It's been a while, so I took a few more shots of my Jeep
TerryMason's 2005 Jeep TJ Build
- Thread starter TerryMason
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- tj build wrangler build
Thclabough
New member
Wow, I really enjoyed checking out your Wrangler upgrades. I'm still trying to unseize engine. I have a 4" lift kit on a shelf in my garage...new springs, shocks, boots. I also purchased a NP 435 four speed transmission to swap out the stock T-90. It needs rebuilding. I'm hoping to restore the 302 cu in v-8 first. If it works, money can go towards other needed items. I'll get some pictures soon. Keep up the good news!!
I added a dashcam to my Jeep - works great, and I'm very happy with it. It's a Garmin Dasham Mini, and records great HD video (with sound)
I hardwired it in using this fuse with a built-in tap
I hardwired it in using this fuse with a built-in tap
mikeswillys
New member
You can hardly see it behind the mirror. Great idea with the fuse!
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Thanks, I'm happy with how it turned out. I got to use it on my last off-road trip and it worked great.
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To me , your choice of 33's and a 4in total lift is exactly what I need ,,,thanks for the super detailed posts
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For years I've had a leak in my rear main seal. I decided to finally do something about it.
Started by removing the engine skid plate. This thing was covered with grime
I then pulled the oil pan out. This was the hardest part of the whole ordeal for me. My Jeep has a 1.5 inch body lift, and a low profile skid plate (essentially raising up the skid plate an inch or two. I had to disconnect the mini-cats (exhaust) at the engine, then allow the transmission skid to drop down, and I loosened the exhaust bolts next to the transmission. After all that I was able to get the oil pan out
You can see that I ended up getting oil and grime all over the exhaust. This thing smoked like crazy once I finally started it up.
I removed the bottom half of the rear main seal.
Here you can see a daub of RTV that was added by the factory. I did the same thing when reassembling this.
It took a bit of work to get the new rear main seal in. At first I didn't use the included guide correctly (I tried folding it, which didn't work). I ended up tearing the rear main seal, as you can see here
I finally figured out how to use the guide correctly, and things went much smoother
Finally, I cleaned the oil pan
And put my bolts back in.
All in all it took me two days, working about 4 hours each. It wasn't a hard job, but it is intimidating, as it's farther in the engine than I've been before.
The end result is good - I do however have a very slight leak still. Nothing like the way it was before, but still enough to frustrate me a bit.
Started by removing the engine skid plate. This thing was covered with grime
I then pulled the oil pan out. This was the hardest part of the whole ordeal for me. My Jeep has a 1.5 inch body lift, and a low profile skid plate (essentially raising up the skid plate an inch or two. I had to disconnect the mini-cats (exhaust) at the engine, then allow the transmission skid to drop down, and I loosened the exhaust bolts next to the transmission. After all that I was able to get the oil pan out
You can see that I ended up getting oil and grime all over the exhaust. This thing smoked like crazy once I finally started it up.
I removed the bottom half of the rear main seal.
Here you can see a daub of RTV that was added by the factory. I did the same thing when reassembling this.
It took a bit of work to get the new rear main seal in. At first I didn't use the included guide correctly (I tried folding it, which didn't work). I ended up tearing the rear main seal, as you can see here
I finally figured out how to use the guide correctly, and things went much smoother
Finally, I cleaned the oil pan
And put my bolts back in.
All in all it took me two days, working about 4 hours each. It wasn't a hard job, but it is intimidating, as it's farther in the engine than I've been before.
The end result is good - I do however have a very slight leak still. Nothing like the way it was before, but still enough to frustrate me a bit.
JPNinPA
Well-known member
The top end is usually the dirty side. Would you agree?
Oil Vapors, high heat, crank case vapors, blow by, exhaust ..,
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up - Jesse Jackson
JPNinPA
Well-known member
The top end is usually the dirty side. Would you agree?
Oil Vapors, high heat, crank case vapors, blow by, exhaust ..,
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up - Jesse Jackson
I could feel some looseness in the steering which is always been a precursor to death wobble on my Jeep. I ordered up new tie rods and a new axle side track bar bushing from rockauto.com.
Everything went together well and I took it to Firestone for another lifetime alignment. The steering feels great now.
I ended up using tie rods from a Grand Cherokee (if memory serves). They are roughly the same price, but where the Wrangler's tie rods are hollow, the Grand Cherokee's tie rods are solid (and heavy). Definitely worth using these if you are replacing them.
Parts list:
MOOG DS1430 Tie Rod End
MOOG DS1312
MOOG ES3096L Tie Rod End x2
MOOG ES2079S Steering adjusting sleeve x2
MOOG K3176 Track bar bushing (works with my JKS track bar)
Total cost was $237.04
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Everything went together well and I took it to Firestone for another lifetime alignment. The steering feels great now.
I ended up using tie rods from a Grand Cherokee (if memory serves). They are roughly the same price, but where the Wrangler's tie rods are hollow, the Grand Cherokee's tie rods are solid (and heavy). Definitely worth using these if you are replacing them.
