- Joined
- Nov 1, 2015
- Messages
- 110
without going down the line over the years of various jeeps, I'll keep it to the last 4 years. Bought the Black Cherry 05 LJ while living in New Mexico. Already had the 4" lift and 35" tires but nothing else and not one scratch underneath. Apparently no high curbs at the mall. I did bumpers, Engo 9K winch with synthetic, Crown HD steering, RE adj track bar, all new u joints front and rear, all new front end bushings
and discos as well as Rancho 7000 shocks. Installed a Spartan locker in the front and it would go anywhere you had the stones to point it. Also put the Fat Bob's Garage seat risers in it and bedlined the tub. More, but that's the gist. BTW, the seat risers are great! I always felt I was sitting in a lowrider with stock seat height.
So sold that one and picked up this little 71 CJ5 with a V6. Took it home and won't print what the wife said. Anyway I rebuild the Dana 27 front end and called it good, sold it and on the hunt.
Which brings me back to the latest LJ in Khaki. Way and beyond my favorite Jeep of all time (LJ). Another 05 already lifted with RE 4" and adj uppers. Another mall queen apparently, no scratches underneath. The bad however was not quite death wobble but close. Back window hinges held together with looked to be welding rod without the flux coating. Drove it home and the work began. New ball joints (all 4), new Crown HD steering and replaced drop pitman with stocker. New Rancho 5000x shocks and stabber. New rear window hinges solved the loose window banging issue. New American Racing AR23 15x8 wheels and Cooper STT pro tires in 33x12.50x15 are ordered. Still have to do bumpers/tire carrier and winch plus plus plus.
Now a few notes for those starting a build.
Winches. Always a flaming topic on the boards, always. My advice is to buy what you can afford. Warn is by far the leader in winchdom, but also the priciest. I only give advice on the things I have bought and used, not on what I have heard from "a guy" my buddy knows that heard about this from a friend. I used an Engo 9000 with synthetic line for 3 years and some pretty good recovery's with no issues what so ever. I paid $400 shipped then and compared to double that for a Warn, bought more upgrades.
Crown HD steering assembly. Yes the Curry Correctlink is awesome. Also over $500 compared to under $200 for the Crown unit. I used the Crown on previous LJ and loved it. Again, let your budget be the guide.
Novak transfer case shifter cable. This is one of the best mods I have ever done. If you lift or have lifted your TJ/LJ you will need this sooner or later. The stock Rube Goldberg mess of rods and adjustable this and that underneath needs to go. This cable shifter is easy to install and shifts like slick butter with positive feel when going into low range.
I will try to post pics as I do more, but sometimes I just get caught up in the wrenching and don't think about pics
So sold that one and picked up this little 71 CJ5 with a V6. Took it home and won't print what the wife said. Anyway I rebuild the Dana 27 front end and called it good, sold it and on the hunt.
Which brings me back to the latest LJ in Khaki. Way and beyond my favorite Jeep of all time (LJ). Another 05 already lifted with RE 4" and adj uppers. Another mall queen apparently, no scratches underneath. The bad however was not quite death wobble but close. Back window hinges held together with looked to be welding rod without the flux coating. Drove it home and the work began. New ball joints (all 4), new Crown HD steering and replaced drop pitman with stocker. New Rancho 5000x shocks and stabber. New rear window hinges solved the loose window banging issue. New American Racing AR23 15x8 wheels and Cooper STT pro tires in 33x12.50x15 are ordered. Still have to do bumpers/tire carrier and winch plus plus plus.
Now a few notes for those starting a build.
Winches. Always a flaming topic on the boards, always. My advice is to buy what you can afford. Warn is by far the leader in winchdom, but also the priciest. I only give advice on the things I have bought and used, not on what I have heard from "a guy" my buddy knows that heard about this from a friend. I used an Engo 9000 with synthetic line for 3 years and some pretty good recovery's with no issues what so ever. I paid $400 shipped then and compared to double that for a Warn, bought more upgrades.
Crown HD steering assembly. Yes the Curry Correctlink is awesome. Also over $500 compared to under $200 for the Crown unit. I used the Crown on previous LJ and loved it. Again, let your budget be the guide.
Novak transfer case shifter cable. This is one of the best mods I have ever done. If you lift or have lifted your TJ/LJ you will need this sooner or later. The stock Rube Goldberg mess of rods and adjustable this and that underneath needs to go. This cable shifter is easy to install and shifts like slick butter with positive feel when going into low range.
I will try to post pics as I do more, but sometimes I just get caught up in the wrenching and don't think about pics