My Start

[BigDog]

Hey evryone I was looking around and didn't see a place for introducing myself so figured I would start here.

This is our 89 jeep we got it about two months ago and havent got very far yet at all. So far have the stereo and sytem that goes with it put in with a custom hatch we did to hide the subs and amp while using the area for the things that can be needed when out having fun. Just got through puting in pretty much a whole new front end. Things to come are the things you would expect lift, tires, fender flares, new roof rack, paint and all the other fun stuff.

We love wheeling but are new to having our own and looking forward to fixing it up. Any help in what derection to go with things in the future would be great. Hope to be able to hook up and go have some fun out there with some of you in the near future.
CJ

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck002.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck003.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck004.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck005.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck006.jpg

[GlueNTape]

Welcome! I like the custom letters. :cool:

[BigDog]

Welcome! I like the custom letters. :cool:
Thank you, you can pick them up at auto kones for .99 each worth it for a cheap cosmetic touch.

[vortex]

I dig the sweet steering wheel....

-PJ-

[CanMan]

Id tie down the jack and hammers. Something like that to the back of the head in an accident wont feel too good.

Looks like a good start otherwise.

Going to lift it at all?

[mojojojo]

welcome to the forum dog :thumbup:

[RedJeep2.0]

What's up DOG!

[BigDog]

Yeah the hammers and jack are going to get mounted down thats for sure.
Yes going to get a lift just not sure how much yet. Have to decide how much we want to put in to it, the higher you go the more you parts you need.
Whats up redleep3

[GlueNTape]

Thank you, you can pick them up at auto kones for .99 each worth it for a cheap cosmetic touch.

Nice! I am gonna put something on my jeep.. Not sure what.. but something..

[BigDog]

Nice! I am gonna put something on my jeep.. Not sure what.. but something..
Sorry that should have been auto zone. I use BigDog for everything because it is the name of some of the companies a friend and I are running (tattoos, custom car work, and dog rescue) and on top of that I work 40 hours a week. We restore old cars and fix up low riders for people, havent done any 4x4 yet but going to make our jeep the first one, good learning project I think. Going to take a lot of reading and looking in to things want to make sure we do everything the right way.

[BigDog]

Ok so had a fun filled weekend of laying under the truck. Started out friday going to oregon city and picked up a set of leaf springs from someone off CL for $20. Got them home and rebuilt them so to speak and put a add a feaf in them, while buying the add a leaf I picked up some spacers for the front. So now I finally have somewhat of a lift on the rig. Got about 3" all together and now I know its not going to be enough for me but its a start. Now I need to find some 31" to throw on the truck.

Here is a somewhat before and after of the leafs. They weren't completely compressed when I took this photo.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/lift002.jpg
And now the after effect of the lift not to bad but thinking I want more now lol
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/lift003.jpg

So its a start and a lot better then what it was. Now at least I won't feel like I'm sitting in a lowered truck or something.

[XJLaredo]

not to bad but thinking I want more now lol.

You'll will think this till for as long as you own the jeep. LOL.

It never stops.



Jamez

[BigDog]

You'll will think this till for as long as you own the jeep. LOL.

It never stops.



Jamez
Yeah I know its becoming a addiction lol

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

trimmed with 31"s.. hurry up man! lift's already been on it for like.. 18 hours! :badpc:


:paperwork

[fubar XJ]

Welcome to the forum, that's a good looking ride height for a mild wheeler/daily driver. I think they should have come from the factory about 2-3" higher than they do, it just looks better. More SUV, less station wagon-like. It's true that many people suffer from inch-itis, spending a lot of time bumping it up an inch or two as they go. I'd recommend you figure out how much lift you want based on the tire size you plan to run and the wheeling you plan to do. Many people are very happy in the 4-4.5" range with 33" tires. This involves less work and upgrading than stepping up to a 5.5" + lift and 35" + tires, and 33" tires are more than adequate for much of the wheeling here in the PNW.

Good luck, your first upgrade looks great.

[BigDog]

trimmed with 31"s.. hurry up man! lift's already been on it for like.. 18 hours! :badpc:



Yeah it would be already but don't have the money for the tires right now. Wish I could before the weekend gets here.



Welcome to the forum, that's a good looking ride height for a mild wheeler/daily driver. I think they should have come from the factory about 2-3" higher than they do, it just looks better. More SUV, less station wagon-like. It's true that many people suffer from inch-itis, spending a lot of time bumping it up an inch or two as they go. I'd recommend you figure out how much lift you want based on the tire size you plan to run and the wheeling you plan to do. Many people are very happy in the 4-4.5" range with 33" tires. This involves less work and upgrading than stepping up to a 5.5" + lift and 35" + tires, and 33" tires are more than adequate for much of the wheeling here in the PNW.

Good luck, your first upgrade looks great.
Thank you. Yeah I think I want to go 32" or 33" thinking about going another two" and calling that part of the upgrading good.

So I took the hatch part apart and revamped it, pics of that will be coming soon just finished it tonight when I got home from work and to tired or lazy to go out and get pics of it right now.

