Offroad-Express

Guys, this is my thread showing off my Jeep, but more importantly, a place for me to consolidate the wealth info this forum has to offer.
(When I say consolidate, I’m me relevant to me)

Anyway, I have had her just over a year now, Purchased Mid Oct. 2011
I got her as a ‘Nice tidy’ stock example. A girls Jeep.

My thinking was, if im gonna give this a go; I need to start with something that hasn’t been molested…
She had skinny wheels, all her plastic bits still in place and clean.




From here, I knew I was going to give her some love, but I was quite unaware how the ‘It’s a jeep thing’ was going to grab me… You know what i'm talking about…
While sending hours on the US forums, and deciding which way I was going to go, I knew I was going to need a winch.

A Runva EWX9500-Q was the unit I ended up slapping on her.
A winch plate & god only now how much thick wire to route it around the engine bay so the solenoid is kept out of harm’s way and a couple of hours later, I have my first upgrade…




Next upgrade, which was ‘Totally planned’ was to relocate the ridiculously placed gearbox breather.
So, I decided to drown her, claim insurance, and while the Gearbox was out, get the guys to move the breather high up into the engine bay.
Read this to see how it played out… You live and learn…
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=32703



Decided which Lift I was going to install.
Ordered it from the States, and found a very cost effective way of getting it here.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=32491


Ordered, Paid for… now we play the waiting game.

While waiting, I ended up installing a heavy duty diff cover.
Whilst a good move, this ended up being a headache and a half.
She wouldn't play nice with the stock trackbar.
I had a new one coming from OZ, but until then, this was a headache




Now, while the lift is in transit, im starting to get desperate, as the guys I am starting to wheel with all have… well… 33’s & 35’s.
Enough said…

My lift arrives, and now begins the stress of my first mechanical adventure… the install.
(I do computers, not cars… I have never really done anything mechanical in the past)

8 Control arms
4 springs
4 shocks
2 front extended brake lines
front & rear trackbar relocation brackets (useless as I have a right-hand-drive model)

The instructions said a 6 – 8 hour install.
So, I kicked the wife out of the garage, jacked her up, and started to take here apart.
All the bolts (apart from 1, which I had to cut out) came undone easily, and being a bit cowboy using ratchet tie-down to compress the springs, I had the lift installed in a fairly uneventful fashion… needless to say it took me longer than the prescribed 6- 8 hours.
I believe it was a combined 24 hours over 3 weekends for the install.




Right… Happy, she’s starting to look like a Jeep… :0

To fit the spare on the rear, i had to remove the rear bumper.
This meant moving the number plate & Light.
and while i was there, i relocated the high-stop to inside the spare




Anyway,
Computers = Have screwdriver, will kill
Jeep = Hahaha, I have an angle grinder now…
So I ‘Bob’ed the bumper’




Only had one run at wood hill, before I ordered my Silverstones.
They look beaut. , can’t wait to take them for a run…
But before I do, I better see how much clearance I have before I rip my front guards off…
So, off to work and jack her up on the forklift.
bugger, I’m gonna haft to trim the plastic guards.




Before and after trimmed guards
Not the tidiest, but i am getting from rubber flares next week, which will tidy it up




I have since also trimmed the rears


A couple of good runs at wood hill, and one down by Waihi, and im still learning to driver…
I did however find out what a 4L petrol can do, when you hold the right boot down.
Last time at wood hill, I made her just walk up the long climb at the sand bowl…

That’s how she sits now.
Future upgrade plans:
Motor mount lift so I can remove my T/C Drop and regain a little clearance (currently in transit from the states)
Body lift (1.25”) – but she doesn’t really fit in garage at the moment, so this may be a hard one to justify
Rear tire carrier
Front bumper
Sliders
Shocks - The shocks were the week point of the lift i installed.
Cable shifter
A set of high mount spot lights
A narrower fairlead, as my one is to wide, and the rope rubs on the winch plate
Certification… !!!

Anyway, this forum has helped me heaps so far, so I will post my questions & queries here.
And thanks in advance for the help.

Hey Harvey, love it! It is a Jeep thing, others just wouldn't understand!
Can't wait to see it in the flesh.

Nice work mate. Looks good and sounds like it performs well to.
Get yourself into some easy events. Its the best way to learn from the experts about sidlings, mud climbs, recovery etc etc.

