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Comments
Anyway added a Mopar hardtop, bigger tires etc soon after. If the main purpose is as a daily driver , with minimal off roading, I see lot of College kids here in LA with 4 cylinder softop Wranglers with the same intent of use as you probably have and they are having a blast, and these guys only paid $16,000 for their Wrangler SE with airconditioning, If I did not need the towing capability and bigger tires, a 150 hp 2.5 liter OHC SE would have sufficed. However the 4 cyl. probably only gets an extra 1 mpg.
A writeup for dropping your gas tank can be found here, as part of a gas tank skid plate install.
I have done it myself (not the fuel pump and gaskets), and I did it TOTALLY solo and had no issues with doing so.
As far as cleaning the fuel injectors, try the STP engine/gas treatment for cleaning fuel injectors. I'd also run some Techron through your system. That may help get things clean enough. If it is an issue after that, THEN consider going to an independent to have the fuel injectors cleaned.
-Paul
-Paul
-Paul
I'm probably going to stick with 31's. They'll stuff in the fenders just fine and I don't have to worry about rubbing.
-Paul
To me, anything larger than a 32" tire, is probably too big for my use. I daily drive it a LOT more than I take it offroad, so streetability is very important to me. With my smaller tires, I just have to be more judicious in the line I take and be smart with the gas pedal.
I came away from the day with ZERO damage, just a lot of dust and a bit of mud.
-Paul
Also dont forget the price of the 06 jeeps are going up. So if you do get an 05 this should help up the resale price if you decide to sell in a couple of years. (just my 2 cent, and if the 06 price increase does not help up resale value please dont yell at me.)
P.S.
Tom, you are completey correct about a jeep in college. I had an unpractical jeep in school and you are right about things getting stolen and the gas :surprise: , but from experience it was worth it. We took her mudd'n in the fall and winter (corn fields and such, not much to do in indiana) and then camping in the spring and summer. Some of the best memories of my life.
Good luck in your decision making.
How high is that lift? I'm thinking budget 3" for mine but yours looks really balanced.
(For the record, I drove an '81 Chevy Monte Carlo in college.)
-Mike
Tom, you are completey correct about a jeep in college. I had an unpractical jeep in school and you are right about things getting stolen and the gas , but from experience it was worth it. We took her mudd'n in the fall and winter (corn fields and such, not much to do in indiana) and then camping in the spring and summer. Some of the best memories of my life.
I have no body lift at this time.
-Paul
Some people do not like them. The passenger mirror can be hard to see if you have soft upper doors. I love them personally. Some states do not require mirrors outside, but after living in Cali, I can't go w/o em.
-Paul
Helpful hint: If you do decide to buy a hoist from IMC. Decide what you want to do with the top after it's off (i.e. I've got a dolly I put mine on to push in the corner of the garage). If you're just gonna pull it up to the ceiling of the garage, everythings fine with what you normally order. If you're gonna drop it down to the floor, and move it around like I do, be sure and ask them to supply you with the extra cable you'll need to retract it to the floor. Otherwise, you'll only get enough cable to pull it up to the ceiling of your garage!
Let me know what you decide to do!
Scott Y
LOL...I went through 3 beaters in college: '78 Ford Granada, '86 Plymouth Horizon, '87 Dodge Shadow. The chicks were not flocking to any of those cars
Good things come to those who wait, right? It took me quite a few years but I've got my Jeep. Still waiting on the chicks though :P
-Dan
Is there a law in cali saying we must have doors and mirrors? What about the other states.
Kind of a bummer, but we can always lobby for motorcycles to have doors too...
While I'm all for a reduction in legislation, I find it hard to argue against this one. So many times people have performed inane maneuvers in front of, or to the side of me, without using the mirrors they do have, that I can't justify lobbying for the legal removal of them (on road at any rate).
Noticed you haven't had any suggestions from the group; I'd guess it's because we've tended to leave the exhaust system standard and put money into other mods. I can't offer any suggestions as to what you might consider adding, but I'd recommend against the types of large diameter exhausts which are popular on the little "jazzed up" Japanese cars! :P
Also because the question is so subjective. Whatever sounds great, cool, wicked, whatever, to me almost certainly won't to anyone else.
Will this sound/look/feel good, is as hard to answer as are the questions about mysterious noises.
However, questions about what won't sound/look/feel good, are much easier for some reason................like the 'coffee can' exhaust, the rear wing spoiler, the lowering kit, the 22" 'dubs' with low profile tires etc., etc.
Wow! I can only imagine what gifted "Photo-editor" could fabricate given your list of mods for a Wrangler! Hopefully no real Jeeps would have to be harmed that way! And don't forget spinners!
