$1000 98 TJ ground up build

DaEbLe

DaEbLe

Member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
35
Location
Michigan
So I bought a 98 about 2-3 years ago for $1000. Frame was junk, body was rough. I wanted the tub, motor, and trans.

10 months ago I got serious and decided to build as much as possible myself in my garage.

I have tons of pictures, so more can be added, but I can give some highlights here.

Spoiler alert we just got back from a 2 week trip to Moab and the Rubicon. It was successful at both and I am proud to have a bunch of trail badges on the way.

Any questions to the build or any knowledge I can share please feel free to ask.

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I have never been known to build anything chinsy. The gas tank skid weighs 165lbs, made out of 1/4" and 3/16" plate.

Engineered to fall off a 1 meter shelf without taking yield.

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I appreciate the kind words. This was a huge project and turned into a passion.

A bit on motor, trans, and mechanics.

Motor went to a build shop and got pushed out 30. New pistons, rods, and wrist pins (for known issues). Lunati cut a custom cam with a much higher lift so the head was machined down to clear SBC valve springs and shims so they don't wear into the head. I believe lift is now .459. Trans is a 32RH with functional lockout. The line pressure was slightly upped, relocated vent, upgraded bands, and modded so the pump works even in park. This helps for cooling and not needing the rig to be in neutral. An external cooler with fan places on the inner front passenger fender which were also custom fabbed with 18ga. Front axle is an ultimate Dana 44 and the only truss and axle I really didn't have to touch much. Rear axle is a 44 with matching gears and a matching elocker on CM shafts. The front and rear axle are JK hence the need to modify link brackets to fit. Also custom steering to convert from TJ Saginaw gearbox to jk axle.
 
Great project. And quite a bit of work you pulled off. Nice.

Interested as to why such a high arch in the cross member. Does it protrude into the body?
 
I didn't know at the time what I was going to need for drive shaft clearances, so I errored on the side of caution. But it sits nicely right where the rear seat sits at the ledge after the foot well. Not in the body at all.
 
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