Hello, I have been larking around here for quite awhile reading up on things I want to do with our 2005 LJ. I think we have a pretty good game plan so I figured it was time to introduce myself and start a build thread.
This is my fourth Jeep. I started my Jeep journey with a 4cyl 94 YJ that I traded a 98 Dodge Dakota for. I really fell head of heals for offroading and later got a 2005 TJ Rubicon. I was very active in the local Jeep community but some life changes caused me to have to take some time away from Jeeping from 2012 until May of 2016 when I bought a 2016 JKUR and declared I will always own a Jeep. Then in June of 2018 we came across this very nice 2005 LJ in a car lot near my parents house. We weren't looking to get another Jeep but this one caught our eye and that next week I brought it home.
Since owning it we mostly have only done a few maintenance types of changes. I took off the wheel spacer, extra 6x9 speakers and some other random things the previous owner had installed. I also swapped out the ball joints and replaced both wheel bearings. It drives pretty good for basically stock rig. They did have some kind of 2" budget boot but with how saggy the stock springs are it isn't sitting all that tall.
Now we are starting to build it up. I like the more nimble feeling of a TJ/LJ on our tighter tree lined trails here in the midwest. So the main goal for this Jeep is to be used mostly for local wheeling and to help build up my wife's confidence off road. While she has wheeled the JK a little she is always very nervous because it's my daily driver. This LJ is more of a toy and will be used as such. The JKU gets penalty of use off-road but I would like to use it more for long distance trips. We're in Missouri and have taken it out east to PA and out west to both CO and WY and down south to Texas. I would rather use the larger JK for those adventures and keep while the LJ can stay around here for places like Kansas Rocks, SMORR, and Disney OK.
It's not a rubicon, so sadly it has the 30/44 axle setup. So starting there we are planning on regearing to 5.13 and adding a selectable locker in the rear. Currently looking at either ARB or Eaton ELocker. I could use some thoughts and opinions on what locker to use. There may come a time that we upgrade the axles but we would like to run these for the time being. I am leaning towards ARB only because I plan on adding OBA for my tires. But I could go either way really.
I ordered some PowerStop brakes. I don't know the last time these were changed. The pads look fine but the rotors have been around for quite sometime. While to do stop with these 31s I don't have the most confidence in them. I've not used PowerStop before but they seemed like a good option for the price. Again I don't want to put a lot of extra money into these axles as I have a feeling they might get upgraded within a few years.
I also have a short arm Metal Cloak 3.5" lift. I was skeptical of Metal Cloak when I first heard of them. But after helping a friend install their kit on his JKU and driving it quite a bit I ended up going with them for my JKU as well. I have not ridden in a TJ that had their gear, but if it's good enough for my daily driver then it should be good enough for this build. I went with their budget RockSport shocks. I didn't want to go long arms for quite a few reasons. My last TJ had quite the Frankenstein lift. I had parts form quite a few manufactures and I was always swapping things in and out. This time around I wanted one full kit.
We also have a MORE motor and body mount lift that needs to be installed. A UFC engine and transfer case skids that need painted and installed. Teraflex super short SYE, and a speedohealer. I have a Currie steering coming in May (it was on backorder) as well as some wheels that should be here later this week.
I just started taking the front end apart for the lift.
I plan to at least have the lift on this weekend.
I still need to figure out what tires I want to run on it. Looking at either Cooper STT Pros (what I run on the JK) or the new Micky Thompson Baja Boss. There are a few other options but these are the front runners in my mind. I also need a gas tank skid. I may just order one from UFC as I like the belly skids I bought from them. Then I will start looking at fenders, rock rails, and then interior. I'll probably sell off this hard top and get something like the Trek top or similar. I bought some half doors but they still need some work. Luckily they are black so I don't think i'll need to paint them right away.
So thats it so far. What do you all think and what suggestions do you have? I can't wait to get this thing built. It's one heck of a project that I have been looking forward to since we spotted it on a trip to my parents place.
This is my fourth Jeep. I started my Jeep journey with a 4cyl 94 YJ that I traded a 98 Dodge Dakota for. I really fell head of heals for offroading and later got a 2005 TJ Rubicon. I was very active in the local Jeep community but some life changes caused me to have to take some time away from Jeeping from 2012 until May of 2016 when I bought a 2016 JKUR and declared I will always own a Jeep. Then in June of 2018 we came across this very nice 2005 LJ in a car lot near my parents house. We weren't looking to get another Jeep but this one caught our eye and that next week I brought it home.
Since owning it we mostly have only done a few maintenance types of changes. I took off the wheel spacer, extra 6x9 speakers and some other random things the previous owner had installed. I also swapped out the ball joints and replaced both wheel bearings. It drives pretty good for basically stock rig. They did have some kind of 2" budget boot but with how saggy the stock springs are it isn't sitting all that tall.
Now we are starting to build it up. I like the more nimble feeling of a TJ/LJ on our tighter tree lined trails here in the midwest. So the main goal for this Jeep is to be used mostly for local wheeling and to help build up my wife's confidence off road. While she has wheeled the JK a little she is always very nervous because it's my daily driver. This LJ is more of a toy and will be used as such. The JKU gets penalty of use off-road but I would like to use it more for long distance trips. We're in Missouri and have taken it out east to PA and out west to both CO and WY and down south to Texas. I would rather use the larger JK for those adventures and keep while the LJ can stay around here for places like Kansas Rocks, SMORR, and Disney OK.
It's not a rubicon, so sadly it has the 30/44 axle setup. So starting there we are planning on regearing to 5.13 and adding a selectable locker in the rear. Currently looking at either ARB or Eaton ELocker. I could use some thoughts and opinions on what locker to use. There may come a time that we upgrade the axles but we would like to run these for the time being. I am leaning towards ARB only because I plan on adding OBA for my tires. But I could go either way really.
I ordered some PowerStop brakes. I don't know the last time these were changed. The pads look fine but the rotors have been around for quite sometime. While to do stop with these 31s I don't have the most confidence in them. I've not used PowerStop before but they seemed like a good option for the price. Again I don't want to put a lot of extra money into these axles as I have a feeling they might get upgraded within a few years.
I also have a short arm Metal Cloak 3.5" lift. I was skeptical of Metal Cloak when I first heard of them. But after helping a friend install their kit on his JKU and driving it quite a bit I ended up going with them for my JKU as well. I have not ridden in a TJ that had their gear, but if it's good enough for my daily driver then it should be good enough for this build. I went with their budget RockSport shocks. I didn't want to go long arms for quite a few reasons. My last TJ had quite the Frankenstein lift. I had parts form quite a few manufactures and I was always swapping things in and out. This time around I wanted one full kit.
We also have a MORE motor and body mount lift that needs to be installed. A UFC engine and transfer case skids that need painted and installed. Teraflex super short SYE, and a speedohealer. I have a Currie steering coming in May (it was on backorder) as well as some wheels that should be here later this week.
I just started taking the front end apart for the lift.
I plan to at least have the lift on this weekend.
I still need to figure out what tires I want to run on it. Looking at either Cooper STT Pros (what I run on the JK) or the new Micky Thompson Baja Boss. There are a few other options but these are the front runners in my mind. I also need a gas tank skid. I may just order one from UFC as I like the belly skids I bought from them. Then I will start looking at fenders, rock rails, and then interior. I'll probably sell off this hard top and get something like the Trek top or similar. I bought some half doors but they still need some work. Luckily they are black so I don't think i'll need to paint them right away.
So thats it so far. What do you all think and what suggestions do you have? I can't wait to get this thing built. It's one heck of a project that I have been looking forward to since we spotted it on a trip to my parents place.
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