hello everyone!
after being inspired by many beautiful builds I've seen in this thread, I decided to share with you my beloved 2003 4.0 TJ build.
please note I am italian, so not all the aftermarket/accessory is available here, so I had to do my build with limited possibilities - and please forgive typos or not understandable words!
my objective was to maintain something street legal (as in Italy, unbelievably, norms are extremely strict for veichles) and street usable (like highways, road trips etc) but that was almost unstoppable offroad.
due to country configuration, this meant something driveable daily but also capable to deal with mud, tight spaces, forests/woods, alpine offroad and some rock crawling (even if not moab, sadly), between Italy and Corse.
so here the main modification on the rig, which has today a stock 4.0L with 192k km on the clock and an auto gearbox with ovberdrive.
starting with tyre size, I wanted to run 37s easily - which I think are the best compromise after many experiences on different 4x4 (land rover and toyotas are part of my passion, and love history as well).
doing so didn't meant to me to 'lose' the original beautiful shape of the car, so no crazy high lift kits - nor extreme cutting or high fenders, but only sustainable and reversible modifications.
so, starting with Exteriors:
- front & rear Warn bumper, with the front one modified.
- Smittybilt 10,000LB winch
- Bestop soft top
- More protection for engine & transmission
- rear angular protection
- rocksliders
- 6 inch fenders, cutted.
- some cuts here & there to fit 37" tyres on 8x16 et -30 beadlock rims
- LED front & rear lights
Transmission:
- Dana 44 rear, with ARB locker and 33 splines alloy
- Dana 44 front by G2 axles, with ARB locker and RCV axles & joints
- 5.13 regearing
- 94" inches wheelbase, with Iron rock short arms (at least as of now)
- SYE by teraflex and reinforced driveshafts front & rear
- Teraflex 3" springs
- Fox shocks
- body lift 1" (sadly was mandatory for SYE and to run 37 without going higher than 3" lift, but not at all fan of bodylift)
- timken wheel hubs
- reinforced steering joints & bars
- 2 tyres sets: 37" trepadors for offroad, 37" creepy crawler for road/non extreme offroad
Interiors:
- nothing to highlight, thinking about new seats
- CB radio is portable not to ruin original configuration
- 1din carplay radio
- some stuff holders here and there
- rear tailgate table and bottle opener, to enhance offroad coviviality
Engine:
- everything original, except for short MBPR Exhaust...at least for now
- upgraded radiator with high performance one in aluminium
- Optima Yellow Battery
- good mainteinance and OEM/ high quality spare parts
Some pics for you, please share your comments or suggestions: there is always room for improvement, and I'll have time to build it better and better in years!
Luca
after being inspired by many beautiful builds I've seen in this thread, I decided to share with you my beloved 2003 4.0 TJ build.
please note I am italian, so not all the aftermarket/accessory is available here, so I had to do my build with limited possibilities - and please forgive typos or not understandable words!
my objective was to maintain something street legal (as in Italy, unbelievably, norms are extremely strict for veichles) and street usable (like highways, road trips etc) but that was almost unstoppable offroad.
due to country configuration, this meant something driveable daily but also capable to deal with mud, tight spaces, forests/woods, alpine offroad and some rock crawling (even if not moab, sadly), between Italy and Corse.
so here the main modification on the rig, which has today a stock 4.0L with 192k km on the clock and an auto gearbox with ovberdrive.
starting with tyre size, I wanted to run 37s easily - which I think are the best compromise after many experiences on different 4x4 (land rover and toyotas are part of my passion, and love history as well).
doing so didn't meant to me to 'lose' the original beautiful shape of the car, so no crazy high lift kits - nor extreme cutting or high fenders, but only sustainable and reversible modifications.
so, starting with Exteriors:
- front & rear Warn bumper, with the front one modified.
- Smittybilt 10,000LB winch
- Bestop soft top
- More protection for engine & transmission
- rear angular protection
- rocksliders
- 6 inch fenders, cutted.
- some cuts here & there to fit 37" tyres on 8x16 et -30 beadlock rims
- LED front & rear lights
Transmission:
- Dana 44 rear, with ARB locker and 33 splines alloy
- Dana 44 front by G2 axles, with ARB locker and RCV axles & joints
- 5.13 regearing
- 94" inches wheelbase, with Iron rock short arms (at least as of now)
- SYE by teraflex and reinforced driveshafts front & rear
- Teraflex 3" springs
- Fox shocks
- body lift 1" (sadly was mandatory for SYE and to run 37 without going higher than 3" lift, but not at all fan of bodylift)
- timken wheel hubs
- reinforced steering joints & bars
- 2 tyres sets: 37" trepadors for offroad, 37" creepy crawler for road/non extreme offroad
Interiors:
- nothing to highlight, thinking about new seats
- CB radio is portable not to ruin original configuration
- 1din carplay radio
- some stuff holders here and there
- rear tailgate table and bottle opener, to enhance offroad coviviality
Engine:
- everything original, except for short MBPR Exhaust...at least for now
- upgraded radiator with high performance one in aluminium
- Optima Yellow Battery
- good mainteinance and OEM/ high quality spare parts
Some pics for you, please share your comments or suggestions: there is always room for improvement, and I'll have time to build it better and better in years!
Luca
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