[tkmd]

I bought a Jeep in 2003 and finally saved up enough cash to buy a lift kit and tires. So I started wrenching about 6 painful days ago. Frustrating - yes, but I finally have something that I consider looks like how a jeep is suppose to look like. She's certainly not the fastest, but shes mine. BTW, learned a heck of alot about suspension during the install.







For any Jeepers out there : 2.5 OME suspension lift with 1.25 BL and a 1" MML and of course Goodyear 33"x12.5 MTR's.

it rides very similar to stock! No complaints there.

[The Godfather]

Cool. I like the color

[The Milkman]

Absolutely gorgeous!
Are you allowed to drive it without doors like that?

[crushonjlw123]

That looks great! As a lover of Jeeps I'm ready to jump in and go off roading. Doesnt it feel good after you accomplish building something yourself? I love fixing my car

[Railroader]

Looks great! Outstanding.

[Doofy]

Nice Jeep dude. Congrats!



(Now go get some mud on it! )

[ebuddy]

It rides close to stock with almost 4" in total lift and 33" tires? Egadz. That's some handiwork. Have you taken her out on the interstate yet for a little death rattle?

I'm just jealous. I have a 2002 Sport that's just about stock set up. I love the color of yours too.

[osiris]

Nice job - it looks real clean too. Enjoy!

[OldManMac]

Nice looking Jeep. I also like the color.

[peeb]

Where do you drive a thing like that?

[Atomic Rooster]

Congratulations on your first tip over when it comes.

[Googer-Giger]

good job, finally more users who don't drive toyotas!

[tkmd]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

It rides close to stock with almost 4" in total lift and 33" tires? Egadz. That's some handiwork. Have you taken her out on the interstate yet for a little death rattle?
.

I think you are referring to the famous "Death Wobble" - adjusting the toe of the front wheels and making sure that the suspension is bolted down (not loose) gets rid of that fear. Thats was my goal for the next day is to return streetabilty to it. Total lift comes to about 3.5"-3.75" tops, the MML only slants the engine upward - in order to help keep the driveline in line!

I surmise that a significant amount of the members here are young, so for whatever reason, "pineapple "exhausts on small Japanese cars with fake wings, are considered cool. I'm older than the average mac user here (greybeard? well no beard, nor grey hair, but you get the point), I understand that Jeep is made to go over things and is NOT a race car - so flipping over does not concern me. ..

I cant wait to take it to MI upper penninsula and dive into the cool water of the North. I'm really becginning to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks for positive comments.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by tkmd 

I cant wait to take it to MI upper penninsula and dive into the cool water of the North. I'm really becginning to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks for positive comments.

Where are you going to go in the UP eh?

Jump in Lake Superior?!?! Are you crazy? I waded in it back in '03 and I am just getting feeling back into my toes.

And as another poster stated earlier, I like the color combination. It looks like the kind of Jeep I'd buy if I could get it past the SWMBO/Honorable Finance Chairperson.

[Mastrap]

Sweet looking Jeep. A little high for my personal taste, but sweet nonetheless.

[Atomic Rooster]

You can count me in also on your choice of color.

Maybe it's just an illusion but it appears the tires extend beyond the fenders. Is that not bad? Crap and stones flying up an damaging said paint job. And people behind you getting pinged with rocks on the windshields. I've been hit several times and it scares the shyt outta me.

[villalobos]

[tkmd]

Originally Posted by Atomic Rooster 

Maybe it's just an illusion but it appears the tires extend beyond the fenders. Is that not bad?

AR - I was worried about the tires sticking out too! I hate when tires stick out- kinda redneck IMO. Luckily, they stick out very little, giving it a bigger look, yet still tucked under flares. As for stones, what I have noticed is that since these tires are not siped (a groove cut into a lug) they dont tend to pick up pebbles.

If you have a jeep I think that its a worthy upgrade ! dont let "during " pictures like this scare anyone. Patience is key.

[Gankdawg]

Awesome job, I think it's exactly the right height. The lift kit/tire size ratio looks great. IMHO, of course!

[AKcrab]

Heh. When I read the thread title I thought your jeep was totaled.

[phantomdragonz]

Another jeeper! glad to hear you did the work yourself! a jeep is built not bought!!!



I have an 1989 Wrangler (YJ) I did all the work myself, learning as I went...

