A build 14 years in the making

MichaelAAgar

New Member
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2023
Messages
6
Location
Troy, AL
Hello, all! I’m a new member to the forum but have used it for years as a non-member when I needed advice. I haven’t shared on here yet but figured I’d start with my build!

My Dad and I have shared a common interest in jeeps for as long as I can remember. I guess my grandad is to blame as he purchased a CJ5 brand new in 1973. This is him with it (still mint) in 2022!
IMG_9952.jpeg

As a result, when I was 14 and gearing up for my first car I was begging my parents for a Jeep. This would have been in 2008-09. My mom took a little convincing from my dad but they eventually agreed and bought me a 98 TJ and gifted it to me on Christmas Day in 09’. I sadly don’t have a picture of it then (there’s one somewhere) but it had canyon wheels, 31 inch BFG KO tires and the factory 3.07 gear ratio. I was about to turn 15 at the time and received my drivers permit - Dad spent the next year teaching me to drive a stick shift with it. By the time I had my license at 16 I was ready to go!

From there, I really got the bug. Unfortunately, I was a high school kid with no money to upgrade the Jeep and my parents weren’t really keen on me lifting it very high. I always loved a TJ with a 4 inch lift on 35s - that was the ideal Jeep to me. But since my parents opposed, I saved up all my lawn mowing money and we settled on a 2.5 inch rough country lift, 32 inch BFG KM2s and Smittybilt SRC front and rear bumpers. At the time, I really liked black rims so I also purchased some Mickey Thompson Classic II in black. This is what it looked like then (before the bumpers):
IMG_2884.jpeg

Now I knew nothing about gear ratios, lockers, LSDs and anything like that but I was pretty happy with how it looked. I drove it for years just like this and it got me through college. Eventually the KM2s got bald and I replaced them with 33 inch BFG KO2s since it spent most of my time driving back and forth from GA to Mississippi State. BTW this Jeep still had a factory Dana 35 and 3.07 gear ratio. It was a dog, but I didn’t know better at the time.

I graduated in May of 2017 and immediately bought a used 2011 ram 2500 Cummins truck with my first job. I spent most of my time driving it but would pull the jeep out every now and then. As life progressed, I kept the jeep running but more and more issues would pop up. I thought about selling it to buy my girlfriend a ring at one point (glad I didn’t because we broke up not long after and I eventually met my wife). I even had it on Facebook marketplace, but every time I got an offer I just couldn’t let go of it.

I finally got some sense knocked into me and began to fix some of the issues the Jeep had been giving me (now that I had some money saved). I never really intended to completely restore it but that’s what it turned into from here. I started with the power steering pump and radiator which both needed completely replaced. I then started replacing a lot of the faded trim pieces like the fuel bezel, license plate holder, hood latches, etc. I even replaced the factory fenders flares with some paramount flat style fender flares and got a new soft top. There was some body damage from a fender bender and that got fixed as well. By now, my tastes had changed. I got rid of the Smittybilt bumpers and put the factory front bumper back on (which I had kept). I also put the factory canyon rims back on! My dad always preferred those to my black rims, I guess eventually I agreed with him. To do this, I needed 1.5 inch wheel spacers and after some research on the forum I went with Spidertrax. This is what the jeep looked like at that point (before I went back to the factory front bumper).
IMG_9953.jpeg

So the jeep was running good and I was happy but as I said in the beginning, I’ve always loved a TJ with a 4 inch lift and 35s! I began to research this and found @Chris thread about how to run 35s the right way. I didn’t even have an account on the forum at the time but always appreciated it as it was my go to place when I had an issue. I slowly started working my way toward the goal of 35s. I began by picking up a Dana 30/Dana 44 in Georgia with a 3.73 gear ratio out of an LJ. I was going to roll with a 3.73 gear ratio for a while (couldn’t be worse than 33s with 3.07s!) but unfortunately when I got them home and took the diff covers off I realized that the rear end pinion was completely shredded and the ring gear was also in rough shape. The guy I bought them from admitted there was a noise but told me it was a unit bearing on the front 🤣. That was not the case. So, I started researching how to re-gear. Up to this point, every upgrade and fix to the Jeep had been done by my dad and I and that was part of the fun. We had never re-geared before and I contemplated on using a shop but eventually decided against it and we learned to do it ourselves. This was a lot of fun and I’ve driven a few thousand miles on revolution 4.10 gears since with no noise and no issues. Hopefully this continues! Here was my gear settup before we sealed it:

IMG_1936.jpeg


IMG_1935.jpeg

I was told maybe a bit deep but like I said, no noise and no issues! In hindsight, I’d probably go with 4.56 gears but the 4.10s do the job (there’s not much to crawl here in south AL).

While I was in there, I took the time to add a Detroit locker to the back and an Eaton trutrac to the front. I also put a disc brake kit on the Dana 44 since the previous owner had pulled it off for his build. We put in a Metalcloak 3.5 inch suspension lift with dual rate coils, rock sport shocks, steering stabilizer, adjustable f/r track bar and adjustable control arms. It’s been a great kit and I would recommend it to anyone. I almost went with Curries 4 inch system but I’m happy with Metalcloak (could do without the flashy gold). Before installing this kit, I bought and installed a rugged ridge SYE kit and Adams CV driveshaft. I also picked up a used Currie Currectlync steering system off marketplace in AL. The joints were in good shape and it really improved the steering travel on the front end.

I had replaced just about everything else, so I decided to re-finish the factory interior well. I used Colorbond Chrysler agate (purchased from Genos garage) and raptor lined the tub:
IMG_2880.jpeg


72073544703__630BF819-E2C2-485A-9B6E-C9A0BBC68813.jpeg

I got rid of the factory mist gray that had begun to fade (especially on the door panels) and went went with the factory Agate paint code. I’m pleased with how this turned out, but must say I’m skeptical at best as to how the Colorbond will hold up. I believe it’s going to flake and chip over time even with a good prep job. We’ll see!

The last thing I really needed to do was get 35s. I let my 33s go bald since they were aging anyway and a year later purchased some Cooper STT Pros. Here is the jeep today:

IMG_2796.jpeg


IMG_2798.jpeg

(Highly recommend Rustys Tire Carrier)

Anyway, this is my build so far. My wife bought me a next venture high clearance rear bumper with a hitch on a Black Friday deal. That will go on soon along with a winch for the front. I still haven’t forked out the money for the 15 inch big brake kit but the stopping power is honestly much improved going from drums to discs on the rear. Anyone that says otherwise should reconsider because my jeep on 35s stops way better than it did with drums and 33s. Not just objectively better, but good. I feel safe on the road.

Upgrades yet to come:

I haven’t upgraded the axles to chromoly yet, I probably will at some point along with bigger brakes for the front. I have a slight control arm rub at full lock with 35s and 4 inches of backspacing - 3.75 in. of backspacing would probably solve my issue. I just don’t really want to buy thicker spacers, maybe at some point I’ll buy aftermarket rims… I just really like the canyons. I plan to get gen rights 4inch fender kit (non hi line) for the front and rear. I’ve also considered a 1 inch body lift, 1 inch MML and the whole tummy tuck thing - this would definitely allow me to take some bump stop out but I just don’t wheel my Jeep like some of you do. The shovel that is the factory skid plate is obvious but really isn’t an issue for me.

Maybe all this makes me a poser but I’ve always loved a TJ and always will! We at least use it on the farm to tag calves and fix fence, etc.
 
Last edited: