Racing a Jeep?

[Halbarad]

This is more of a weird train of thought I had then anything else really. Practical? Nope. Logical? Nope. Easy? Nope. But it would be cool! So as bit of an imaginative run, what would be your input on making a good rally/dakar/baja Jeep TJ?

My thoughts: Start with an LJ I would say. I feel the longer frame would help with high speed stability. Obvious upgrades would be longer travel suspension, a bit of tummy tucking. I like the idea of high clearance low lift builds. So a tad body lift and tuck that powertrain.

Loose the roof, carpet, rear seats, dash, ventilation system, radio and any excess weight. Add in a better seatbelt and maybe seats. Harnesses over belts. Go to half doors. Loose the tailgate (maybe?) and throw a couple tires in the bed. Go to a 33-35 inch tire.

As for the powertrain itself. I would be interested in doing a stroker/turbo build. Giving you that extra power in the higher end of the range. Though LS/V8 swapping would be an easy way to get good power. But why make it easy? Obviously better/stronger regeared diffs. Same for a trans. Probably run an AX-15 or such seeing as you can still buy them new. Part sourcing and all.Custom fuel cell would probably be smart too. Get rid of the plastic and all.

The logistics of doing this are probably very dumb. But gotta let the imagination run sometimes right?

 

[macleanflood]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CNCTRygUx/

 

[Halbarad]

I am with that guy

 

[D's Jeep Wrld]

Im glad I'm not the only one,I have about the same ideology,I got an 05 Lj

On my build thread you'll see what im gonna do on the last 3 pages
Longstory short im gonna run a fabricated rear axle planning on 16" of rear travel om a 12" travel coilover 14-16" upfront rocking an f250 HP44 from a ford
Its 42rle -> To AX15 Swapped,Engine has some work done but i plan on doing a turbo stroker cause V8s are too damn boring aka Easy. Or a Mercedes OM606 of sorts with an 8 speed

 

[Halbarad]

That is pretty cool D’s. I will definitely be reading up on that some!

 

[D's Jeep Wrld]

That is pretty cool D’s. I will definitely be reading up on that some!

Yessir
Kinda of on a "budget" here...building this jeep lj Out on my parents driveway (tools are in the garage ofcourse but I work outside ) Stay tuned
-Dylan

 

[Halbarad]

Yessir
Kinda of on a "budget" here...building this jeep lj Out on my parents driveway (tools are in the garage ofcourse but I work outside )

Haha, tell me about it. I got to many dreams and too little money for em all. Thanks be to awesome parents though. Love my family.

 

[jjvw]

This is more of a weird train of thought I had then anything else really. Practical? Nope. Logical? Nope. Easy? Nope. But it would be cool! So as bit of an imaginative run, what would be your input on making a good rally/dakar/baja Jeep TJ?

My thoughts: Start with an LJ I would say. I feel the longer frame would help with high speed stability. Obvious upgrades would be longer travel suspension, a bit of tummy tucking. I like the idea of high clearance low lift builds. So a tad body lift and tuck that powertrain.

Loose the roof, carpet, rear seats, dash, ventilation system, radio and any excess weight. Add in a better seatbelt and maybe seats. Harnesses over belts. Go to half doors. Loose the tailgate (maybe?) and throw a couple tires in the bed. Go to a 33-35 inch tire.

As for the powertrain itself. I would be interested in doing a stroker/turbo build. Giving you that extra power in the higher end of the range. Though LS/V8 swapping would be an easy way to get good power. But why make it easy? Obviously better/stronger regeared diffs. Same for a trans. Probably run an AX-15 or such seeing as you can still buy them new. Part sourcing and all.Custom fuel cell would probably be smart too. Get rid of the plastic and all.

The logistics of doing this are probably very dumb. But gotta let the imagination run sometimes right?

Once upon a time, this was the TJ that couldn't be beat at KOH.

 

[GregBelleville]

Once upon a time, this was the TJ that couldn't be beat at KOH.
View attachment 700371

I was gonna say, what you're describing sounds a lot like an EMC car.

 

[Zorba]

Loose the roof...

