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  1. #1 Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Well thought I'd start a "project" page.

    It started with a 97 4.0 with 87k on the ticker. I loved it and was addicted to it. Great camping, descent gas mpg, comfy. I used it for a couple years for camping, getting me to 14ers, and light wheeling.

    BUT, THEN IT HAPPENED! I wanted a little more. So I first went with a front to rear swap and picked up a set of 31" MTR's for a great price.

    April of 06' I went to EJS. Ran some trails and found out just how capable a socky is.
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    Last edited by Matt; 06-10-2007 at 03:39 AM.
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  2. #2 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    I ran the F/R setup for about a year, and decided I wanted just a little more. After some research I decided I couldn't afford a longarm set up and decided to start looking for a bunch of used parts. And of course, just as I about had all the parts for a short arm 4" kit, plans changed.

    I asked T&Tcustoms if they were eventually going to make a ZJ kit. It ended up they were and needed a ZJ for the job. I was initially going to be the 2nd ZJ used to make sure the kit lined up nicely after they prototyped it, but as most of us know the prototype ZJ backed out and I was next in line.

    Other than the suspension: here's the other work TnTcustoms did: 8.8 axle swap/HPD30 swap, 4.10 gears, powertank, ARB front, Eaton Elocker rear, 1 ton inverted T steering, custom sliders, NP242 SYE, custom rear drive shaft, and now riding on 33" MTR's.

    After about a month with out the ZJ, this is what I ended up with:
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    Last edited by Matt; 10-19-2006 at 10:26 PM.
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  3. #3 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    After about 10 trails and 3 diffucult trails I am very pleased with this setup. The only thing that's gone south is my ARB line cracked (Which made me glad I was running a electric locker for the rear.) and some loose bolts/nuts.

    Here's some pics from this summer:
    Spring Creek/Chinamans/Holy Cross
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    Last edited by Matt; 10-19-2006 at 04:38 AM.
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  4. #4 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Still not enough though (should have named this project Greed )

    I ended up getting a rear hitch, and a gas tank skid plate for a great price at A-1 salvage yard in CO Springs. That covered the rear tow point issue and I chose to stick with rear the stock bumper for time being.

    Saw a great deal on CO4x4.org for some 315/75/16 MTR's on some limited rims. Didn't plan on going to 35's quite yet, but hell, it's hard to pass up on a great deal.

    This ended up forcing me to address some issues. Trimming/ and power mods were soon to follow.

    Power mods included a look alike banks header / home brew intake / and the fastman 62mm throttle body (for $300 total I can't complain the power increase). While I was under there I decided to get a new header panel at certifit as I busted the old on pretty bad hitting a truck years ago (harder to replace than it looks!). Also decided to swap out the tranny cooler for an over-sized one from B&M racing (it needs all the help it can get!).

    Also, my rear Doetsch shocks were limiting and to soft, so I replaced those with RS9000's. Made the handling both on and off road much better.

    On to the pictures......
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    Last edited by Matt; 10-19-2006 at 07:15 AM.
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  5. #5 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Oh yeah, it goes on....

    With things under the hood taken care of, I wanted to dress up the front a bit too. Once again T&T customs came through on this too. Bob made a prototype bumper he wanted to ditch, so I picked it up for a great price. It's exactly what I wanted it to look like, but on his ZJ it left ALOT of dead area between the corner light and on the wrap around. This concerned me so I ended up melting my front plastic bumper down with a cutoff wheel and combined that into the T&T bumper for a hybrid look (A lot of work for little results).

    The look was exactly what I wanted and I'm sure T&T will address this issue with their production bumper.

    More pics.....
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  6. #6 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    So, that's where I'm at now and this thing is evolving faster than my bank account.

    I still have issues to address and the list goes as follows:
    1) Get some 4" RK front springs and a 3/4" spacers for the rear.
    2) More trimming on the front (right now the front is ok because it's as flexxxy as a bobcat). I figured I'd start little and then go big (especially after seeing IlikeMud's rig)
    3) Winch - any suggestions
    4) PSC steering pump
    5) High flow cat to replace the worn out old one.
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  7. #7 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    One more never-ending post...

    Here's some pics of yesterday of the g/f learning how to drive in the snow. About 10" of the white fresh stuff made the drive on 285 to Slaughterhouse hell. But the trail was great, virgin tracks and snow covered trees made for one beautiful trip. (the camera didn't take night pictures worth a crap, but oh well).
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    Last edited by Matt; 04-22-2007 at 10:27 PM.
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  8. #8 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Senior Member NAFTEL's Avatar
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    good lookin rig, good thread too.
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  9. #9 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Senior Member ILikeMud's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt
    especially after seeing IlikeMud's rig
    Rub it in a lil more why don't ya.

    Nice rig man, I really like the front bumper.
    Any idea when T&T is going to release it?
    Anthony

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  10. #10 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
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    Nice rig man, I always dig the very capable clean rigs.
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  11. #11 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ILikeMud
    Rub it in a lil more why don't ya.

    Nice rig man, I really like the front bumper.
    Any idea when T&T is going to release it?
    Agh ILM, I got nothin but heterosexual love for you man. Your fenders look great on YOUR rig.

