Farm Use TJ

[BullRun4x4]

After selling my JKUR on tons and 43’s I had a little FOMO since everyone got to go wheelin this year except for me. We’ve been so busy at the shop that I hadn’t had time to even think about what I wanted to build next.

Ironically enough, a customer sold me this super clean Jeep TJ that only had 42,000 miles on it for less than a week’s pay. I’ve been driving it around my ag property with farm use tags on it hence the name. #FarmUseTJ

I decided to call Dan & Hunter at Motobilt and have them send me some parts up from Alabama.

I sold the entire drivetrain, interior, axles, seats and more to a guy in NC a few months ago. Now I have a blank canvas to build the perfect TJ. I’ve spent a ton of time wheeling on the east coast and knew I wanted another LS-powered TJ on tons with a long wheelbase to do what I like to do.

So far I have 8 days of work into the build and hope to have it running and driving by the Show & Shine. We’ll see if I get anymore time to work on it. Here is the progress so far.

So far the build sheet consists of:

• 2015 Camaro SS LS3 w/ BTR Truck Norris cam
• Fully built Auto Trans Design TH400
• Behemoth Drivetrain D300 w/4:1
• Fusion 4x4 Elite Kingpin 60 & 40 spline 14 Bolt axles
• Motobilt TJ front & back half kits
• Motobilt TJ 4 link kit
• Motobilt blank rear corner armor
• Artec Industries trusses & link mounts
• Poison Spyder LaserFit cage (to be modified)
• 43” Mickey Thompson Baja Pro X stickies
• Raceline Beadlocks
• Off-road Fiberglass TJ highline hood
• PSC full hydro steering
  

 

[OneArmedSaint]

Looks great Mike. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[BullRun4x4]

I figured its been over a year since I updated the post... It's time for another. The Jeep got moved home from work so now I can start tinkering on it in the evenings when I'm doing tinkering on everyone else's Jeeps. lol

This is how it started out a year and a half ago...

Then I separated the tub from the frame and did a Motobilt front half and back half kit along with their single triangulated 4 link kit with Wide Open Design aluminum links.

I found an LS3 in a buddy's chicken coop in Clifton... he said I could have it for $500 bucks. It only had 15,000 miles on it and when we opened it up, it looked brand new inside, SCORE!

I scored a Behemoth D300 with 4:1 t-case from Cam Beasley out of his Toyota competition rock buggy too. I called Charlie at Auto Trans Design and he built me a bulletproof TH400 with reverse manual valve body and engine braking.

I used my CAD (Cardboard Assisted Design) skills to make some filler plates and then blend the Motobilt sliders into the rear corners.

Then we had to test the suspension and decide on if we wanted to make it a monster truck or a regular rock crawler lol

Hand cut the rear corner armer to the radius of the 43 stickies...

Now it’s time to get back to working on it since I moved it home. Maybe this time next year it will be ready for a debut at the NVJA Show & Shine...

 

[3VOLVE]

Nice build, but that garage is WOW!

 

[highlandercj-7]

Looking sweet Mike. Digging that drop & power.

 

[BullRun4x4]

Nice build, but that garage is WOW!

Thanks. Its a work in progress. HVAC, insulation and drywall are all being installed next week. Hope to have it fully done here within a week or two!

 

[BullRun4x4]

Not sure why none of my previous pic uploads/links are not working.

Anyway, I got a little bit of work done in December now that my home shop is finished.

I used SendCutSend.com to design a bracket to mount my PSC reservoir next to the brake booster.

I got pretty much all of the steering setup. PSC sent me the wrong sized hose for the -8AN PushLok fittings so I couldn’t finish the full hydro install last week. The correct hose just arrived yesterday via Brown Santa. I’ll get that wrapped up today. I made a bracket and welded it to the shock hoop to mount the rollover/anti-splash valve to. It’s nice and clean.

I have all the ORIs mounted and started working out a few kinks with the mounting/orientation of the Schrader valves on the struts.

I’m going to try and get the fuel system plumbed today or tomorrow if we have a snow day. Then it’s making all the braided steel AN brake lines after that.

Oh and I think I need some 90 degree Schrader valves for the ORIs. I measured once and cut twice on the shock tabs on the axle. I need to fix that before I can fill the ORIs. Doh!

Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[spnkzyj]

Shop looks great.

I’m moving into mine 2/1. Won’t be nearly that nice as I am trying to figure out how to split my shop between wood shop and metal shop. Really want to find room for a plasma table

Related note, I’ve heard ORIs are not good for street. Do you know why? I’m thinking on a 4000lb YJ I might be able to get away with it in the front but I want to see the YJ get a ton of street use too.

 

[Spaz]

I don't know if I missed it posted above... what is the new wheel base? Looking fantastic. You gonna come wheeling with use when its done?

 

[BullRun4x4]

I don't know if I missed it posted above... what is the need wheel base? Looking fantastic. You gonna come wheeling with use when its done?

It’s set at 118”.

