So all my talking has finally come to fruition. I was actually searching in earnest for all of about 3 days before finding this example that checked all my boxes for $14k, and just over an hour from my house...so I jumped on it and brought it home today.
at or near the mileage of my current TJ - 118k - check
Quiet, well maintained 4.0 - check
6 speed with no signs of weird shifting issues - check
can feel paint inside frame holes instead of rust flakes - check
flame red - check
hard top - check
stock - close enough. It does have an entry level 2-5" lift but no stupidity like drop pitman arms or cheap bolt-on longarm kits.
I'm calling it the "inside out" build because instead of buying a Jeep and building it, I'm basically taking my already-mostly-build TJ, and replacing the frame, tub, engine and transmission - or said another way, I'm gonna swap the following parts from my TJ onto the LJ:
Dana 44 w/ 4.88 and E-locker (housing actually came from an LJ to begin with, will be going back "home")
D30HP with BMB pads and calipers, centric rotors, YJ brake lines, sway bar disconnects
NP231 with new chain and JB SS SYE, bluemonkey speedohealer (need new driveshaft, or lengthen current one? also need to check input shaft compatibility between NSG370 vs AX15)
Warn stubby bumper, Smittybilt winch
KC Slimlite 6" LED with A-pillar mounts
Rancho RS5000x shocks
combination of Savvy, Currie, JKS and RC adjustable suspension links
ZJ steering
MORryde tailgate reinforcement kit
15x8 5.25BS Ultra 51 wheels with 32x11.5 KO2
...and put all the stock parts taken off the LJ in favor of the above back on the TJ which will then be sold - leaving me with the exact same build but with 10" more wheelbase and a healthier engine, as well as an opportunity to course-correct on some of the mods I wouldn't do the same way again:
1. MCE fenders. I'm not going to the trouble of painting and installing uncut OEM fenders on the TJ before selling it. I was really in love with the flat fender look at the time...I still like it, but knowing what I now know about clearance, if I'd done the stubby bumper before instead of at the same time, I probably wouldn't have done the fenders. Instead I'm going to try to find some Rubicon or Sahara fenders that I can paint black. These are in pretty good shape though so it's not a big rush. Just some time before I get 35's so I maintain some reasonable coverage.
2. AtoZ rock sliders. Obviously not going to the trouble to take care of all the little holes I drilled to mount them, but they wouldn't be the right length anyway so they'll go with the TJ. I might have replaced them with equivalents of the right length, but AtoZ is no longer in business so I'm probably going with Savvy on these.
3. Having lived for 3 months with aluminum trail doors, I think rather than painting mine red I might rather just sell them and find some OEM Jeep half doors. The constant rattling from the Bestop latches drives me crazy.
4. My TJ had old Body Armor bumpers that weighed a ton. I already got rid of the front when I got the Warn, and I'm gonna let the rear go with the TJ. The LJ will get the Next Venture bumper that is basically a plate reinforcement over the rear frame crossmember...trying to regain some of the departure angle lost to the LJ overhang. Jury is still out on whether I get the standard version or the one with the hitch receiver. With my TJ I needed it because no cargo space, but with the LJ I may be able to fit all my family's crap inside.
5. My wheels are plasti-dipped, which I think worked with the forest green pearl, but I'm thinking I'll strip the dip and go back to the bright machined aluminum finish they came with.
As for completing the build - I'll be at a place where I just need chromo axle shafts and a body lift to do 35's, and at that point I could be ready for a tuck at my need and/or convenience. Probably will go with the UCF extra clearance here, just because it seems like I read that the full tucks like the Ultra and Savvy can be a hassle.
