What's Your Dream Build

JMT

The Silver Fox 🦊
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Here's your chance to dream it all out (I'm sure you already have) and list all the mods you'd make to your TJ. In the end I hope its still a TJ. Let's see what ideas you've got. You can get the calculator out later and see how much it will cost!
 
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Actually, mine is pretty much done. Don't want a rock crawler and don't want a mudder, nothing extreme. Just an all around capable machine That can go where I want to go and do what I want to do. Mostly, in my opinion, it the driver, not the machine. But that doesn't mean I don't like to window shop, just nothing I can't live without except maybe a Sherman M4A3 Tank. Cost: from $750, 000 to $1,000,000....nothing major!
 
I think mine is almost done minus the tummy tuck. I never wanted anything too extreme, so I think 33" tires with a 4" suspension lift an 1" body lift works just fine for me.

Now if I could build a second TJ for strictly off-road, then I could come up with a monster list of mods... Haha
 
Mine isn't too far off either. Only took me 12 years to get where I am now. To add, E-lockers front/rear, TT of some flavor, new speakers to finish off my audio upgrade, a quieter but aggressive tire, maybe a new twill soft top, Exogate, Bartact seat covers with a butt load of mole storage bags, new Bedrug, Hotheads head liner for the hard top, Chromo axles all around, HP30 up front, under armor everything. Ok, maybe I am a little further off than I thought.
 
When I bought my TJ brand new in 2005, I had dreams of turning it into a bad ass looking rig.

Now it’s 2017, and I have a small family now. My plans have changed. I’m very happy with the way it looks now. But, I do wish it had 35’s. Unfortunately with my 5.13 gearing, it’s as deep as I can go. And I just love the way it drives with 33’s. I’m afraid I won’t like it as much with 35’s, but I’m also afraid I’m missing out :)

Later on I may install lockers. Maybe.
 
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I don't need more than what I have, but here are some things I'd like to do/have:
  • Atlas 4 speed TC
  • Flat belly
  • High-end audio equipment
  • A Warn 8274 winch
  • RCV's
 
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Dream Jeep?

Probably this right here:

19218874648_30c1d02bfa_b.jpg


Inca Gold AEV Brute.
 
Working on my dream now...I'm looking for an all around jeep. Something that drives nice on pavement and off. Something I can take wheeling, but still drive to work on Monday. Needs to look good too.

Rubicon...check
32 inch tires...check.
Bumpers...designed in my head. Will build this winter.
1 inch suspension lift...pieces are starting to arrive
1.25 body lift...
8000lb warn winch
Flat tummy skid
Adjustable control arms
Adjustable track bars
Engine skid
CB radio
Audio system loud enough to hear on the highway, top and doors off
5.3L V8 swap (this will probably never happen, but this is a dream build)
Would be nice to have a 4-mid position on my tcase. Sometimes the 4:1 ratio is too low, and a 2.5:1 or so would be nice to have.

I think that will do.
 
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2.5" OME SL (done)
Bilstein 5100's (done)
Full Metalcloak Overline 4" System (2019)
35" Goodyear Wrangler MT/R w Kevlar (2019)
4.88 Revolution Gears (2018)
Super 35 w/ Detroit Locker (2018)
JCR Rear Bumper (TBD)
Exogate (TBD, why I run Kevlar tires!)
Currie AntiRock (TBD, quick disconnects now)
ZJ Tie Rod Conversion (done)
Adjustable Track Bars (done)
Savvy TCase Shifter (TBD)
Savvy Aluminum Under Armour (TBD)
Tom Wood Drive Shaft (TBD)
Advanced Adapters SYE (TBD)
Superwinch 9500SR (done)

A project in process...
 
