Building an E-Ticket ride - 06 LJ

[E-Ticket]

I spent a couple of weeks away from the LJ, working on my new JL (bumpers/winch/rockers) and starting the preparations for our upcoming move to AZ. Moving really sucks and I hope this is it for a while. We will be putting out stuff into storage initially as we continue looking for a suitable place and my need for a shop is ruling out 90% of the stuff we see. Not going to rush this one so planning to stay in some temporary digs initially while we look.

I will have access to my LJ and plan to wheel it as much as I can. Hopefully the future repairs and mods will be basic wrenching until I can get back into a shop with a lift and the ability to weld.

Back to the post Moab fixes, today I addressed the clearance issues with the Savvy UA. I notice less clearance for the front driveshaft, SYE and exhaust after the trip vs the post mod condition. In keeping with the them of my rig in Moab, the damn transmission mount bolts had backed off!

This caused the crossmember to rotate and cause my clearance issues.

The front driveshaft was rubbing on crossmember:

Contact between TC body and crossmember:

While in there, I added some weld to the Savvy mount bracket. Sorry missed the pics of the unpainted booger welds:

Also while in there installed clip nuts on the crossmember:

After reinstalling bracket tight using plenty of thread locker, clearance is fine on the driveshaft and the TC:

I clearanced the aft stiffener where it had been in contact with the SYE, and gave it a bit more room around the exhaust:

Clip nuts at the joint between the TC and engine skids makes instead the engine skid much easier:

I removed some material on the engine skid at the exhaust where it had been very close:

All done:

Next up some electrical gremlins, inoperative transmission fluid temperature gauge and no power to my GMRS radio.

 

[NDSpeed]

what clip nuts did you order? that’s some thing i’d like to do next time it’s off.

 

[E-Ticket]

what clip nuts did you order? that’s some thing i’d like to do next time it’s off.

25 5/16" - 18 Extruded U Nuts... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040CVQGG?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[NDSpeed]

25 5/16" - 18 Extruded U Nuts... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040CVQGG?tag=wranglerorg-20

thank you sir, i’m at work and that made the shopping lots easier

 

[DirtDawg]

Wow - amazingly, I read through this entire build topic today (off and on, depending on activities). I highly enjoyed your learning processes and attention to details! Having previously owned a from-new 2000 TJ subsequently built mostly with Currie johnny joint stuff plus gears, ARB lockers, BMB Big Brake Kit and more, but sold end of 2020 thinking I was done with that. I do have a 2017 JK Rubicon and 2020 Can-Am Maverick Sport Xrc but I bought a previously built 2005 TJ Rubicon 5 wks ago. Right now, doing all the deferred maintenance work while forming plans on what aspects I'll change for my intended usage in this forested area. Already ditched the nearly new budget 35" tires in favor of 33" BFG KM3 to work better with 42RLE and 5.13 gearing, as well as getting an inch lower to the ground. Since mine has combo of RE 5.5" long arms and 1" BL, few options for exhaust fit and routing, so ordered a Magnaflow 17122 with welded cat flange pipe, 5"x14" muffler can and turndown tip. Similar to the old muffler installed years ago but hopefully somewhat dBA quieter inside the cab - TBD after that arrives.

As to your planned move to AZ, welcome from "The Other Arizona" in easternmost AZ. My house at 7.4k' has adjacent forest road access just 2 miles away going up to more than 10k' elev. If you're planning on location within urban Maricopa County, you might have to build what you want or buy a place a bit further out with sufficient land to build a shop outbuilding. Rural areas where I now live often have no garage or had one converted into living space. An old guy now without need for a large home, my attached garage is highly atypical, being nearly as large as the residence at nearly 1500 sq' (3 bays across front plus 2-story RV bay at 90*), currently comfortably housing 6 vehicles inside right now. Sadly, no hydraulic lift as your current shop has. I'll continue to monitor your progress and decisions with interest...

 

[E-Ticket]

Wow - amazingly, I read through this entire build topic today (off and on, depending on activities). I highly enjoyed your learning processes and attention to details! Having previously owned a from-new 2000 TJ subsequently built mostly with Currie johnny joint stuff plus gears, ARB lockers, BMB Big Brake Kit and more, but sold end of 2020 thinking I was done with that. I do have a 2017 JK Rubicon and 2020 Can-Am Maverick Sport Xrc but I bought a previously built 2005 TJ Rubicon 5 wks ago. Right now, doing all the deferred maintenance work while forming plans on what aspects I'll change for my intended usage in this forested area. Already ditched the nearly new budget 35" tires in favor of 33" BFG KM3 to work better with 42RLE and 5.13 gearing, as well as getting an inch lower to the ground. Since mine has combo of RE 5.5" long arms and 1" BL, few options for exhaust fit and routing, so ordered a Magnaflow 17122 with welded cat flange pipe, 5"x14" muffler can and turndown tip. Similar to the old muffler installed years ago but hopefully somewhat dBA quieter inside the cab - TBD after that arrives.

As to your planned move to AZ, welcome from "The Other Arizona" in easternmost AZ. My house at 7.4k' has adjacent forest road access just 2 miles away going up to more than 10k' elev. If you're planning on location within urban Maricopa County, you might have to build what you want or buy a place a bit further out with sufficient land to build a shop outbuilding. Rural areas where I now live often have no garage or had one converted into living space. An old guy now without need for a large home, my attached garage is highly atypical, being nearly as large as the residence at nearly 1500 sq' (3 bays across front plus 2-story RV bay at 90*), currently comfortably housing 6 vehicles inside right now. Sadly, no hydraulic lift as your current shop has. I'll continue to monitor your progress and decisions with interest...

Thanks for the kind words @DirtDawg ! I look forward to following your new TJ build as well and hope to wheel with you when I get out west in 2026. I lived in the Prescott area for 2 years previously and did a fair amount of exploring the state then in a JK, but did not get out the the far east side and would like to see that area. One thing I love about AZ is access to the mountains, great wheeling and views combined. Your set up with smaller home / large shop is a dream for an active retirement.