• 4" Rubicon Express lift
• SYE +CV drive shaft
• 1" body lift
• 33" tires (Goodyear Mtr)
• 1994 Wrangler axles w/ 4.56 gears and a detroit locker in the rear (purchased with gears already installed)
• 2000 Wrangler (TJ) engine 4.0L with the nv4550 5speed tranny (learned a lot on that swap)
• stock t-case (although the input shaft is different to accommodate for the 23 spline tranny output)
• On Board Air compressors (actually both the AC compressor and a York using kilby enterprises bracket! it's puts out!
• Corbeau baja SS seats (I LOVE THEM!!!)
• TnT customs sport cage with custom seat mounts
• TnT tube fenders
• TnT corner guards
• TnT rocker guards
• TnT skid plate

an expensive hobby, and it's nice that I have a toyota corolla to drive daily and not the jeep... My next step will be dana 44 front axle and a dana 60 rear with 37" tires and coil front suspension. Where I live in colorado we are only rewuired to have one "rear facing mirror" so the rear-view mirror works, and we are not required to cover the tires (kinda a grey area though)

tread lightly!

Zach

[Cipher13]

Very nice, I've wanted a TJ for a damn long time.

The only thing I'd change is the factory tyre flares.

BTW, how's the transmission feel after the lift? Not gonna put a SYE in?

Originally Posted by The Milkman 

Absolutely gorgeous!
Are you allowed to drive it without doors like that?

The doors aren't actually a structurally important part of the jeep (there's a sticker on the sunflaps that say so, even), so you're allowed to drive with no doors as long as you detach the mirrors from the doors and attach them somewhere else. You can get kits that attach the mirrors to the windscreen, for example.

[Brien]

It looks very nice!

And you lucked out, too, 'cuz the new Wranglers are fugly.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by tkmd 

I think you are referring to the famous "Death Wobble"

I cringed when I recognized that I referred to it as rattle. I'm off my game. Yes, I was most definitely referring to death wobble.

- adjusting the toe of the front wheels and making sure that the suspension is bolted down (not loose) gets rid of that fear. Thats was my goal for the next day is to return streetabilty to it. Total lift comes to about 3.5"-3.75" tops, the MML only slants the engine upward - in order to help keep the driveline in line!

Too many of these are not done properly, but it sounds like you did a meticulous job here. Let me know when you're ready to sell that bad boy!

I surmise that a significant amount of the members here are young, so for whatever reason, "pineapple "exhausts on small Japanese cars with fake wings, are considered cool. I'm older than the average mac user here (greybeard? well no beard, nor grey hair, but you get the point), I understand that Jeep is made to go over things and is NOT a race car - so flipping over does not concern me. ..

This has always driven me crazy; the loud-a$$ mufflers on the 4 cylinder neons, and the wings etc..., but I'm probably older than most here too. I just purchased my Wrangler about 4 months ago and couldn't be happier. (well, with the exception of larger tires maybe) I find the 4.0 6-cyl more than enough umph to do what I do.

I cant wait to take it to MI upper penninsula and dive into the cool water of the North. I'm really becginning to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks for positive comments.

Enjoy.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by AKcrab 

Heh. When I read the thread title I thought your jeep was totaled.

It's the ellipses that did that, I think.

[tkmd]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

BTW, how's the transmission feel after the lift? Not gonna put a SYE in?

Here is where a little luck and research pay off; 2.5" suspension lift is about the max you go before vibrations set in from the driveshaft being out of alignment. Once you have vibrations - your options are limited - SYE ($$) is the true fix.

I have no vibrations- so I'm happy.

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by tkmd 

Here is where a little luck and research pay off; 2.5" suspension lift is about the max you go before vibrations set in from the driveshaft being out of alignment. Once you have vibrations - your options are limited - SYE ($$) is the true fix.

I have no vibrations- so I'm happy.

Yeah, the suspension lift + body lift was a wise choice, though I've heard of some cases where even 2.5" suspension lifts required SYEs to smooth the ride.

Glad it worked out well for you, and impressive doing it yourself

[cenutrio]

Love Jeeps, I drove a '67 military Willis among the cars that helped me learn driving properly, the other two being a and a .


all of then convertible and great on their own way.

Congrats, that is a nice job.