Nashville TJ's Build Continued

[NashvilleTJ]

I am new to wranglertjforum.com, but not new to Jeep's or forums in general. I've spent a good bit of time over on..., well..., let's just call it thatotherjeepforum.com. Lately though, it's become more and more quiet with not nearly the activity as when I joined many years ago. Come to find out, a lot of my old virtual buddys have come over here. I was introduced to this forum by a good virtual buddy, @TheBoogieman, and after spending a few weeks here, I've noticed quite a bit more activity, and I've seen many of my buds from back in the day.

It's hard leaving behind a build thread covering many years, over 2,500 posts, and about a quarter million views, but this seems to be the place to be. So after a little prodding from my buddy Rick (@Wildman) I'll start off this thread as a bit of an introduction, a quick summary of what I've done to the rig over the past fifteen years, and new mods going forward.

First, a bit of background. My current rig is a 2004 wrangler unlimited which I bought new back in 2005. This is my 4th Jeep. My first vehicle was a 1971 CJ5, with the 225 Buick Dauntless, Odd Fire V6. It would pull the front wheels off the ground going forward - and pull the side wheels off the ground going around a corner. It was a death trap - but you don't know that when you are 16.

And here it is - my sister always called me a Jeep Creep - so the name stuck. Since this rig, I've owned a 1982 CJ7 Laredo, and a couple of Cherokees. But I had been out of Jeeps for a while, before deciding to get back into it with my current rig.

On thing I should definitely have done over at that other forum was to create an index to more easily locate my projects. It got so big that I was having trouble locating things, so I will take that as a lesson learned and create and try to keep up an index here on this first post.

Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1

Summary of First Mods - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #4

Coilover Suspension Summary - - - - - - - - - Post #6

Moab Shots - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #15

Supercharged I6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #33

392 Hemi - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post # 36

Hemi Exhaust - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #40

Hood Louvers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #42

Cowl Intake - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post $45

Dyno Testing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #47

Swag Off Road Body Mounts- - - - - - - - - - - Post # 64

Custom Console Considerations - - - - - - - Post #95

Team Hunt's Overlander Ladder - - - - - - - Post #114

Trailer WIring Plug - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #127

My Grandson - LJ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #131

Smoked Pro Rock 60- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post 135

Pro Rock 60 R&P and ARB Repair - - - - - - - Post #140

Pinion Wrench Tool - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #167

Turkey Carving Tool - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #181

Jeep Toy Box- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #196

Final Pro Rock Gear Pattern - - - - - - - - - - - Post #247

Shaved 14 Bolt Rear Axle - — - - - - - - - - - - Post #254

Shaved 14 Bolt - Take 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #293

Straightening the 14 Bolt - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #337

14 Bolt Truss - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #350

14 Bolt Gear Setup - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #403

14 Bolt / Pro Rock 60 Side by Side - - - - - - Post #447

Gas Tank Lift and Tuck - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #471

Shaved 14 Bolt Ready for Install - - - - - - - - Post #476

14 Bolt Brake Lines - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #480

Pro Rock 60 Front 8 Lug Hub Conversion - Post #495

Laser Alignment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #505

Cutting Parking Brake Cables - - - - - - - - - - Post #506

Tire Carrier Modification - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #511

14 Bolt First Drive - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #530

Midland MXT 275 Install - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #534

Cutting Parking Brake Project - - - - - - - - - Post #540

Tuffy Underseat Storage Box - - - - - - - - - - Post #560

Rampage Frameless Top - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #561

Tailgate Repair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #565

Moab 2021 - TJ Fest - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #611

Trailer Roadside Repair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #620

Trailer Suspension Repair - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #634

Moab 2021 GoPro Video - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #658

Colorado Backcountry Trip - - - - - - - - - - - Post #758

Hydro Steering Mount Repair - - - - - - - - - Post #805

Northeast BDR ADV Motor Trip - - - - - - - - Post #816

Door Surround Removal Mod - - - - - - - - - Post #821

Cage Mod for Rampage Top - - - - - - - - - - Post #840

VanLifeDesign Picture - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #850

392 Hemi Tune - Take 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #851

AFR Gauge Installation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #852

Laptop Desk for Data Logging - - - - - - - - - Post #873

Hawk Pride Off Road - September '21 - - - Post #879

AOP - September '21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #913

Driveshaft Carnage - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #917

Top Repair - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #930

Antenna Replacement - Chrome No-Mo - Post #935

Trailer Tires - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #940

Driveshaft - Beef Version for the Rear - - - Post #941

Higher Volume Radiator Fan Needed - - - - Post #961

Spal 500 Watt Brushless Fan Install - - - - - Post #971

Hidden USB Port - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #988

A/C Fan Override - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,028

Band Saw Upgrade - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,042

The "Look at Me!" Wall - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,063

Amplifier - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,087

LED Backup Lights from Claytone - - - - - - - - Post #1,213

Hawk Pride ORV Park 3-5-2022 - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,214

New 59 psi Fuel Pump for the Hemi - - - - - - Post #1,244

Trailer Tongue Weight - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,294

Moab - TJ Fest 2022 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post #1,305

Tool Rolls - Comparison and Selection- - - - - Post #1,366

PSC Steering Gear Replacement - - - - - - - - - Post # 1,387

PSC Steering Gear Replacement - Round 2 - Post # 1,418

Trailer Tongue Lock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Post # 1,434

Toy boxes for the Grandkids - - - - - - - - - - - - Post # 1,545

Hawk Pride December 2022- - - - - - - - - - - - - Post # 1,549

Trailer Tongue Lock Enhancement - - - - - - - Post # 1,555

Wide Band O2 Test and Replacement - - - - - Post # 1,571

Swing Out Tire Carrier Frame Tie-In Repair - Post # 1,582

 

[TWiG01]

Welcome, very cool CJ. Any pics of your current LJ?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Back to my current project. Since getting the rig I've put 100's of hours into it, but his is what it looked like when I got it back in January of 2005. Not exactly hard core, but I was very happy to have another Jeep.

