Need some advice on my Project...

[DankstaVegas]

Well I better get some advice before I go out an spend all this money this Friday on stuff that I think I need...
 
Well as people have read in other posts I'm slowly working on my project jeep.  A 98' TJ.  I'll post some pictures of some of the interior work I'm doing as I progress a little more and get thing finished, see what people think and get some feed back on that.  

But right now I need feed back on my plans for a lift kit.  I'm getting to that point where I'll be stringing a lift kit under her.

Now since I'm fairly new to this whole wheeling and wrenching thing (But I have been learning lots these last few weeks) I need some advice and pointers to help guide me & help me decide the best way to go. .  

My ultimate goals are:

1)Have my jeep TJ sitting on 35's by next may long.
2)I would like to keep my costs down as much as I can.  
3)Would like to be able to have some fun and wheel with some of the bigger jeeps from the club, and forums.

The Jeep is a 98' TJ with a 2.5L/AX15 Dana 30/35 (I think).   :oops:

My plan I have come up with, which with my limited experience seems decent and seems to fit my price range (Unsure of how much the gears will cost though), but I'm sure it has many flaws.

 The Jeep dosen't need to handle perfect on road, since it will not  be a DD, but more of a toy.  It only needs to be able to travel to our limited wheeling spots.  

Plan:
-3.5" Rubicon Express Super Flex Lift Kit (Friday ??)
-2" Rubicon Express Coil Spacers (I already Have)
-New Shocks (This Winter)
-35" Rubber (This Winter)
-Rims (This Winter)
-1" Wheel Spacers (This Winter)
-Quick Disconnects (This Winter)
-New Gears (End of winter)
-Body Lift (Depends)
-Winch (This Spring)
-Winch mounting plate (This Spring)
-Front and Rear lockers (Summer/Next Winter)


Now here are my questions...

Will my stock axles hold up with the 35's?

Would I be better to go with a 2 or 3" Body lift instead of the coil spacers to clear the 35's?

What other things have I forgot about or should I expect to buy?

What kind of gears will I want for my stock axles to handle the 35's

What kind of Price am I looking at for gears for each axle?

Am I going in the right direction?  :roll:

What direction should I be going ?  :oops:

'Any feed back, input, or what ever else you would like to say is greatly appreciated, the good the bad the ugly….


When I get aroud to taking the pictures I have taken in I'll post some progress Pictures.

[cablesmurf]

Will my stock axles hold up with the 35's?

Not a chance

Would I be better to go with a 2 or 3" Body lift instead of the coil spacers to clear the 35's?

2" BL...no spacers or you'll need a SYE and new rear DS.

What other things have I forgot about or should I expect to buy?

If you're going to run 35's, ditch the spacers idea and get new 15x10 rims

What kind of gears will I want for my stock axles to handle the 35's

4:88's min, or 5:13's (if they make them?)

What kind of Price am I looking at for gears for each axle?

$1000 bux a piece at a shop (there are guys on here who'll do them cheaper (bnine)

Am I going in the right direction?  :roll:

No

What direction should I be going ?  :oops:

Sell your 4cyl and buy a 6 cyl...you'll thank me later

'Any feed back, input, or what ever else you would like to say is greatly appreciated, the good the bad the ugly….

Who are you callin' ugly??? :twisted:


When I get aroud to taking the pictures I have taken in I'll post some progress Pictures.

[apex]

Now here are my questions...

Will my stock axles hold up with the 35's?

Would I be better to go with a 2 or 3" Body lift instead of the coil spacers to clear the 35's?

What other things have I forgot about or should I expect to buy?

What kind of gears will I want for my stock axles to handle the 35's

What kind of Price am I looking at for gears for each axle?

Am I going in the right direction?  :roll:

What direction should I be going ?  :oops:

'Any feed back, input, or what ever else you would like to say is greatly appreciated, the good the bad the ugly….


When I get aroud to taking the pictures I have taken in I'll post some progress Pictures.

The D35 won't hold up
4.56 or 4.88 or higher is recommended
gears at a shop around $1k per axle. Talk to bnine.
1-2" BL on top of the 3.5 will clear 35's. sell the spacers.
budget for a unit bearing and front driveshaft replacement with 1yr.
get propper offset wheels and don't bother with the spacers
you forgot a SYE and new rear DS. again talk to bnine.
you could settle for 33's and save a little $. You'd still be able to just fine on the trails with "big rigs".

Just a few of my thoughts, I'm sure there will be others here soon.

[apex]

oh and like CSmf said... get the I6.

