Project Orvis..

[Ds4x4]

--The story of the build--

96 ZJ Orvis Edition, V8 5.2L
From beginning to end..
(with cliff notes of course)

I paid $2300, with 150K on the clock and a knock in the engine.. after another $2100 including a donor engine with 70K miles it was home..


The Original plan was to go no more than 4.5",new gears and an OX up front and still be able to DD it..

The New plan, TnT Customs 7" LA, 35's or bigger, new front and rear axles and go full cage either inside or Exo. The new plan in process is in progress and moving in stages. Since i already have the 2"bb and 3.5" coils sitting around they will be used till i get the $ for the TnT setup.. (around $3700) But Colorado 5.9 swears by them and i'm willing to venture away from the norm of Claytons..

Buying a house, Building a garage with a lift and Purchasing a DD/tow rig (2005 Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel) are the main things holding this project back.. Summertime all should be completed and the build making some quick progress

on 32's


Kennesaw Rear Bumper.

[Ds4x4]

How the new build started
and why it continues

It only seems to take that one hit and then we stop caring.. all the times your careful with your new baby and try not to scratch it up, it just happens one day and then it begins..

Why i got some sliders and why i'm going higher and for more flex.

Rock Pile at OK4WD and the scratch/dent that started it all



Rausch Creek




If i didn't DD the shit out of this thing i would just start cutting.. Currently an Aussie is on the way (i Hope) 4.10's, front track bar and shocks. throw in a possible trans swap and a definite 242 swap and i'm on the way to bigger things

heres two fun vids for ya..
2nd video lesson of the day: don't follow someones tracks when they have 35's and got stuck and you only have 32's..

[DerekL]

AHAHAHAHA!!!

[Ds4x4]

the result from the above.





I have some 1/8" C channel to be welded under the rail then a 1/8" plate for inside the rail.. I'll be tapping the existing nut inside the rail to the correct size/threads and drilling a new hole to add a fourth bolt to each side..

[jsteves]

good thing you weren't using those mounts to tow with.

[AprilzWarrior]

the result from the above.

I have some 1/8" C channel to be welded under the rail then a 1/8" plate for inside the rail.. I'll be tapping the existing nut inside the rail to the correct size/threads and drilling a new hole to add a fourth bolt to each side..

You can see some old cracks under there... lead to the failure. Glad no one was hurt !!

Keep building.

[Ds4x4]

a little 1 year update since the last post.. I still have my 3.5 Springs, ADJ. Front and rear track bars and my Aussie sitting in the basement. As I stand now I have no reverse and a Transmission rebuild/upgrade is in the works.. $1850 installed with updated HD Torque converter, Kevlar Clutches, HD OD unit and all. 198K on this tranny..I also reinstalled my Kenesaw bumper with some steel plates up inside the rails and then bolted with grade 8's again. I'll be stitch or at least tac welding the whole sha-bang in place this summer when i order a LA setup and get it installed

[adam99wj]

looks clean , nice job, hopefully you fixed that rear bumper up real good

[MoonWorks]

Is that one of the new "quick disconnect" bumpers!?!

[cowboy63b]

just outta curiosity how far is alloway from fort dix? cause i gotta see this jeep.

[Ds4x4]

Is that one of the new "quick disconnect" bumpers!?!

How'd ya guess? Great for those spots you need a lil less weight in the rear

just outta curiosity how far is alloway from fort dix? cause i gotta see this jeep.

about hour and 45min

[LouisianaZJ]

what's the deal w/ the light bar?

[Ds4x4]

what's the deal w/ the light bar?

Fire Department. and i was a member of the Dive Team and Marine Rescue for the county

[Ds4x4]

Well i got my trans done...and then took it back and got it done again.. now i gotta take it else where because the mechanic was a coke head and i'll make sure he doesn't get a dime... he also sabotaged my rig too bastard

[it usually runs fine]

dude that sucks bad. i am in the middle of doing a tranny swap as we speak i just said screw it and bought a "new" trans from aadvance auto parts for 1450 with a 375,000 mile 3 year warranty. everything included. seemed as good as deal as any to me.

[Ds4x4]

I should have done that and it was an option but the shop had done motor work and replaced the radiator for me before. i figured i would be a good customer and support a local business. little did I know i would get shafted big time. thank god i paid with a CC so i can dispute it. Now just to get the BBB and the NJ Tax Office in on it for someone taking cash and not charging taxes..

[Spr-T-23]

wow how did that bumper get pulled off like that???

[Ds4x4]

a wrangler.. i tired pulling a tow truck out at a local spot and the angles we were at + the weight just made it weak. so the tug from the wrangler just finished the job.. silly me

[Spr-T-23]

ouch major suck, fix it better?

[Ds4x4]

lol yea i slipped a 1/8 plate or two inside the rails and then rebolted. one day when I study the UniBody Welding Bible RRRREEEAAAALLLLYYYY good, i'll weld it on

and the jeep is now in a Transmission shop in Wilmington DE and I expect a full recovery

[Spr-T-23]

yea mines due for some trans work as well

[Ds4x4]

Rise from the Dead damn it!

Of course after I started to part out this baby and accomplished only selling my bumper, part of the 3.5" lift kit and all my friggin lights and wire harness to said lights I have decided to run it into the ground. And yes i would rather do that then lose alot of money after rebuilding the Transmission, so prepare for the obnoxiousness of ORVIS!