The build of Pearl

[drock]

Hi guys I’m new but figured I’d start a build thread since it seems never ending now. I bought my 2000 TJ about 2 months ago. Rebuilt title but very clean. It had a 3.5” RC lift on it and 35’s, winch, bumpers, of course a light bar but no upgrades to the drivetrain.

Turns out my supervisor owned the Jeep 2 owners ago and she named it pearl so it stays I guess.
I didn’t like the way the RC lift rode so that was the first change I wanted to make. I searched and searched for a lift kit and decided to piece together a lift kit instead. I bought the 4” rock jock coils springs, fox 2.0 4-6” lift shocks, core 4x4 tier 4 adjustable control arms, Currie correctlync steering which needed the stock put an arm instead of the drop pitman arm from the RC lift, rockjock antirock sway bar up front, and removed the rear sway bar.

it did ok with these upgrades but when I was testing the flex the tears caught the body and the front caught the plastic on the fenders.

so the next mod came with TNT hiline fenders, which I am super happy with! As well as a Comp cut in the rear with the intention of stretching it. I also had to take off the step bars in preparation of its maiden voyage to an Offroad park.

 

[drock]

Well to continue the saga of pearl... everything was set and I was Choccolocco bound!

I have never been to choccolocco much less a dedicated Offroad park before. So me and my BIL head west from Dallas to Alabama with every intention to drive the Jeep home the 1.5 hours after.

we rode around a bit and pearl was going through more than I thought it would. The trail map was super confusing to follow since we didn’t find it until already in the trails and the addition of trails not in the map or improperly labeled added to the confusion. We found a guy riding around solo in a newer JKU rubicon so we rode around together.
I gained a whole new respect for the JKUR after this trip.

we ended up on a trail called tombstone which is recommended to have lockers and recovery equipment. I did not have lockers but did have recovery equipment.

luckily I had purchased a dana 30HP and 44 already to swap in with Detroit lockers and geared to 456. Knowing the stock 30/35 combo wasn’t going to hold to long.
Not having lockers proved to be a really bad idea as I couldn’t get up a rock no matter what I did. The JKUR had no issues going up it at all. I decided it was going to go or break so I ended up in second gear and 4LO trying to take the better line when it slid down the off cambered rock to the left and hitting a 35” boulder at full speed. That was the first loud bang I hear which was the rear end breaking. (I still haven’t taken the diff cover off the old axle to see how bad) I figured I could just drive the Jeep home the 1.5 hours in 4HI. I didn’t want to but didn’t really have a choice.

I tried going again and the front end started popping real bad, and the front gave up too. In a walk of shame I pulled the winch out and knew I was defeated. The JKUR agreed to pull me out of the trail

after being towed through the trails about 2 miles we made it to the camp sites and the JKUR went on home. The new problem arose that we didn’t have a way home at all. My BIL found a guy that he knew that would come get it the next day but would likely be a few hundred dollars.

I decided that if I could find a car hauler we would just buy one sinceI no longer think it’s a good idea to drive that far to trails in hopes it can drive home. The problem was it was Saturday and 6pm or so.
My sister was on her way with a truck to pick us up and we would have to go back for the Jeep another day and leave it at the campground.
We found a trailer business called Smith sales company at
7680 McClellan Blvd, Anniston, AL 36206 that met us at their business to open their doors at 7pm so we could make it home with the Jeep that night!! Great people and I highly recommend them.

now home bound!

the rebuild begins!

 

[DuncLJ]

Good luck on the rebuild. Keep us posted.

 

[drock]

I forgot to add the carnage pictures. I never did pull the rear cover on the 35 but can imagine it wasn’t pretty. The front sold for $100 being HP 30 with destroyed carrier gears.

Well not to much to update as of yet. I bought 36” of tubing and heims to do a triangulated 4 link in the rear to go along with the new/used 44. Also I bought and put on the WFO rear truss with the upper triangulated mount. I also have outboard shock mounts for the rear. Not really sold on coilovers or air shocks yet. Due to lack of funds buying a back half kit and fuel cell I put it off initially. I figure while I was at it I’d stretch the rear. So I’ve placed the long arms on hold or so I thought...

instead I decided to just weld in the stock places for the short arms to mount to. The 44 and new HP 30 front both have Detroit lockers.
I got both axles in and moved the front axle an inch forward while I was at it. The front pinion preload was off so I removed a few shims and called it a day. The pinion does has a chipped tooth so I’ll replace the ring and pinion later down the road.

well got everything installed. I got the arms adjusted for proximity. I didn't have an angle finder so the pinion angle may be slightly off. The rear shocks bind slightly due to the current angle.
I did a test drive and it was awful! With moving the front up 1” I didn’t notice it changed the steering and on left turns the tire dug into the control arm causing the rear to lock and buck trying to climb itself in a way.I adjusted the steering and the front I do believe is done. I do need to drop the anti-rock to the next stiffest setting though. The Jeep on flat ground or in a left turn will easily pick the left front tire off the ground 6”+. I’ve seen that this may be the new normal with the Detroit locker I’m the rear. I need to have a full 4 wheel alignment done and am looking for someone to glance over the control arm angles and make sure that isn’t causing an issue.

the thought of a selectable locker in the rear is a possibility right now. I have on board CO2 tank that is homemade since I wasn’t paying the price of a power tank. So it would either be an ARB or ox I’m not sure yet.

first order of business though is the alignment. My BIL just bought a 97 TJ with ARBs and long arms. With his locked in the rear it doesn’t pick up the tire. So I am going to loom at throwing the long arms on tomorrow to maybe control some of the issues. Stay tuned!!

 

[drock]

Well took the Jeep out to Morris mountain after getting the axles straightened out. The lockers are a great addition although first big obstacle snapped an upper rear control arm mount. Didn’t realize it until after we got home but it ran all day just didn’t ride real well

only broke the control arm mount and my ac blower quit. Have I ever said I absolutely hate mud?

I decided to go ahead with the back half kit from motobilt which was 2 weeks build time almost 2 weeks ago, fox 12” 2.0 coilovers, fox bumps, and homemade 2” .25 wall DOM links with 7/8” heims!

I also got my poison spider comp cut armor in the mail and got them installed.

not a whole lot to update otherwise. I thought about fixing the upper arm temporarily but since I was working 6 days straight right now, no point when I’ll just be doing it all here in the next few days anyways.

also still waiting on my THOR cowl intake too. Still need a fuel cell and the driveshaft once I decide on how far back to push the axle.