I used the same wheelbase as my tan JKU as it just worked perfectly on the trail. It was just too heavy for the 3.6L after it was built.

You betcha that we’ll go wheeling once it’s done. All my friends in the Black Goats sold their rigs and got out of wheeling so it’s time to find a new posse to cruise with.

 

[BullRun4x4]

Shop looks great.

I’m moving into mine 2/1. Won’t be nearly that nice as I am trying to figure out how to split my shop between wood shop and metal shop. Really want to find room for a plasma table

Related note, I’ve heard ORIs are not good for street. Do you know why? I’m thinking on a 4000lb YJ I might be able to get away with it in the front but I want to see the YJ get a ton of street use too.

Thanks!

For the ORI’s on the street, it just depends on what pressures you decide to run in them. I ran them on my red TJ buggy on the street without any sway bars and it was a handful to drive. This Jeep won’t see the street but I’m going to do a RockJock TJ rear sway bar on it to keep it from flopping over on its side on the off camber stuff since I like to run lower pressures for a plusher ride on the trail.

 

[Spaz]

You betcha that we’ll go wheeling once it’s done. All my friends in the Black Goats sold their rigs and got out of wheeling so it’s time to find a new posse to cruise with.

Hell yeah... that's what I'm talking about!

 

[jdavis2nd]

All my friends in the Black Goats sold their rigs and got out of wheeling so it’s time to find a new posse to cruise with.

Shots fired

 

[BullRun4x4]

Shots fired

John, I don’t think we’ve wheeled together since before COVID. Or wait… maybe it was when Abraham Lincoln was president.

 

[jdavis2nd]

John, I don’t think we’ve wheeled together since before COVID. Or wait… maybe it was when Abraham Lincoln was president.

It was at least once after COVID . Soon though, even though my little jeep won't be able to keep up with yours.

 

[spnkzyj]

Thanks!

For the ORI’s on the street, it just depends on what pressures you decide to run in them. I ran them on my red TJ buggy on the street without any sway bars and it was a handful to drive. This Jeep won’t see the street but I’m going to do a RockJock TJ rear sway bar on it to keep it from flopping over on its side on the off camber stuff since I like to run lower pressures for a plusher ride on the trail.

Once I get setup in the new place my goal is to go cil over front and stay leaf in the rear to help with off camber stuff. Not opposed to front sway bar. Rear will eventually get slider boxes I think.

I’m not ready to go full off road rig. It’s the one thing I like better than racing. With racing I got a few hours a year behind the wheel. I enjoy jumping in on a random day and driving it to work, but want to push the street ability.

My problem now is the guys I typically wheel with have jumped so far ahead in capability, I’m struggling to keep up. Stupid peer pressure.

The real question now is if I want to try and make the D30 keep working or build a 44 before or after the coil swap. If I go 44 then I need to regear the rear to 4.88 or 5.13 cause I’m sure 37s will happen shortly after.

 

[Spaz]

The real question now is if I want to try and make the D30 keep working or build a 44 before or after the coil swap. If I go 44 then I need to regear the rear to 4.88 or 5.13 cause I’m sure 37s will happen shortly after.

Just my opinion... if you're sticking with a 37 or 38 tire and you want an affordable solution, I would get some JL/JT Rubicon take off 44s. I have the factory axles on my Gladiator and I am running 40" tires. The stock axles will handle a 38" no issues. Plus, Rubicon take offs will include the front and rear lockers.

 

[sjalkian]

Interesting that you are going with a rear sway bar with the ORIs. I run 110 in the bottom of my ORIs on all 4 corners and I'm still pretty stable on extreme off camber stuff. Although I am still running a stretch gas tank downlow at 103" wheelbase on tons and 40s so I likely have a little more weight downlow. Otherwise our rigs are very similar outside of wheelbase and tire size. Jeep is looking great and I'm glad to see you are no longer selling.

 

[R3]

My problem now is the guys I typically wheel with have jumped so far ahead in capability, I’m struggling to keep up. Stupid peer pressure.

I find running with folks that have more capable rigs or more talent a great learning experience. One of the things I love about being a trail lead/guide is helping folks with what they deem less capable rigs do things they did not think were possible. It is all about problem solving sometimes that comes with a winch, moving rocks, and a little help from you friends. build the rig for what you want to do. there are always folks out there that build bigger and more capable rigs... it comes down to $$$$$ work within you budget and build for you not to keep up with the Jones's.
I have been wheeling with all kinds of rigs, that ones that impress me the most are those with limited modification. I know of one CJ-7 build on a budget wheeled with care has gone everywhere the big Red Jeep went. Kinda makes you wonder why we spend so much money on big axles, tires, and suspensions, when a rig on simple leaf springs lockers and 35 inch tires follow along. In many cases makes the challenge easer due to it size.

Your YJ is coming along nicely. don't sell it short. some modification and it will go most anywhere a big tire monster will.

Cheers

 

[spnkzyj]

You spoiled me. LOL. Nobody wants to get out and spot unless there is a true spot required. HA.

You are right though.