Andrew's Yellow Jeep Build.

I figured it was about time to start my "build" thread on here, and not worry about it as much on the jeepforum, as i am more likely to get feedback from fellow jeep enthusiasts on here who i am/will be wheeling with.

I got my license in September 2010, and on December 16, 2010 i bought my first Jeep.
2000 tj sport
4.0L I6
NV3550
NP231
D30/D35 with 3.07's
105,600 miles

Since that point, i have dropped about 2k-3k into her just replacing worn out or broken parts, and fixing rusted parts of the frame. The jeep was pretty ugly when i first got it, the previous owner must of had fun sticking reflectors on it wherever they could find a good spot. So i finally got around to pulling the reflectors off as well as the mud flaps which also had reflectors to. This jeep has been full of surprises with every fix, and everyone knows its from the winters mixed with salt. haha

Now on to the modifications(if you can call them that). In 2011, the first thing i did was buy some 15" Black Rock steel wheels, and an OME steering stabilizer. Aside from replacing the clutch and the pressure plate in December 2011, that is pretty much all i did. I did however buy a rough country 2.5" lift kit in July, but i never got that installed until February 2012.

Here are some starting pics:

Picking it up December 2010: pretty ugly

Entering 2011
After getting the rims



Then i finally got the reflectors off, except for the mirrors, also i installed a Banks 2.5" cat back exhaust.



My muffler was falling apart, and it had a pretty good leak.


I then replaced the U-joints, and ball joints.

Dont mind the loser in this pic haha



New axle U-joint

Then me and the jeep.

Then in December, the clutch was slipping pretty well and with around 120,000 miles on it, it needed to be replaced. And there wasn't anything left on it. Unfortunately i dont have any pctures. While removing the skid plate,we found a big rust hole on the bottom of the frame.

Enter 2012
After discovering the rust hole in the frame, i ordered a replacement frame section and had that section of frame replaced when i had the jeep up at Steve's Jeep Country when i had them install the lift kit. I ended up needing both sides of the frame replaced at the skid plate section. Great work.
Pics of the lift and the frame section.
Frame section before:


New frame section:


pre lift kit:

post lift kit







poser outside of work

The jeep now has 128,000 miles and runs great!
Well, its 2 in the morning an i gotta get some sleep, im going to a prom tonight. But proabably late morning im gonna install my brand new, still in the box, bestop soft top!
Ill take pics, ill be putting it on the jeep behind work so ill try to get pics of my boss's 2012 JKU sahara!

my pictures are cut off on the right side

Great pics man! I remember when I first saw your TJ with all those damn reflectors. I think the first thing I ever said to you was "when are you taking those off?!"

Don't forget the wheeling pics of your Jeep too:

Nice Jeep. Looks best on dirt lol

Well, this past saturday, the jeep and i went to prom! Well not exactly, it drove me to her house! Close enough. Seeing my mom got some pictures with the jeep in it, i gotta post them hahaa. That was the night of her prom. My prom is this friday night.

Today was my last day of High school classes! Finals start tomorrow, and i graduate June 1st. My mom asked me what i want as a graduation gift, all i got was a "What?" after all the jeep parts i told to her. hahahaa

Hahaha I wish someone besides my wife would buy me Jeep parts

I was finally able to get the soft top on the jeep tonight. Unfortunately i dont have any pictures to post yet, probably not until next week, its gonna be a busy weekend. See you guys in foxboro on saturday!

See you tomorrow - are you wearing the tux?

Just got done wearing the tux tonight. We just got back from my prom, now its time to go down to the school for the after party til the wee hours of the morning. See you guys topless tomorrow, only the jeeps though hahaha

Currently, i am looking for a rear d44 axle for the jeep as i want to get rid of the d35 that is currently under it. Now ive been looking on craigslist, and have found a couple for jeeps but not sure if they would work with the tj. Why i am saying this is because they are for the grand cherokee ZJ model. Seeing a front d30 out of a ZJ will fit into the front of a TJ, does this also mean that a rear ZJ d44 will also fit in the back of a TJ? I really wanna find an axle soon. The whole control arm and spring setup is what i am wondering about.

