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Upon request, the build of my (no name) TJ.
So most of you know about the big bowl of dumbass I ate for breakfast in the fall of last year on Iron Chest. It was time to build my (no name) TJ up a bit.
Parts needed for job: New hood/pass door, Genright Hi-lines front/rear, corner guards, Walker Evans BL's, 35/12.5/17 MTRwK, 4.88 Nitro Gears, LED lights on all corners, 10 cut off wheels, 1 grinding wheel, 24+ Corona's, 1/2 bottle Jim Beam "red stag", sander, HPLV paint gun, 2 front windshields.
Beer paid help: Russ, Max, Brother
Paid help: Frank Z.
Max came over to help remove the front fenders off the Jeep for my original tube fenders. That didn't work out, so I had to put the factory fenders back on to use my Genright Hi-Lines. That was enough to make the Pope cuss...trust me.
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Once the Genright Hi-lines were installed...they went off to be powdercoated. I also put in the WE BL as well. I hate polishing aluminum rims.
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Russ came by to help out with the rear corners...helped down some of those Corona's..
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While everything was getting powder coated, it was time to start on the hood I got from Jimhat on this board. Genright has a template that is quite handy and good advice and explained the whole process over the phone. They even suggested that I call right before I do it if need be. Glad I did. Some places just tell you to cut 3" off and that is that. Well, some don't explain that it needs to be 3" vertical, or you will be buying another hood or just using the messed up one you just cut wrong. You will need a square to help you out. Notice in some of the pictures there are two sets of lines. One was of measuring 3" from lip with tape, the other was using the square.
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Next I had to extend my rocker guards a few inches, so instead of buying some that would fit my build...have welder...will use.
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Time for the gears. I used a friend of mine that does it on the side for a reasonable price of 300.00 a set. If you live in the Colorado Springs area, PM me and I can give you his information to get yours done. He does require that you take the axles out of the vehicle. I was happy that I did, the axles had several brackets that needed repair or replaced due to stress cracking or rust. I would recommend doing this on any TJ with bigger tires than 33". After a few repairs, gussets...they were back in.
The (no name) TJ was a roller now..
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I decided to paint the hood myself. Hind sight 20/20...should have paid to get it done. I turned out ok at best. That will be a later project.
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Some considerations:
When tackling something like this, choose your vendors smartly. I did have some issues with some that was costly and time consuming. This should have been a 2-4 week build..if that. I can tell you Genright has a great tech department and have good suggestions that are not over bearing or cocky.
The Tube fenders are great for clearances, but you do have to give up the windshield washer bottle...and I am working on that. This is a necessity in my book. You should give yourself a 3-7 day window to install the fenders with paint and all. If you do go with the Genrights, they are pre-fabbed (not like the weld together with no directions tube fenders), and you can send them off to paint before the install. They do recommend that you fit them first, however they are made on a jig and come out the same every time. Some vendors will tell you that every Jeep build is different, that does hold true..but there are some standards that should be followed. How do you think the Jeep factory does it?
Shipping killed me too. I ordered some wheel adapters from Poly Performance. I called a few weeks later and asked where they were...they had been shipped the day I ordered them with UPS. Well they first said they did deliver them to my doorstep, then they said they delivered them to another address and then they were lost. Poly Performance was informed of what was happening, and Chris hooked me up and sent another set no questions asked to get me rolling. I will remember that when ordering parts in the future. Great to work with. This set me back a month.
I now use a different shipping company too. This is not the first time for me, and my good friend that owns a performance diesel shop has nothing but problems with them too.
First impressions after first off roading event:
-4.88 gears are great, but 5.13 would have been better. I do have a gutless motor...and that could be some of the problem. I may have to replace the camshaft and lifters (multiple misfire code that comes and goes)...but I will have to decide that on a later date. To rebuild the 4.0, put in an expensive 4.7 stroker, or put in a V-8 with an auto. Either way it is expensive and time consuming.
-There was so much room for tires on the fenders, I was able to take out the 1.25" spacers tp level the (no name) TJ.
I will post up some pictures of the first run on New Years Eve Day with Russ later.