.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I started tearing into it right away - and I actually have a picture of my first mod. Don't laugh - that bra stayed on the Jeep until I had to remove it due to the high-line.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Since then, the rig has gone from 35's on a 5 1/2" Rubicon Express lift, to 37's on Dynatrac Pro Rock 60's, to 40" Krawlers on SpiderLocks.

Along the way, I've done a full cage (a few variations), a supercharger, 4 Speed Atlas, ATS Transmission, Hydro Assist Steering and Brakes, lots and lots of armor, highline tube fenders, an on board Premier Power Welder, many changes to the suspension, front and rear bumpers, and a whole bunch of other projects. I spend more time wrenching on the damned thing that I do wheelin. But, it keeps me off the streets. When I do wheel it, I'm not afraid the beat the hell out of it. It's been a blast of a rig.

Here is the rig as it sat in around 2014:

 

[NashvilleTJ]

All in all, I was pretty happy with the rig. In 2015, my wife and I made the long trek from Nashville to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari. Bucket list kind of a thing. Had a great time, and met a bunch of great people. Decided then and there it was certainly worth the 3300 mile round trip and 350 gallons of diesel for the tow rig. We have gone back several times since then, and plan to continue to go out there every chance we get (so I guess it is still on my bucket list).

But - something bad happened to me and my ego while out in Moab. Had the great pleasure of getting to run the rig on several great trails: Poison Spider Mesa, Moab Rim, Golden Spike among them. My wife took a great picture of me coming across Golden Crack.

And it was this picture that ultimately led me to completely redo the suspension. Flying that right front tire across the crack, instead of drooping down and keeping it on terra firma - really bothered me at the time. I always thought I had a pretty flexy suspension - but apparently not...

 

[Wildman]

Even back in 2004 it was a great looking rig. And it must have a flux capacitor in it too.

Since you didn't get it until Jan 2005 and that pic on tons is 2004....

 

[TheBoogieman]

My favorite Jeep ever.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

My favorite Jeep ever.

Coming from you, Boog, that's always meant a lot to me.

 

[taylormade73]

Welcome. That's one hell of a progression in build and an expensive one at that. Very nice looking LJ.

 

[Wildman]

My favorite LJ also. And I really like watching the work that you do.

My son was just in TN at one of the parks for a few days of fun. His brother-in-law Has a LJ and he has a JK Unlimited. They live down in FL.

 

[Brianj5600]

My favorite LJ also. And I really like watching the work that you do.

My son was just in TN at one of the parks for a few days of fun. His brother-in-law Has a LJ and he has a JK Unlimited. They live down in FL.

Windrock? Where does you son live?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

It was at this point that the other build thread which I mentioned above kicked into gear. If anyone is interested in seeing the excruciating detail, and has a very bad case of insomnia, and a whole lot of time on their hands, or is in a full body cast with nothing else to do, you can find it over at the other place with the title "Nashville TJ's Coilover Build."

And that was the start of an 8 month project during which I completely gutted the old suspension, cut everything off the frame and the 60's, and started from scratch. Using a bunch of builder parts from Genright, I put together a 3-Link in the front, with custom hoops and 14" King Coilover shocks - which poked up through the hood along with the top pulley on the supercharger.

When I started into the rear, I quickly concluded that I did not want to do all the work to fabricate a completely new 4-link - and then wind up with that nasty LJ rear overhang. So, I complicated my life and decided to do a stretch - with all the associated frame and body work. I also stretched the front out about 3 inches - which was an even bigger challenge which required replacing and relocating the front cross tube, remounting the steering gear and rebuilding the steering shaft. It was quite the challenge, but that's the point, right?

Along the way, I had to build new skid plates for the engine and the trans, stretch the rock sliders, install some custom cut aluminum corner guards, rebuild the rear fenders to accommodate the curve at the rear corner, push the Genright stretch tank back in the frame, and about a gazillion other big and small projects. The wheelbase wound up at 115", with nice front and rear departure angles, lot's of usable flex, and it still drives well enough that I can hand the keys to anyone with no worries.

And the payoff: I mentioned that it was the flex shot at the Golden Crack in 2015 which set me off on the suspension journey. When my wife and I returned to Moab in 2017, she took another shot of me coming across the crack - this time without flying that right front tire...

 

[Wildman]

Jeff that is just such a great looking rig. And of course that is a GREAT shot.

Windrock? Where does you son live?

Yes I think that is where he said they were going. He's headed home tomorrow and they drove up last Thursday.
He lives near Clearwater, FL.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Here are a few more shots of the rig at that point in action in Moab:

White Knuckle:

Chewy:

Rocker Knocker:

Axle Hill:

 

[voodooridr]

That is an IMPRESSIVE amount of work
I'll be happy to just get my Savvy control arms on

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Even back in 2004 it was a great looking rig. And it must have a flux capacitor in it too.

View attachment 197272

Since you didn't get it until Jan 2005 and that pic on tons is 2004....

I laughed out loud at that one, Rick. Yeah, I had to do a little Ninja editing on that post - meant to say 2014...

 

[TWiG01]

What a transformation. Awesome build!

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I have the great fortune of having a wonderful wife who also enjoys wheelin', especially out in Moab. She loves the scenery, and really enjoys getting to know other folks during the Safari's. But, she's a little afraid of heights so Moab Rim is NOT one of her favorite trails - and I can't even think about doing Cliff Hanger...

But, she's done Pritchett a couple of times, so I'll take that.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

What a transformation. Awesome build!

Thank you very much!