If anyone is upgrading and selling their rear TJ d44 with 3.73 gears, LSD, and possible disc brakes, you may very well have a buyer!

Reconsider the d44. The 44 is not much stronger than a 35. The tubes are the same. A far better bang for the buck is to go with a Ford 8.8. The 8.8 is cheaper and there is a ton of them around. They also use disc brakes. The ZJ d44 is not bolt in. You'll have to weld brackets. They are also about 2 inches wider. If your going to be welding brackets get an 8.8 out of the junkyard. They can be had anywhere from $100-$250 and there are plenty of them available. I found myself in the same situation your in now back in January. After much research and many conversations with fellow Jeepers I realized the D44 is not really a great choice. If you ever plan on going to 35" or bigger tires the d44 is not the right choice.

Check out these facts:
COT: Continuous output torque rating
MOT: Maximum output torque rating
Dana 35 rear axle COT: 870 MOT: 3480
Dana 44 rear axle COT: 1100 MOT: 4460
Ford 8.8 28spline COT: 1250 MOT: 4600
Ford 8.8 31spline COT: 1360 MOT: 5100<- This is the axle Ryan, Pat (2003x), and I have.
Dana60 semifloat COT: 1500 MOT: 5500

Ford 8.8 WMS is 59 5/8 - Stock TJ is 60.5

Also look at this information: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/n-2268-ford-8-8-tj-axle-swap-information.html

Thanks for the info angri! I have actually been looking on their website at the 8.8 possibility. The only problem is that its going to cost a pretty penny. I have an update coming of a list of parts im going to throw at the jeep next, based off of reading other peoples builds, but right now i gotta go focus on my finals. 2 more left and im done with high school forever!!

Congrats! Study as hard as you play

Finished with high school! I'm trying out this mobile upload my jeep and my boss' jeep outside work a couple days ago. This is from photobucket mobile.
This has been sent from my Android!

Just in regards to the 8.8 being expensive, if I had paid shipping, mine still would have only been $1050 out the door from ECGS.

You can't beat that

angri wrote:You can't beat that

Keep in mind though that mine was relatively stripped down. 8.8, brackets, new e-brake shoes, and 4.10 gearing. The second you add 4.88 it's a few hundred more.

Well, the jeep just hit 129,000 miles tonight. What a beautiful night it was to drive with the top off. Also, i have a pretzel jar that is between 1/2 and 3/4 full of coins. I just weighed it today and it is a solid 35 pounds, with more quarters than anything else! Im hoping this will help with eigther the cost of a new rear axle, or 33's.

Just had my High School Graduation tonight, well last night seeing as it is now saturday. Here are some pics i thought i would share, of course the jeep got in some of the pics too






The guys who went on the April wheeling run met my buddy on the left in this next pic. With our victory cigars!

Congratulations, Andrew. Couldn't have asked for a better night (especially given the weather for the rest of the weekend).

See you soon.

Thanks Ryan! Saturday i had my graduation party (which i made bank on)and it was a wet one out there. We had a tent set up right outside the back door, but it was pretty tricky trying to get from the house to the tent. Im gonna have to repair the lawn in some spots, in the heavy traffic spots.

In other news, i changed the oil in the jeep today, also i was able to finally get my tow hooks on the front bumper of the jeep! here are some pics. Also, i went fishing with my dad yesterday, took a cool picture of the jeep.

The tow hooks

Thinking about maybe getting a good used 8.8, then buying the tj brackets, and making a project out of it. I think it would be an awesome learning experience. I just gotta find measurements, and info that tells me where to place the brackets. Just another thought.

The ford 8.8 bracket kit will cost $305. I still gotta make sure this will be doable first.

Amills60 wrote:...I just gotta find measurements, and info that tells me where to place the brackets...

Artec Industries has a nice bracket kit/truss combination. It really seems like a nice DIY project for someone who can weld. The truss fits over the axle in only one spot, then the brackets and tabs only go on in one spot. Seems like a nice solid set up. Its a little over the $300 mark, but for ease of use and installation and the added truss if you ever went 4 link in the rear, seems worth it.

Link:
http://artecindustries.3dcartstores.com/TJ-88-Swap-Kit-with-Truss_p_233.html