Have had my Unlimited (named "Hawk" in memory of my cousin) for about a month now and have started lookin at lifts to obviously fit larger tires to get more clearance off road. Would like to run 32s at the most since, just like Paul said above, I do way too much daily driving and not enough wheelin'.
Paul that OME lift looks like a winner. How do those HD shocks ride on the road? How was the install and did you need a major alignment after?
What lifts do you all think fit the following:
1. would like to do this install with a couple of buds so ease of install is key
2. fit 32s to 33s on stock offset rims (15" ravine wheels)
3. reasonable cost
4. great performance on/off road
Thanks as always for all the help!
I came upon it a little over years ago with a for-sale sign in the window on NAS Pensacola. My wife and I had just gotten married and we needed a second vehicle. I assumed that my wife would take over the keys to my 00 Jetta, and this would be my new ride. Turns out, next to a red Lamborghini Countach, she'd dreamed of owning a black Jeep since she was a girl. It's a Sport model, 4.0L 5spd, black with a tan top/interior. I didn't know that until after I surprised her with it. BTW, my wife is 5'4" and sits comfortably in the Jeep. It had been used as a commuter, had 55K highway miles, not a speck of mud underneath, no-name 225/75R15 all-season tires, and a top which had deteriorated in the intense Florida sunshine. There was not a scratch on the paint, save a little ding on the hood, probably from a foul ball at a little league game. It had air conditioning and cruise control, two options I didn't even know were available in TJs. After two days of haggling, I brought it home for $11,500. Within a week the fairly new cheap tires were removed, given to a friend, and replaced with 31" BFG All-Terrains. 5th gear became a memory. Six months later the ragged top was replaced with a Bestop Sailcloth top with tinted windows. A year later we were transferred to SoCal, and after pulling a 2,000 lb cargo trailer cross-country in 3rd and 4th gear, I decided some modifications had to be made. While I was living in Oceanside, I made a trip to Drivetrain Direct where they rebuilt the axles, swapping out the pathetic 3.07 gears with awesome 4.10 gears. I got my overdrive back. While they were at it I had then throw in an ARB air locker in the rear. I'd gotten very stuck once in Pensacola in some muck along the Escambia River (couldn't even see the right front tire) and swore it would not happen again. While I was installing the ARB air compressor (they wouldn't mess with that), I also threw in a driver-controlled Air-Lift airbag system to stiffen up the rear suspension. Suddenly I had a TJ which liked to tow. Crazy. Add an Alpine CD player (now in its third vehicle), black billet grill inserts, an insta-trunk and a K&N filter, and that's pretty much how it sits. Though coil spacers (to level the front) and a Banks header are in the near future. And I'm tempted to bid on a set of Rubicon wheels which people are always selling on ebay.
Now living in NC, with a growing family and commuting to PA to visit our parents every couple months, we decided we needed a bigger vehicle. So when I got back from Iraq last year I spent all the money I'd saved after 1) not being anywhere I could spend it and 2) not paying taxes, on a Yukon XL. But I couldn't bear to get rid of the Jeep. I told my wife I wouldn't get what it's worth on a trade, but would have better luck selling it privately. A year later it's still in my garage, mostly collecting dust but getting driven on the occasional weekend. I never even attempted to sell it. Every now and then I'll toss my 90 lb black lab in and head down to the beach, driving right up to the surf. Then we get back, I pull the drain plugs and hose the dog hair and sand out. It's not that I don't want to drive it more often. Problem is I'm a Marine Pilot and never home. Right now I'm writing you from my stateroom on the USS Kearsarge, in the middle east.
Everybody tells me to sell it; it's stupid to have three vehicles, even if two of them are paid off. I just love that Jeep. They're special vehicles. I had a CJ-5 in college, which by the way was a total piece of crap, but very cool. Chicks definitely dig Jeeps. In high school I drove an 84 Marquis with faded paint and wire-spoked hubcaps. I'm pretty confident that whatever action I got in high school was not because of my ride, but in spite of my ride. I have this idea of holding onto the Jeep for my boy. I'd probably do him better by selling the Jeep and putting it in a mutual fund, but there's just something about inheriting a rock-solid Jeep that's been cared for since it was nearly new. I have high-school and college age cousins who just drool over the thing, barely interested in the fully-loaded Yukon sitting next to it. As soon as I parked the new SUV in my driveway, three of my neighbors asked how much I wanted for the Jeep, assuming it was for sale. It was not. I'm pretty sure my son will be driving it off to college. Just hope I can hold onto it that long.
Oh by the way, he's 8 months old.
-Chris">
<img src="http://www.chrisandjill.zoomshare.com/album/jeep/images/0387c5ec657d0101f7c2218719148b71_11199630250
1. Get new wheels with less backspacing (around 4.25 or so). Tomster has American Racing steel wheels and cost like 50.00 apiece. You could sell your Ravines on eBay.
or
2. Get hubcentric wheel spacers to effectively change your backspacing. SpyderTrax and WierdHarolds are the ONLY ones I would recommend. There may be a question of legality on the road though. Many tire places won't mount tires on em either.
