Opinions on Old Man Emu Ultimate TJ / LJ Wrangler Kit?

[Keg]

Hey all I have a 2005 LJ unlimited and I am looking at this: Old Man Emu Ultimate TJ/LJ Wrangler Kit for my Jeep . I am going to run 33 and was going to do the body lift 1.25 and the motor mount lift . One of the reasons I was thinking about this kit is they talk about how they have a variety of custom springs available and with all the gear I carry in the back and the fact I pull a trailer at times puts a lot on the rear springs I actually had a heavy duty set made but now want to do a lift . So any thoughts on this kit ? Opinions ? Suggestions ? Thanks in advance all !

 

[MountaineerTom]

I have that same lift, but I haven't installed the body lift of MML. I've been happy with it. The shocks in the kit are stiff. Some, including myself, have swapped them out for Rancho RS5000x shocks for a smoother ride.

Where do you plan to get it from? I got mine from DPG Offroad. Dirk asked me lots of questions about my jeep's current set up, future plans and recommended the springs for me. 2933 front, 2942 rear. I ended up with 2-1/2 inches of lift with the HD springs, but did have to add an additional spring isolator up front to level it out. The front bumper, winch and winch plate weighted it down.


https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/mountaineertoms-2006-jeep-wrangler-unlimited.14995/#post-485050

 

[Chris]

I could piece the same kit together with better components personally.

Only thing I would want in that kit would be the OME springs personally

 

[Keg]

I have that same lift, but I haven't installed the body lift of MML. I've been happy with it. The shocks in the kit are stiff. Some, including myself, have swapped them out for Rancho RS5000x shocks for a smoother ride.

Where do you plan to get it from? I got mine from DPG Offroad. Dirk asked me lots of questions about my jeep's current set up, future plans and recommended the springs for me. 2933 front, 2942 rear. I ended up with 2-1/2 inches of lift with the HD springs, but did have to add an additional spring isolator up front to level it out. The front bumper, winch and winch plate weighted it down.


https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/mountaineertoms-2006-jeep-wrangler-unlimited.14995/#post-485050

Cool ! Thanks for the info , yes I am gonna call Dirk tomorrow... maybe he would let me delete the shocks to buy the ones you suggested ? What size tires you running ? Thanks Kurt

 

[Keg]

I could piece the same kit together with better components personally.

Only thing I would want in that kit would be the OME springs personally

Ok I have heard similar like for example using metal body lifts and not the ones in that kit and now the Rancho shocks so ok Chris I am listening , what are you thinking?

 

[Chris]

Ok I have heard similar like for example using metal body lifts and not the ones in that kit and now the Rancho shocks so ok Chris I am listening , what are you thinking?

Savvy body lift (you only want to use solid body lift mounts), Rancho RS5000X shocks, and Currie track bars.

That will set you up nicely for a tummy tuck in the future without having to change anything. With my tummy tuck the JKS rear track bar caused clearance issues. In addition, the OME shocks are much to firm for my liking, whereas the Ranchos ride smooth as butter.

As for the JKS disconnects (or any disconnect for that matter), having owned both disconnects and the Currie Antirock, I would never personally go back to a disconnect again. The Antirock is my weapon of choice, hands down.

I should add that this is not a bad kit by any means. It's just that I've had all these components at some point or another, and having done things over again countless numbers of times, the only components in the kit I would reuse are the springs (assuming I wanted to stay at 2.5" of suspension lift).

 

[Keg]

Savvy body lift (you only want to use solid body lift mounts), Rancho RS5000X shocks, and Currie track bars.

That will set you up nicely for a tummy tuck in the future without having to change anything. With my tummy tuck the JKS rear track bar caused clearance issues. In addition, the OME shocks are much to firm for my liking, whereas the Ranchos ride smooth as butter.

As for the JKS disconnects (or any disconnect for that matter), having owned both disconnects and the Currie Antirock, I would never personally go back to a disconnect again. The Antirock is my weapon of choice, hands down.

Ok you definitely have my attention I have heard great things about the shocks and the body lift you spoke of , I honestly have no idea what Currie Antirock is but I will research that , so what about doing motor mount lifts ? Will that be necessary? I secretly hope not ! And this will all work with my 33’s ? Thanks for all the good advice

 

[MountaineerTom]

Cool ! Thanks for the info , yes I am gonna call Dirk tomorrow... maybe he would let me delete the shocks to buy the ones you suggested ? What size tires you running ? Thanks Kurt

He probably would. I have 31's. I got the kit with the body and MML thinking I may go to 33's, but I've decided to stay with 31's. They didn't seem to affect the auto trans as far as shifting funny so I don't feel like I need to re-gear like I would with 33's.

 

[Chris]

Ok you definitely have my attention I have heard great things about the shocks and the body lift you spoke of , I honestly have no idea what Currie Antirock is but I will research that , so what about doing motor mount lifts ? Will that be necessary? I secretly hope not ! And this will all work with my 33’s ? Thanks for all the good advice

With the 1.25" body lift, you always want to do a 1" MML with that as well, so yes, that would be highly advisable. It will reduce pinion angles, and raise the engine up 1" with the body lift, so you'll basically be back to stock (where you should be).

