New TJ to keep the XJ company...

[Fen]

Hopefully!

I'm just waiting to hear confirmation that my offer on a TJ has been accepted. All being well in the middle of next week I should be picking up a 2003 Sport soft-top in silver with manual transmission and, as it's NZ new, a Dana 44 rear end. KMs are sensible/average and it already has 31" MTs on it.

I haven't actually seen the car as it's a South Island one, but it is described as being very nice which I really hope is the case when I get to the quay to collect it . I took out a very low KMs 2005 auto yesterday so at least I have driven one now, and having looked at a '99 yesterday also I like the later interior revisions.

I think I'll stick the 31s on the XJ and pop the TJ up 3" with 33s on it eventually, but as I've just gone over what I said I wanted to spend I might have to wait a few weeks.

[yeti]

nice one fen..is it in ch ch, could have got some jeep nutters to have a look for ya, sounds good but..

[Fen]

Thanks mate. I just put a deposit on it now we have agreed the price, so it's probably too late to get it looked at. It is the one on TM in Chch, but we negotiated on price a fair bit.

[yeti]

can still test it up the mak for ya mate...

[Fen]

I'll get back to you on that...

[TJ]

Hopefully!

I'm just waiting to hear confirmation that my offer on a TJ has been accepted. All being well in the middle of next week I should be picking up a 2003 Sport soft-top in silver with manual transmission and, as it's NZ new, a Dana 44 rear end. KMs are sensible/average and it already has 31" MTs on it.

I haven't actually seen the car as it's a South Island one, but it is described as being very nice which I really hope is the case when I get to the quay to collect it . I took out a very low KMs 2005 auto yesterday so at least I have driven one now, and having looked at a '99 yesterday also I like the later interior revisions.

I think I'll stick the 31s on the XJ and pop the TJ up 3" with 33s on it eventually, but as I've just gone over what I said I wanted to spend I might have to wait a few weeks.

Nice, a Jeep family. 2000/2001 onwards, TJs came with three coil pack set-up (i.e. no distributor or plug wires, just three coil packs on a rail on top of the spark plugs). It makes it marginally more water friendly. I am not sure when they changed the alternator to the top position, might have been in 1998 or something.

[xj]

Awesome effort, looks sharp.

ensure with your proposed 3 inch lift and 33's that you get your bumpstop lengths correct. No so vital when swaybar is still on, but with it off youll damage guards. My 33's WITH extended bumpstops still run right up into the guard (i now have retro rounded guards)and its lifted 5 inches..... pic following from todays effort.



Youll have a lot of fun.......

welcome to the world of the TJ

[Fen]

It's in the garage. Pretty much as described. The only things I have seen so far that are bad points are the passenger sunvisor is broken where the pin sticks out to clip it into the screen top and the soundbar speakers are blown. I would have replaced the speakers anyway and the visor is a nothing fault so no biggie.

It's no sportscar even on 31s, but that isn't what it's for. On the other hand it all feels tight and together with no squeaks or rattles. It did about 100ks home, then the roof was off and I had a 25k joy-ride. It's nice to be in an open vehicle again after about 30 months since I sold the last convertible I had.

What's the deal on coil spacers in NZ, are they legal with original shocks as a temporary measure?

[PR]

Hey Fen you might like this site (NZ agent for skyjacker)
http://www.4wdaccessories.co.nz/

[xj]

So long as you use stock spring and shock mounts the lifts are legal without a cert. As soon as you change steering geometry (trackbar etc) a cert is required. (as per my interpretation of the LVVC regs) Hence the ability to go 2-3 inches without requiring a cert.

Greg ("justjeep") on TM can do good deals on any Jeep parts, and has a fair bit of bits in stock, including spring spacers last time i spoke to him. Generally freights overnight with freight as part of the purchase price. Got some braided steel extended brake lines of him once.... 25% of the cost quoted locally and he had them on my doorstep from the states for me withing 5 days of calling him. He can be contacted on 0210554549

So... no squeaks huh?????? Youre gunna be in for a surprise..... Ive had 5 Jeeps, and they ALL squeak cuz!

[Fen]

Thanks guys. I've seen the recommends for Greg before and I have kept an eye on what he has listed on TM for the past few weeks but I haven't (yet) spoken to him about getting me anything on special order. I hadn't seen the 4wdaccessories site before though.

I'm still trying to decide what to do. I don't want to take on the expense of building up two Jeeps simultaneously so the original plan was to use the XJ as DD and for trips and keep the TJ primarily as an open topped road toy that might do the odd shiny trip. The XJ is both worthless should it get damaged and a company vehicle so parts for it are tax deductible. If I go that route I need to put something on the TJ if it donates its 31s to the XJ, and the 225/75s the XJ has just now aren't going to cut it, so I thought I could maybe BB 2" and stick 33s on the TJ for now. OK it would be a bit "mall crawler" but it would look the part if it's going to be primarily on road.

