Congrats on joining the big leagues.
I’m happy your used parts sales went to a good cause
Justin's TJ
- Thread starter TJustin
- Start date
Congrats on joining the big leagues.
I’m happy your used parts sales went to a good cause
Mocked up the upper link mounts on the Currie truss. Both the Genright upper link mounts and the truss are works of art. Plan to burn the link mounts in this weekend and sling the axle under the Jeep to start cycling for fitment.
I've now just about sold all the old drivetrain components, which is a relief. I had to sit on some of the parts longer than anticipated. It appears that TJ parts don't sell like they used to. My assumption it is due to the large number of 4 doors wheeling these days.
I've welded the upper link mounts to the axles, and have test fit the front axle under the Jeep. It looks like the factory lower mounts will be fine, but will need to redo the coil buckets and figure out how I'm going to mount the track bar. I'm thinking of running the track bar over to the passenger side knuckle. I still have a couple inches of outward adjustment in the front arms so I'm crossing my fingers that when I push the axle forward, it won't necessitate new links. For the rear, I am planning to start with a bare housing and redo it all. Not looking forward to cutting all the brackets off. Did I mention how much I dislike using angle grinders?
This last Saturday, I installed 2 tires on wheels so I can begin cycling the suspension in the next week or two. I added some Apex RPV's before the tire install.
Mocked the tire up alongside the Jeep. I'm digging the look.
I've welded the upper link mounts to the axles, and have test fit the front axle under the Jeep. It looks like the factory lower mounts will be fine, but will need to redo the coil buckets and figure out how I'm going to mount the track bar. I'm thinking of running the track bar over to the passenger side knuckle. I still have a couple inches of outward adjustment in the front arms so I'm crossing my fingers that when I push the axle forward, it won't necessitate new links. For the rear, I am planning to start with a bare housing and redo it all. Not looking forward to cutting all the brackets off. Did I mention how much I dislike using angle grinders?
This last Saturday, I installed 2 tires on wheels so I can begin cycling the suspension in the next week or two. I added some Apex RPV's before the tire install.
Mocked the tire up alongside the Jeep. I'm digging the look.
I finished my frame chop just over a week ago. Having the shock towers already installed made it super easy to install the frame chop. @sunnysideup_lj helped me with SolidWorks to draw up a mount that will allow me to re-use the gas tank skid with the stock location for the front crossmember, and the heightened rear cross member.
Last Saturday I installed the axle for kicks and giggles to check out the stance. I'm digging it.
On New Year's Day, I installed the THOR cowl intake. Going to hilines looked to make it hard to reuse the stock intake and I wasn't a fan of other options on the market. I don't really care about the potential of hp or tq gains, just that the install looks tidy and after a bit of wire management, I think it will be a success. Jury is still out with the K&N style filter. I am more comfortable with it having the prefilter, as I used this same setup back when I used to head to the dunes on my Banshees, and this setup did well keeping the intake clean. I may try to find a paper cone style filter or even look at a foam oiled setup if I'm not happy with the cleanliness of the intake.
While I was cutting the gas tank up, I decided to do a logo delete. My Jeep suffers from schizophrenia because of all the logos. I was glad to clean up the back of the jeep some.
Last Saturday I installed the axle for kicks and giggles to check out the stance. I'm digging it.
On New Year's Day, I installed the THOR cowl intake. Going to hilines looked to make it hard to reuse the stock intake and I wasn't a fan of other options on the market. I don't really care about the potential of hp or tq gains, just that the install looks tidy and after a bit of wire management, I think it will be a success. Jury is still out with the K&N style filter. I am more comfortable with it having the prefilter, as I used this same setup back when I used to head to the dunes on my Banshees, and this setup did well keeping the intake clean. I may try to find a paper cone style filter or even look at a foam oiled setup if I'm not happy with the cleanliness of the intake.
While I was cutting the gas tank up, I decided to do a logo delete. My Jeep suffers from schizophrenia because of all the logos. I was glad to clean up the back of the jeep some.
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Spent the available time yesterday installing the GR Hilines, and trimming the hood to fit. I still want to work on the reveal a bit more but it is getting close. The initial cut went fast but the tedious part was opening/shutting the hood countless times finding the high spots and slowly trimming hood away until it sat properly.
Been a mad blitz getting it done before EJS, and it was down to the wire. Every day after work, and 18 hrs on Saturdays I was out there wrenching. Got it done around 8:00 the Monday of EJS and headed down with a prayer that nothing catastrophic would happen. Fortunately there are a just a few minor tweaks, otherwise the build is solid.
The rig looks great. But you are smaller than I imagined…
Been wheeling this TJ for nearing 20 years, the whole time with the NV3550 5-speed. My most recent trip with friends to Sand Hollow have pushed me to finally bite the bullet and swap to an automatic.
Yesterday I scooped up this 32RH and associated paraphernalia out of Denver for a steal. It already has the vent relocation completed, and includes a shift kit installed. It includes all pieces for the swap, excepting the trans cooler and PCM. I'll have the trans rebuilt and will be swapping it in over the next couple months. I may have to re-learn how to wheel again.