Knowing your truck really well helps. Drive it and drive it. Had mine for 6 years now and I know what every squeek and rattle is and when she's starting to have enough.

Sweet write up! We still need to catch up and go for a drive.

My mod list is pretty long so hopefully start ticking things off one by one. I like small victories!

Good work.

nice work mate...the yank forums saves a few $$$ on how to ...its a jeep thing ...well dont know about that mines a broke thing.... ..v8 next

More...

With teh tires sticking our nearly 2", i had to get them covered before the next warrant...

Rubber bus flares from rubber mark, and some time in the garage... and i have a truck that can get a warrant...





What i learnt after the fact, is that as you tighten up the bolts... the rubber compresses, and pushes the whole thing up and out of place...
so, they do sit a bit to high to be ascetically pleasing...
but all said and done, that not what shes about...

Bonus, i should now keep the mud on the outside now...

love it
mud on the outside ........................... only to the top or doors comes off
yep a jeep thing

Full credit on doing all the work yourself, only way to do it, and Jeeps are the ideal vehicle to learn how to wrench on. I had a cheap old YJ once, your model TJ is a much better and more reliable all round vehicle.

Personal recc. would be to go easy on the fun pedal with those cool jungle tyres - the D35c in the rear doesn't like massive torque loads and the 27 spline axles are... well not Land Rover grade, but you get the idea.

They say that anything bigger than 33" and its just a matter of time, looks like yours are 31/32?

Looks great, it is a Jeep thing, they're addictive

Luckily for TJ owners, almost all export model came with Dana 44 rear ends. Occasionally a few odd ones with 35c do show up, but they are rear.

lax2wlg wrote:They say that anything bigger than 33" and its just a matter of time, looks like yours are 31/32?

@lax2wlg
They are 33" Silverstones
My Bridgestone (Road tires) are 31"

Understand about spinning the larger rubber, and hence breaking stuff... but i have an automatic... so there is some shock absorbing in the torque converter.

But all said and... I like to think i drive with 'Mechanical Sympathy'
Still... there are time when ya have to give it a bit of pedel...

TJ wrote:Luckily for TJ owners, almost all export model came with Dana 44 rear ends. Occasionally a few odd ones with 35c do show up, but they are rear.

Yeah, i have the D30/44 combo

TJ wrote:Luckily for TJ owners, almost all export model came with Dana 44 rear ends. Occasionally a few odd ones with 35c do show up, but they are rear.

Sweeeeet, halfway to Rubicon spec w/out the higher price! D44 is stout.

00falcon wrote:Understand about spinning the larger rubber, and hence breaking stuff... but i have an automatic... so there is some shock absorbing in the torque converter.

Once its in gear its in gear, w/ MT you just let it out slowly & let the drivetrain tension up. Was more referring increased possibility of UJ/axle/diff failure that comes from highly aggressive or wide tyres.

Will you Super 30 the front?

lax2wlg wrote:Super 30

Is that using a high pinion front end from a Cherokee...?

00falcon wrote:

lax2wlg wrote:Super 30

Is that using a high pinion front end from a Cherokee...?

Its an upgrade kit that puts it strength wise on par w/ the Toyota 7.5"
D30s cop a lot of flack, they can be built really strong.

yeah the wee dana 30 not so strong.......ask me how i know....... ....looking good .................

Did you install your lift in your shed? im impressed. I did my 50mm lift in a fully equiped workshop ,with a pit and still had a few headaches.I had problems with the rear track arm brackets so went to ARB and got a new one at a good price. I could have changed the one supplied with the kit to fit ,but wasnt worth the hassel.
Im live 10 mins from Thompsons track, its a bit bumpy ,but good for a play if your ever down here.
Its easy to see why the say Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket , but hell its fun

russty wrote:Did you install your lift in your shed? im impressed.

Yup...

In my (small) 2 car garage... with a repco tool kit

Parked her in sideways... (so i could shut the door, as i knew it would take me longer than the prescribed 6 - 8 hours)

Jacked up the front, put the frame on axle stands, these were to short, so axle stands on blocks of wood.
undid the shocks, let the whole lot drop down... then proceeded to remove and install the new parts...
Used a bottle jack to move the axle to install the front trackbar.

Everything in, put her back down, swing her round, and then do the same to the rear...

