Hello SoCal NAXJA Brothers & Sisters! =)

hehe, well at least you can take a ribbin' =)

welcome aboard, and tho I'm not much for you nasty lawyer types, I suppose one or two are good to have in your corner. so as long as you're in SD feel free to give me a holler if ya ever need anything
 
djblade311 said:
damn, I need to go to Glamis!

yes you do my friend. its even fun for the whole family, i took the wife and kids last thanksgiving and they all had a blast.... just keep them in camp after sundown, thats when us misfits come out to play :scottm:
 
Ad Lucem said:
Hi guys! This is my first post so I thought I would start by introducing myself. My name is Mike and I'm finishing up my first year of law school in San Diego.

Welcome dude!

Here's my build sheet. Is there anything interesting or out of the ordinary?

From our perspective, these are the interesting items:

Up Country Suspension Group - Big whoop... an extra inch taller.

Dana 30 Front Axle - On a 2000, the D30 has a low pinion. Less ground clearance.

Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle - Of the two stock axles, this is the stronger alternative. It will hande larger tires and does not use c-clips. Each axle shaft is the same length so you only need to schlepp one spare.

Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle - Limited slip uses clutch packs which eventually wear out.

Delete Rear Stabilizer Bar - Saves you the trouble of having to throw it away yourself.

Trailer Tow Group - Rear tow point. Carry a hitch pin.

Tow Hooks - Front tow points. Carry a 30' 2" snatch strap.

Fuel Tank Skid Plate Shield
Transfer Case Skid Plate Shield
Front Suspension Skid Plate

The transfer case skid is so-so. If you plan on rock crawling, you may want to change it for something more heavy duty. If you never plan on leaving a dirt road leading to your favorite camping/shooting sites, don't worry. The front and rear skids are fine in all circumstances unless you have purple bumpers. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=84046
 
Andy Steiner said:
Welcome dude!



From our perspective, these are the interesting items:

Up Country Suspension Group - Big whoop... an extra inch taller.

Dana 30 Front Axle - On a 2000, the D30 has a low pinion. Less ground clearance.

Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle - Of the two stock axles, this is the stronger alternative. It will hande larger tires and does not use c-clips. Each axle shaft is the same length so you only need to schlepp one spare.

Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle - Limited slip uses clutch packs which eventually wear out.

Delete Rear Stabilizer Bar - Saves you the trouble of having to throw it away yourself.

Trailer Tow Group - Rear tow point. Carry a hitch pin.

Tow Hooks - Front tow points. Carry a 30' 2" snatch strap.

Fuel Tank Skid Plate Shield
Transfer Case Skid Plate Shield
Front Suspension Skid Plate

The transfer case skid is so-so. If you plan on rock crawling, you may want to change it for something more heavy duty. If you never plan on leaving a dirt road leading to your favorite camping/shooting sites, don't worry. The front and rear skids are fine in all circumstances unless you have purple bumpers. http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=84046


Andy, buddy....hes building a mild off-road rig. The skids will help. Hes also planning on a ~3" lift with some Rubicon wheels. It will look nice, but I don't think he's intending on finding any rock piles to climb over. A curb or two maybe. :D

Black and purple are a good combination, maybe you can convince him to try that!
;)
Rick
 
Andy Steiner said:
Welcome dude!
Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle - Of the two stock axles, this is the stronger alternative. It will hande larger tires and does not use c-clips. Each axle shaft is the same length so you only need to schlepp one spare.

Incorrect. 8.25's use c-clips. I have this axle.
 
Andy,

Thanks for the info. That's exactly what I was looking for. I do plan on going to as many M&G and outings that I can handle but my main concern is not getting into getting SYE's and driveshafts right off the bat. From what i've read, a 3" lift or even stock with swaybar disconnects will still give me a lot to work with. I'm a noob and willing to learn so I'll just follow you guys out a few times with just recovery points. I figure big rocks are a few years off... =)

-Mike

That is, if you'll have me~ :wave:
 
Shouldn't all your posts be in pleading form?

















:D

Welcome :wave:
 
Ad Lucem said:
Hahaha, considering the verbal thrashing I recieved I tread lightly here......

its ok we dont bite.

well, rick does but he's like your friends dog that bites everyone that comes over just to show em who's boss :gee:

i look forward to seeing you at a MG sometime:wave:
 
djblade311 said:
Incorrect. 8.25's use c-clips. I have this axle.

I stand corrected. :o

I had the Dana 35, so I had my own problems.
 