First things first though - gonna ditch those grill inserts and the bug shield, and hope to have time this weekend to get the KC lights and the front bumper/winch swapped over. As much as I'd like to get my wheels and tires on the LJ, the wheels are some ridiculous 18 from a JK with I think 6" (!) of backspacing and are mounted on adapters, which I don't want to mess with, so the wheels will have to wait to go at the same time as the axle. It does look like people might be paying $100+ per wheel for these though, so I could see maybe selling them and getting some stock wheels to send with the TJ instead.
at or near the mileage of my current TJ - 118k - check
Quiet, well maintained 4.0 - check
6 speed with no signs of weird shifting issues - check
can feel paint inside frame holes instead of rust flakes - check
flame red - check
hard top - check
stock - close enough. It does have an entry level 2-5" lift but no stupidity like drop pitman arms or cheap bolt-on longarm kits.
I'm calling it the "inside out" build because instead of buying a Jeep and building it, I'm basically taking my already-mostly-build TJ, and replacing the frame, tub, engine and transmission - or said another way, I'm gonna swap the following parts from my TJ onto the LJ:
Dana 44 w/ 4.88 and E-locker (housing actually came from an LJ to begin with, will be going back "home")
D30HP with BMB pads and calipers, centric rotors, YJ brake lines, sway bar disconnects
NP231 with new chain and JB SS SYE, bluemonkey speedohealer (need new driveshaft, or lengthen current one? also need to check input shaft compatibility between NSG370 vs AX15)
Warn stubby bumper, Smittybilt winch
KC Slimlite 6" LED with A-pillar mounts
Rancho RS5000x shocks
combination of Savvy, Currie, JKS and RC adjustable suspension links
ZJ steering
MORryde tailgate reinforcement kit
15x8 5.25BS Ultra 51 wheels with 32x11.5 KO2
...and put all the stock parts taken off the LJ in favor of the above back on the TJ which will then be sold - leaving me with the exact same build but with 10" more wheelbase and a healthier engine, as well as an opportunity to course-correct on some of the mods I wouldn't do the same way again:
1. MCE fenders. I'm not going to the trouble of painting and installing uncut OEM fenders on the TJ before selling it. I was really in love with the flat fender look at the time...I still like it, but knowing what I now know about clearance, if I'd done the stubby bumper before instead of at the same time, I probably wouldn't have done the fenders. Instead I'm going to try to find some Rubicon or Sahara fenders that I can paint black. These are in pretty good shape though so it's not a big rush. Just some time before I get 35's so I maintain some reasonable coverage.
2. AtoZ rock sliders. Obviously not going to the trouble to take care of all the little holes I drilled to mount them, but they wouldn't be the right length anyway so they'll go with the TJ. I might have replaced them with equivalents of the right length, but AtoZ is no longer in business so I'm probably going with Savvy on these.
3. Having lived for 3 months with aluminum trail doors, I think rather than painting mine red I might rather just sell them and find some OEM Jeep half doors. The constant rattling from the Bestop latches drives me crazy.
4. My TJ had old Body Armor bumpers that weighed a ton. I already got rid of the front when I got the Warn, and I'm gonna let the rear go with the TJ. The LJ will get the Next Venture bumper that is basically a plate reinforcement over the rear frame crossmember...trying to regain some of the departure angle lost to the LJ overhang. Jury is still out on whether I get the standard version or the one with the hitch receiver. With my TJ I needed it because no cargo space, but with the LJ I may be able to fit all my family's crap inside.
5. My wheels are plasti-dipped, which I think worked with the forest green pearl, but I'm thinking I'll strip the dip and go back to the bright machined aluminum finish they came with.
As for completing the build - I'll be at a place where I just need chromo axle shafts and a body lift to do 35's, and at that point I could be ready for a tuck at my need and/or convenience. Probably will go with the UCF extra clearance here, just because it seems like I read that the full tucks like the Ultra and Savvy can be a hassle.
First things first though - gonna ditch those grill inserts and the bug shield, and hope to have time this weekend to get the KC lights and the front bumper/winch swapped over. As much as I'd like to get my wheels and tires on the LJ, the wheels are some ridiculous 18 from a JK with I think 6" (!) of backspacing and are mounted on adapters, which I don't want to mess with, so the wheels will have to wait to go at the same time as the axle. It does look like people might be paying $100+ per wheel for these though, so I could see maybe selling them and getting some stock wheels to send with the TJ instead.
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