It's not purple, it's deep amythyst pearl

[ajmorell]

I've been around here for a while, just never really got around to putting together a build thread.

Started its life as a stock 98 Laredo SE. 4.0/242/42re.






After about a year or so I picked up a 2" BB and threw that on. A few months later I picked up a set of 31" Trxus MTs on Mickey Thompson Classic IIs.




I only wheeled it once on that setup at Silver Lake.

[JBN311]

Silver Lake is a badass place....only problem is it's nice to me.
out of the 2 times I've been there....
1. Hydrolocked Engine.
2. Bent front axle....
3. hope this summer will be better!

Nice Rig so far!

[ajmorell]

I got sick of the BB real quick. Over the next school year I managed to pick up some Teraflex coils and a few other odds and ends that would give me a little more lift.





I wheeled this setup at GSMW 07.




Over the summer I picked up a few things. I upgraded from the crappy DT3000s to RE monotubes, picked up RE adjustable control arms, JKS trackbars and also ditched the Mickey Thomspon Classic IIs for some black steelies I got off Craigslist for cheap. I took another trip down to the Badlands at the end of the summer.

[ajmorell]

I haven't done a whole lot in the last year really. I spent a week or so during Christmas break replacing my tranny and haven't had money for much else. I picked up KOR's HD X-member and just recently picked up some 285/70/17 BFG KM2s. I also have a hp30/8.8 sitting in my garage but I haven't had the time or the money to do much with either yet.

Here are a few pics from GSMW 2008, this is right before I got my KM2s.

[ajmorell]

And here are the KM2s. I also won the Ultimate Air setup this year...which I was pretty stoked about.





I know that bungee cord isn't the best way of having that tank mounted...it is strictly temporary.

[ajmorell]

Here are some random pictures from up at school and stuff over the last couple of years.

[ajmorell]

Next week it will down at JCR. I'm going to have them fix the KOR X-Member support that I mangled and install their 1-ton steering setup. I'm hoping to have at least my axle swaps completed by this time next year (hp30 w/ 4.56s, 8.8 w/ 4.56s locked) and possibly by the end of next summer have Clayton's installed.

[Jeeperoni91]

are those KM2's on 17 inch rim?

[ELLLLLIOTTTTT]

Looks good dude. Wheeling like a broke-ass college kid is the ONLY way to wheel!

[SirFuego]

Is that a Paragon flag in some of those pics? Or do they have similar flags at the Badlands now that Kyle and Steph own it?

[ajmorell]

are those KM2's on 17 inch rim?

Yeah, 285/70/17s.....I couldn't wait for the 15" and 16" sizes to come out.

Looks good dude. Wheeling like a broke-ass college kid is the ONLY way to wheel!

For sure. The only problem is when you break shit and don't have the money to fix it.

Is that a Paragon flag in some of those pics? Or do they have similar flags at the Badlands now that Kyle and Steph own it?

No, it is a Badlands flag.



Also, just an update.....the ZJ is currently down at JCR to have a little work done. I'm having them fix the supporting arm on my KOR HD X-Member and install 1-Ton steering. I probably could have done the steering install myself, but I woulda had to buy a reamer which is $40 and since they only charge $70 to install I had no reason not to have them do it.

[MotoX5874]

Next week it will down at JCR. I'm going to have them install their 1-ton steering setup. I'm hoping to have at least my axle swaps completed by this time next year (hp30 w/ 4.56s, 8.8 w/ 4.56s locked) and possibly by the end of next summer have Clayton's installed.

sounds like my plans exactly. i have an hp30 sitting in my basement but im too broke to buy anything for it lol. but it looks good man. hopefully we can wheel together eventually, since we're both in mi!

[Ultimate Air]

And here are the KM2s. I also won the Ultimate Air setup this year...which I was pretty stoked about.





I know that bungee cord isn't the best way of having that tank mounted...it is strictly temporary.