Having driven the TJ I'm now toying with making it the trip truck and leaving the XJ pretty standard as a DD/tow vehicle for the wife's horse float. It's a bigger investment to beat up and it isn't the company vehicle, but then parts tend to be cheaper (based on the price of lifts, snorkels etc., though not borne out by the 4wdaccessories lift pricing) and more readily available. It also means the TJ might get a bit more use than if the XJ goes to the station in the week and on trips at the weekend.

I also don't want to spend money building up the XJ and find it compromises how fantastic a DD it is currently, or spend money part building it up and then start on the TJ anyway.

Decisions, descisions...

[xj]

re the horsefloat.. the TJ will be a shit towing wagon.

Even standard the TJ (being coil sprung) is better out of the box for offroad use than the XJ. The XJ is limited to tyre size unless jacking it RRRIIIGGHT up to try to get 33s on, whereas the Tj will take the 33s with minimal fuss. Lets face it... it seems 33's are the minimum tyre size these days.

I guess ya gotta decide if ya can handle getting the TJ scratched. Remember too that the tyres protect the TJ body, Ive had one little ding on the front left guard, and apart from that mine is damage free (as far as panels go!!!!) aside from some "bush pinstriping". We regularly head out with 8 -12 Cj's and TJ's and have yet to see any panel damage of any note. And despite what other persons may think of the Jeep, we drive the arses outa them.

Once you resign yourself to the FACT that theres gunna be some bruises, it becomes so much easier. And ICE gets them scratches out sweet as.

If you build up the XJ, the "what if" factor will creep into the back of your mind (hehe, it will now anyway) every time THE WIFE takes the TJ to the mall while you toodle off to the bush in the XJ....... you know.. the XJ that too 2 k to lift to get the 33s on....... lol.... sorry man, just winding.....

From coming from a CJ, to 2 XJ's then to 2 TJ's, id keep the XJ for the road and towing, and the TJ for fun in the bush. Screw the expense factor, gotta live a life and enjoy it...... Purely my opinion on the matter.

[skid]

[PR]

x2

[Fen]

Pics later today, honest! It was getting dark by the time I'd finished playing with it yesterday, and it's still dark now, but I'm not going to the office today.

Your thinking is my new thinking XJ, and to see it repeated back reinforces it. It's actually cheaper in the short term too as I don't need to do anything to the TJ beyond decide it's going to get used off road before I start using it; it's probably a lot more capable than I am totally stock on 31" MTs.

[yeti]

do the tj fen,i would if i was going to spend $$$ again, but i have to finish the xj, and start again on a tj should have done homework and started with one o well learn as ya go ..(.anyone want to buy a xj )

[Fen]

The family:



I'll put some more in the Jeep pics thread.

[yeti]

looks good mate....

[TJ]

Looks good. How long will it stay that way

[Fen]

Finally took it out and gave it its maiden voyage today. A few days after i got it home I found out my contract at work wasn't going to be renewed as it was supposed to be so I wasn't sure if I should use it or not in case it has to be turned into mortgage payments.

Anyway I was booked on the CCVC familiarisation day and finally decided yesterday to take the TJ rather than the XJ. I'm really glad that I did as I think it was a lot more fun than the XJ would have been with the short wheelbase and being outside, and while if I'm honest I wasn't convinced with the manual on the road I think I preferred that off road over the XJ's auto. I'm now much more confident in what it can do and it's muddy, full of sand and grit and at one point I had water over the top of the bonnet

[TJ]

I'm now much more confident in what it can do and it's muddy, full of sand and grit and at one point I had water over the top of the bonnet

XJs run a 4 speed auto, earlier TJs have 3 speed autos. They are completely different autos. Besides, this thread is useless without pictures.

[Fen]

I realise it's a different auto (though my TJ would have been the first of the 4-speeds if it had been auto), but the TJ and XJ autos have to be a lot more similar than a manual to an auto.

I didn't take my camera and I don't know the other people who were there so while I'm hoping for pics I don't really have any yet besides group shots. This is the best I have:



Hopefully publishing it is OK with the owner as it clearly wasn't me who took it.

[Fen]

Finally got a new contract sorted out. Way less money (like 44% less) but it should be secure through to May next year. Now I just need the NZ$ to keep getting stronger against the US$ and I can start buying some bits.

I bashed the shit out of the shovel last Saturday but I like the low ride height stability so I'm researching fitting 35s under it with a 3" suspension lift and maybe 1" body lift to make a tummy tuck easier. That means high-line fenders and I'm interested in the Rev111 ones, especially as they have (removable) flares to make it NZ legal rather than a lot of them designed for the US states where tyre coverage doesn't seem to be a requirement.