Picked up a solar yellow 2004 LJ with 61,000 miles last year after a long search. Found it fairly local to me in Ohio it had spent its life in Florida up to 2019. The previous owner who had to sell it due to back issues did not have a lot of information on the initial build. The Jeep is extremely clean with no body or frame rust. The LJ currently sits on 37” Coopers on Dick Cepek rims With spacers. The lift is a Rough Country long arm with Fox shocks. The front axle was trussed (incorrectly squared and welded crooked). The first owner installed tube fenders front and rear and rock rails. There is a Smittybuilt winch on the Barricade front bumper. On the rear is a Barricade bumper with receiver and shackles. While there was a lot to like about the current set-up it had some issues due to poor installation.
The plan for this winter is to make some pretty substantial changes to the suspension and axles. The Rough Country lift and both axles will be replaced. The plan is a JK Dana 44 ultimate crate axle for the front and a JK Dana 44 for the rear. This will allow me to keep the width that I have now without wheel spacers. Axles will be geared at 5.13. The suspension will be replaced with an Iron Rock kit with 3 link triangulated rear suspension. Here’s a few pictures of the LJ “Eugene” before the tear down starts.
The plan for this winter is to make some pretty substantial changes to the suspension and axles. The Rough Country lift and both axles will be replaced. The plan is a JK Dana 44 ultimate crate axle for the front and a JK Dana 44 for the rear. This will allow me to keep the width that I have now without wheel spacers. Axles will be geared at 5.13. The suspension will be replaced with an Iron Rock kit with 3 link triangulated rear suspension. Here’s a few pictures of the LJ “Eugene” before the tear down starts.
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