Thanks, and you're right about that, it's pretty much spot on for what we do with it.Love this build, you're really optimizing it for your uses. Though I would have left off the jugs on the OEM bumpers!
I vote for going back to chrome headlight bezelssome minor cosmetic updates over the past couple months, first up I put the back seat in for the first time, now that I'm on the street more I need more passenger capacity:
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Next up was to ditch the exterior mounted mirrors in exchange for OEM. I've used these for years with my cloth half doors as they have no mirror mount so these were necessary. They served me very well, but the wind/whistling they created was starting to work my nerves a bit too much so off they came
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picked these up from Dan the TJ man for $40
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I'd like to remove the brackets for the other mirrors but if for some reason I want to slap the cloth halfies back on I'll still need them. Not sure that's ever gonna happen but we'll see:
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Finally, this project has been looming for many years, sort of a 'when there's nothing else to do & I'm bored project' but a project nonetheless:
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Once I confirmed that the crew wasn't hungover the day my TJ was painted it was a free for all to get this ugly crap off as fast as possible, scissors & a box cutter were very helpful, plus a pair of channel locks to yank the stubborn plastic push pins out that they used to mount the stiff foam padding
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this is about as clean as she can get, though I will make the move to an AT & away from the MTs when these wear out a good bit more
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the sled
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thanks man, that holds some significance given what you're doing over there, probably the most interesting build on this board.Love what you're doing here!
I vote for going back to chrome headlight bezels
Just want to say that I really enjoyed reading your build thread. I recently joined the forum after perusing it for many months. I like your 'back to stock' TJ and think it looks great. Hope to buy a TJ sometime later this year and plan to take a lot of inspiration from your thread.
And not sure if they have an updated DSM diagnosis code for the doors vs. Jeep ratio...but it seems like multiple folks on here might have the same condition!
Hi, nice thread. Love your build.
Do you still have factory control arms? how does it handle with the lift and factory control arms?
thanks, and for the most part yes, I have factory upper & lower control arms up front and factory lowers in the rear. I swapped in adjustables in the rear uppers to tweak the pinion angle after the SYE was installed.
It handles and drives beautifully with the setup as described throughout the thread.
It's funny, I skimmed through the thread & realized I haven't made any mechanical changes since dropping an inch off the height 3 years ago, by far the longest I've owned it without doing anything significant. Since then it's been some small cosmetic changes.
you are right, there's something I noticed when I first got it that lasted for years, which is also displayed by countless members here, the pursuit of nearly constant evolution. Some never arrive at the final endgame, a TJ they're content with, there's always something in the cart or on the wish list. That can be really fun, & there's no rule that says it ever has to be 'done'. But it can also be exhausting, and expensive.That just means that your happy with your build and there's no need to change anything so thats great.
I´ll look foward to see whats next for your TJ
I'm only 5'7" and shrinking as I push towards old man status. My girlfriend is shorter and also, umm, let's just say post-young.
you are right, there's something I noticed when I first got it that lasted for years, which is also displayed by countless members here, the pursuit of nearly constant evolution. Some never arrive at the final endgame, a TJ they're content with, there's always something in the cart or on the wish list. That can be really fun, & there's no rule that says it ever has to be 'done'. But it can also be exhausting, and expensive.
when I look at it & drive it my thoughts are that it's perfect the way it is, but I've owned this thing long enough to realize I may just be in a lull & the itch to make changes may return. Best prediction is that if I do anything it'll be a continuation of what I've been doing on the journey towards stock, that would include a further drop in lift height to stock & a downsize of the tires from 33 to 31s. While 31s weren't stock on the X model they were on the Rubicon so it's not a size that wasn't at least offered in 2004.
At least once a week on my way to work a guy in a bone stock Ruby passes me on the road, I usually speed up for a few minutes to keep up with him just to admire that rig in motion, like mine when I look at that one it looks perfect in its proportions. I like the lower height & the way the tires are perfectly flush with the flares, it's just a beautiful design. Making this change would also have practical benefits as it would be a significant reduction in height which would really help me getting in and out of it, I'm only 5'7" and shrinking as I push towards old man status. My girlfriend is shorter and also, umm, let's just say post-young.
In June of 1776 a 33-year-old Virginia Delegate by the name of Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in a private home on Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; it would be adopted by vote on July 4, 1776, inside the Pennsylvania State House, widely known as Independence Hall, built in 1753, located on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, a couple blocks from where it was written. The Declaration was formally signed by 56 delegates on various dates then and thereafter, primarily August 2, 1776, each act an act of high treason against the Crown but all critical steps in the cascade of events that would profoundly change the course of humanity for evermore. Eleven years later this venerable structure would again host the greatest collection of political philosophers/revolutionaries ever assembled to draft what would later be adopted as the United States Constitution. The beacon of freedom that is Independence Hall has flickered many times over the centuries since, yet it stands as beautiful and awe inspiring as ever in my eyes, being in its presence is a remarkable experience - WW
In the Declaration of Independence TJ concluded:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Thomas Jefferson
It would do all Americans good to remember our history, and not allow it to slip away, or worse, willingly give it away.
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For those of you that have never been to old city Philly where much of the sacred real estate is, in my opinion the most sacred on the planet, it’s an extremely beautiful & vibrant area that’s usually packed with tourists and residents alike (these photos were taken at around 6am on a Sunday). It's like walking back in time, to the most important time in our country's history in my view, this is where the foundation was laid, this is where, among so, so many other things, the anti-federalists stood strong to preserve states rights and individual rights as they were all too aware what an omnipotent force an unencumbered federal government would be, and history has proven them so right!