looks like i'm back in the jeep game... albeit a in a crusty one

[2002wranglerX]

So i found a jeep i had to have... I was looking for a 4.0 to swap into a buddy's CJ and this guy told me he had one... then we get to talking and he has an entire jeep! so i hit him up to see what he'd want for the whole thing. He was reasonable and i figured what the heck.

2004 jeep wrangler columbia edition
178k miles
AC (works!)
5 speed
good tires, good top, decent body
full hard doors (soon up for trade for half doors)
good top (windows need some love, they're pretty cloudy)
Edge programmer, throttle body, intake.

ok so the bad. it has some frame rot i'm going to have to deal with. Probably end up with a safe t cap.
Drivers side fender is rotten on top. it has a rust spot in the rocker and on the windshield frame.

Also, the guy told me the rear end blew... but it rolls. and it has a broken ujoint. so i'm wondering if the ujoint just let go and he assumed it went.. because the pinion bearing feels good. and there's no play. I'll know more once i get it home and apart. (picking it up friday).

Anyway, on to the pics.

the good:













AAAAAND the bad





So this isn't going to be one i sink tons and tons of money into. Knowing that it has some frame rot. I'll probably cut out what's bad and see what i'm left with. If it's enough to safely plate i'll do that for now and safe T cap it next year. If it's too far gone i'll just order the Safe T cap and do that over the winter.

the plan right now is:
33x10.50x15 bfg's or coopers on stock wheels
2.5"-3" of lift
Eautogrilles rocker guards ($140 and i can cut out the rocker rust and use these to cover my body work)
basic pro comp bumpers
8,000 lb winch
rear D44 with 4.56's (already have this lined up)
Front 4.56's and lockrite

that's it. Keep it small and mellow. i think with some elbow grease it'll shine up pretty nice. The rust is what it is. But for the $ i couldn't pass it up.

[The_War_Wagon]

Also, the guy told me the rear end blew... but it rolls. and it has a broken ujoint. so i'm wondering if the ujoint just let go and he assumed it went.. because the pinion bearing feels good. and there's no play. I'll know more once i get it home and apart. (picking it up friday).

ONE TONS!!!

Nice pick-up. Looking forward to the build thread.

[2002wranglerX]

ONE TONS!!!

Nice pick-up. Looking forward to the build thread.

LOL. rear 44 should be enough for 33's my big boy jeep days are over.

[highlandercj-7]

Trailer queens are over rated lol. Glad you have one you will be able to drive. I have put 20k miles on the 7 this year.

[hyperbuzzin]

Nice!
You sure the 33's won't rub with stock wheels?
My '04 Unlimited rubbed with 32's on stock wheels, with 2-1/2 bb.

[DMG]

Nice!
You sure the 33's won't rub with stock wheels?
My '04 Unlimited rubbed with 32's on stock wheels, with 2-1/2 bb.

The 33x10.50s should be ok, I have done it.

[2002wranglerX]

I've actually also done 33x12.50's on factory ecco wheels (what i have). no spacers. but you have to cut the upper rear spring perch to make it work.

I'm debating on the wheels. with the wider stock flares it could use a little less backspacing... method makes a 15x7 3.75" BS wheel that's pretty interesting. with a 33x10.50 maxxis...

I need to sell something before i can fund that though lol. trying to keep the race car AND jeep is brutal lol

[2002wranglerX]

I've actually also done 33x12.50's on factory ecco wheels (what i have). no spacers. but you have to cut the upper rear spring perch to make it work.

I'm debating on the wheels. with the wider stock flares it could use a little less backspacing... method makes a 15x7 3.75" BS wheel that's pretty interesting. with a 33x10.50 maxxis...

I need to sell something before i can fund that though lol. trying to keep the race car AND jeep is brutal lol

i started doing my build list and it goes something like this:

Maxxis razr MT in 33x10.50 (either stock wheels or methods)
Pro comp rear bumper
Eautogrilles front bumper with integrated winch mount
Eautogrilles rocker guards (gotta fix that rocker rust somehow lol)
Smittybuilt winch (unless i find a used warn for a good price) with synthetic line
hybrid JK spring/shock lift. possibly using some RK 2.5 front coils a buddy has
lockrite in in the front 30
rear corner guards with LED tails.

couple of optional things i'm debating
1. Dana 44 with 4.56's out of my buddy's tj, would also mean regearing the front to 4.56
2. new top - my windows are pretty foggy
3. full soft doors or trading my full doors for half doors.


couple of things that need to happen anyway:
Frame needs patched/safetcapped
new driver side fender

i don't want to get too crazy. since it has rust issues. But i can't leave it stock... it's just not in me.

