Where to get quality work done?

[achilles100]

Hey everyone,

I am relatively new to the XJ world, having only owned my first since February 2008. It's also my first Jeep and first overall offroad vehicle. So I am a true rookie, but I do my research.

I have had some work done at Desert Fab Motorsports (installed the DPG 5" Hybrid lift kit with AA SYE and a CV driveshaft) and Kevin's Off Road (fixed most installation problems generated by Desert Fab and cut my fenders....too much in the rear as it turns out...still a work in progress).

Anyways, I have nothing bad to say about Kevin's. They have good products, do good work, and are really nice guys. But they are more ZJ/WJ saavy then XJ saavy.

Desert Fab: I will have to convince myself to take my Jeep back to them if I ever do again. The install work was less than great, and he just didn't seem to much care. I think his work centers more on the buggies and experienced rock crawlers. Nice guys, just not for the layman like me.

That being said, I will be startng to consider gears/axles/lockers/bumpers, etc. in the next year or two, so I would like to find a local shop or individual whom I can trust to work on my XJ with a great deal of skill and expertise at reasonable prices. Also, any continuing maintenance or repairs, etc. along with the issues I am still trying to fix from the initial install of the lift and drivetrain mods.

Just thought I would pick your brains for a suitable Phoenix area shop or person to contact going forward, besides Kevin's OffRoad, who will continue to get some of my business.

Thanks, guys!

Aaron
00 XJ w/4.6L Golen stroker and go fast mods, AW4, NP231 - DPG 5" hybrid lift/SYE and DS/33" KM2s

[themud]

for mechanical work drop me a pm my next door neighbor is a mechanic and when I cant fix it it goes there... as far as gears and lockers hit up kraker hes good people and will do great work... As far as fixing the rest of the stuff drop by my place and I can help ya some....

themud

[MarioWario]

Hey everyone,

I am relatively new to the XJ world, having only owned my first since February 2008. It's also my first Jeep and first overall offroad vehicle. So I am a true rookie, but I do my research.

I have had some work done at Desert Fab Motorsports (installed the DPG 5" Hybrid lift kit with AA SYE and a CV driveshaft) and Kevin's Off Road (fixed most installation problems generated by Desert Fab and cut my fenders....too much in the rear as it turns out...still a work in progress).

Anyways, I have nothing bad to say about Kevin's. They have good products, do good work, and are really nice guys. But they are more ZJ/WJ saavy then XJ saavy.

Desert Fab: I will have to convince myself to take my Jeep back to them if I ever do again. The install work was less than great, and he just didn't seem to much care. I think his work centers more on the buggies and experienced rock crawlers. Nice guys, just not for the layman like me.

That being said, I will be startng to consider gears/axles/lockers/bumpers, etc. in the next year or two, so I would like to find a local shop or individual whom I can trust to work on my XJ with a great deal of skill and expertise at reasonable prices. Also, any continuing maintenance or repairs, etc. along with the issues I am still trying to fix from the initial install of the lift and drivetrain mods.

Just thought I would pick your brains for a suitable Phoenix area shop or person to contact going forward, besides Kevin's OffRoad, who will continue to get some of my business.

Thanks, guys!

Aaron
00 XJ w/4.6L Golen stroker and go fast mods, AW4, NP231 - DPG 5" hybrid lift/SYE and DS/33" KM2s

personally if i couldnt fix it id take my xj to someone from here before id go to a shop.
i know all you dudes know your shit when its comes to xj's, id trust work from you more then some dude from a shop and it'd probably be alot cheaper too. :D

[James98XJ]

Adrenaline Fabworks down here in Marana. Its Archangel here on the forum and he does a good job on gears and good at fabbing stuff up. Id give him a PM. Good guy.

[AZXJ]

Aaron,

If you want to lean, Kracker and I can teach you.. This way you can do it yourself..
As for Gears, Kracker is well qualified.. charges between 150 and 250 per axle depending on the setup.. Sorry to hear about your issues with DF.. When did you have them do the work ?

For the Best tube work in the business you need to go see John at Hunter Offroad
(480) 557-7577
625 S. Smith, Suite1
Tempe, Arizona 85281
www.hunteroffroad.com

[XJ project]

That sucks. Mario is more than on with what he said. Anyone on here would be more than happy to help you with what ever you need. And everyone knows what they are talking about and have more than enough knowledge put together than a shop does. I also work at vatozone so if you need a part for you heep just pm me and ill get you a price, alot faster than dealing with people over the phone :)

(Off topic) I was considering taking my jeep there for the cage, but now hmm prolly not. Might hit davo up for some help with it :)

[achilles100]

Thanks everyone. I pretty much suspected that the general consensus would be to hit up the experts on the forum here for good work. And that was exactly what I hoped to hear. I'd rather have someone working on my truck who really enjoys it, rather than someone trying to flag as many hours as possible.