For 33s you want 4" of lift. If you did the 1.25" body lift and the 2.5" suspension lift, you'd be at 3.75" of lift total, will will be perfect for 33s

 

[Keg]

He probably would. I have 31's. I got the kit with the body and MML thinking I may go to 33's, but I've decided to stay with 31's. They didn't seem to affect the auto trans as far as shifting funny so I don't feel like I need to re-gear like I would with 33's.

Yes I understand , I am gonna regear for a few different reasons ( pulling camper , added weight with roof rack and accessories) going to do 5:13 , I have auto tranny . Thanks for your help

 

[Keg]

With the 1.25" body lift, you always want to do a 1" MML with that as well, so yes, that would be highly advisable. It will reduce pinion angles, and raise the engine up 1" with the body lift, so you'll basically be back to stock (where you should be).

For 33s you want 4" of lift. If you did the 1.25" body lift and the 2.5" suspension lift, you'd be at 3.75" of lift total, will will be perfect for 33s

Yes sir I think that is the route I will go !
DPG has a cool motor mount kit to raise the motor and definitely gonna get shocks you and others suggested as well as the BL you suggested she front and rear Trackbar from Currie . I will check out Antirock as well ! Thanks so much !!

 

[Nickgsjeep]

Ok you definitely have my attention I have heard great things about the shocks and the body lift you spoke of , I honestly have no idea what Currie Antirock is but I will research that , so what about doing motor mount lifts ? Will that be necessary? I secretly hope not ! And this will all work with my 33’s ? Thanks for all the good advice

Hi @Keg I actually ran the setup you are looking at for a very long time. In order to successfully (imho) run 33’s I added a body lift and I did the brown dog motor mount lift and sye and Tom woods rear drive shaft. I’m still running this set up. If interested in details check out my build thread. The OME shocks are very harsh. The ranchos are much nicer.

 

[Keg]

Hi @Keg I actually ran the setup you are looking at for a very long time. In order to successfully (imho) run 33’s I added a body lift and I did the brown dog motor mount lift and sye and Tom woods rear drive shaft. I’m still running this set up. If interested in details check out my build thread. The OME shocks are very harsh. The ranchos are much nicer.

Cool! Thanks I will !

 

[Keg]

Cool! Thanks I will !

Do you think changing the rear driveshaft on my LJ is necessary? Thanks

 

[Keg]

With the 1.25" body lift, you always want to do a 1" MML with that as well, so yes, that would be highly advisable. It will reduce pinion angles, and raise the engine up 1" with the body lift, so you'll basically be back to stock (where you should be).

For 33s you want 4" of lift. If you did the 1.25" body lift and the 2.5" suspension lift, you'd be at 3.75" of lift total, will will be perfect for 33s

I was reading about the Antirock , how are it’s manners on the street ? I have to be careful going to crazy on mods because of pulling the camper .

 

[Nickgsjeep]

Do you think changing the rear driveshaft on my LJ is necessary? Thanks

It just depends, if you end up with rear driveline vibes then it might be. I just knew where I was going with my build so I got everything all at once. When you start changing driveline angles on a daily driver better to be safe than sorry. I knew I didn’t want to drop the transfer case so I did the motor mount lift and a sye and a rear double cardan shaft. Drives great to this day always has. The anti rock is awesome. It’s on road manners are great. I don’t notice excessive roll at all and off road it floats over obstacles

 

[Chris]

I was reading about the Antirock , how are it’s manners on the street ? I have to be careful going to crazy on mods because of pulling the camper .

One camp will tell you they noticed a profound difference on the street and don't like it.

I'm in the other camp (which I believe is the majority) who will tell you that the difference on the street is minimal, truly. Unless you do a lot of high speed corners in your TJ with the pedal to the metal

The pros far outweigh the cons, which aren't even really cons in my opinion.

There's a reason so many of us run Antirocks

 

[DaveC]

I picked up the exact same kit from DPG about a year ago and have been very happy with it. I bought the MML and BL but haven't installed as I decided to stick with 31s. I went with the OME shocks and while some say they're too stiff, I have no complaints. Rides better than stock on road and excellent offroad.

 

[Keg]

It just depends, if you end up with rear driveline vibes then it might be. I just knew where I was going with my build so I got everything all at once. When you start changing driveline angles on a daily driver better to be safe than sorry. I knew I didn’t want to drop the transfer case so I did the motor mount lift and a sye and a rear double cardan shaft. Drives great to this day always has. The anti rock is awesome. It’s on road manners are great. I don’t notice excessive roll at all and off road it floats over obstacles

Cool good to know ! So if I do the body lift and motor mount lift on my LJ and don’t Experience any vibration I should be ok stock in the rear ? Other then the Currie trac bar ? Thanks KEG

 

[Keg]

One camp will tell you they noticed a profound difference on the street and don't like it.

I'm in the other camp (which I believe is the majority) who will tell you that the difference on the street is minimal, truly. Unless you do a lot of high speed corners in your TJ with the pedal to the metal

The pros far outweigh the cons, which aren't even really cons in my opinion.

There's a reason so many of us run Antirocks

Cool ! Yea with me lifting the Jeep and all I won’t be trying to corner like a Le Mans driver