Ad Lucem said:
That's exactly what I was looking for.
Glad I could help. We could all be of more help if we knew what you wanted to do with your rig. Rock crawler, high speed desert racer or just something to get you to your favorite fishing hole.


I do plan on going to as many M&G and outings that I can handle but my main concern is not getting into getting SYE's and driveshafts right off the bat.

Forgot to mention... you have the NP 231 transfer case (Command-Trac Part Time 4WD System). Several companies make heavy duty SYE kits for this particular TC. It has been our experience that early XJs, (84-95) are more tolerant of small lifts without incurring serious driveline vibrations. However, it seems that the 97+ XJs are less so. Even a 3" lift will usually make vibrations that are annoying enough that most of us pop for a SYE soon after.


From what i've read, a 3" lift or even stock with swaybar disconnects will still give me a lot to work with. I'm a noob and willing to learn so I'll just follow you guys out a few times with just recovery points.
You WILL need rock rails. Those are mandatory.


I figure big rocks are a few years off... =)
Haven't we all heard that one before? :roflmao:If you follow us, you'll follow us into small rocks because that's what the majority of us like to do. Rock crawling. We like trails in Big Bear and Calico with small rocks that can also be done in stock XJs with help from your friends.

Deep Creek in Lake Arrowhead
100_2475.jpg


Calico
100_0673.jpg


This is one of the reasons that many of us just reccomend starting with an RE 4.5" lift. You'll be able to easily fit 31" tires without hacking up any body parts. (Take a close look at our photos and you'll notice that many have trimmed off good portions of their fenders and/or flares. Some just remove the flares entirely.)


100_0571.jpg


Johnny
100_3561.jpg


The FrankenJeep
100_0915.jpg



With 31"s, you can still run stock gearing. Your rig will run like a dog, but it's acceptable. When and if you decide you want to get bigger tires, all you need do at that point is cut away enough sheet metal and plastic bumper guards to fit the tires, buy the tires, re-gear to match the new tires and you're good to go.


But since you've re-gearing anyway, you'll probably want to drop lockers in both front and rear diffs and because you've got those lockers, that means you might want to take on the harder lines that you've always by-passed before

Hell's Gate
100_1781.jpg


Tipover Challenge
100_1831.jpg


Steel Bender
100_2170.jpg



So you you think about a winch and a new bumper to put it in

DSC00484.jpg


and then you might as well get that rear bumper too and then where do you put that damn spare now? It's too big to fit in the back anymore so do you get a roof rack?

100_3333.jpg


Well, since you got that rear bumper, so might as well get a swing away tire carrier.

DCP_3380.jpg


And now you gots you a serious case of the you-might-as-wells.
Welcome to owning a Jeep. :shiver:

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket
 
Ad Lucem said:
Hi to you too Rick!

I was waiting for a lawyer crack...but keep in mind that when I pass the bar I will still love ALL firearms and ALL forms of motorsports! And c'mon, SD isn't that bad..... you don't get thousands of young & dumb girls in bikinis in the desert! Show me what the desert has to offer and in exchange you can crash at my place so I can show you the beach! :party:

-Mike

I thought it was a pretty good answer....
 
Andy,

That's an awesome post...I'm trying very hard not to get hooked and go overboard......but I guess that's the evolution everyone goes through!


Hey Matt,

You got an email regarding the Carfax. Enjoy!



-Mike
 
Trust me, the first time you go on a trail run and you have to stay at the trail head or at camp because you can't do what the big boys are doing, you'll want to go big lol! Happened to me at Johnson Valley, although i was bone stock and hadn't planned on running any of the hammers, I made up for my lack of wheelability by drinking all the beer i could handle, then 3 more ;). You got the right idea though, that's for sure, just remember, these damn things are the biggest money pit you could possibly ask for :).
 
I'm not sure they are the biggest money pit you could ask for....unless you are one of those guys who buy and buy and buy until they have enough rigs in thier yard (as well as the neighbors yard :D) to supply a small army with spares!!

There are money pits out there...right Cracker? ;)

But don't let these guys lead you down the path of destruction (or as is more common 'up the trail to the big rocks') If I owned a cherry Cherokee it probably would never see the nasty stuff, and I would probably build it up just like a mall crawler....then buy a pile of crap and beat the snot out of it!!

I own much bigger money pits.....for instance,my son!!


Rick
 
Jump This said:
There are money pits out there...right Cracker? ;)

You love it :D
 
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