2005 Liberty CRD buildup

[William Waddy]

These photos show completion of the first step, which includes the following:
.. Green Diesel hot tune
.. Sun Coast torque converter with Transgo kit
.. Front hitch
.. Warn RockCrawler (red) 9000 winch (50 lbs) on receiver mount (photo not included, will post later)
.. Major trimming of all wheel wells including removal of plastic well liners and pounding down of everything that could be pounded
.. Front wells cut back at rear of wheel wells (see photos) - these gaping holes will be capped with steel sheet (use caution as there are wire bundles behind the covers on both sides)
.. Front plastic fenders trimmed up to curve line (see photo), and front bumper plastic trimmed, with lower air dam removed
.. Rear plastic fenders trimmed about half-way up, rear doors trimmed a little at rear
.. All wheel wells painted flat back with undercoat and bed-liner paint
.. Removed window washer reservoir (I plan to trim it up and find another location somewhere under the hood)
.. 33x10.5x15 BFG KM2 tires on Craga 15x7 Streetlock steel wheels

The result so far, as you can see, look pretty good. There is NO LIFT on my KJ, but the tires clear by a couple of inches even at full turn, and there is 4 to 6 inches of vertical up-travel before they would rub. I do not know whether the wheels would rub under full articulation. Frankly, I don't care because next week the KJ will be lifted and so I figure if the tires clear reasonably well now then I will have no problems when lifted.

I made a mistake getting 4.5" backspace on the 15" wheels. Even with some minor grinding on the front brake caliper castings the wheels would not clear. Therefore, I am changing out the wheels for the plain D-window Cragar soft 8's in 15x7 with 4" backspacing. Based on my experience I suggest anyone looking to go with the 15" steel wheels stay on the small side of 4" backspacing (i.e., 3.75 or 4), since the 4.5 did not work at all for me.

http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2ax.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2bx.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2cx.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2dx.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2ex.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/lib2fx.jpg
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/libx1.JPG
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/libx2.JPG
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/libx3.JPG
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/libx4.JPG
http://www.dixiedesperados.com/pics/libx5.JPG

I will post again in a week or so after the additional mods are installed: :BANANA:
.. Supersliders
.. 4" JBA lift with adjust-a-strut front suspension
.. Steel front diff with 4.56 gearing and electric lockers front and rear
.. JE Reel front CV shafts
.. Bilstein shocks front and rear
.. Full skid protection underneath
.. getting those holes at the back of the front wheel wells capped
.. Safari snorkel

BTW, the following items are left over, so if anyone is interested, drop me an email or check the links.

5 x stock alloy wheels 16 x 7, 5 on 4.5. Will post pics soon. 60,000+ miles but no off-roading and wheels are in very good condition. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... 28&cat=599

In my attempt to replace the stock wheels I went with Cragar 3525712P Street Lock D Window Black Wheels, 15 in. x 7 in., 5 x 4.5 in. Bolt Circle, 4.5 in. Backspace. I got some rubbing in the front and have now concluded that I need to go with 4" backspace, so I am selling these otherwise new streetlock Cragar wheels for way less than the $100 each price I paid. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... 95&cat=599

My stock torque converter has had 0 problems, and has had the F37 recall upgrade, in anticipation of the larger tires and other mods I am doing, preemptively I replaced it with a SunCoast TC. Therefore, I am selling the stock TC. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... 69&cat=594

Finally, I am replacing the front differential with JeepinbyAl's steel front diff, new gears, and new CV's, so I am also selling the entire front differential assembly, including the CV axles. About 60k miles original equipment with 0 problems. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad ... 31&cat=594

I live in St. George, Utah, which is 2 hours north of Las Vegas off Interstate 15, and 4 hours south of Salt Lake City.

 

[William Waddy]

Here are photos of completed build. I'll get out on the trail in the next couple of days and post some wheeling pics and videos.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

JBA 4" lift, front trail hitch, full skid plates, 4.56 gears, ARB air lockers front & rear, steel IFS differential, JE Reel cut CV's, cast rear diff cover, ARB compressor, trimmed fenders, pounded and cut wheel wells, BFG KM2 33x10.5x15 tires, receiver-mounted Warn crawler 9000lb winch, GDE hot tune, suncoast TC, Safari snorkel.

 

[Chris_22]

much much much much better with the lift. i definitely like where yours sits. whats going on with the front bumper though?

 

[bugnout]

Looks good, lets see some on the trail

 

[William Waddy]

Video on the trail

rides great. little oops at the end with result = one broken rear axle shaft, broken transfer case gears. Good news is that none of the new stuff broke. After a few tears, back in the shop for repairs and promise to be a little more careful (light on the peddle) next time out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79OgT8BD0lQ

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Nice KJ.

I know it's a "Coil over" spring/shock setup, but the front coil spring looks like it's stacked!

 

[jeeper4life]

Looks mean! keep up the good work man heh

 

[Dirt Rich]

Video on the trail

rides great. little oops at the end with result = one broken rear axle shaft, broken transfer case gears. Good news is that none of the new stuff broke. After a few tears, back in the shop for repairs and promise to be a little more careful (light on the peddle) next time out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79OgT8BD0lQ

The last few seconds were a little painful to watch lol, but other than that, nice KJ! Have you had a chance to test out the snorkel yet? I've always been kind of curious about those.

 

[bluesol]

Hi there, I know this is an old post that hasn't been touched in some time, but I had a question or two.

I saw that you cut into the back of the front wheel well...KJ's are unibody, everything is structural...

How did your jeep fare after cutting that section out? Did you do anything to help reenforce it there?

I am looking at getting 33" KM2's also, and I don't want anymore damn tire rub!

 

[kj04libby]

I can't view the pictures