Planning... whats that?

Plans are always good... right? Of course they are. Its just that some times its hard to stick to them for one reason or another. I am one of the most horrible people in the world when it comes to making a plan and sticking to it. I always come up with a plan and shortly after change my mind for one reason or another. Usually I have an idea that I want to incorporate or change because I think I've found something better.

I have a 5.9L V8 that I plan on using. I do have a HPD44 and a D60 as well. High line fenders are also in the plans and yes, I do have a set of Rokmen hi-lines. So what does this equate to? Something low, that has decent power, and a decent amount of beef. Perhaps some bigger tires are in order, but only as long as I get no taller than I already am.

Now here is where I'm stuck. How do I want to put my axles under my Jeep? Rokmen has some awesome Jeeps on short arms and very minimal amount of lift. They're Freak Jeep is awesome to say the least. So is that the way to go? Short arms and beefy stock style brackets? Perhaps. It certainly isn't cheap if I buy prebuilt short arms. Same with a long arm kit. They're way too expensive and honestly there aren't many that really impress me. Do I buy a bunch of Ballistic Fab brackets and build a long arm suspension? That is perhaps the best bang for the buck, but is it really for me?

I'm really stuck as far as figuring out what I should do. I may have a daily driver soon and if that is the case, then perhaps building might be a good option. Either way there is a lot to consider.

More parts for the pile....

As I hinted at in my last post, I have collected some more parts for my pile of parts. As some people might know, I've searched the vast interweb for years looking for an affordable 78-79 Ford HP D60 for a long time. I've found some and every time I've had the deals fall through or some one would beat me to it. Frustration set in and I decided to compromise. I told myself that if I could find a 78-79 Ford HP D44, then I'd go that route as well and just settle for being 3/4 ton instead of 1 ton. To my dismay, those axles are also hard to come by and go quickly. They are quite a bit more cheap though. I hit craigslist and found a F250 that was being parted out. Not just any F250, but a 79. I immediately called the guy and told him that I would take the front and rear axles (even though I already had a read 60 in the pile). I got them for a pretty reasonable price and with some help, I got them home to the pile.

I can now scratch off axles from my parts list. How ever relieving this may sound, I can now add more stuff to my list. I plan on ordering a TnT Customs truss and brackets for the front axle to get it bolted into the Jeep. Any old TJ brackets will work for the rear for the time being. Locker are a must. I don't think that I can go back to open diffs after being locked front and rear. I've toyed around with the idea of throwing a set of Spartan lockers in the axles to hold me over until I can afford some selectable lockers. It wouldn't be any worse that the two Lock Rights that I have right now. I have disc brake brackets for the rear to weld on so that I can run rear discs. I'd love cutting brakes while I was at it. I couldn't really use them right now as I don't have the ability to twin stick my t-case, but why not get them out of the way while I have to redo my brakes? Better to do it once than twice, I think... I need to regear them as well. I'm up in the air about the ratio right now. All I know is that I lack the tools and know how to do a proper install. I need to find some one to educate and help me with that one. I think I am set on a Jana 54 kit. Yup, 50 R&P in a D44. Why? Because I'd hate for the R&P to be the weak point after I decide to splurge a my next tax return on a set of RCV shafts. Well, that's if my wife lets me.

Any way, I'm really excited that at least two more things are crossed off my big list. This is going to be a really slow build, but at least its moving. One step closer to one of my major life goals. Build a decent Jeep and wheel it on the Rubicon... It feels good.

And so it begins....

I have never had a build thread for my Jeep on any forum... period. My TJ has never been anything special to any one, but me of course. It's fairly cookie cutter as she sits. She started life stock, went from 30's to 33's and then finally to 35's. Shes now locked front and rear as well. For what my rig is, it does fairly good. I cant complain one bit really. I've been a little out of the game lately and I've always had some big plans. It hasn't been until lately that I've been able to really collect parts for my big plan. Honestly, the plan is always headed in a certain direction, but how I get there and what I plan on using always seems like its up in the air. The plans are big either way. I'm accumulating parts slowly and the pile is building up. The pile has some nice parts in it as is, but it just keeps getting better and better.

Its late, work comes early, and tomorrow I pick up more parts.... You'll just have to wait and see what they are.