Probably would be better to simply remove it. If its loose, it may come off unexpectedly...

 

[Strizzo]

This is more of a weird train of thought I had then anything else really. Practical? Nope. Logical? Nope. Easy? Nope. But it would be cool! So as bit of an imaginative run, what would be your input on making a good rally/dakar/baja Jeep TJ?

My thoughts: Start with an LJ I would say. I feel the longer frame would help with high speed stability. Obvious upgrades would be longer travel suspension, a bit of tummy tucking. I like the idea of high clearance low lift builds. So a tad body lift and tuck that powertrain.

Loose the roof, carpet, rear seats, dash, ventilation system, radio and any excess weight. Add in a better seatbelt and maybe seats. Harnesses over belts. Go to half doors. Loose the tailgate (maybe?) and throw a couple tires in the bed. Go to a 33-35 inch tire.

As for the powertrain itself. I would be interested in doing a stroker/turbo build. Giving you that extra power in the higher end of the range. Though LS/V8 swapping would be an easy way to get good power. But why make it easy? Obviously better/stronger regeared diffs. Same for a trans. Probably run an AX-15 or such seeing as you can still buy them new. Part sourcing and all.Custom fuel cell would probably be smart too. Get rid of the plastic and all.

The logistics of doing this are probably very dumb. But gotta let the imagination run sometimes right?

A few years ago, someone, or a group of someones entered an XJ in the grassroots motorsports $2,000 challenge with a custom caster/cambered 2wd front axle and homemade turbo kit.

It seems in other countries i've seen a bunch of reels about people hot rodding the jeep 4.0 in drag racing/mud racing.

 

[Halbarad]

A few years ago, someone, or a group of someones entered an XJ in the grassroots motorsports $2,000 challenge with a custom caster/cambered 2wd front axle and homemade turbo kit.

It seems in other countries i've seen a bunch of reels about people hot rodding the jeep 4.0 in drag racing/mud racing.

Interesting. I suppose having a independent front suspension and wishbone/CV axles would also be much better for high speed bumps than a solid live axle front end.

 

[Strizzo]

Interesting. I suppose having a independent front suspension and wishbone/CV axles would also be much better for high speed bumps than a solid live axle front end.

oh no, they still had live axles. They just cut/bent a stock 2wd front beam to add camber/caster.

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex...-jeep-to-go-12s-and-destroy-on-the-autocross/

 

[Arthurius]

There was an entire offroad racing division dedicated to Jeep racing. It was called Jeepspeed, though from my understanding it is no longer functional. A "Jeep TJ Jeepspeed" Google search brings back some great results, heres my favorite.

 

[YonderNorthwest]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utGWpSp72rg

 

[Arthurius]

For shiggles heres more photosof that Jeepspeed TJ, and a link to the Motortrend article: https://www.motortrend.com/features/0812-4wd-1998-jeep-wrangler-desert-race-car

 

[Halbarad]

oh no, they still had live axles. They just cut/bent a stock 2wd front beam to add camber/caster.

https://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex...-jeep-to-go-12s-and-destroy-on-the-autocross/

Oh yeah I caught that. Just thought about how it would change the TJ and its driving. The fabrication alone would be an adventure.

 

[deserteagle56]

This is what happens when you race a Jeep. Don Adams at the Mint 400, Las Vegas. Landing didn't go well - Jeep tumbled end over end but came to rest on its wheels so he took right off down the track:

 

[Halbarad]

Th

There was an entire offroad racing division dedicated to Jeep racing. It was called Jeepspeed, though from my understanding it is no longer functional. A "Jeep TJ Jeepspeed" Google search brings back some great results, heres my favorite.

View attachment 700846

This is pretty much exactly what I was talking about.

 

[Halbarad]

This is what happens when you race a Jeep. Don Adams at the Mint 400, Las Vegas. Landing didn't go well - Jeep tumbled end over end but came to rest on its wheels so he took right off down the track:

View attachment 700875

View attachment 700876

The problems with a high centre of gravity and short wheelbase. The TJs and YJs are too tall and short to truly safely build into a rally vehicle. Gotta pump that adrenaline tho right?