2004 LJ: I’ll take all the pointers!

[LJtheunicorn]

What is everyone’s take on a tummy tuck with the old man emu/jks/core 4x4 lift from dpg that consists of 1.25 body lift and 2.5 suspension lift with highlines? Shooting for 35’s.

I feel like this would be a really good setup, is there anyone here with it?

Because my suspension lift is 2.5 inches and the LJ has a longer wheels base I am under the impression I could get away without a SYE but know those are usually case by case

 

[jjvw]

What is everyone’s take on a tummy tuck with the old man emu/jks/core 4x4 lift from dpg that consists of 1.25 body lift and 2.5 suspension lift with highlines? Shooting for 35’s.

I feel like this would be a really good setup, is there anyone here with it?

It depends on what you want from the rig. If you are already dragging the belly and the frame, then raising the skids will be an improvement. But only to a the point that 35s and a 2.5" spring lift allow. If you intend to move past the limitations of the factory shock mounts, more can be done with the traditional 4" spring lift.

 

[TRE3TOP]

It would probably fit just fine without high lines. The high lines might actually look a little strange with such a big wheel well opening and only a 33.

 

[sourbluff]

Picked up a set of used nemesis highlines with battery tray inner fenders and all! More to come!

View attachment 294312

So you are the one that got those. Great find!

 

[sourbluff]

Do you already have MML? Are rear arms you have adjustable? I didn’t need SYE on my LJ with 4” Currie, 1” MML, and 1.25” BL but know others have. I seem to recall that tuck is similar to 3” of lift so you might get away with it but I think would be pushing it.

 

[LJtheunicorn]

It would probably fit just fine without high lines. The high lines might actually look a little strange with such a big wheel well opening and only a 33.

planning for 35’s but I want to buy all parts I will need to upgrade and install them all at once alongside the 35’s so it’s ready to rock.

Whether I proceed with the current old man emu springs with high lines or just swap in 4 inch springs no high lines is my next decision.

I have also entertained the idea of getting some jk rubicon axles and truss them with a tj swap kit so when I’m ready just swap them in.

Do you already have MML? Are rear arms you have adjustable? I didn’t need SYE on my LJ with 4” Currie, 1” MML, and 1.25” BL but know others have. I seem to recall that tuck is similar to 3” of lift so you might get away with it but I think would be pushing it.

I have a motor mount lift and body lift on the work bench not installed yet as I’m still on the 32’s and I feel that would look funny until I up the tire size.
Last month or so I Installed all 8 core 4x4 adjustable arms with Johnny joints, jks adjustable track bars front and rear, and OME springs shocks and steering stabilizers.

 

[sourbluff]

I would go ahead and do the MML and BL. Mine looked fine with 4” spring, MML, BL, and fairly worn 33s. You’ll be good with 32s, especially with 2.5” springs. Fairly quick project that will be nice to have out of the way when get ready for tummy tuck.


Oh and if you haven’t, time to grab one of these. I would get it while in stock on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073L4L4R5/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[LJtheunicorn]

While I am still pondering the next tire suspension/tire upgrade I have been doing some other creature feature upgrades but I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. I’ve gotten almost all of these ideas from this forum as it’s truly an amazing resource.

Tailgate dome light trigger, this is by far my favorite add-on, still need to paint the holes I drilled.
This was a write-up I found on here that I followed to a T aside from different color wires where it ties into the door trigger switch.
Tailgate Dome Light Activation



Glove box light with the trigger on the door. Also a write-up on here.
Glove Box light with Trigger write-up



Something I am still working on is a platform for storing and tying stuff down when hitting the trails with a place for my dog to lay right behind me. I am not ready to cut more holes in the tub before I determine how much I like this setup so I removed all the rear seat hardware and made some other attachments work using some eye hooks on a turnbuckle that I had laying around and some hose clamps to the roll cage in the rear.

Obviously, I had not put the eye hook in the platform in this picture but this is the idea and it is rock solid.

I also installed a piece of 3/4 Plywood on a Piano hinge to act as a cross brace for the platform and a backing for the totes slid underneath that you will see below.

I ordered some L Track hooks off amazon so I can tie stuff down on top including the coolor and whatever gear I hit the trails with.

