Topic: If you had $5K to spend on a stock TJ

[joe-joe]

just thought I would put my .02 in as well.

I would only go with a rear axle swap whether it is an 8.8 or dana 44 that is up to you. The dana 30 is a pretty solid axle. I am running 33x12.50s and have never had an issue with it.

I bought a used rear rubicon empty 44 housing on ebay for $200 (had drum brakes and axle bearings) I bought 4.88 gears, master install kit, ox locker, and stock shafts. I had it all installed at a local shop for $250. Overall I think it cost me around $1300 for the axle.

3.5 Inch lift (Rubicon express or Teraflex are my choices) $700-$800

Performance Off Road Center SYE $200

Woods rear Driveshaft $250

Skids (gas tank, Oil Pan) $200-400

Used 33 inch tires and wheels $300-600.

After all that you would still have money left to put in the bank. You can easily install your own SYE it is not that hard. I am by no means a mechanic and did it in about 3 hours on a saturday. I think this would give your jeep a good start and make it more "wheelable"

[chrisfranklin]

How about invest a couple of thousand and have a local shop, junkyard take your Jeep apart and hold the individual parts for you.  You then sell each individual part on Ebay -- axles, wheels/tires, engine/transmission, tub, doors, top, seats, etc.  Will take some work, but you'll probably double the money you currently have in your TJ in about a month; depends on your endurance level, probably   .   Jeep parts sell like hotcakes on Ebay.

Then you reinvest in a used 2003 or 2004 TJ Rubicon Auto and a 4 inch RE lift and Wheels/Tires for about $18,000 total (You might, however, have a few thousand or so you have to finance or otherwise cover if making such a purchase).    But, you may find the Rubicon to be a better TJ platform for a build-up.      

[Liljeepz]

Like I said before, if you are serious about mud, go with a swamper.

Relax buddy, I am not telling you that you are wrong, it's an opinion. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa. Personally I don't run swampers because they wear very quickly and I drive highway every day. They do tear ass in mud, but not very road freindly.

   

[Guardian7]

Clark, keep watching those classifieds, you might find something with some of the work already done. here is sample from Autotrader today!

1997 TJ JEEP WRANGLER, 79k miles, airbags, abs, ps, tilt, Teraflex 4" lift, rear locker, Tera Low transfer case, Currie drive line, 4 cyl, header, intake, driver Air Bag, Anti-Lock Brakes, Compact Disc Player, Passenger Air Bag, Power Steering, Tilt Wheel; $7,500, 702-683-6400

1992 JEEP WRANGLER, front & rear Detroit lockers, rear Dana44, 4 to 1 Tera low, 488 gears, lift kit, call for more details, $8000, 714-863-2942

1995 JEEP WRANGLER, YJ, dana 44 front and rear axels with detriot lockers, lift kit, many extras, asking $8,000 obo, call for details, 951-529-2484

[TheClark]

How about invest a couple of thousand and have a local shop, junkyard take your Jeep apart and hold the individual parts for you.  You then sell each individual part on Ebay -- axles, wheels/tires, engine/transmission, tub, doors, top, seats, etc.  Will take some work, but you'll probably double the money you currently have in your TJ in about a month; depends on your endurance level, probably   .   Jeep parts sell like hotcakes on Ebay.

Then you reinvest in a used 2003 or 2004 TJ Rubicon Auto and a 4 inch RE lift and Wheels/Tires for about $18,000 total (You might, however, have a few thousand or so you have to finance or otherwise cover if making such a purchase).    But, you may find the Rubicon to be a better TJ platform for a build-up.      

Personally, I would rather start my build with a $6,000 jeep instead of an $18,000 jeep.  I plan on dropping a bigger motor, V8 or Small diesel down the road (4-5 years, maybe sooner if I can make this engine blow while it still has the warranty:).  I'll probably do axles and engine at the same time.  Thanls for the input.

[TheClark]

just thought I would put my .02 in as well.

I would only go with a rear axle swap whether it is an 8.8 or dana 44 that is up to you. The dana 30 is a pretty solid axle. I am running 33x12.50s and have never had an issue with it.

I bought a used rear rubicon empty 44 housing on ebay for $200 (had drum brakes and axle bearings) I bought 4.88 gears, master install kit, ox locker, and stock shafts. I had it all installed at a local shop for $250. Overall I think it cost me around $1300 for the axle.

3.5 Inch lift (Rubicon express or Teraflex are my choices) $700-$800

Performance Off Road Center SYE $200

Woods rear Driveshaft $250

Skids (gas tank, Oil Pan) $200-400

Used 33 inch tires and wheels $300-600.

After all that you would still have money left to put in the bank. You can easily install your own SYE it is not that hard. I am by no means a mechanic and did it in about 3 hours on a saturday. I think this would give your jeep a good start and make it more "wheelable"

Good ideas....Thanks!!