For either of those lifts, you could get the 2.5" lift I got and you could add a 1" body lift and motor mount lift. The body lift will help prevent rubbing with the 32's or 33's. The motor mount lift would help alter your driveline angle a bit so you would not need a transfer case drop. If you have an Unlimited, the t-case drop probably wouldn't even be needed.
My OME setup has the HD shocks up in front and the HD shocks for the Unlimited in back. Tom commented that my TJ had a bit of a rake to it and I thought about it later, realizing I had Unlimited shocks/springs in back. Makes sense anyway. The OME lift is not the least expensive out there by any means. My setup was 649, but if you got the body/motor mount lift I think it is 835, and DOES include a set of JKS Quicker Disconnects for your front sway bar (I already had em). I got it from DPG Offroad and dealt with Dirk. Incredible guy!
As for performance offroad, I mentioned before that I ran the trails everybody else did and they either had lockers and/or a bigger lift. No problems. And you can see the flex. That was only a partial flex. It goes farther. For a great balance of onroad/offroad performance, I LOVE my OME! Even my wife, who does not like riding in the Jeep much, comments how much better it rides. If she compliments it, it MUST be good.
The ride on the road is not harsh at all. When I would hit potholes or go over railroad tracks before I would get that bone jarring feeling. With these OME's, the shocks absorb them SO much better. I still feel the bumps, but the wheels/tires are in much better contact with the road and I don't get the bone jarring going on. It is not a harsh ride, other than the fact it is a short wheel base. The Jeep feels like it is in much better control of things. It was a bit squirrelly before. I HIGHLY recommend this lift.
The one thing I did after the fact that I wish I did when I first did the lift was the JKS bar pin Eliminators. OME uses a weak C-clip to hold the shock on the bar pin. The JKS BPE's have blocks on either side and squeeze the shock and bushing together and there is NO room to wiggle. You'll just need to purchase a 5/8" internal diameter washer from Lowe's or Home Depot to eliminate the slight gap. No biggie. You may also want to change out the allen bolts they use for Grade 5 or 8 bolts to make installation easier.
-Paul
I enjoyed reading your story about your Jeep. You are smart to hang onto it!
You stay safe out there, as you perform your duties. We civilians appreciate you military folks. We know we owe our security to your vigilance, your competence, and your bravery. Thank you!
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
They say BMW has an aura about them.. some people don't get it. Jeeps are even more so...
-Paul
Now that I have the option I am hesitating. I have liked Solar Yellow since around 99 when I saw it on an Xterra and I still love it but only on the Xterra, Jeep and sportscars. My only concern is the potential for the color to wear on me. Does the yellow have the staying power or is it still under the umbrella of "fad colors". While I dont intend to sell the Jeep, I still prefer to not have color be a negative.
I am thinking Yellow will make more of a fun splash with me at the start. Black is less exciting but also pretty safe as I like black on any vehicle.
So what is the verdict on yellow...tonka truck tough or college fad? I know, I know, go with what I enjoy and who cares.
Decisions, decisions.
If you want to keep your Ravines and don't like the idea of wheel spacers ( I don't trust those things myself ), then you must stick with tires no wider than 10.50". I know BFG makes a 33 x 10.50 tire, but last I heard they don't make a 32 x 10.50. Not sure if anyone makes a 32 x 10.50.
Because the amount of lift you need depends on the size tire you will be running, it would be good to settle down on a particular tire size first.
The higher the lift, the more the driveline angle change you will be introducing on your Jeep. With the extra wheelbase of the Unlimited, you will be able to lift a little higher without getting vibes than would be the case for the standard wheelbase Wrangler. You will still reach a point somehwere, if you go high enough, that makes your U-joints operate outside of their designed angle range, and then will need to make corrections. It will just be a matter of trying it out to see if there are vibrations.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I don't think you are being "anal" or anything in making such a big deal of color. That would be just about my top priority, too. And, like you said, you need to be sure you will be happy with that choice for years to come.
Keith, it was pretty easy for me. I saw a white Jeep with a black hard top and the Canyon wheels back in the summer of 2000. I was IN LOVE! I knew from that moment that when I got my Jeep, it would be white with a black top.
Well, months later, it was time to place my factory order. The only problem was that Silverstone Metallic was looking AWFUL good to me by then. As impatient as I was to get my Jeep ordered, I still had them wait one day after agreeing on the deal before I let them place the order. I had to have a day to consider white vs silver. I decided to stick with my first love, and I have never regretted it.
