Well, I didn't think my measly amount of work would do for a build thread, but oh well, who cares.
Here she was the day after I brought her home.
I quickly dumped the old 31's that day and put on a spare set of 33's I had
Now fast forward a year or so later and 120 miles a day back and forth to work. Transmission blows up, so in starts going the parts I've collected.
Now my goal here is to keep a reasonable DD but still able to pound it out on the trails and make it home. I wanted very little or no lift and 36-38" tires to make up for clearance.
I got a deal on some 38x12.5x16.5" TSL's. Another deal on the 8-lug rims pictured ($20 for all 4) and my tire choice was set. Now just had to make them fit.
First went in the 14ff, rebuild with 5.13's and detroit. To match is a rebuilt D44 with alloy shafts, warn premiums, 5.13's and an ARB.
And that's how she sits now. Axles are in and driving (no brakes yet). Tires stuff good with driveway testing and so far can't see any rubbing. Will test more once she's drivable again.
Last week picked up a running drivetrain. Good 350/sm465/np208. I just needed the clutch hardware to mate up to an NV4500 I had from a craigslist deal a few months ago. I'll rebuild the 350 with vortec heads, edelbrock intake, flattops, new rods, pins, cam, roller rockers, etc... All crap I've collected off ebay, but in good shape. So plan will be rebuild 350/NV4500/NP208. I should be starting on the drivetrain swap in about 2wks.
Anyways, this is how she sits now. Getting my new rotors for front and rear, rebuilding 2 sets of calipers tomorrow and she'll be drivable again at low speeds (only 1st and reverse are working in the current tranny).
As you can see, pretty much what I was aiming at. Good clearance with big tires, strong axles and a good (soon to be) drivetrain with OD for highway driving, but still more than capable off-road when I want it to be.
And I wasn't planning on a soft top, but found one in good shape for a not-so-bad price and had to have it
Any ideas are appreciated. I'm not opposed to a small lift, but probably not over 2" or so. Troopers are pretty nasty around here about getting you for small crap like that. I've even had one refuse to let me continue to drive down the road in my old jeep cherokee with 6.5" lift on 35's because he said it wasn't legal for Virginia highways. Want to keep this one capable and inconspicuous, yet still a lot of fun.
Here she was the day after I brought her home.
I quickly dumped the old 31's that day and put on a spare set of 33's I had
Now fast forward a year or so later and 120 miles a day back and forth to work. Transmission blows up, so in starts going the parts I've collected.
Now my goal here is to keep a reasonable DD but still able to pound it out on the trails and make it home. I wanted very little or no lift and 36-38" tires to make up for clearance.
I got a deal on some 38x12.5x16.5" TSL's. Another deal on the 8-lug rims pictured ($20 for all 4) and my tire choice was set. Now just had to make them fit.
First went in the 14ff, rebuild with 5.13's and detroit. To match is a rebuilt D44 with alloy shafts, warn premiums, 5.13's and an ARB.
And that's how she sits now. Axles are in and driving (no brakes yet). Tires stuff good with driveway testing and so far can't see any rubbing. Will test more once she's drivable again.
Last week picked up a running drivetrain. Good 350/sm465/np208. I just needed the clutch hardware to mate up to an NV4500 I had from a craigslist deal a few months ago. I'll rebuild the 350 with vortec heads, edelbrock intake, flattops, new rods, pins, cam, roller rockers, etc... All crap I've collected off ebay, but in good shape. So plan will be rebuild 350/NV4500/NP208. I should be starting on the drivetrain swap in about 2wks.
Anyways, this is how she sits now. Getting my new rotors for front and rear, rebuilding 2 sets of calipers tomorrow and she'll be drivable again at low speeds (only 1st and reverse are working in the current tranny).
As you can see, pretty much what I was aiming at. Good clearance with big tires, strong axles and a good (soon to be) drivetrain with OD for highway driving, but still more than capable off-road when I want it to be.
And I wasn't planning on a soft top, but found one in good shape for a not-so-bad price and had to have it
Any ideas are appreciated. I'm not opposed to a small lift, but probably not over 2" or so. Troopers are pretty nasty around here about getting you for small crap like that. I've even had one refuse to let me continue to drive down the road in my old jeep cherokee with 6.5" lift on 35's because he said it wasn't legal for Virginia highways. Want to keep this one capable and inconspicuous, yet still a lot of fun.
