Need some real reccomendations for mods!!

[AlaskanJack]

Ok guys keep this on the "down Lo" I may be coming into some funds within the next 2 months a little less than 10K for mad money.

I am trying to generate a real world wish list for mods. Since I have been having problems with my drivetrain recently and I have some other areas of concern here's where I started. Now tell me what you think about brand specific parts and why one is better than the other.

My thoughts are the following.
Atlas 2 t-case (reccomend ratio)
Ebrake on t-case
Performance headers thinking Hooker
Jacobs Ignition kit with plug wires
ARB lockers front and rear (depends on what I do axle wise)
Thinking about a solid axle front and 9" rearend
coilovers
CTM ujoints
Interior roll cage
winch maybe 9000i
MT Beadlocks and 36" Baja Claws
I also want to have my tranny rebuilt heavy Duty and get the engine rebuilt but stronger (new MAF, TB, Injectors, Larger cam port and polish etc.)
Dual battery set-up with ready welder
Oh and fix the dent in the side of my rig haha!
Aha and add a GPS

So what do you guys think see anything that would be better than something I listed or trade one thing for another? I will start trying to put prices together with things to see how close to 10K I would be. This would be the ultimate offroad vehicle for me and I could be content for a while.

What do you think can all this be done for 10K or less? I would want to do as much myself as I could. engine and tranny would have to be done by a good shop.

Oh and remember Chris keep this on the Down Lo

 

[Robb]

1) Atlas II ($2K-$2.5K)
2) HP D44 and 9" swap (DIY with "built" axles, $3K-$5K)

Put the rest into needed items.

 

[NOTAJP]

Good luck Kurt. That should be fun.

Atlas II t-case: 3.8 ratio, can only imagine a few times that would require anything lower.

E-brake on t-case is a great idea. I've been thinking the same. That was my biggest limiting factor in the rear flex was the e-brake cables.

I have the Jacobs, must have. Make sure you get the ceramic coated headers with a thick flange.

I have a Warn XD9000i. Get aleast 9k. the 8k have a hard enough time getting out of their own way.

Baja Claws are the best off-road tire IMO. I had a set and ran circles around JPs with boggers.

Dana 44 and 9" would be awesome. Could always keep the 8.8", it's a great axle. ARBs or OX depending on front axle.

Duel battery with ready welder is a must have. I don't know what I would do without it. It's building my SAS as we speak.

There's my .02, that's about all it's worth. Good luck, sounds like a great project.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Put the rest into needed items.

Aren't they all needed?? LOL

I think the 3k-5k is high I know a guy that had his done for less than 2k. We've done some talking and checked some prices on available axles ready to go in. But lockers are rear detroit and front Powertrax. Cost is 800 for axles.

I also found a used Atlas 2 for 1800 But I thought CoryL said around $1,900 new.

Still leaves plenty for other needed items like ARB but could live with detroit and powertrax.

Other items I forgot were Apten dual program chip, rock sliders and Warrior roof rack.

 

[akcrogers]

Oh come on man, with that $ you could join the straight axle club, and supercharge you x and still do a bunch of the other stuff. Emphasis on the sas though. Then I could buy your extended ra.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Thanks Kent,

just re affirms my thoughts. There just seems to be so many options available for 9" rearends. I fugred the more common the cheaper the parts become. Lets just hope that by all these Jeepers swapping in 8.8's into their rigs the prices will go down and assortment of products available for the 8.8's goes up. If I keep it I will add disc brakes to rear.

But I would be fine with keeping th 8.8 and adding a locker to it if it meant getting more on my list.

Oh and I thought Ox locker was out of business?? I had heard that several times on another board.

Other items I will be adding no matter what happens with this future money is real oil, and temp guages. Secondary tranny cooler as well as remote filter. Completing my Ranger front swap with the 4" flare fiberglass fenders.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Originally posted by akcrogers
Oh come on man, with that $ you could join the straight axle club, and supercharge you x and still do a bunch of the other stuff. Emphasis on the sas though. Then I could buy your extended ra.

