It does look like a performer though. Subtle but well done.
How was the soft top during the ride?
How was the soft top during the ride?
Picking up where I left off
- Thread starter Chris
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Haha, I saw that. I figured it was a "trail badge" as you are a AZ'ian.@Jerry Bransford did leave me a "Candy Ass" decal on the side of the fender.
For those following along, the clearancing on the diff casting is for the JJ on the track bar. The front of the spring perch was also trimmed to allow the tie rod to clear.
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Chris was nice enough to post a pic of the side I cut the inner fender in two and not the side my helper cut.
Looks great, now you need to get some scratches on those skids! The PRP seats look awesome.
that's not the problem, that IS the solution!
Chris told me that he wasn't afraid to throw it around corners but I could tell by the sound of the exhaust that he wasn't fully exploring that option and likely due to unfamiliarity with the roads. So, I had him hop in the passenger seat. It was very entertaining when I was doing 65 on the curvy road and then hung the right side tires off the pavement into the rough dirt. He'll have to explain his reaction.
It's like wearing sexy undies. Only a special few (guys on the internet) know what is going on!
As I told you, I've done a lot of autocross and track racing in different vehicles (namely Miatas and sport bikes). That being said, I wasn't expecting a TJ could actually be driven like an autocross vehicle.
65 MPH flying over pothole laden roads and I could barely even feel them. Flinging the thing around corners and hardly any noticeable body roll whatsoever.
I am now a 100% firm believer that the key to making these things outstanding drivers has nothing to do with springs, control arms, etc., it's 100% suspension.
This thing handles and performs infinitely better than my factory silver TJ Rubicon did. In fact, it's immensely more pleasurable to drive. The road manners are so behaved, not just driving it insanely fast through corners, but cruising at 75 MPH on the highway I can steer with one finger and the TJ no longer feels floaty, nor does it feel like a white knuckle experience. You hit the brakes and the nose no longer dives. A big gust of wind from a semi-truck hits you at 75 MPH and the TJ no longer feels like it wants to lift up and float away. It's so firmly planted, so stable, and yet soaks up the imperfections in the road to a level that you'd almost have a hard time believing that it has solid axles under it.
Once upon a time I believed that a TJ on 35s would never be a good daily driver simply because at this level of build there were too many compromises. I can say with 100% certainty I no longer believe this to be true.
I would put my TJ and my money up against ANY bone stock TJ and guarantee that mine not only drives better in every situation, but is also more fun to drive in general.
The sad part about this is that no one at all is ever going to understand this unless they drive a rig that has been setup properly. Until then they're just going to sit here and say we're exaggerating, blowing things out of proportion, etc.
You don't know what you don't know, and until you've driven a rig that's been setup like this, you have absolutely no idea whatsoever just how good your TJ could drive.
It's a great club to be a part of.
We can fix the body roll it does have, soon I think. Mainly though I would look for you to explain that initial reaction that I sensed when I hung it off in the dirt at that speed.
I remember you posting up that thread about why you decided to sell this one and keep that one. I think I also replied we could fix that or maybe I was just thinking it. Either way, now you know.
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Works most of the time.
I am curious how much of a difference that SwayLoc will make. It’s already amazing to drive now, but I’m definitely curious.
My initial reaction to that little off road bit was, “wow, apparently this thing isn’t a terrible Baja racer”. I was surprised at how well it was taking those hits, especially at that speed and with street tire pressure.
At the second little hill climb we did, I almost rolled a TJ on 35's and short arms about 1/3 the way up where the first little small ledge is (you didn't even notice it). We were driving up it like in yours, back started spinning out and moving over to the low side, pushed in the clutch and grabbed 4 high, still was sliding over, had to get it into 4 low and lock it to pull out of it. Yours didn't even spin a tire.
On mine, it's maybe a quarter to half the difference of yours with and without the Antirock. Meaning it is a quite noticable increase in stiffness.
12” shocks in 11” housings basically. Same thing @jjvw did with his in terms of machining the body to fit in a smaller package.
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