Suggestions for some new mods $1k +/-

Vanimal said:
what wj calipers have only one piston? there's two types, both have dual pistons, as far as i know.
Click to expand...

I suggested the brake upgrade based on my experiences. By the time I upgraded to 31"s, the XJ had already been armored and weighed quite a bit more than a stock XJ. The bumpers and winch added a lot of weight too.
My XJ is a DD and at freeway speeds, the decreased braking became obvious. I added ZJ discs but wasn't impressed since most the braking is on the front end.
When the 33"s when on, I couldn't come close to locking the front brakes up at freeway speeds, even though it had premium rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers.
Being happy with the existing steering, I opted for the Vanco 48-mm, dual piston caliper kit, with Black Magic pads...wow, what a difference! The the calipers are off a Ford SportTrac, a much heavier vehicle.
Besides improved high speed braking, the bigger brakes add a lot security on long, steep downgrade, both paved and dirt. The West has big mountains and many downgrades with 7000' descents, a huge challenge for the stock brakes. I appreciate the extra braking power and consider them one of the best upgrades.
 
lazyxj said:
I suggested the brake upgrade based on my experiences. By the time I upgraded to 31"s, the XJ had already been armored and weighed quite a bit more than a stock XJ. The bumpers and winch added a lot of weight too.
My XJ is a DD and at freeway speeds, the decreased braking became obvious. I added ZJ discs but wasn't impressed since most the braking is on the front end.
When the 33"s when on, I couldn't come close to locking the front brakes up at freeway speeds, even though it had premium rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers.
Being happy with the existing steering, I opted for the Vanco 48-mm, dual piston caliper kit, with Black Magic pads...wow, what a difference! The the calipers are off a Ford SportTrac, a much heavier vehicle.
Besides improved high speed braking, the bigger brakes add a lot security on long, steep downgrade, both paved and dirt. The West has big mountains and many downgrades with 7000' descents, a huge challenge for the stock brakes. I appreciate the extra braking power and consider them one of the best upgrades.
Click to expand...
you don't have to convince me, i have a wj swap. lol
one of the best mods i've done, but my jeep is on 35's. didnt have too many problems stopping when i was on 31's.
As frankz mentioned, a winch and armour might be more beneficial with a mild build though.
you may want to save $50 for a zj tie rod, if you dont have one or aftermarket steering already.
 
Since the vanco brakes are no longer in production, WJ is your best option for braking.
 
rockclimber said:
Since the vanco brakes are no longer in production, WJ is your best option for braking.
Click to expand...

Vanco's website doesn't indicate this and I not heard Blaine (the creator of the kit and half owner of Savvy Jeep parts) mention anything to that effect on the TJ site, over on JF. Savvy presently shows them on their website to be available.
http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/produc...9C1B5.qscstrfrnt04?productId=76&categoryId=15
The kits are more often found on TJs since their owners are, for the most part, seem to spend more on their Jeeps than the average XJ owner.

Vanco's site has never listed the various forms of the kit
http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/121.htm
 
lazyxj said:
Vanco's website doesn't indicate this and I not heard Blaine (the creator of the kit and half owner of Savvy Jeep parts) mention anything to that effect on the TJ site, over on JF. Savvy presently shows them on their website to be available.
http://shop.savvyoffroad.com/produc...9C1B5.qscstrfrnt04?productId=76&categoryId=15
The kits are more often found on TJs since their owners are, for the most part, seem to spend more on their Jeeps than the average XJ owner.

Vanco's site has never listed the various forms of the kit
http://www.vancopbs.com/category_s/121.htm
Click to expand...

Blaine is a personal friend. They are out of production currently due to lack of returned core knuckles. They are simply not getting enough dana30 knuckles to keep producing the kits.

He is working on a solution but I have not heard a timetable yet.

You can still get calipers, pads, and rotors though.
 
rockclimber said:
Blaine is a personal friend. They are out of production currently due to lack of returned core knuckles. They are simply not getting enough dana30 knuckles to keep producing the kits.
He is working on a solution but I have not heard a timetable yet.
You can still get calipers, pads, and rotors though.
Click to expand...

Last I heard, they were going to have new knuckles cast. It's a worthwhile mod, when available.
Blaine is a heck of a designer, one of the more knowledgeable Jeep guys I had the pleasure of talking with. If I owned a TJ, and had a stack of money, it would be well equipped with Savvy parts. Wish he was interested more in XJ parts.

So for the time being, WJ brakes, with the Teeves calipers, is the front disc upgrade to do.
 
lazyxj said:
Last I heard, they were going to have new knuckles cast. It's a worthwhile mod, when available.
Blaine is a heck of a designer, one of the more knowledgeable Jeep guys I had the pleasure of talking with. If I owned a TJ, and had a stack of money, it would be well equipped with Savvy parts. Wish he was interested more in XJ parts.

So for the time being, WJ brakes, with the Teeves calipers, is the front disc upgrade to do.
Click to expand...

He told me he is looking into getting knuckles cast, but there is no timetable yet. I keep trying to get him to work on my rig... I want him to design an Xj trams/engine skid.
 
SYE for a stronger output shaft?
Trans Cooler?
Coolant Filter?
H4 Conversion?
Injectors?
On Board Air?
Tuck the winch into the front crossmember?
 
rockclimber said:
He told me he is looking into getting knuckles cast, but there is no timetable yet. I keep trying to get him to work on my rig... I want him to design an XJ trans/engine skid.
Click to expand...

Oh, there is a lot more money in designing Wrangler gear.
I have seen a TJ with Savvy's full-length aluminum skidplate...very nice.
Savvy has a whole range of aluminum parts for the TJs.
Makes me want to get a welding rig capable of welding aluminum and starting over, replacing the bumpers, skids and whatever else that can be done to cut the weight down, while retaining a weather-tight body.

FYI- for anyone having a bunch of D30s laying around, Vanco will will buy the knuckles, particularly the drivers side.

Enough of the highjack, back to the $1000 improvements.
 
I'd recommend more armor and a winch. Check out ORS in the vendor section for their low profile bumper. Then get a Warn, the M8000 is perfect for my XJ and just over $500, or maybe the VR8000, whatever. I'd get some kind of belly protection too because your lift and tires are small. TnT customs or JCR have great belly pans for good prices, I have the TnT.
 
good recommendations, thanks guys!

i will wait on the wj swap. for now, i think bumper/winch and belly pan will be in the works. i'll probably also order the spectre and bored tb today. upgrade to the new intake and exhaust next year.
 
I would steer clear of the spectre, and bored TB.
The spectre clogs easily, and the bored TB doesnt do much

Winch, front bumper, and a TNT bellypan.
 
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:cheers:
 
Coming from someone that actually builds winches day in, day out..

Your chinese purchase, Is insulting.

Thanks.
 
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