Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

What is the best riding and performing lift kit for my 2001 TJ?

My red LJ I'd say challenges luxury SUVs in ride quality on the street and outright puts them in their place offroad. WITHOUT CHANGING THE SPRINGS!

There was road construction a few weeks back that they installed 3 speed bumps separated a few feet apart. I hit them going 55mph and all I heard was a noise. I then drove a 2017(ish) Chevy Silverado and a 2014(?) Mini Paceman over them and felt it big time. The Mini recovered fairly quickly, the Silverado kept bouncing after. I think Chevy uses very loose valving to try and make the ride quality feel smoother for most road events but it doesn't control well in back to back events or large events.
 
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jjvw said:
Did you defend the indefensible over there, too?

His build philosophy isn't that difficult to figure out. And he is very open about discussing it so long as you make the effort to understand how and why it works as well as it does. You saying nonsense things like his builds limp to the trailhead aren't doing you any favors.
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So what is Blaine's build philosophy?

I will give you that maybe I was a little rough on Blaine's TJ streetability when I described It as limp. Heck Toximus drove his Blaine creation 80 mph non stop for 2k miles after getting pizza in Yucca Valley all with a broken front driveshaft all in one long day. These Blaine TJ's are incredible.:)
 
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Bill M. said:
So what is Blaine's build philosophy?

I will give you that maybe I was a little rough on Blaine's TJ streetability when I described It as limp. Heck Toximus drove is Blaine creation 80 mph non stop for 2k miles after getting pizza in Yucca Valley all with a broken front driveshaft. These Blaine TJ's are incredible.:)
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Unity, efficiency, and balance.

Understanding shocks and how the entire suspension centers around them is a very good start. Do that and you'll quit trying to make the springs do things they can't do.

What would you say if I told you that more aggressive damping is beneficial for both high speed travel and slow speed rock crawling?
 
Ah, about time to make a long arm thread. ;)

I should of clarified my comment was generalized about part of a springs purpose and it's non-existent impact to perceivable ride quality as that is what I thought bulk of what this discussion was about. In a past life, spring rate impacted high speed handling, including body roll, on my cars.
 
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T_Hase89 said:
Ah, about time to make a long arm thread. ;)

I should of clarified my comment was generalized about part of a springs purpose and it's non-existent impact to perceivable ride quality as that is what I thought bulk of what this discussion was about. In a past life, spring rate impacted high speed handling, including body roll, on my cars.
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Meaning you changed only the springs without affecting either the shocks or the ride height?
 
jjvw said:
Unity, efficiency, and balance.

Understanding shocks and how the entire suspension centers around them is a very good start. Do that and you'll quit trying to make the springs do things they can't do.

What would you say if I told you that more aggressive damping is beneficial for both high speed travel and slow speed rock crawling?
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And I thought the suspension centered around the vehicle CG, how stupid of me? Then I learn that aggressive damping works for every type of driving. Wow this unity, efficiency and balance suspension design is a real eye opener. Just goes to reinforce my prior submission to Mr. Blaine's brilliance in suspension design. Thanks for the lesson.✌
 
Bill M. said:
.......

If I were designing a rock crawler that could limp to Big Bear Lake to crawl at the Old Baldwin Mine site then I would go Blaine's route in suspension design.

......
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Bill M. said:
......When was the last time you saw a KOH winner loaded with the wife and kids stopped at the local In and Out for burgers and fries on the way home from Johnson Valley after their big KOH win?.....
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I REALY try to avoid getting into these conversation and don't plan to get into a big back and fourth. but this one pulled me in since this is flat out slander and nothing else.

Have you ridden in a jeep setup by @mrblaine , driven one, wheeled one? I doubt it, well it just so happens that I have one in my driveway, so I guess I can talk from a place of actual experience so let me chime in.

When I took my jeep to Blaine I had the "Forum recommended great riding suspension" 4" Savvy lift with load C tires, Rancho 5000x shocks. I thought it was good. Now that I have it back it is simply incredible. I have not taken it on hard enough trails yet to give a complete review off road. But I already have over 3000 miles on it. since picking it up freeway, dirt road, lots and lots of windy bumpy mountain roads etc.

I have owned a brand new JK and a what I thought at the time was a well setup XJ. I have owned many other vehicles my wife and I have even raced wheel to wheel for years on tracks such as Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, etc. Autocrossed competitively for years, I don't post this to brag just to give some insight that this is not first first time ever dealing with suspension on a vehicle, etc.

My Jeep is the most well mannered, best riding, predictable street vehicle I have ever had. We have a newer Nissan Xterra, and my wife makes us take the jeep to the cabin because it drives and rides so much better. My dad rode in the Jeep and was blown away and thinks it rides way nicer than his brand new Tundra and could not believe it was a Jeep, he doesn't even like jeeps. My other friend who has been into Jeeps for the last 15 years, and likely has run the Rubicon as much as anyone, we are talking 5-10 times year for a long time was also Blown away by it. My 60+ Mom loves the way it rides and enjoys long drives in it (not getting in it) but riding in it.

Mt wife and I still comment every time we drive it how nice it drives and that doesn't even get into how it handles in the mountains, I have a grin ear to ear every time I drive to the cabin. It simply should not be this good, it doesn't seem possible.

Off-road, its amazing. If anyone would like actual experience or is afraid I am drinking the kool-aid. Your are welcome to drive the Jeep around yourself and decide for yourself I guarantee you will be impressed. If I would have known it was going to drive this nice I would have paid double and still been happy.

Anyways that probably enough speaking from actual experience, I suppose I will just "limp" my jeep up to the mountains this week while smiling ear to war with my wife and kid in the jeep, we may even be really crazy and stop for In and Out while are on way, oh wait that's not possible in a jeep with Blaines suspension...

Ok, I will get off my soapbox now, please return to your regular schedule of slander and assumptions...
 
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Chris said:
That explains it! All TJs are welcome here. Even if they are mall crawlers on tons :ROFLMAO:
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Chris said:
So maybe we need a Jeep built by @Bill M. and a Jeep built by @mrblaine for a shootout?

YouTube video maybe? 38s with no lift? Yoga pants? Anyone? :ROFLMAO:
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That would be fun, something like Race Week in Colorado, 2k and hit 7 epic trails. Maybe a stock class, rock crawler and desert racer. Find some sponsors and I am in.
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts
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