Off Roading Need help with TJ project

[y-knot]

OK I have a new project and I what'd a few opinions .

First, I am planing the build up on a TJ wrangler jeep. It is going to be very much stock, just the basic shape and layout. I have built several cars from the ground up, just never a Jeep. I was hoping that there would be a few in here that had some experience with TJ's. I read all the truck magazines and I am looking for some books on the subject. I went with the TJ style because I like the looks, and I wanted the coil spring suspension. I grew up around CJ's and I am just tired of looking at them. Anyway here is a few questions, your opinion is wanted.



Frame: I have it down to two frames. 1. Advanced Frame works or 2. Matkins Extreme frame level I

Both seem to be good choices, and offer many options, I am leaning toward the Matkins, seem stronger? Pat number 97TJ6120



Front Differential: Dana 44 or Currie 9"? They are around the same price, and both will be "high pinion" models and ARB lockers. The 9" seems odd in the front, but I am told is a very strong front jeep axle. I am having Currie build them out to the disc brakes, it is ,ore cost effective and saves time.



Rear differential: This one I am 95% sure I will go with a 9" extreme housing, with TJ mounts welded on. They call it a stage II, it has high pinion diff, 31-spline axles,Detroit locker, ect.



The other choice would be a Dana 44



Any input would be welcome. Also for now I am just thinking of using the 4. 0L l-6



And the trany is not for sure, leaning toward the 5-speed?



Suspension will most likely be FabTech 8" extreme, with custom shocks.

 

[XJSuperman]

If you want feel free to e-mail me. I have built both TJ's and XJ's myself and am a jeep "know it all". I'd be glad to help in any way I can.



I definitley think you should go 5 spd. And I also would go Matkins for the frame.

As for the fab-tech lifts... haven;t heard anything real negative about them but I have heard (and used myself) more good things about rubicon express lifts and they make a 7" long arm kit that will net you 8"+. I would presume with the 8" lift you are looking at that you will run a 37-38" tire?

Knowing of some folks who ran the currie HP 9" front and rear they are very stout pieces BUT I have seen them grenade with 37" tires and the stock 4. 0L engine. And I would stay way from a HP D-44 even for a front or rear end. They don't offer much more strength the an XJ cherokees HP D-30 as they use the same U-joints from '95 on and those will break 99% of the time before you bust a shaft... . so I would at least go 9" for the front and rear.

Don;t discount the Dynatrac PROROCK 60's. You'll pay a little more (mostly in the front) BUT the strength and ground clearance they provide are phenomenal... and with the I-6 (great motor by the way) you should never have to worry about the axles.

Think about the t-case as well. The stock 231 is a great case BUT if you really want to thrash the jeep I would look into getting an atlas. with the deep gears you will need to pull those tires the 3. 0 highlander would be real nice for you and the 3. 8 would give you a little more gear... . and if you wanted to do extreme rock crawling then they make a 4. 3:1 case and now also a 5:1 case.

All in all it sounds like a great buildup and again feel free to e-mail me any time as I'd be glad to help... I'm jeepless currently but am waiting for the new long wheelbase TJ to hit the lots for my next project.



-- email address removed --

 

[evldsl]

Dude, the matkins frame is stout but you need flex and if it's going to be a every day driver buy the AFW but if you already have a frame why buy?. the 9" is the way to go unless you step up to dana 60's because the the 9" stands for the ring gear size which is larger then the dana 44's,larger is better and stronger. the 4. 0l is a very tough engine or it would'nt be around for such a long time. You re going to use your gears (gearing ratio) to drive the vehicle so unless you want to go 100 miles a hour over the hill's the 4. 0l is fine. The trans is up to your own style of driving manual or auto it's just that the manual holds more torque on downhill's but the auto is easy to drive over the rocks. it's the T-case that is of choice a dana 300 is all gear and stout plus there are tons of kits to upgrade it but the best choice is the Atlas or you can stay stock with the NV231 and upgrade it. Tire size should'nt be over 35-12. 5-15 unless you stretch the wheel base out from the stock which i think is around 95 ".

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Why not put a 4 cylinder Cummins in there rather than that rattle-trap 4. 0 I6???

http://www.cummins.com/na/pages/en/products/agriculture/index.cfm

 

[Boomer II]

Tired of looking at CJ's, well I never!!!!

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Duluth Diesel

Why not put a 4 cylinder Cummins in there rather than that rattle-trap 4. 0 I6???

http://www.cummins.com/na/pages/en/products/agriculture/index.cfm

Took the post right out of my mouth!Oo.

 

[Phil Howell]

y-knot, give me a P. M. I used to be the Editor of 4WD&SU magazine and still write a bunch for them. I'm also in the middle of a TJ project right now. This is my fifth TJ. In the past, I've used 44's, the Currie 9"', Dana 60's, etc. and can give you some advice on what I've found.