I understand what you are thinking when you say you are afraid the yellow might just be a "fad" color that you would later regret having. Any color that is not one of the old "standard" colors, like black, white, red, blue, etc., has the potential of being that way.
I have a regular Jeep bud who bought the solar yellow and still loves it just as much as he did when he bought the Jeep about a year and a half ago.
Good luck, Keith, and please keep us posted on your progress.
Tomster
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I personally think the Yellow jeep with all black trim looks incredible Other Jeep colors I like: Red, Blue, Green, and White. The Solar Yellow and the Inca Gold are the only other colors I like in Jeeps.
Here's a nice one owned by one of the guys at DPGOffroad:
-Paul
tidester, host
That OME/JKS pkg sounds appealing. What about driveline vibes - would I need to install a CV driveshaft and SYE? How easy was the install and would the motor mount/body lift be fairly straighforward?
Tom,
I'd like to keep the Ravines for now since there is nothing wrong with them and run 33 x10.5s (looks like my best bet is the above mentioned combo)
Thanks again!
A body lift is very straightforward. A hilift jack would greatly help to jack up the body while the frame sits on the suspension. There are a LOT of writeups about it on the net. www.4x4xplor.com has EXCELLENT writeups, as does www.stu-offroad.com.
33x10.5 will probably be an expensive tire as it is NOT a common size, though it is made. But it will look great, esp on an Unlimited!
-Paul
My '74 CJ-5 ran great for the 4 or 5 years that I had it; the top was in shreds, but it was mechanically sound.
If the link for your pic won't work, email the photo to me or Tidester and we'll try to post it for you.
Steve, Host
Two otherwise identical jeeps.
One has dual top and is 700 more.
The other has Trak-Lok, 4 wheel disc brakes, security and compass/temp package and is 700 less.
Hard to know how important a hard top is until I spend a winter in my Wrangler. The option would be nice as I know it costs around 1700 to add later...but 700 dollars Trak-Lok and especially disc brakes would be nice.
Do I take door number 1, or door number 2? Yes, I am obsessing....I am still debating whether to take a chance on losing rebates and waiting for yellar.
I'm so excited about it and hopefully we (my mom and I) can get this to work out financially for me. I have considered all the possible problems with the Wrangler for college. Gas mileage isn't really a problem because its no better or worst than what I'd be gettin with my grand cherokee. Theft will be a problem that I will really have to think about and consider. But as far as the theft goes I'll just have to be careful with what I leave in there. Thanks again to all for the help.... I'll be in touch with the future info on the Wrangler, hopefully I'll know in the next week...
If you have a hard top, it is pretty much on. You can't drop it in the middle of the day (unless you are where you can store it). I find it flexible to have the soft top.
If you have to pick between those two, I'd go with the one with Trak-Lok and have just the one top.
Good luck with any decision you make. Regardless of color, you'll be happy to be in a Wrangler!
-Paul
RE 3.5 inch Superflex lift
1 Body Lift
driveline angles are OK, no vibrations.
no rubbing on tires
sorry for the short message,, i'm on my lunch break.
jeff
feel free to email me,, I'd be happy to send pics ect,, or if you look at my past messages I''ve posted pics of what the unlimited looks like with 33s
Well it sounds to me like you are a master debater. :P
Go w/ the Trak-Lok, 4 wheel disc brakes, security and compass/temp package and is 700 less. The soft top is not that bad in the winter.
Just my 2 cents.
Indiana does also, but only if you have it as a restriction on your drivers licence. :confuse: Loop Hole of some sort.
It seems to have quit raining in Chicago area for good, moderate to severe drought, I can leave my top down with impunity.
As for color. I agree with Tom, if yellow is what you want, try everything to get it. I wanted red, I like a lot of the other colors (some better than red) but if I was buying another, I would get red.
Terry
I realize even asking that may subject me to a flogging, but I have a Grand Cherokee and love being able to engage the full-time 4wd anytime I want. I'm sure Command-Trac is probably better for serious off-roading, but I doubt I'll do that very often. I just want the fun of driving a Wrangler again but hesitate to give up my full-time 4wd.
Thanks for your input.
Great story! And I don't see a problem since your son is already so close to driving age! (Just ask him in a few years!) I'm sure you would make "Dad-of-the-Year" for many years if you're able to fulfill your (and your son's) dream!
Also need to reiterate the wishes already expressed for your safety.
Thanks for your service. It's guys like you that let guys like me celebrate July 4th.
Terry
I have the moab wheels and 31"tires for my unlimited but I thought the size was 16x8. Are you saying I can put 10.5 wide tires on the moab wheels?
On that note then, will I be able to get away with budget lift with 33's?
I'd love to see a comparison page where we can click a lift and tire size and see a jeep model showing us what the vehicle will look like after mods. Shouldn't be that hard you think? Sounds like a money maker if it ain't out already.