[Rookie]

Get the 4.5" super flex kit withe the 3.5 springs the 4.5" kit comes with all the right parts like adjustable upper control arms (need these to fix pinon angle)
the 3.5 springs will give u about 4 to 4.5 inches of lift  put in a 2" body lift and u will clear 35" tires . If u buy new rims with 3.75" back spacing u won't need wheel spacers . As for the axles holding up if u use a lighter tire and take it easy on the gas peddle u should be ok . U will also need a slip yoke eliminator and a rear c/v driveshaft unless u want to intsall a transfer skidplate lowering kit . U might want to consider leaving the gears alone till u get ur lockers so u don't have to pay to set them up twice the 2.5L came with 4.10 gears so it won't be great but it should be ok

HTH

Steve

[redbull]

2)I would like to keep my costs down as much as I can.

Since this is a toy, and the above was mentioned, have you thought much about cutting the tub? One of the magazines had a stock TJ on 35s by cutting a lot out of the rear, and I think they removed the front fenders. With a small lift and some trimming, you might have an easier time fitting those tires.

[Bnine]

You can get away with a 1 inch body lift and 35's if you want.

My favorite to work with is the jks 1.25inch.

Unlike some of the others, Im actually a fan of 2.5l TJ's. I like the reduced weight, and geared right they keep up pretty well with anything else out there.

On road they suck, but who cares for a toy.

If you havnt ordered your lift yet, or can still change your mind, take Steve's advice and get the 4.5SF with 3.5 springs. It will come with the disconnects as well.

Dont add spacers to those coils. They will be more then enough lift.

Definately try to get an SYE and CV shaft in that build plan. IMO, a super short sye is the only one worth putting in.

Its very unlikely you will break your axles with 35's being open open and about 115hp 4 banger.

Recommended gearing for a 4 banger on 35's is about 5.38's. Your stock axles would only go to 4.88 and you would still feel under powered.

Best you could do is find a set of wagoneer dana 44's for cheap, throw 5.38's and  lunch box lockers in them and go from there.

If you really want to keep cost down for now, avoid the 35's. 35's and low cost just dont go hand in hand.

Ditch the lift idea, keep your spacers,  put a small body lift in, 33's, lunch box lock front and rear, and go wheelin.

750$, plus tires and you are fit to go where pretty much anyone else is going.

[ramtuff]

Unlike some of the others, Im actually a fan of 2.5l TJ's. I like the reduced weight, and geared right they keep up pretty well with anything else out there.

On road they suck, but who cares for a toy.


Its very unlikely you will break your axles with 35's being open open and about 115hp 4 banger.

If you really want to keep cost down for now, avoid the 35's. 35's and low cost just dont go hand in hand.

X2

[DankstaVegas]

Thanks for all the replies and feed back, I'm glad I got around to asking this before I went and spent all that money.  

Well I decided to hold off on ordering any kind of lift kit right now.   Seems I have more to think about, before I do that….

Maybe I'm going about this project the wrong way.  Should I settle for 33"s to be able to run trails this spring, But in the long run end up losing because I know I really want to run 35's and it's just wasted money and time.  

  Maybe what I need to do is, get a 2" lift for the XJ, and some tires (to fill my need jeepin) , then begin looking for some axles for my TJ, and go from there….  

Best you could do is find a set of wagoneer dana 44's for cheap, throw 5.38's and lunch box lockers in them and go from there.

How much would a cheap decent set of wagoneer dana 44's be?

Here's a question for everyone… If you had $4000.00 to throw at this project over the winter, and your goal's were…

1)Have the Jeep on 35's

2)Keep the stock 2.5L, Transmission and t-case

3)And you have a $4000.00 Limit.  (But things can always be added or upgraded at a later date. That’s what a project is right)

How would you go about building this jeep?

[Bnine]

I would keep it low. Few reasons. Number 1, cost. Number 2, not having to half arse any of it.

Buy waggy axles, gear and lock them.

Trim flares, and add 1" of BL.

Put tires and rims under it and hit the trail.

Waggy axles (if you're lucky) 600$

Gears, installed, approx 1700

Aussie lockers, 750

Body lift 150

Trimming, free

Tires and rims, used, 1200

Puts you around 4400. But you should be able to get an easy 500 out of your stock axles, complete, from anyone looking for TJ 4.10's.

If I only had 4k to spend it would mostly go to drivetrain, especially if I wanted 35's.

Also, all the lift and tire in the world dont really do much when you are open open. Locking your diffs is probably the single most noticable mod you will do in any 4x4.

[Dragonmaster]

I'd stick with the 2" bb get a 1.25" jks BL and then run 33's with minimal rubbing.  Add some skid plates and 4.88 gears and a font locker and be good to go.