectors. No they will NOT add power.
  • BBK 62MM Throttle Body
    • Not needed and no benefit to it despite the ads. The stock TJ air intake system provides all the air the engine can possibly consume even at redline rpms.
  • Exhaust of some-sort
    • Only if needed.
  • Source an OEM hardtop
    • Good ones are hard to find an expensive. It's real hard to beat a Sailcloth soft top from Bestop who is the OEM for all Jeep soft tops.
  • A/C Kit from JeepAir
    • You'll need it in the desert
  • Quadratec LED rear tailights
    • Ok
  • Extreme Terrain LED 3rd Brake Light
    • Ok
  • GR8Tops Heavy Duty Hinge Kit
    • Ok but consider an Exogate instead
  • Teraflex CB antenna bracket
    • Ok just make sure to remove its powder coating in the areas shown or the antenna won't work well.

      ant-mount-showing-no-touch.JPG
  • Rugged Ridge CB bracket
    • Ok
  • Midland MXT500 GMRS Radio
    • Ok but CB is still more common and having only a GMRS radio may make it harder to communicate. Only go GMRS if your club has standardized on it.
  • Timken or SKF Hubs
    • Good choices
  • Centric Rotors
    • Excellent choice
  • Black Magic brake pads
    • Excellent choice
  • Wix 1515 oil filter
    • Good choice
  • Rotella T4 oil
    • Ok, stick with a 10W-30 there in the deserts.
  • Front bumper that can take a winch (Warn?)
    • Nearly any bumper will support a winch mounting plate, tubular bumpers are typically the ones that don't.
  • Winch (Warn or Badlands)
    • Go with Warn. Badlands from Harbor Freight would be tied for dead-last place with Smittybilt for potential winch brands in my personal opinion.
 
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SSTJ said:
True.



Not 'blaming' the forum; just summarizing its reviews of K&N. OP wants forum feedback on his mods, and I've only ever read negative reviews of K&N on this forum. So, I shared an FYI about this forum members' take on K&N.

I removed my K&N based on posts from this forum. But, to your point, I also could have just checked for dust in my intake tube and throttle body. So, touché.
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You need to get out more. The abilities of K&N filters have been around and been discussed on forums back to when Jeeps Unlimited was the top Jeep forum. That was at least 2000 or so. Just because something is new to you doesn't make it new. That and you aren't summarizing the views of this forum, you are summarizing the view of the vast majority of folks who wheel where it is dusty and take a few moments to check.
 
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mrblaine said:
You need to get out more. The abilities of K&N filters have been around and been discussed on forums back to when Jeeps Unlimited was the top Jeep forum. That was at least 2000 or so. Just because something is new to you doesn't make it new. That and you aren't summarizing the views of this forum, you are summarizing the view of the vast majority of folks who wheel where it is dusty and take a few moments to check.
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Got it. And the more I think about it, I was probably just summarizing @Jerry Bransford's views, since I've seen him post this a few times now.

Anyway, I take your point, thanks.
 
SSTJ said:
Got it. And the more I think about it, I was probably just summarizing @Jerry Bransford's views, since I've seen him post this a few times now.

Anyway, I take your point, thanks.
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It is a big pet peeve of mind that never stops being far more annoying than it needs to be. I was chatting with a gent yesterday about what improvements he could make to his very nice build. It went down the path where it was going to be reasonable to assist him with a few small mods. He then went on to mention that I might not like how he has built his rig since he opted for Metal Cloak fenders and shit.

I had to stop him and explain yet again that I simply do not give a crap how you build your rig and/or what parts fulfill the requirements of your particular value system. All I care about is don't lie about them. Don't try to tell me that something does something we all know it can't do. Don't confuse observation with judgement. Just because I understand how something works does not mean I care nary a whit whether you want to use it.
 
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