Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: althebrief on July 08, 2007, 04:06:26 PM

Title: Advice needed on first mods...
Post by: althebrief on July 08, 2007, 04:06:26 PM
I have a completely unmodified 04 Wrangler. I was thinking about modifications and having had great fun at my first off-road last weekend am now thinking about modifying the car a bit. I've been advised that a 2inch lift with 31 inch wheels is a good starting point. Does anyone have any views on this and advice as to sourcing parts and fitting etc (although not being too techy might be getting a mechanic for the last part  :wink: )

Any thoughts/advice appreciated. NB. this is my only car and so has to be fairly snesible for road driving (although I generally don't do too many road miles).
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Post by: Dave69 on July 08, 2007, 04:14:26 PM
a decent set of tools and commons sense (???) is realy all you need. since if you fit it yourself you can then have a good idea fixing it when you break it.
 a body lift is basically adding blocks between the tub and the chassis. dampers are mainly undoing a bolt oat each end and fitting bigger(longer) ones as a replacement. there are places in the uk but with the exchange rate the usa is a good option but keep and eye on the shipping rates as these vary alot from shop to shop. there is a good listing of suppliers in the suppliers section. quadratec have good prices and shipping, lighthouse for the std stuff. watch the pocket as it soon gets expensive and addictive
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Post by: daggie on July 08, 2007, 05:02:15 PM
I'm in toddington, beds, if you want any spannering etc give me a shout 8)

now, the 1st question is how much wonga do you want to spend on your jeep
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Post by: Manda on July 08, 2007, 06:40:25 PM
All I've got lift wise on my Jeep (see avatar) is a 2"  Teraflex lift and a 1" body lift, she's on 33s now but I had 31s with that set up for years, it worked brilliantly, just remember if you go tall you need to go wider.
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Post by: Ian Houghton on July 08, 2007, 08:35:07 PM
A Popular option is 2" suspention lift & 31" tyres, with a set of disconnects, both my Dad & Andy's (JEEPEY) dad run these combinations,

Old Man Emu 2" suspention lift with longer shockers and a set of disconnects will give fantastic off road ability with good articulation a set of 31"s will give better ground clearance without too much comprimise on the road,

And it shouldn't brake the bank,
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Post by: Bubba on July 08, 2007, 09:46:55 PM
very good coments it all depends on how much you are happy to spend and how bitten you are by the off road bug there are plenty of folk on birtys who will offer help but i think what i would do is attend a few more events as you are with the adition of mud tyres to see if the bug is stiil saying  go big go deep go fast come to cheapfest and speak to the guys n gals there you will find all levels of modded tjs from just tyres to monsters where are you based in the uk
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Post by: isle of man on July 08, 2007, 09:51:05 PM
stuff budget go "hard core"










peter henry
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Post by: althebrief on July 09, 2007, 11:47:29 PM
Thanks for all the comments - glad to hear that modest 31 inch tyres with a 2 inch lift can give good performance. I think I probably won't be able to do anything before Cheapfest (just started a new job) so, as Bubba says, might be good to chat to a few of you there. However, will probably need some mud tyres first.... having looked at some pics not sure if my road tyres will cut it at that site!
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Post by: chrisjones on July 10, 2007, 12:54:56 AM
You'd probably be pleasently suprised (as long as it's dry-ish! :shock:  ).....and it seems a shame to buy tyres you're going to replace with 31s in the near future.

If you've just GOT TO have some muds NOW! :D (I do know the feeling)  get some remoulds, like colway MTs so they don't set you back too much cash.
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Post by: jeeplj on July 10, 2007, 03:42:02 PM
From my own experience, if it is wet/muddy a set of offroad tyres makes all the difference. I spent one of my firts jeepfest weekends, with road tyres, watching everyone else having fun.

And as it happens I have a set of 30.9.50r15 Goodyear MTR's sitting in my garage, if you are interested.  :wink:
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Post by: Mick O on July 10, 2007, 06:09:09 PM
Quote from: "chrisjones"
If you've just GOT TO have some muds NOW! :D
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Post by: Ian Houghton on July 10, 2007, 08:47:54 PM
Al,

You can fit 31x10.50 tyres to your standard jeep without too much problem, you will need to adjust the steering stops or you will rub on the chassis. My dad run for along time standard on 31s. They may also catch the wheel arches when off road on full articulation. A cheap fix is a 1" body lift with the 31s,.
This will inprove your off road ability no end, but you will only have the standard axle articulation. Thats when the 2"lift and disconnect come into play and you will notice the difference.

But 30" tyres will fit stanard no problem and still give you alot of fun
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Post by: tag on July 10, 2007, 11:25:52 PM
You could try  these premier tyres i have them on my jeep there great! and brand new, not remoulds and a good price. and no road noise             http://www.4x4tyres.com/index.php?show= ... e=31x10.50 (http://www.4x4tyres.com/index.php?show=tyres&rim=R15&profile=31x10.50)
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Post by: Mike Pavelin on July 11, 2007, 05:28:43 AM
Get a secondhand set of wheels with 30" muds and some disconnects. If you want to get serious after that flog the wheels and tyres to another beginner, get most of your cash back and do your serious mods. Going to 31" looks cooler but only gives you 1/2 " more clearence under the axles over 30" but gives you minor clearence issues unless you go to the expense of a body and/or suspension lift. The loss of performance due to the taller overall gearing also becomes very noticable at 31". If you really want a 2" lift I would use a spacer lift and longer shocks. An OME lift (which includes springs) would cost a lot more and isn't really necessary.