I don't know about a supercharger, I am not a real big fan of them. They are cool, but I don't know. I could get the engine Blueprinted and built for the cost of a supercharger. That would include high quality lifters, roller cam, port and polish etc.

Someone said that they checked with 4 wheel parts and the Superlift arms are around 260 shipped to Alaska total. Think about it!!

 

[akcrogers]

I'm not the biggest fan of SCs either, but I'm leaning more towards that rather than a 302 for HP upgrade. I haven't found a way to work around AK's emissions laws for putting a 302 in the X Everyone I've talked to says it can't be done here. So that leaves the SC as pretty much the only way of majorly upgrading the little 4.0's hp.

 

[GaSouthern1]

I really dont think headers are gonna be worth your money, they dont make that much of a difference.

All the other stuff sounds awesome, keep us posted.

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by AlaskanJack
Thanks Kent,

just re affirms my thoughts. There just seems to be so many options available for 9" rearends. I fugred the more common the cheaper the parts become. Lets just hope that by all these Jeepers swapping in 8.8's into their rigs the prices will go down and assortment of products available for the 8.8's goes up. If I keep it I will add disc brakes to rear.


Oh and I thought Ox locker was out of business?? I had heard that several times on another board.

Ox locker is up and running strong, they had a slow start but now 4wheelparts is marketing their product. I installed an OX locker in my father-in-law's Dana 44 last year. Quite the setup for sure.

As for the 8.8, Rick is still running his if that'll tell you something . There are plenty of up grades such as disc brakes, moser axle shafts, locker selection, C-clip eliminators (if you think you need them), and damn near as strong as the 9in, stronger in some ways plus the pinion isn't as low.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Ok so I went and spoke with my local 4x4 shop and this was a few of his reccomendations.

Stay with the 8.8 rearend and go with a Detroit Locker instead of ARB in the rear. He competes every year in the Austrailian Outback Challenge and he said he runs the 8.8 rear with Detroit and ARB in front.

Now he also has suggested something a little different for the t-case. He said a lot of Fords and Jeeps(I think) are running the Dana 300 and mounting it upside down so the shafts mate up. Then they are adding a kit that keeps the fluid flowing into the case. He said the Dana 300 are a dime a dozen much smaller and tough as nails, plus for the price of an Atlas 2 you can keep a few spares around. Cost for the Dana 300 option was around 600. A very interesting suggestion.

Any thoughts?

 

[NOTAJP]

Kurt, here's a Detroit Locker on ebay.

I have a detroit and it's the best off-road. If I could do it all again for a dual purpose rig, I'd go with the ARB.

Haven't heard anything about the Dana 300. Does AA even have an adapter for the X?

 

[Robb]

If you have the resources...................Selectables at BOTH ends!!

 

[Michael]

If you want me to spend your money for you here goes,

1) Dana 44 w/ Superior shafts, ctm joints, detroit locker and gearing for the size tire you will run. Add the high steer setup of your choice and a hydro assist.

2) If you already have a rear locker keep it, if not put in a spool or a detroit.

3) Winch, 9000lbs at least.

4) Roll Cage

5) Wheel the wee out of it to figure out your next step, ie. more power, more gear, whatever.

Dana 300 with a flip kit would work, but after you add the HD output, flip kit, 4-1 low range kit, and the adapter for the tranny you could have bought an atlas. If you want to know about the Ox locker, pm mudd*****, he just took it out and put in a detroit in his 44. Nothing but problems.

 

[Randall]

I agree with everything Michael said. I doubt that you will be able to get a d300 to work for ~600. The flip kit itself is around 800. The cost of a sas will sneak up on you. Do not plan on spending less than 4k, even if you are doing all the work. I spent more than that in parts.

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by Mudd*****
I agree with everything Michael said. I doubt that you will be able to get a d300 to work for ~600. The flip kit itself is around 800. The cost of a sas will sneak up on you. Do not plan on spending less than 4k, even if you are doing all the work. I spent more than that in parts.

Yeah, tell me about it....