Phil

 

[BWillard]

I have gone through quite a few mods with my TJ. Started with the D30/35 upgrades with a Rubicon Suspension, then to D44's both equipped with ARB's and finally ended up with what you see below, Rockwells, Sway-a-ways and a completely home fabbed driveline and suspension. I have gone through a lot of other suspension, rearends, and aftermarket products with this rig and others, if you have any questions let me know.

Braden



#ad

 

[Cumminpwr11]

Y-knot,



you should really think about 86'n the fabtech. I had fabtech on my 99 2wd 2500, cause they were the only ones that would built it for me. I snapped 3 upper arms, one was at 70 on the freeway. Not a fun expericance.



Although in their defence, they payed to have my truck fix every time, and fixed property damage everytime with out ever theatening to get a lawyer. They know when they are wrong, and fix it. Plus the always gave me a new arm.



They Stand behind their work, but i was on the streets. you will be in B. F. E. your call



My tj had 4" terfex with an atlas 2 tranfer, 44 front and rear. served me well.



Chris

 

[XJSuperman]

I agree with the fabtech... decent but have heard of too many issues.

I still say for the money and quality that you cannot beat Rubicon Express when it comes to lifting a jeep.

 

[y-knot]

You know when I first started thinking about this project, I naturally thought FabTech, I had used them before and was very pleased. But since then I have done more searching and talked with several people, and now feel Skyjacker is a better choice. They seem to have a good and very well made lift, the only other one I liked was by Currie Enterprises? I still have alot to research, thanks.

 

[XJSuperman]

Skyjacker is decent as well... but there are issues of breaking parts on their lifts... I have seen 1st hand contorl arms fail, track bars fail and the like. Not a very comon thing as anything can break at anytime... but for what the SJ kits cost



www.jeepsunlimited.com go to the forums... you'll have to wade through a few morons BUT the information base is enormous.

 

[Will24]

Stupid question while we are on the subject of jeeps. My dad and I have a 97 TJ 4. 0, 5 speed. Out of curiousity, who makes the highest quality BASIC 4" suspension lift? this summer my dad wants to lift the jeep so he can go out with me in my toyota. Budget is somewhat of a concern, but quality is a bigger concern since your life depends on the components



-Will

 

[XJSuperman]

I am sounding like a broken record here... BUT go with the Rubicon express 3. 5" standard kit. www.rubiconexpress.com It includes all the basic componants (minus shocks) for under $500. It is EASILY upgradeable and you can later on replace the stock control arms etc. There are SEVERAL other places you can order their stuff from and get it for less than from them direct... BUT I have always had decent customer service from RE as well.

The 3. 5" coils will NET you 4-4. 5"... RE is always conservative with their lifts... figure adding about an inch to the 'advertised' lift height. Trust me... you won;t be dissappointed.

 

[BWillard]

I would have to agree with XJSuperman, Go with the rubicon express. Little more money than some others but good quality. I've run a Rubicon Express 5. 5" longarm and it was built good and heavy. I've had skyjacker on all of my trucks and like there leafspring lifts, but when it comes to there coils----they sag quickly and are stiffer than the Rubicon Express springs. As far as S/J's advertised lift height, they are ALOT shorter than they say! I was running the 5. 5" Rubicon coils with an 1 3/4" spacer to clear 38's. Then went with the RockReady 8" skyjacker coils figuring I could loose the spacers--------NOT. The 8" R/R coils sat about 2" lower than Rubicon coils with the spacer.



just my . 02

 

[DHoleman]

Y-Knot, check into Performance Off Road, they are located just past hiway 27 on the AA , also check out the jeep they built for the dealership at exit 166 on 75, they do alot of jeep stuff and have thier own wheeling place , but they will answer questions for free {por4x4.com} if its anything like the blk truck can't wait to see it. . DHoleman

 

[GO 4LO]

Sorry to dig up an old post, but just wanted to let you know, Y-knot, that if you need any help with any of the work, let me know. I live just up the road in Cincinnati and drive a TJ on Ford 9's with 36's and am in the process of building a second TJ up...

Chris

 

[fj40charles]

Like XJSuperman said, don't waste your money on Currie 9" axles. They just don't hold up with tires bigger than a 36" tire.



There are several good alternatives to Dynatrac axles. We in the 4 wheeling world call them, Dynarape for a good reason. Might look at Rockcrusher, Sunray, or have some competent axle shop build you some custom axles. I had my high pinion Dana 60 built at Texas Auto Gear down in Houston, TX. Dynarape Prorock is nice, but also very expensive.



Another thing to look at would be Mog/9" hybrid. This is a unimog axle with Ford 9" center. Tons of ground clearance. Sunray Engineering can do this.



The only trucks with Fabtech stuff on them are poesuers and mall terrain vehicles.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by fj40charles

mall terrain vehicles.

:-laf

 

[GO 4LO]

Originally posted by fj40charles

Like XJSuperman said, don't waste your money on Currie 9" axles. They just don't hold up with tires bigger than a 36" tire.

Unless you build 'em low pinion with Dana 60 outers .

Chris