CJustin7
Adventurer
Starting ....
So I've been reading up on a few builds .... Mainly thekSmith's build on Jeepforum.
It got me interested in building something worthy of going allot of places, long distances, and comfortably riding, and sleeping in my rig. (more to come on sleeping system and storage for the back).
I picked up a 160K 2002 Jeep GC Limited with a 4.7 HO and Quadradrive for a little over 2k. Guy said it was his daughters and had a blown head gasket, but everything else seemed to be really taken care of.... so I grabbed it. the first thing I did before driving it home was to rip the pink roxy sticker off the back window. Wasn't really my color...
Drove it home from Raleigh and everything seemed pretty good even with the blown gasket.
Brought it to Clasic Pro Automotive as I have family there, and there's nothing like being able to trust a good mechanic. They pulled the Engine and it was toasted. Rust in every cylinder ..... This was not good.
After talking it over with my Uncle, we decided to just get a newer engine and scraped trying to salvage it. Looked like it had been cooked a few times before someone had replaced the radiator and water pump..... (all new with new hoses). It had water marks in each cylinder and it did look pretty terrible. which was sprising because it drove fine and plenty of power.
yes ... the hood shocks are taost and I'll need to replace them ..... 2x4 works just as well
After a few months of looking for the right engine, we grabbed one with 90K on it and ran with it. While I was waiting on the engine, I got busy on grabbing parts and goodies. Gave Kolak (WJ GURU of the sorts) a call and ordered up a OME/IRO grab bag 3" lift with Adj trackbar and Moog SS.(Awesome guy with allot of good info and always available to answer questions via email) Ordered new headlights, taillights, ODB Bluetooth dongle, Black D-window 16x8" rims, Spring isloators, and a small lightbar. About 2 weeks ago we were able to get the engine in and all buttoned up. My Uncle drove it for a few days to ensure everything was fine and gave me the OK that the heart transplant was successful. Picked her up last Monday ....immediately thought "Man have I missed having a V8 and being able to see around traffic".... It was nice to be back in the GC to say the least.
This weekend we decided to start in on her and get the lift and tires. I did allot of research on the tires and needed some badly. I was torn between 32"s and 31"s ...
I don't mind cutting and trimming, but I wasn't trying to hack it all up just yet. So I decided on 31"s 265/70r16....... Until I spoke to someone running 32"s, who said he didn't have to trim.(WJRON351) I had not thought about running a slimmer tire (not really slimmer than the stocker) So I ended up chancing it and grabbing some 235/85r16 Duratracs. (also torn between cooper STT, KM2, and Duratrac). I chose the Duratracs due to the positive response everyone has about them and high millage tire that seems to pretty darn good off the pavement. All 3 look Bad *** IMHO, but the KM2s I think would have looked best (beast).
HOVER JEEP ENGAGED !!!
Once we got everything jacked up, we begin to take everything off. Wheels, springs, shocks etc.
Our first issue was the rear passenger shock bolt was seized up pretty good. We torqued it enough to get a full 1/4 turn on it without it budging. We tried PB blaster and torching it..... It wouldn't budge. So we ended up having to cut it out and grab a new one.
Then we came across the bigger problem. While there's no rust to be seen on the body or frame ..... There was an entire spring perch that was rusted out. As in pulling the spring isolators pulled the whole spring perch out.
This was NOT GOOD
More to come on that.
So I've been reading up on a few builds .... Mainly thekSmith's build on Jeepforum.
It got me interested in building something worthy of going allot of places, long distances, and comfortably riding, and sleeping in my rig. (more to come on sleeping system and storage for the back).
I picked up a 160K 2002 Jeep GC Limited with a 4.7 HO and Quadradrive for a little over 2k. Guy said it was his daughters and had a blown head gasket, but everything else seemed to be really taken care of.... so I grabbed it. the first thing I did before driving it home was to rip the pink roxy sticker off the back window. Wasn't really my color...
Drove it home from Raleigh and everything seemed pretty good even with the blown gasket.
Brought it to Clasic Pro Automotive as I have family there, and there's nothing like being able to trust a good mechanic. They pulled the Engine and it was toasted. Rust in every cylinder ..... This was not good.
After talking it over with my Uncle, we decided to just get a newer engine and scraped trying to salvage it. Looked like it had been cooked a few times before someone had replaced the radiator and water pump..... (all new with new hoses). It had water marks in each cylinder and it did look pretty terrible. which was sprising because it drove fine and plenty of power.
yes ... the hood shocks are taost and I'll need to replace them ..... 2x4 works just as well
After a few months of looking for the right engine, we grabbed one with 90K on it and ran with it. While I was waiting on the engine, I got busy on grabbing parts and goodies. Gave Kolak (WJ GURU of the sorts) a call and ordered up a OME/IRO grab bag 3" lift with Adj trackbar and Moog SS.(Awesome guy with allot of good info and always available to answer questions via email) Ordered new headlights, taillights, ODB Bluetooth dongle, Black D-window 16x8" rims, Spring isloators, and a small lightbar. About 2 weeks ago we were able to get the engine in and all buttoned up. My Uncle drove it for a few days to ensure everything was fine and gave me the OK that the heart transplant was successful. Picked her up last Monday ....immediately thought "Man have I missed having a V8 and being able to see around traffic".... It was nice to be back in the GC to say the least.
This weekend we decided to start in on her and get the lift and tires. I did allot of research on the tires and needed some badly. I was torn between 32"s and 31"s ...
I don't mind cutting and trimming, but I wasn't trying to hack it all up just yet. So I decided on 31"s 265/70r16....... Until I spoke to someone running 32"s, who said he didn't have to trim.(WJRON351) I had not thought about running a slimmer tire (not really slimmer than the stocker) So I ended up chancing it and grabbing some 235/85r16 Duratracs. (also torn between cooper STT, KM2, and Duratrac). I chose the Duratracs due to the positive response everyone has about them and high millage tire that seems to pretty darn good off the pavement. All 3 look Bad *** IMHO, but the KM2s I think would have looked best (beast).
HOVER JEEP ENGAGED !!!
Once we got everything jacked up, we begin to take everything off. Wheels, springs, shocks etc.
Our first issue was the rear passenger shock bolt was seized up pretty good. We torqued it enough to get a full 1/4 turn on it without it budging. We tried PB blaster and torching it..... It wouldn't budge. So we ended up having to cut it out and grab a new one.
Then we came across the bigger problem. While there's no rust to be seen on the body or frame ..... There was an entire spring perch that was rusted out. As in pulling the spring isolators pulled the whole spring perch out.
This was NOT GOOD
More to come on that.
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