L Track Anchors from Amazon


Underneath the platform 2 Plano boxes fit perfectly with their lids removed.
My RC Crawlers fit perfectly in these boxes


Also doing a rear glass light that will plug into the tub via a wire I will run at a later time.
I ran the wire up the side of the window and inside loom affixed to the defrost wire. I ran the wire across the top of the window inside the area where defrost and wiper motor things go and will run down to the plug area sometime later on. These are all the parts I had sitting in a bin but I didn't have a switch I wanted to use for this light so I will wire it in when I get the switch delivered from Amazon.

Any tips or tricks throw 'em my way!

 

[LJtheunicorn]

Today I got around to mounting my fire extinguisher. I want a 5 pound as @Jerry Bransford has in this spot but my seat tilts and my wife needs to slide it forward when driving so the 5 pounder wouldn’t fit here. Instead I am opting for a 2.5 pound extinguisher mounted on this bracket I made in front of both front seats. Also going to put a 2.5 on both roll cage pillars behind outside shoulder of each front seat passenger. This would also be easily accessible by back seat passengers if ever needed. I will then put a 5 pounder at the very back on roll cage at a later date.

I plan to remove this whole bracket assembly, paint and add a few more self tapping screws to attach the cross bar to the seat base.


This location does not interfere with any of the seat functions it can still slide all the way forward and even tilt the whole seat forward.
I plan to put one here on either side as this would be reachable by just leaning your seat back and detaching it from whatever mount I come up with here. Anyone have any ideas for mount this to roll cage without removing all the padding? Not against removing the padding and using the below mount but if I can retain the padding I would like to.

I have this mount I bought but haven’t used it yet, it would require removing all padding.

 

[LJtheunicorn]

took delivery of my dirtworx bumper and it exceeded expectations. Mounted it to test fit everything before I paint it and it looks even better. Even put my bike rack on it and it fits better now with the receiver further back

 

[LJtheunicorn]

Installed body lift and motor mount lift and the Jeep is a bit tight in the garage with the soft top on and the roof top stored on the ceiling! Only about an inch to spare! Just enough for some 33’s jumping from the current 32’s

 

[LJtheunicorn]

After installing the body lift for some reason I’m getting a slight vinbration right around 60mph, I assume this is coming from a bad transmission mount, a crown mount is like 25 bucks from amazon so it’s been ordered and will install this weekend. No steering geometry was changed during BL and MML so it has to be somewhere in the drive line. I assume since the motor had such upward force when lifting it could’ve tweaked the trans mount in a way it has never been tweaked before and is now failing. Will update on Sunday!

 

[LJtheunicorn]

Spent yesterday evening mounting the bumper and pondering how I’ll hook the reverse lights up. Tonight I hooked up the reverse lights and rewired trailer wires.

Turns out the mopar trailer 4 pin harness has the blue 5th wire unused capped off and taped inside the loom. I cut the mopar 4 way off and rewired in a 5 flat and tapped the blue reverse trigger to power reverse lights.


I am planning to use the Jeep to tote trailers around, having the 5 flat and reverse trigger is needed for my boat trailer surge brakes. When you put the vehicle in reverse to back up the trailer the reverse light trigger disables the brakes on trailer.

 

[LJtheunicorn]

Took the Jeep to barnwell on Saturday, tested out the recently gained clearance from swapping factory bumper and Hitch for a dirtworx and wow what a difference.

Really wanting to do a tummy tuck because after all things I attempted the skid plate was the biggest hang up.




Not a fan of JK’s but this thing was badass

 

[PRNDL]

Took the Jeep to barnwell on Saturday, tested out the recently gained clearance from swapping factory bumper and Hitch for a dirtworx and wow what a difference.

Really wanting to do a tummy tuck because after all things I attempted the skid plate was the biggest hang up.
View attachment 325620
View attachment 325621


Not a fan of JK’s but this thing was badass
View attachment 325622

We need to make a run out there sometime. Are you still headed to Hot Springs this next weekend?

 

[LJtheunicorn]

We need to make a run out there sometime. Are you still headed to Hot Springs this next weekend?

Yea meet me there! Buddy with a Tj from Cleburne meeting us there and I’m meeting a group from Shreveport there. About 12-13 Jeeps in total I imagine.

I ran into the hunt county Jeep club at barnwell last weekend. They have a couple more trips planned for barnwell soon. Good group of people if you want to meet us there