    I would expect by the end of the year T&T will have a front bumper on their website. Bob has been going nuts on his ZJ and they're coming out with some pretty cool unique ZJ stuff. His ZJ should be done by the end of the Month, his tranny took a crapper, so that held them up a bit.

    Thanks for the compliments everyone!
    Last edited by Matt; 06-10-2007 at 03:42 AM.
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  12. #12 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Senior Member nate's Avatar
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    So you must know Mike and Missy with the silver XJ and red Rubicon? They had alot of work done on their stuff at T & T. Mike was stationed in Fairbanks with Jon before going to Wyoming. (I was in Anchorage) who is now here in Mtn Home... along with me.

    I think it's Mike anyhow... I am terrible with names. We where down in Moab during the EJS for an "Alaskans do Moab" type thing.
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  13. #13 Re: Project "neverending" - Matt 
    Senior Member ILikeMud's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matt
    Agh ILM, I got nothin but heterosexual love for you man. You're fenders look great on YOUR rig.

    I would expect by the end of the year T&T will have a front bumper on their website. Bob has been going nuts on his ZJ and they're coming out with some pretty cool unique ZJ stuff. His ZJ should be done by the end of the Month, his tranny took a crapper, so that held them up a bit.

    Thanks for the compliments everyone!
    LOL. I need to pretty up my rig a lil come spring time.

    I can't wait for the bumper to come out. I think I'll have to buy one. I really dig it.
    Anthony

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  14. #14 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Senior Member RiPPiNiTuP7's Avatar
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    thats a damn nice setup you have there, nice job.
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  15. #15 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Nate,
    I'd probably recognize the XJ/TJ, but I too suck with names. I'm heading up there for a Wyo snow run, so I'll probably run into some peeps. If I see them, I'll let them know you said HI.
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  16. #16 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Time to get caught up!

    Over the winter I haven't done to much. Just the occasional snow storm and the drive around town.

    Here's some snow shots

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    Last edited by Matt; 04-22-2007 at 11:28 PM.
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  17. #17 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    The Jeep has been pretty neglected over the winter and the parts list was getting long. Other than the new MTR's I put on it Feb no mods were added.

    Over the last month I've been working pretty steady on it trying to get it ready for Moab.

    First I dropped it off at hanksville hotrods to get a new exhaust. It's 2.5" all the way to the header with a Magnaflow Hi Flow cat and a 14" Magnaflow muffler. Hank does great work and was able to tuck it up to get it away from the rocks. (not shown in the pic, but a downturn was added).

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  18. #18 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Next came the Rockcrusher diff cover. Notice the difference between the stock and the RC. Nice product.

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    Last edited by Matt; 04-22-2007 at 11:29 PM.
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  19. #19 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    With Moab a couple weeks away I had to address some steering issues (getting death wobble).

    From there it was a slippery slope, so I basically just rebuilt the whole damn front end.

    Parts included:
    Spicer 760 U-joints
    Spicer upper and lower ball joints
    Tie Rod ends from Napa
    New front RE 4.5" coils
    D30 diff cover
    New gear oil
    PSC steering box
    and had to pull the Tcase because the input shaft was leaking bad.

    Now she drives great.

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    Last edited by Matt; 04-23-2007 at 06:13 AM.
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  20. #20 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Meineke forgot to latch my hood and it flew up on the interstate. Refer to this post: http://http://www.mallcrawlin.com/fo...ad.php?t=11807 They ended up totalling the little Del Sol and I picked this up for a DD; 1989/ 4.0L/ 5 speed. Fun to drive and last tank I got 23 mpg. (not bad for 1400 bucks)

    Now I have 2 Jeeps! But the XJ is staying stock.

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    Last edited by Matt; 04-22-2007 at 11:23 PM.
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  21. #21 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    One last post.....

    After dealing with uber soft XJ coils in the rear I swapped them out for front RE 3.5 XJ coils. Much stiffer and with a .75" spacer it gave me the height I needed.

    Also cut the front fenders and installed a new Tabor 9000 on the front end. Now hopefully she's set for Moab.

    Cutting the front fenders I used a jig saw (24 tooth blade), worked great and nice clean cuts. Also sprayed it with expandable foam and put some door trim on it.

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    Last edited by Matt; 04-22-2007 at 11:26 PM.
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  22. #22 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Here's how she sits now....

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  23. #23 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Senior Member ILikeMud's Avatar
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    Looks sweet Matt.
    That's some clean trimming.
    Anthony

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  24. #24 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
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    You couldn't just leave it alone could you?

    Nice job on trimmin' the fenders.

    Lookin' sweet. Man seeing those pics of the snow storm makes me kinda sad that we don't get big ones like that more often.

    I'll be at GSW this year and look forward to seeing it again a year later.

    Matt
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  25. #25 Re: Project "never-ending" - Matt 
    Previously "Maatt" Matt's Avatar
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    Went out today for a little pre-GSW run. Ran Hidden Valley with a couple people from CO4x4. A quick run took a little longer after a guy halfway flopped his TJ. But my winch works great.

    The Jeep ran great and I finally about maxed out my flex! BUT, when I got home I had to pull the grinder/jiz saw back out and trim my front again. Tires got the best of them.

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