I'll be sure to hit up the folks mentioned when I need some assistance.

First order of business will be to fix the mess that is my rear fender cut. I've been quoted $400 to finish the welding where the spot welds were cut, and then bondo and smooth the fenders and re-paint. They are going to use a black durable spray-on undercoat paint around the fender arches and under the doors on the rocker panel. This will match the eventual front/rear bumpers and rock sliders.

Anyone think they would want to tackle this for less than $400? I have pictures of what it currently looks like....rust and all!

Thanks again everyone, and I look forward to meeting you guys!

Aaron

P.S. - YMMV on DesertFab. The guys there look like they do great fab work for cages and whatnot. I think my lift kit install was just too menial of a job for him so he didn't take his time to do it right. Anyone who wants details on what went wrong, feel free to PM me. I'd rather not seem like i'm bashing him off of one experience.

[stewie]

post up some pics of what you are dealing with there. that way we know what we are up against

[OddBallXJ]

Talk to cdhowell on this forum also. He may be able to give you a good price. As has been said, there are a lot of very qualified folks on this forum.

Thanks everyone. I pretty much suspected that the general consensus would be to hit up the experts on the forum here for good work. And that was exactly what I hoped to hear. I'd rather have someone working on my truck who really enjoys it, rather than someone trying to flag as many hours as possible.

I'll be sure to hit up the folks mentioned when I need some assistance.

First order of business will be to fix the mess that is my rear fender cut. I've been quoted $400 to finish the welding where the spot welds were cut, and then bondo and smooth the fenders and re-paint. They are going to use a black durable spray-on undercoat paint around the fender arches and under the doors on the rocker panel. This will match the eventual front/rear bumpers and rock sliders.

Anyone think they would want to tackle this for less than $400? I have pictures of what it currently looks like....rust and all!

Thanks again everyone, and I look forward to meeting you guys!

Aaron

P.S. - YMMV on DesertFab. The guys there look like they do great fab work for cages and whatnot. I think my lift kit install was just too menial of a job for him so he didn't take his time to do it right. Anyone who wants details on what went wrong, feel free to PM me. I'd rather not seem like i'm bashing him off of one experience.

[jeep pox]

Aaron,

If you want to lean, Kracker and I can teach you.. This way you can do it yourself..
As for Gears, Kracker is well qualified.. charges between 150 and 250 per axle depending on the setup.. Sorry to hear about your issues with DF.. When did you have them do the work ?

For the Best tube work in the business you need to go see John at Hunter Offroad
(480) 557-7577
625 S. Smith, Suite1
Tempe, Arizona 85281
www.hunteroffroad.com (http://www.hunteroffroad.com)

Dave said it right. This is exactly what i was gonna say. Kracker for the gears, axles and lockers, Hunter for bumpers. Oh and Dave's house if you want somewhere to just watch people work. :repair:

[achilles100]

Sorry about the delay, guys. I finally got the pictures of my rear fender trim project on photobucket. So here's the link, and if anyone thinks they want to finish this up (I have zero welding, bodywork, or paint skills) please PM me and we can talk about a fee. So far, my lowest quote has been $400.

Thanks for looking!

http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/

[achilles100]

http://s679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/

Oops! Here it is.

Aaron

[stewie]

click free

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/DSC04241.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/DSC04242.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/DSC04243.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/DSC04244.jpg

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv158/achilles1002/DSC04245.jpg

[achilles100]

Thanks, Stewie! Sorry about that. I am unclear as to how to post pictures directly.

Aaron

[stewie]

under your pic in your pukebucket page it lists the img code. its gonna have [IMG] wrapped arround it. click on it and it will copy the code. then come into the post reply box in here and paste the code.

[Brandoson]

pukebucket

:yelclap: that's what I think of that site too!

[achilles100]

Anyone have any interest in helping me out? Bueller....Bueller....

Or maybe if anyone has any suggestions of a good body shop to finish the welding, smoothing, painting on those rear fenders?

Thanks to those who have looked!

Aaron

[AZXJ]

custom coach works in Tempe.

[achilles100]

Thanks AZXJ, I'll give 'em a call.

Aaron