I bought a TJ because why????

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

If it does nothing but rain for the rest of the summer, I will take full responsibility.

Only Toyota I like driving:

Bestop full length bikini (isn't there no such thing?) P/N 5253115 with the no drill header P/N 5123801:

Hopefully I put it on right, or it will come off on the drive home from work today. New front driveshaft makes a big difference, only vibe now is 105km/h+ and it's not bad (tires).

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

I decided I enjoy this thing enough to throw some parts at it.

I ordered the (likely terrible) Rough Country RC66330 4" long arm kit.

I haven't ordered anything else yet. I will need a SYE, or to put a JK tcase in it (I have one, not sure it's a good idea). And I'll need a new rear driveshaft. And I need a rear axle that isn't a D35 (going to talk to the wrecker on Tuesday may). And some wheels and tires. I think just some 15" steelies and some 33"xwhatevers. It seems like 34" stuff for 15s isn't common anymore? I'll have to look into it more. I don't really want to go to 17" wheels, or use adapters, or put JK/JL takeoffs on it this time.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

I did actually take this thing out to assist in recovering an Xterra with a roasted transmission. I was mostly useful as a winch anchor point.

But I did have fun and realized it needs some help. Lack of legit recovery points on it didn't slow me down, but it's another issue.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

That lift turned out to not be in stock. Cobbling together a plan B now.

[pointsnorth]

rubicon express 3 1/2 short arm is what i ordered minus their shocks which is the best riding tj I ever drove. then just ordered the base bilstiens which were a fraction of the price of the rubicon express big body shocks. one thing I like is rubicon express has a amazon store which makes ordering replacement parts super easy

[Scoobienorth]

rubicon express 3 1/2 short arm is what i ordered minus their shocks which is the best riding tj I ever drove. then just ordered the base bilstiens which were a fraction of the price of the rubicon express big body shocks. one thing I like is rubicon express has a amazon store which makes ordering replacement parts super easy

That’s good to now. I’ve been contemplating this on mine as well. I wanted to stay lower because of the rhd but finding stuff that’s available and easy to repair is a challenge. The Amazon store is cool

[Scoobienorth]

That being said I didn’t mind the rc junk on my wj though don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the best out there but it only $700 and a lot of people were comparing it to really expensive stuff. The stock stocks weren’t worth my time putting on, the lower control arms were 2” .250 wall tubing and after I stretched the front and they didn’t fit I cut them up and used them in my rear 4 link and the coils were soft, long and low which worked awesome on it.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

TDot sent me an email that their RE distributor is in contract negotiations with RE so they can't sell anything. Or at least not that 3.5" Superflex lift. Amazon shows stock for some of the parts out of it, but that's it.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

I did try to order the RC long arm upgrade kit (just the control arms and brackets). So far that supplier has not told me it is unavailable. I have my doubts though, I think they will wait a couple more days and then tell me.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

rubicon express 3 1/2 short arm is what i ordered minus their shocks which is the best riding tj I ever drove. then just ordered the base bilstiens which were a fraction of the price of the rubicon express big body shocks. one thing I like is rubicon express has a amazon store which makes ordering replacement parts super easy

Does Bilstein list shocks for lifted TJs, or do you have to measure and go from there? (I guess I can google this too)

Edit, Google answered that. Front 3.5-4" is 24-185929 and rear is 33-185514 for the 5100s.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

Also, debating sourcing the Ford 8.8 rear from an Explorer if I can't get a TJ D44 from the wrecker.

Looks like Ruffstuff sells a bracket kit that can be made to work. Ballisticfab sells basically the same thing but for more and there is no stock, Artec sells a kit with a truss for about what the Ballistic one is (I don't see needing a truss for this, seems like dead weight, but it sure looks nice), Barnes has a cheaper kit but no stock, Teraflex has a kit for way too much, RE has a kit for way too much.

Hmm.

[Scoobienorth]

I can reach out up here. I may have a buddy that has an 8.8.

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

Apparently the TJ D44s are hen's teeth now.

But I did find an Exploder Sport-trac 8.8 with disks and it appears to be mine. Axle code on the door said 4.10s. So now the search will be for another front housing to regear, I think. That's probably the easiest route.

And the RC long arm kit was in stock, or so I think, a bunch of boxes showed up today and have Rough Country on them. So I'll have to open them up and look.

[Scoobienorth]

I got kinda lucky but that’s one reason I went jdm tj. Most have d44’s for some reason. They are super rare

[Scott Cee AKA 2drx4]

I got kinda lucky but that’s one reason I went jdm tj. Most have d44’s for some reason. They are super rare

Yeah, I didn't think it would be an issue. The wrecker was surprised that there was no inventory anywhere either.

I *think* I have lucked out on the 8.8. Low mileage Sport-trac that took a slight hit to the side (it needed a door and rocker panel, but ICBC is ICBC) for $500. Apparently they're completely rare now because Jeeple and hotrodders scoop all of them up. The 8.8 is overkill, I debated looking for a Liberty 8.25 instead, but it will work.