So most of you know about the big bowl of dumbass I ate for breakfast in the fall of last year on Iron Chest. It was time to build my (no name) TJ up a bit.
Parts needed for job: New hood/pass door, Genright Hi-lines front/rear, corner guards, Walker Evans BL's, 35/12.5/17 MTRwK, 4.88 Nitro Gears, LED lights on all corners, 10 cut off wheels, 1 grinding wheel, 24+ Corona's, 1/2 bottle Jim Beam "red stag", sander, HPLV paint gun, 2 front windshields.
Beer paid help: Russ, Max, Brother
Paid help: Frank Z.
Max came over to help remove the front fenders off the Jeep for my original tube fenders. That didn't work out, so I had to put the factory fenders back on to use my Genright Hi-Lines. That was enough to make the Pope cuss...trust me.
Once the Genright Hi-lines were installed...they went off to be powdercoated. I also put in the WE BL as well. I hate polishing aluminum rims.
Russ came by to help out with the rear corners...helped down some of those Corona's..
While everything was getting powder coated, it was time to start on the hood I got from Jimhat on this board. Genright has a template that is quite handy and good advice and explained the whole process over the phone. They even suggested that I call right before I do it if need be. Glad I did. Some places just tell you to cut 3" off and that is that. Well, some don't explain that it needs to be 3" vertical, or you will be buying another hood or just using the messed up one you just cut wrong. You will need a square to help you out. Notice in some of the pictures there are two sets of lines. One was of measuring 3" from lip with tape, the other was using the square.
Next I had to extend my rocker guards a few inches, so instead of buying some that would fit my build...have welder...will use.
Time for the gears. I used a friend of mine that does it on the side for a reasonable price of 300.00 a set. If you live in the Colorado Springs area, PM me and I can give you his information to get yours done. He does require that you take the axles out of the vehicle. I was happy that I did, the axles had several brackets that needed repair or replaced due to stress cracking or rust. I would recommend doing this on any TJ with bigger tires than 33". After a few repairs, gussets...they were back in.
The (no name) TJ was a roller now..
I decided to paint the hood myself. Hind sight 20/20...should have paid to get it done. I turned out ok at best. That will be a later project.
Some considerations:
When tackling something like this, choose your vendors smartly. I did have some issues with some that was costly and time consuming. This should have been a 2-4 week build..if that. I can tell you Genright has a great tech department and have good suggestions that are not over bearing or cocky.
The Tube fenders are great for clearances, but you do have to give up the windshield washer bottle...and I am working on that. This is a necessity in my book. You should give yourself a 3-7 day window to install the fenders with paint and all. If you do go with the Genrights, they are pre-fabbed (not like the weld together with no directions tube fenders), and you can send them off to paint before the install. They do recommend that you fit them first, however they are made on a jig and come out the same every time. Some vendors will tell you that every Jeep build is different, that does hold true..but there are some standards that should be followed. How do you think the Jeep factory does it?
Shipping killed me too. I ordered some wheel adapters from Poly Performance. I called a few weeks later and asked where they were...they had been shipped the day I ordered them with UPS. Well they first said they did deliver them to my doorstep, then they said they delivered them to another address and then they were lost. Poly Performance was informed of what was happening, and Chris hooked me up and sent another set no questions asked to get me rolling. I will remember that when ordering parts in the future. Great to work with. This set me back a month.
I now use a different shipping company too. This is not the first time for me, and my good friend that owns a performance diesel shop has nothing but problems with them too.
First impressions after first off roading event:
-4.88 gears are great, but 5.13 would have been better. I do have a gutless motor...and that could be some of the problem. I may have to replace the camshaft and lifters (multiple misfire code that comes and goes)...but I will have to decide that on a later date. To rebuild the 4.0, put in an expensive 4.7 stroker, or put in a V-8 with an auto. Either way it is expensive and time consuming.
-There was so much room for tires on the fenders, I was able to take out the 1.25" spacers tp level the (no name) TJ.
I will post up some pictures of the first run on New Years Eve Day with Russ later.