Congrats on winning the Ultimate Air System Andy! I'm running a sale right now in the Vendor Forum which should help you out on the price a little.
Click HERE for the link to the post! Make sure you get that tank mounted...

-Brian

[dirty]

sounds like my plans exactly. i have an hp30 sitting in my basement but im too broke to buy anything for it lol. but it looks good man. hopefully we can wheel together eventually, since we're both in mi!

Just some food for thought on gear ratios if you haven't made up your mind(s)...if running the I6 I would strongly consider 4.88s if you ever want to run 35s.

I know because I run them...I6 lacks on power as we all know (when compared to a properly geared V8), 4.88s really help it stay in the game. At 65-75mph "ish" it runs just above 2100 rpms and mine will smoke both rear 35s on the low end. I need a pretty good hill to kick out of OD and my mileage isn't really as bad as you would think...probably 17-19 on the highway depending on the wind.

If you both have V8s then disregard my previous statements.

[ajmorell]

Just some food for thought on gear ratios if you haven't made up your mind(s)...if running the I6 I would strongly consider 4.88s if you ever want to run 35s.

I know because I run them...I6 lacks on power as we all know (when compared to a properly geared V8), 4.88s really help it stay in the game. At 65-75mph "ish" it runs just above 2100 rpms and mine will smoke both rear 35s on the low end. I need a pretty good hill to kick out of OD and my mileage isn't really as bad as you would think...probably 17-19 on the highway depending on the wind.

If you both have V8s then disregard my previous statements.

The problem with 4.88s on the D30 is that the pinion only has 9 teeth. Not saying I have heard of a ton of failures because of it, but it is food for thought. I am going 4.56s partly because I am only on 33s now and 4.88s would be too deep IMHO, and partly because by the time I get to 35s my ZJ will be trail only so it won't be as noticeable.

[dirty]

True. Mine is pretty much trail/occasional use only...not a full time DD.

[WJJEEPIN]

Make sure you get that tank mounted...

Ditto on getting that thing mounted, that is an accident waiting to happen...

[ajmorell]

Ditto on getting that thing mounted, that is an accident waiting to happen...

Yeah, I'm well aware. Once I get it back from JCR that is the first thing I'm going to address.

[redhatman]

Any pics from views further away? I would like to see what it looks like with the 33's as I am looking to do a similar setup.

[ajmorell]

I'll post up some more pics as soon as I get it back from JCR.

[redhatman]

I'll post up some more pics as soon as I get it back from JCR.

Sweet, thanks man.

[ajmorell]

Ok, picked it up from JCR on Friday evening.

The good news:
-1 ton steering is on and beefy as hell
-The bracket on the x-member arm is now fixed. Brian cut the old one off and replaced it with 1/4" angle iron
-I finally had my extended SS brake lines installed since I've been too lazy to do it myself


The bad news:
-Apparently my front driveshaft was about to fall off. Brian said there were only 2 bolts holding it in at the transfer case and they were pretty damn loose. I'm glad they caught it, because it never caused me a vibe or anything and would have been pretty catastrophic had it came all the way loose.
-My passanger side hub is shot. I knew one of them was shitty, but according to Brian I shouldn't even be driving with it like it is now - the replacement is going on tonight
-Driver's side axle u-joint is starting to click. I was planning on replacing both of them anyways before the end of the summer.


I'll post up some pictures tonight showing the beefed up bracket on the x-member as well as the 1-ton steering.

[ajmorell]

Pictures as promised:

New bracket for the KOR x-member:



Bling brake lines:



1-Ton Steering:



Bigger pics with the KM2s:

[Sporer65]

That new bracket is looks much beefier. And the tires look really good. Everytime I see just a picture of the tire, I don't like it but everytime I see it on a Jeep, it looks really good.

And you dug a nice little hole there trying to flex it out, haha.

[fpkites]

Looks like JCR does good work - me likey