Parts list:
MOOG DS1430 Tie Rod End
MOOG DS1312
MOOG ES3096L Tie Rod End x2
MOOG ES2079S Steering adjusting sleeve x2
MOOG K3176 Track bar bushing (works with my JKS track bar)
Total cost was $237.04
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Last edited:
JPNinPA
Well-known member
That is correct for tj the cherokee is direct swap. I did it a few years ago and still liking it.
Only thing i dont like is the thin sleeve coupling on the system. Im not sure if hard bump makes it jump a thread. Check alignment often and after wheeling.
On your track bar measure the I.D. Of the axel side bushing. Get long enough bolts and a nut. Make sure the bolt barely fits no slop. Weld a flag on the nut then drill out axel rnd for a tighter fit.
Tighten to more than spec and you will not have issues with DW from the bushing going bad.
Once you tighten paint around the bolt head lightly. If it moves at all you will see snd know to tighten up more. Nailpolish chips nicely.
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up - Jesse Jackson
Only thing i dont like is the thin sleeve coupling on the system. Im not sure if hard bump makes it jump a thread. Check alignment often and after wheeling.
On your track bar measure the I.D. Of the axel side bushing. Get long enough bolts and a nut. Make sure the bolt barely fits no slop. Weld a flag on the nut then drill out axel rnd for a tighter fit.
Tighten to more than spec and you will not have issues with DW from the bushing going bad.
Once you tighten paint around the bolt head lightly. If it moves at all you will see snd know to tighten up more. Nailpolish chips nicely.
Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up - Jesse Jackson
Last edited:
Novak cable shifter install
For years now I've had difficulties putting the Jeep in four-wheel drive, and occasionally it would pop out of four low. The reason for this was that my body lift had thrown off the geometry of the stock transfer case linkage.
After some research I decided to install the Novak cable shifter. I managed to get a good deal on one new on eBay for $80.
To install it I had to drop the transmission skid plate, remove the stock linkage and install the new cable shifter. The install was more difficult than I expected, however it really only took a couple hours.
Here is the stock linkage:
And here is the new Linkage installed:
The transfer case now shifts easily. Much nicer than the factory linkage.
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For years now I've had difficulties putting the Jeep in four-wheel drive, and occasionally it would pop out of four low. The reason for this was that my body lift had thrown off the geometry of the stock transfer case linkage.
After some research I decided to install the Novak cable shifter. I managed to get a good deal on one new on eBay for $80.
To install it I had to drop the transmission skid plate, remove the stock linkage and install the new cable shifter. The install was more difficult than I expected, however it really only took a couple hours.
Here is the stock linkage:
And here is the new Linkage installed:
The transfer case now shifts easily. Much nicer than the factory linkage.
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I upgraded my brake lights and turn signals to LEDs. You can get the details here:
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LED lights (brake, turn and maker) for my Jeep TJ
I had gotten tired of the stock yellow marker lights, and red brake lights on my Jeep TJ, so decided to do a bit of an upgrade. I didn't want to spend a ton of money, as most LED packages are pretty expensive. This is how I upgraded my tail lights, and turn signals for less than most full...
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You'll need that 600 watt amp to hear the radio when running the soft top. I only have a soft top and continue to look for a reasonably priced used hard top to drown out the noise when on long treks.
Your Jeep is looking great and it looks like you still have some attachment points for more bolt on mods!
A mod I really wish I'd done early on is to install an S-POD. It would greatly simplify and clean up the wiring and control of supplemental electrical things like lights and a compressor that I have added over time or plan to add.
Thanks for all the photos!!
Your Jeep is looking great and it looks like you still have some attachment points for more bolt on mods!
A mod I really wish I'd done early on is to install an S-POD. It would greatly simplify and clean up the wiring and control of supplemental electrical things like lights and a compressor that I have added over time or plan to add.
Thanks for all the photos!!
I decided to add a winch to my Jeep, and went with the Apex 12,000 lb winch from harbor freight. I mounted that on top of a rough country winch plate. I haven't tried it out yet, but the build quality seems good.
I made sure to wire in the disconnect as well. The winch came with this Marine style disconnect that prevents 12 volts from going to the winch at all times. Feels like an added layer of safety to me and I like it.
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I made sure to wire in the disconnect as well. The winch came with this Marine style disconnect that prevents 12 volts from going to the winch at all times. Feels like an added layer of safety to me and I like it.
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superj
Well-known member
Nice. Looks great. I used the same plate but a tractor supply winch, back on my 87 yj. The omly time i ever used it was when i ran it out to make sure it worked everyonce in a while.
Hopefully you never have an emergency that requires its use but if you do, you are covered
Hopefully you never have an emergency that requires its use but if you do, you are covered
pbucc
New member
I ordered the same winch! It just came in today. Will be installing it this weekend. Jeep looks awesome!
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