mingoglia
08-24-2005, 09:50 AM
Okay, wondering your opinions on my upgrade path.
I currently have a '98 Sahara with the crappy 3.07 gears and a manual tranny completely stock (well the tires are slightly taller/wider at P265/75/15)
The trails I usually run are between 2.5 - 4.0. Although I've spent most of my life in the dirt on quads/dirtbikes/Yamaha Rhino (I can literally go through box canyon by the time Free Bird gets finished playing on the radio on a quad or my Rhino) :-) I average about 2 hours finishing crown king on a quad, or 2.5 hours on a Rhino. I'm 29 now, but back in '91 when I started driving my parents had a YJ that we took out, although not as often as I would of liked. Through out highschool, I very frequently wheeled/spotted with friends, although I was usually a passenger. Because of all this, I consider myself a very motivated novice.
Anyway, figured I'd give you some history as to where I may be going and want my vehicle to do.
What my plan has been once it started cooling off was to install a Long Arm Rubicon Express kit and 35's. After spending the last few months reading various boards, I decided to go with 33's instead as the trails I want to traverse will be fine with 33's (research tells me) and the difference in on road between the 33's and 35's don't warrant the larger tires for what I'm trying to accomplish. My TJ is used as a DD because I enjoy driving with the top/doors off (yeah, even in the summer) but I do have another primary vehicle that I drive part of the week or if I were to break the Jeep. :-) Also, my office is on Stapley/Baseline and I live on Gilbert/Williamsfield so the commute is easy.
I would really like as close to stock of a ride as possible. Having a "cheap" lift on a truck I had several years back got old. Also, my other truck is a 1-ton dually (I have a heavy toy hauler) so I'd like the Jeep to ride a little better than that. Although I live close to the office, I very very frequently on the weekends head up to Strawberry, Flagstaff, etc and would like a reasonable ride.
OK, I'll get to the point. I'm currently thinking:
33" MT/R's and just enough lift to clear them (without having to cut anything).
Replace the D35 with a 8.8"
4.56 gears
ARB locker
3.5" of lift
First off, I know for the trails I'm going to be running I don't *need* the ARB's, but if I'm regearing the axles, I figure I might as well do it right and spend the money once. In addition, I'm planning on using the lockers as little as possible until I increase my skills. I don't want the locker to compensate for crappy wheeling techniques as I'm very serious about getting into this sport.
After running numbers (on the axles upgrades) , I've decided to go against my original plan of going with a RE long arm or most recently a Rock Krawler, and go with a cheaper kit. I believe upgrading the axles is the first place I want to spend $$$ and I don't want to get too out of control cost wise and upgrade axles and 5k on a lift all at the same time.
This brings me to my question, I'm thinking about a 3.5" Superflex kit or possibly a OME kit with a 1" body lift and MML lift? It's my understanding the OME kit has superior on road handling? I'm open to all suggestions.
Unfortunately I've had to step up this process due to losing a tire on my TJ last weekend coming back from Superior. I was towing the TJ behind my truck when I lost a tire on Gilbert Road. I can't get a replacement Cooper tire because it was explained to me that I had too much run flat damage to determine (the manufacturer) if the tread in fact separated or I ran it flat for too long... anyway, I don't want to spend money on a tire I'm going to replace in a couple months.
Another part of this rush is I bought a coworker a half day at Sedona Jeep School with Nena and I'm planning on taking my rig up there as well. We're going to wait a bit until it cools down, but I want to be ready to go. Also, the last thing I want is to have a lift and 33's and those crappy 3.07 gears, so I need to take care of all this before then (including axles).
Sorry for the ramble on... My employees keep walking into my office asking me questions and it seems like the above paragraphs are neverending, for all I know in between writing all this I may have repeated myself. :rolleyes:
Mike
I currently have a '98 Sahara with the crappy 3.07 gears and a manual tranny completely stock (well the tires are slightly taller/wider at P265/75/15)
The trails I usually run are between 2.5 - 4.0. Although I've spent most of my life in the dirt on quads/dirtbikes/Yamaha Rhino (I can literally go through box canyon by the time Free Bird gets finished playing on the radio on a quad or my Rhino) :-) I average about 2 hours finishing crown king on a quad, or 2.5 hours on a Rhino. I'm 29 now, but back in '91 when I started driving my parents had a YJ that we took out, although not as often as I would of liked. Through out highschool, I very frequently wheeled/spotted with friends, although I was usually a passenger. Because of all this, I consider myself a very motivated novice.
Anyway, figured I'd give you some history as to where I may be going and want my vehicle to do.
What my plan has been once it started cooling off was to install a Long Arm Rubicon Express kit and 35's. After spending the last few months reading various boards, I decided to go with 33's instead as the trails I want to traverse will be fine with 33's (research tells me) and the difference in on road between the 33's and 35's don't warrant the larger tires for what I'm trying to accomplish. My TJ is used as a DD because I enjoy driving with the top/doors off (yeah, even in the summer) but I do have another primary vehicle that I drive part of the week or if I were to break the Jeep. :-) Also, my office is on Stapley/Baseline and I live on Gilbert/Williamsfield so the commute is easy.
I would really like as close to stock of a ride as possible. Having a "cheap" lift on a truck I had several years back got old. Also, my other truck is a 1-ton dually (I have a heavy toy hauler) so I'd like the Jeep to ride a little better than that. Although I live close to the office, I very very frequently on the weekends head up to Strawberry, Flagstaff, etc and would like a reasonable ride.
OK, I'll get to the point. I'm currently thinking:
33" MT/R's and just enough lift to clear them (without having to cut anything).
Replace the D35 with a 8.8"
4.56 gears
ARB locker
3.5" of lift
First off, I know for the trails I'm going to be running I don't *need* the ARB's, but if I'm regearing the axles, I figure I might as well do it right and spend the money once. In addition, I'm planning on using the lockers as little as possible until I increase my skills. I don't want the locker to compensate for crappy wheeling techniques as I'm very serious about getting into this sport.
After running numbers (on the axles upgrades) , I've decided to go against my original plan of going with a RE long arm or most recently a Rock Krawler, and go with a cheaper kit. I believe upgrading the axles is the first place I want to spend $$$ and I don't want to get too out of control cost wise and upgrade axles and 5k on a lift all at the same time.
This brings me to my question, I'm thinking about a 3.5" Superflex kit or possibly a OME kit with a 1" body lift and MML lift? It's my understanding the OME kit has superior on road handling? I'm open to all suggestions.
Unfortunately I've had to step up this process due to losing a tire on my TJ last weekend coming back from Superior. I was towing the TJ behind my truck when I lost a tire on Gilbert Road. I can't get a replacement Cooper tire because it was explained to me that I had too much run flat damage to determine (the manufacturer) if the tread in fact separated or I ran it flat for too long... anyway, I don't want to spend money on a tire I'm going to replace in a couple months.
Another part of this rush is I bought a coworker a half day at Sedona Jeep School with Nena and I'm planning on taking my rig up there as well. We're going to wait a bit until it cools down, but I want to be ready to go. Also, the last thing I want is to have a lift and 33's and those crappy 3.07 gears, so I need to take care of all this before then (including axles).
Sorry for the ramble on... My employees keep walking into my office asking me questions and it seems like the above paragraphs are neverending, for all I know in between writing all this I may have repeated myself. :rolleyes:
Mike