After years of looking through the forum to get advice and some good interaction the last few days. I've gotten the advice to start a page about the build. I know In the next few months to years I'm gonna stumble on things that are a little to specific to just do a search so I'll put this up to log where I'm at, what I have going on, and use it for some advice that I know a bunch of you guys have.
The day I bought it.
I picked up this bone stock 98 TJ sport in 2016. I've had countless jeeps; wranglers, xj's, 4.0's, Cherokees. When I got this jeep I knew I wanted to build it up to be a trail rig that was good on the trails and could drive the kids around for fun to the campgrounds around Michigan we go to. So far over the life I've had it, it's stayed kept up and only driven for fun but within the last year and a half I've been acquiring parts to finally start my build.
The build always starts out 33s, then 35s, and now a days 40s are common place (not that they're appropriate for the build they're under) but I had always wanted a jeep that whatever tire size I went to I actually planned out a somewhat proper build.
The jeep and build parts list/planned items so far (I know there's some parts had I known I would have went other routes)
98 TJ, 4.0, Ax15, on a set of 37 bfg krawlers, Raceline beadlocks, Front HP Dana 44 from a 1976 Ford with f250 dual piston 8 lug outers, warn premium locking hubs, 30 spline rcvs , rear jk standard Dana 44 with teraflex full float 35 spline 8 lug wide, TNT front truss for bracketry and front 3" stretch.
Iron rock off road 4 inch long arm kit 3 link/4 link ( front and rear control arms lengthened for stretch) went this route for bent arms, probably would have went another route but it was one of the first purchases, and a big one.
Front steering not established, Front suspension currently 4 inch coils and bilstein shocks, genright rear coilover bracketry, rear 12/14(not sure yet) king remote reservoir 2.0 coilovers, Genright crawler 23 gallon stretch tank, advanced adapters ssye, 1310 joints for driveshafts, brown dog mml, 1inch body lift, and Novak cable shifter.
I think that sums up about what I have, where it's headed and I'll try and post updates to get some help. The jeep as it sits is stock but I have a good 75% of the parts listed and have worked on a few things. It's not my first project but at this scale it definitely is larger then anything I've done. I'll be doing all the fab, axle work, gearing and what not. Just won't be swapping motor or trans at this point. Transfer case if I can get something better In there that I can get from a junk yard is a possibility but not thought about.
This all needs to be done in my driveway and my garage, both that get used and I'm always rotating things in and out of so it's all a big puzzle. The timing of what can get done with what I have, with the tools I have and the tools I had to get just to start the build has taken years. It's picking up steam and I'm actually getting things done so it should be fun to start talking about it more.
The day I bought it.
I picked up this bone stock 98 TJ sport in 2016. I've had countless jeeps; wranglers, xj's, 4.0's, Cherokees. When I got this jeep I knew I wanted to build it up to be a trail rig that was good on the trails and could drive the kids around for fun to the campgrounds around Michigan we go to. So far over the life I've had it, it's stayed kept up and only driven for fun but within the last year and a half I've been acquiring parts to finally start my build.
The build always starts out 33s, then 35s, and now a days 40s are common place (not that they're appropriate for the build they're under) but I had always wanted a jeep that whatever tire size I went to I actually planned out a somewhat proper build.
The jeep and build parts list/planned items so far (I know there's some parts had I known I would have went other routes)
98 TJ, 4.0, Ax15, on a set of 37 bfg krawlers, Raceline beadlocks, Front HP Dana 44 from a 1976 Ford with f250 dual piston 8 lug outers, warn premium locking hubs, 30 spline rcvs , rear jk standard Dana 44 with teraflex full float 35 spline 8 lug wide, TNT front truss for bracketry and front 3" stretch.
Iron rock off road 4 inch long arm kit 3 link/4 link ( front and rear control arms lengthened for stretch) went this route for bent arms, probably would have went another route but it was one of the first purchases, and a big one.
Front steering not established, Front suspension currently 4 inch coils and bilstein shocks, genright rear coilover bracketry, rear 12/14(not sure yet) king remote reservoir 2.0 coilovers, Genright crawler 23 gallon stretch tank, advanced adapters ssye, 1310 joints for driveshafts, brown dog mml, 1inch body lift, and Novak cable shifter.
I think that sums up about what I have, where it's headed and I'll try and post updates to get some help. The jeep as it sits is stock but I have a good 75% of the parts listed and have worked on a few things. It's not my first project but at this scale it definitely is larger then anything I've done. I'll be doing all the fab, axle work, gearing and what not. Just won't be swapping motor or trans at this point. Transfer case if I can get something better In there that I can get from a junk yard is a possibility but not thought about.
This all needs to be done in my driveway and my garage, both that get used and I'm always rotating things in and out of so it's all a big puzzle. The timing of what can get done with what I have, with the tools I have and the tools I had to get just to start the build has taken years. It's picking up steam and I'm actually getting things done so it should be fun to start talking about it more.