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

So I took the hatch part apart and revamped it, pics of that will be coming soon just finished it tonight when I got home from work and to tired or lazy to go out and get pics of it right now.
:shhh: i gotta get my box installed and have you help me out with that. i want the drawers setup like you had them

[BigDog]

:shhh: i gotta get my box installed and have you help me out with that. i want the drawers setup like you had them
Oh wait til you see it now still got the draws it the same as when you saw it just finished it now.

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Oh wait til you see it now still got the draws it the same as when you saw it just finished it now.
I know you said its fairly cheap, and easy. but if its not metal, all i can do with it is throw a jackstand on it. :fuse:

[BigDog]

Ok I said I would get these up today so I did. I know a few out there might not like it most are not in to stereos as much as I am but hey here it is.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/speaks001.jpg

Wasn't to sure what all would be needed out on the trail so just loaded up some things that I have around here. let me know if there is some more things I might need that you don't see here. Got screwdrivers, sockets (metric and standard), open ends (metric and standard), large hammer, vise grips, plyers, wire cutters, pickle fork, ujoints, tie rod ends, cheap tow strap, flares (not sure why I got them in there) light, first aid kit, jack and a few other things. I know I should have more spair parts then I do but thats what I got for now.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/speaks002.jpg
So lets have it people like it or hate it let me know.

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

wow that cleaned up real nice!

[thethinginthewoods]

Those bombs are gonna shake and rattle the crap outta those tools in the tool drawer. Unless you have the tunes up so loud it won't matter anyway!


:scared:

:wow:

[BigDog]

Those bombs are gonna shake and rattle the crap outta those tools in the tool drawer. Unless you have the tunes up so loud it won't matter anyway!


:scared:

:wow:no don't think there will be music going on the trail but I figured the tools would make some noise rather in the draws or in a tool box so hey what can you do besides grin and bare it lol

[BigDog]

ok as a few of you might know I had some coolent problems out on the trails and now going to take care of that this friday. Got the parts on order to switch it over to a open radiator system and will be installing it this friday. Not sure if this would count as a mod to most but it does for me and I cant wait to get it done.

[BigDog]

Ok here is the latest got the last of the lift I wanted in done this weekend with a little help from a couple of guys off here. So now I'm sitting 5 1/2" - 6" of lift, I'm happy with the lift now I need some tires not to sure what size yet, I don't want to have to do any fender trimming so have to keep that in mind.
Skyjacker 8000 shocks
Rough country disco
Rough country adjustable track bar
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/finallift002.jpg
Still to come list:
New muffler (sitting in garage), head liner, seats, some kind of flooring besides carpet, front and rear bumpers, wench, top hat, wheels and tires, paint job, OBA and OBW (all of witch is not in this order).
I'm sure this list is going to grow as time goes on and most likely will never end. For the ones that know me some what they know I don't take it slow so hoping won't be long to get this list done and then can start on the new list that is going to become.

[BoringDave]

So what tires are you going to run and when? I will be in the market for your old ones if you want to sell?

Dave

[BigDog]

I'm not to sure when but thinking I'm going to run 31" or 32" thing with getting tires is the money thing not sure when I'm not sure when I can afford them. Don't have to be brand new but the ones I have now got about 60-70% tred left and I don't know if I want to get something with less then that. But like I said it's the money thing that is holding me back on tires right now.

[dakineJ]

What size are the tires in that last pic?

[BigDog]

What size are the tires in that last pic?
They are 235/75/15

[BigDog]

Ok here is one when we got it and one now these changes have been over about two months time..
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/truck005.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/finallift004.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/flex.jpg
Sorry that this pic is so small but was took with a crappy cell cam.

[BigDog]

Finally got the new front bumper finished this weekend. Now it's time for the rear with a swing out, then I'll get to making the top hat.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/bumper.jpg
Didn't make it for a wench beings I don't have one yet, so when I get one I'll make a new bumper for that when the time comes.

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

thats a good start! sure makes your tiny tires shine!

[BigDog]

Yeah go break a ujoint or something would ya lol

[jonesinxj]

SO with you runnin art 5.5 to 6 inches of lift did you put in a SYE and driveshaft or are you just running a transfercase drop?

[BigDog]

just a drop no SYE lift is only 5"

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

throw some 6" lights between the bars, then some 4" lights on top and it will complete the look

[BigDog]

Ok so here it is again I painted flat black this weekend and I think I like it like that, was thinking about going with the black grey and white camo BUT I kinda like it the way it is now. Have to see how I feel about it down the road. Good thing is the black is the base coat for what I was going to do before so if I change my mind will be able to change it no problem.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/paint001.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/paint002.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n121/bigdogcustom/paint003.jpg

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

My opinion, do the wheels too!

[BigDog]

No need not going to be keeping the wheels I'm sure the owner would like to have them back at some point here. If they were mine I would have.

[BoringDave]

I may have to do that to my YJ. What paint did you use?

Dave

[BigDog]

I would have to go out and look its in the garage but it was some low cost rust fight flat black I got from foster auto parts.