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This:
20170527_160118.jpg

A 1999 TJ SE manual with:
Block one
H&R springs (Done)
Bilstein 5100 shocks (Done)
KO2 31x10.50R15 tires (Done)

Block two
Full tune up (Done)
Centric Premium front brakes (full kit, stock)
Centric Premium rear brakes (full kit, stock) (Done)
YJ front brake hoses
ZJ Moog Front track bar (Done)
RE front disconnects

Block three
UCF aluminum winch plate
Engo 9500s winch
Bestop sailcloth replace-a-top
Exogate tire carrier
(first of next year)

Block four
Revolution 5.13 gears & install kit
Revolution chromoloy Dana 30 & Dana 35 axle shaft kits
Detroit locker (rear)
Powertrax no-slip (front)

Block five
Core4x4 control arms, tier 2, rubber/JJ, +hardware, core4x4_tj_set8_T2

Block six
M.O.R.E. 1" body lift BLTJ97
Brown Dog 1" MML and engine mounts KU2569-1H
Novac transfer case shifter SK2XC
Tom Wood XB drive shaft
Advance Adapters SYE
Teraflex 2 lo kit

Block seven
UCF rocker guards
UCF deep cover skid plate system, aluminum, UHC
UCF high clearance aluminum gas tank skid
 
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Here's your chance to dream it all out (I'm sure you already have) and list all the mods you'd make to your TJ. In the end I hope its still a TJ. Let's see what ideas you've got. You can get the calculator out later and see how much it will cost!
What I have invested so far plus about another $8,500. It would have been cheaper, slightly, to get a really nice Rubicon and add a winch, wheels and tires. But where's the fun in that? Plus I get to flog out four angry squirrels in the backwoods with this rig.
 
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What I have invested so far plus about another $8,500. It would have been cheaper, slightly, to get a really nice Rubicon and add a winch, wheels and tires. But where's the fun in that? Plus I get to flog out four angry squirrels in the backwoods with this rig.
Ha, ha. Yeah, it get's pricey. I've shelled out 2,800 the first year on my TJ. 2,500 scheduled for next year and 2,500 the year after. And that doesn't include all the TBD items! It's adding up, but fun! I thought to do this thread to actually encourage me to do the build I really want and not buy something lesser...I thought it would also give others ideas to mods or companies they're not aware of. Plus, it's just fun to imagine people's rigs!
 
That's so true. You and I have about the same build schedule and budget it seems.

I really like to hear about other's builds and plans. Lots of good ideas, and a few that make you shrug until you understand what they are trying to accomplish.

I got to thinking about it, and I'm going to spend $8,500 or so to get that last three or four miles further back of beyond. Logically, it would make more sense to buy a new pair of hiking boots for a couple of hundred bucks and just walk in. Most of the mods on my list aren't even visible to a more experienced Jeeper let alone a casual observer. No ego strokes. But, the only folks that I see out back are riding quads or dirt bikes. That's worth something to me right there. Eventually, maybe, I'll only see people hiking. I'll tell'm that the TJ is just a really expensive motorized wheel chair.
 
It is interesting to see what people are wanting to accomplish. You want to get deeper in the woods, which is a part of that exploration dynamic that I love. I want to do harder rock crawling and go to Moab and do as much as I can. The Jeep is also a hands-on learning project for me and my sons and a source of fun for my wife and I. I figured with a LCOG Build I could get away with it doubling as a DD in addition to being a pretty capable rig. People laugh at JK's, and I get that, but even the JKU's are pretty capable rigs on the kinds of trails I run. I hope to be at least as capable, and more so due to my SWB. Now we just have to save the dough and plan it out carefully.
 
It is interesting to see what people are wanting to accomplish. You want to get deeper in the woods, which is a part of that exploration dynamic that I love. I want to do harder rock crawling and go to Moab and do as much as I can. The Jeep is also a hands-on learning project for me and my sons and a source of fun for my wife and I. I figured with a LCOG Build I could get away with it doubling as a DD in addition to being a pretty capable rig. People laugh at JK's, and I get that, but even the JKU's are pretty capable rigs on the kinds of trails I run. I hope to be at least as capable, and more so due to my SWB. Now we just have to save the dough and plan it out carefully.
We've got both a TJ and a JKU in the family. The two are related, but not the same. The cool thing about the JKU is you can travel long distances in relative comfort and THEN go off roading. The cool thing about the TJ is you can get it into places where almost nothing else can get.
 
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