Yesterday I scooped up this 32RH and associated paraphernalia out of Denver for a steal. It already has the vent relocation completed, and includes a shift kit installed. It includes all pieces for the swap, excepting the trans cooler and PCM. I'll have the trans rebuilt and will be swapping it in over the next couple months. I may have to re-learn how to wheel again.
Be interesting to hear what you think of the difference. Sounds like you got a good deal too .
I have no plans on going away from 5.38's. According to the Spicer engine rpm calculator, it appears that 70mph in 1:1 is roughly 3300 rpm, so your rough guess was pretty close!
In reality, its a trailer queen and hasn't seen 65+ unless its being dragged around by my Super Duty. Cruising around Moab and Sand Hollow, I'll occasionally hit 60-65ish and that puts me between 2700 and 3000 rpm.
Glad to hear that. The add control off-road is more valuable than being able to cruise at 70 MPH. Been following your thread from the beginning so will be waiting for the auto to get installed.
Been making decent progress on the swap. Took the TJ for a last drive with the NV3550 and began the disassembly. Got the clutch master cylinder, manual trans pedal assembly, and the B&M shifter removed, and installed the auto trans pedal assembly.
On Monday I dropped the 32RH off at a local transmission shop to have it rebuilt. At this time, I am retaining the factory valve body, which has a TransGo shift kit installed. Maybe at some point down the road I will consider a reverse manual valve body, but that should be easy enough to change if I want to go that route.
Today, I received a package in the mail from Wizard Recovery Gear as result of winning ROTM for November. Shout out to @mrblaine for sponsoring the contest. I selected the soft shackle friendly recovery points, and a pair of red soft shackles. Support him and the other sponsors whenever you can.
With the Currie hood hoop, it appears I will not be able to put the recovery points in the standard frame locations. The bolt pattern for the other mounting bolts further inboard on the frame is the same, so I will work to mount them as shown after I take my angle grinder to the welded on hooks. The machining for the recovery points is spot on, and the black anodizing is a sleek touch.
Tomorrow I'll be focusing on removing the T-Case and transmission. If things go smoothly I'll additionally work to get the pilot bearing and bushing removed from the crankshaft.
On Monday I dropped the 32RH off at a local transmission shop to have it rebuilt. At this time, I am retaining the factory valve body, which has a TransGo shift kit installed. Maybe at some point down the road I will consider a reverse manual valve body, but that should be easy enough to change if I want to go that route.
Today, I received a package in the mail from Wizard Recovery Gear as result of winning ROTM for November. Shout out to @mrblaine for sponsoring the contest. I selected the soft shackle friendly recovery points, and a pair of red soft shackles. Support him and the other sponsors whenever you can.
With the Currie hood hoop, it appears I will not be able to put the recovery points in the standard frame locations. The bolt pattern for the other mounting bolts further inboard on the frame is the same, so I will work to mount them as shown after I take my angle grinder to the welded on hooks. The machining for the recovery points is spot on, and the black anodizing is a sleek touch.
Tomorrow I'll be focusing on removing the T-Case and transmission. If things go smoothly I'll additionally work to get the pilot bearing and bushing removed from the crankshaft.
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Got it out yesterday. It fought me quite a bit, but got it done.
Cleaned it up and listed it on my local classifieds. It cleaned up quite well with a bit of simple green, paint brush plastic scraper, and shop towels.
This week's updates:
Sold the NV3550 locally earlier this week. I was surprised it sold so fast, I didn't imagine there was much of a market for TJ transmissions.
Ordered a trans temp gauge from Speedhut. I wanted a gauge that would closely match the OE gauges, and I think this matches my gauges well.
I will be adding a trans crossmember when I re-assemble everything. I am using the Barnes4wd crossmember mounting kit, using some tube I have laying around.
I ordered a new radiator with the trans cooler built-in. I am told that some manual TJ's had the radiator with the trans cooler already in, but mine does not. I opted for a brass CSF radiator from RockAuto. Today, the PCM was shipped to WranglerFix to have it flashed for torque converter lockup.
Picked up the transmission from the transmission shop. It came with a 12 mo/12,000m warranty. Didn't take much for the bill to add up!
Now, I am focusing on trans coolers. I've seen a lot of discussion of the Setrab one Blaine uses, so that may be the route I go, just working to educate myself before making a decision.
Sold the NV3550 locally earlier this week. I was surprised it sold so fast, I didn't imagine there was much of a market for TJ transmissions.
Ordered a trans temp gauge from Speedhut. I wanted a gauge that would closely match the OE gauges, and I think this matches my gauges well.
I will be adding a trans crossmember when I re-assemble everything. I am using the Barnes4wd crossmember mounting kit, using some tube I have laying around.
I ordered a new radiator with the trans cooler built-in. I am told that some manual TJ's had the radiator with the trans cooler already in, but mine does not. I opted for a brass CSF radiator from RockAuto. Today, the PCM was shipped to WranglerFix to have it flashed for torque converter lockup.
Picked up the transmission from the transmission shop. It came with a 12 mo/12,000m warranty. Didn't take much for the bill to add up!
Now, I am focusing on trans coolers. I've seen a lot of discussion of the Setrab one Blaine uses, so that may be the route I go, just working to educate myself before making a decision.
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