[2002wranglerX]

i also got it running and driving this weekend. still a long way to go though.

[2002wranglerX]

Dug up some pics of my 33x12.50 on stock ecco wheels...








and what i had to do to make them fit:

[roadtrekker]

What an awesome rig.

[2002wranglerX]

ok so picked up some 33x12.50 MTR's on some ugly wheels lol. I tossed stock JK coils in the back and some 2" springs up front. I need to add spacers up front but i wanted to see where this put me first.

[The_War_Wagon]

ok so picked up some 33x12.50 MTR's on some ugly wheels lol. I tossed stock JK coils in the back and some 2" springs up front. I need to add spacers up front but i wanted to see where this put me first.

You KNOW you're gonna end up with 44" Swampers eventually, right?

[2002wranglerX]

So i haven't updated this in quite a while. made some changes. the MTR's and steel wheels were just too much for the purpose of this build. They hung out too far and were going to rip a fender off if i flexed it.

Since the last update some changes have been made. Brand new top has been installed. IPF lights were moved to the bumper. heavy duty rear bumper with hitch was installed.

i'm still running the JK shocks, but Jeremy at Rock Krawler hooked me up with some 2" progressive coils (they should clear the 33's just about perfectly. you net more than 2" with them).

also, i did full paramount armor (rockers and corners).



they're REALLY decent for the $. will the powder coat fall off? maybe. But for 120 bucks for rockers and 160 for corners (shipped prime!) how can you really complain.

I also went back to 33x10.50x15's on stock columbia edition ecco wheels (darker)



also, my buddy gave me a tuffy under rear seat drawer. i was able to get that installed as well.



Also i figured if i'm doing corners i might as well do some flush LED tail lights. so they went in.

so it's coming along. I have some things sitting here still to install. I also installed some new LED's in the dash which fixed my no gauge light issue

2" RK coils
light bolts for the license plate
CB bracket, antenna, and CB itself
1.25" wheel spacers (once i make sure the drum shoes are in good shape)
bedliner for interior (although the carpet is in decent shape.

overall i'm pretty happy with it. even though it's sitting ass high right now it drives pretty nice.

[2002wranglerX]

oh also, ordered a new drivers side fender to get rid of the rusted out one and i need to paint that and the windshield frame i got from john and get those installed. probably do that around april since that's when my inspection runs out and that way the new stickers can go on the new windshield.

[muddeprived]

Did you do anything about the frame yet?

[highlandercj-7]

Got a guy down here looking for built 488 TJ axles. If he finds them he might be selling his LJs D44 D30 with 373's

[2002wranglerX]

Did you do anything about the frame yet?

I cut out the rust and welded in New 1/8 steel.

Got a guy down here looking for built 488 TJ axles. If he finds them he might be selling his LJs D44 D30 with 373's

I was looking at a pair at Daveys. 35/30 with 4.56s and 3locker for 950... 35 sucks but would probably be fine for what I'm doing.

I would bet your buddy would want way more.

[2002wranglerX]

Well i have this phase of the jeep about wrapped up. Still a little wiring to do on the switch panel for all the lighting. But the reverse lights work and everything. Just need to get the windshield and IPF's wired.

over the weekend i was able to get the new banks exhaust installed. I got the new rock krawler 2.0 springs in (dual rate). 1.25" spacers on the wheels bring the tires flush with the flares. Fixed a couple broken wheel studs, got the CB installed and cleanly wired, etc.

i think it came out pretty nice. Once the pgh public teacher strike is over i'll have john paint the new fender and windshield frame and all the body rust will be taken care of.

[Keith]

It’s looking good!

[redbank]

looks good

[hyperbuzzin]

Looking really good!
If you happen to find another windshield frame, please let me know. I am in desperate need of one for my LJ.

[dorick]

Looks great. How's the sound of your banks exhaust?