TJ build thread

[stainless]

Alright, I'm in the process of building a TJ Sport for some short/medium range expedition wheeling.

I'm starting with a 1998 TJ Sport. She is "Gunmetal Blue" with a black soft top, vinyl seats, no carpet.

My modifications so far...
4" superlift, 1" body lift, 33" BFG MT's, Bilstein 5100 shocks
I'm on a budget, but I will be getting rid of the D35 rear axle in favor of a D44 with an ARB locker. Right now I have no plans to get rid of the D30 front, but that may change down the road.

A little insurance...
I have done some deep water crossings in the past...some were deeper than I had planned. When this happens in the future, I want to have as few things to worry about as possible.
I've started cleaning up and checking the electrical system and wiring. I started low, checking all plugs and connectors and packing them in dielectric grease.
I also plan to swap out my speakers for some marine/outdoor grade units, as well as installing a water resistant head unit and cleaning up the wiring.

I've got my vent tubes run up as high as I can get them under the hood. They are well above my air box, so they're safe since I try to avoid dunking that at all costs.

I've still got a ways to go, but I want to make her as tough as she can be before I start sinking money into parts, racks, etc.

Any other ideas? I'm always open for suggestions from the pros.

[riverfever]

My buddy just traded his XJ for a TJ. He's pretty much got the axles and suspension sorted out now. It's a crawler so I'm sure it's not quite what you're looking for but he does really smooth work and you might get a few ideas from it. Check out his "what's new" section on his site.

http://www.formattfab.com/

[stainless]

Thanks, I'll check his work out.
I've got a bead on a set of rubicon axles out of a place in South Georgia. If I can get them for a decent price, I'll be able to scratch that off the list.

[Kilroy]

Do you have an auto or manual? If auto you will need to "waterproof" tranny. I would guess auto is in the same family as the 2000-2001 models. These auto's have vent hole behind the torque convertor. When water is deep enough that torque convertor touches water it throws it up and water works it's way into transmission. Friend had this happen twice to him in his 2001 TJ. I'm planning on doing a modification shortly to my 2000 TJ to correct this engineering screw up.

A little insurance...
I have done some deep water crossings in the past...some were deeper than I had planned. When this happens in the future, I want to have as few things to worry about as possible.:

[stainless]

I've got a manual transmission.

I don't have any experience with the Wrangler auto's, but I thought the dipstick tube was the vent on all autos.

[stainless]

I figured I could throw a few pictures of my Jeep up here since I haven't done that yet.

The first pic is from last weekend. I took my wife's 6 yr old cousin on a "safari" through a big pasture near my inlaws' house. He had a blast (it was his first time offroad).