The front has an adjustable T-Tar, but the rear has an ARB relocation bracket... she lines up ok... but my thrust angle is off a little... but that can wait...

What did you pay for your ARB rear Trackbar...?
where from...?

cant remember how much it was, only around $20 or so. was easier than shagging around with the supplied 1 thou. It had me scratching my head for a while until i worked out it was for LHD.I also droped the transfer case 25mm to help with the angles until i can put in a S Y I .
next project will be to get mine breathing easier with a smother out flow i think.
Its good to see what others are doing to theirs.

russty wrote:I also droped the transfer case 25mm to help with the angles until i can put in a S Y I . .

Slip Yoke Eliminator??

yep ,a slip yoke eliminator to ease up on the binding a bit

russty wrote:yep ,a slip yoke eliminator to ease up on the binding a bit

Just keep in mind, you will need a new driveshaft with that. You are likely to need adjustable rear upper control arms to set the pinion angle. If you go with a Super Shorty style (i.e.hall effect speedo pickup), then an electric calibration unit for correcting speedo! Yep, open the SYE can of worms when you are prepared to spend a bit and do it properly.

00falcon wrote:

I notice in this pic what appears to be cardboard under LF tyre? Is this to let it slide as other side is lifted with forklift? Just curious if this is a safety thing?
Oh, and good on ya for getting stuck in and doing work yourself. Bet it feels nicer when you look at it, knowing that its your doing

TJ wrote:If you go with a Super Shorty style (i.e.hall effect speedo pickup), then an electric calibration unit for correcting speedo!

Tell me more...
i think im nearly technical game enough... (not financially enough tho) to give this a go... in a while...

SYE... Drive shaft... I have adj. control arms...
Does my current speedo gear not fit...?
I haven't come across this in my readings...

russty wrote:only around $20 or so.

My mistake, a thought you said a Trackbar... not bracket...
I think i can get one from autolign for around $300... but im not in a hurry... so i will just drop it in container from the states... at a later date....

slide wrote:I notice in this pic what appears to be cardboard under LF tyre? Is this to let it slide as other side is lifted with forklift? Just curious if this is a safety thing?

I just didnt want to drag my nice, new, expensive tires sideways on concrete...

slide wrote:Oh, and good on ya for getting stuck in and doing work yourself. Bet it feels nicer when you look at it, knowing that its your doing

Yes... i do look at with glee every time...

excellent read! after driving the work TJ for 18 months all i can say is it it put a smile on my face every time i drove it!

that may have been cause i didnt pay for gas haha

00falcon wrote:Tell me more...
i think im nearly technical game enough... (not financially enough tho) to give this a go... in a while...

SYE... Drive shaft... I have adj. control arms...
Does my current speedo gear not fit...?
I haven't come across this in my readings...

If you go with a Super Shorty style SYE, it uses an electronic speedo pick up rather than the normal gear driven style. It goes in the same place, just differently.

See this: http://www.jbconversions.com/products/sye/np231j_short_sye.php

You can always go for the normal SYE: http://www.jbconversions.com/products/sye/np231j_std_sye.php

Hey dude saw you headn west on 16 today, truck looks great on the road! good work

mike21 wrote:Hey dude saw you headn west on 16 today, truck looks great on the road! good work

Cheers dude...

I was on the return trip from picking up my next upgrade...

An Iron Rock Off-road Motor Mount Lift.. so i can remove my Transfer case drop...

After 5 weeks of just looking at it... i finally found time...

I just installed my Motor Mount Lift, and removed my Transfer Case Drop bracket.

The internet said 2 hours.
it took my 5 including relocating my radiator fan shroud, and removing the TC Drop.

Driveline angles look ok...

New vs Old.

looking good mate, whats the latest ? Have you done the SYE yet ?
I stuffed my Transfer case cause I didn't put my SYE in when I should have, drive shaft bound up and bang lots of oil not in the right place.
For drive shaft, once the SYE was installed I got a 92 Hilux one modified by Brian Howatt in Wellington, has longer yokes so don't need the double cardan drive shaft, and attached flange to flange, not u joints like front driveshaft, all done for $180 including cost of hilux shaft, Works mint.

cheers
Greg

Hey guys...

Shes filthy... so i decided to get right under her and give her a good clean...

but i didnt notice this from the last time i went out...

How much of an issue is this...?
how sealed does it need to be...?
anything other than pushing it back that i should do...?