I think there's a bit more to it than that, like fabbing up a new mounting system for the engine since stock the front diff is a big part of how the engine mounts as far as I know.

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2008 Unlimited Rubicon - 3.5" AEV/Nth lift - 35" MT/R with Kevlar - AEV Wheels - York OBA
2008 Patriot - Fuel Saver

He's using a TJ long arm kit.

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2005 Blue KJ Renegade
Too big to fit into most LA parking garages.

Engine, trans etc has motor /trans mounts like anything else. The front sub frame that you would need to remove to do the SFA holds the diff, steering etc

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

It is the Nth Unlimited long arm kit that is being used. On the front, the majority of the subframe is cut away but the portion that holds the engine mounts is still there. Then the fabrication of the steering box mount which is also going to be where the front trac bar attaches. Once that bracket is finalized it gets welded in place.
There is a lot of fabrication just in the belly skid which includes the trans mount and rear stinger mount and the countersunk holes plus some reinforcements. A access hole for servicing the transfer case may be added by me in the future but for now I can't bear to see that nice flat smooth belly get a hole added to it. It might also need a clearance notch added to the rear of the skid for exhaust clearance.
All the axle bracketry is added to the diffs and then the slight mods to get some of the Nth parts to work w/ the KJ D44 rear. There is also the subframe mounts that are added to the bottom of the KJ "frame rails". Those are drilled and tapped, welded to the "frame" and then the frame underneath is also tapped through those drilled holes. Then of course all the Nth parts are assembled and bolted up to that subframe assy.

Mine was set up a little differently from Seths and Wallys by moving my subframe assy rearward an extra inch to allow a little more adjustment in the rear to allow for clearing the front of the rear wheelwells should I decide to up the tire size.

A lot of custom work goes into the job and some of it is custom built to the vehicle. There are so many slight variations from one KJ to the next that you can't just make a bunch of parts and bolt them up since some may not fit other vehicles.

Fun.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

Cut your access panel and then put a hinge on it so you can service the tranny but retain your solid flat belly pan

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LEAD FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY
2002 Sport 4x4 3.7 L w/auto
Amsoil from bumper to bumper, Amsoil Air Filter
PIAA head light bulbs, Fog Light switched out to SilverStar 9005's
MagnaFlo Muffler, New Radiator, Rebuilt A/C system,Rebuilt Rear Diff, LBJ's twice
Dunlop 245/70-16 Rover AT

i agree! that's is AWESOME. cant wait to see it all completed.

I think it's about time to see a kit formulating for the general public i'm alright with welding aspect of it... just need all the parts to put in place. seems by about 2 or 3 more SFA libertys some company "COUGH rocklizard COUGH" would have a good idea of what to compile based on what worked on the prior liberty's. just thinking out loud.

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2006 Renegade. Completely stock.

I think a kit is possible but there are so many variations that it would be hard to make a kit that everyone would want. Nth was close to making a kit based on what All J's has been doing but they realized that it wouln'dt appeal to everyone that wanted an SFA and it also wouldn't sell like the kits for the Wranglers. The basics used in the Wrangler Unlimited kit are adaptable to the KJ as used on mine but there are several changes and custom parts utilized that are additional while some of the Nth parts are not used. If someone made a "kit" it would have to be generic and made to work with only a couple options. I think it would have to assume that the rear stays an 8.25 so it would still work w/ the speed sensor or you add in the work of making that work some other way if using a different rear axle.


A kit that came with coil overs for front, springs and shocks for the rear, all the Nth parts needed (W/ custom 8.25 axle stinger and skid), axle brackets, control arms, steering, steering box and custom mount, driveshafts, belly pan w/ trans mount, sway bar for rear, Currie anti-rock (or similar) for front, all the hardware, instructions, etc. would run in the neighborhood of about $8-10K. (by my best guess)

That wouldn't include regearing and locking the rear diff, removing all of the old parts and cutting off all the axle brackets and welding on the new ones, It wouldn't include the front diff assy and all labor and parts for building it and adding on the new brackets. It wouldn't include the custom exhaust system that would also be needed. No labor for the install of all those shiny new parts, etc. which would probably run another several thousand or more dollars in parts and labor that most would have to farm out to a local shop that is good at custom installs.

I think to be realistic about it and with farming out a lot of the work, it is a $18- $20K job depending on what you use for lockers and front axle and what kind of deal you can get on labor.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

wow!.. i think i'm back down to a window shopper.. untill after college atleast. for 20g's you could long arm lift a used rubicon... and have a lot of money left over.. but i guess it's still not a SFA liberty if you do that your jeep.. and the other SFA's are awesome

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2006 Renegade. Completely stock.

I have a question that maybe you could answer. You said in the last post about assuming that someone kept the 8.25 when doing the front swap would mean you wouldn't have to do anything about the speedo sensor. Now what if someone does go with a different axle (D44 for example)? What is different about the NP231 used in the KJ as opposed to the one in the TJ? Why couldn't you use the speedo gear setup like the TJ? Did they just plug the hole for it or is it a whole new housing? What would need to be done to make that work?

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David
Bel Air,Md
2003 KJ Patriot Blue Sport w/mods R.I.P.
2005 Wrangler Unlimited not so stock
L.O.S.T. #082670
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/803306
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2399643
More mods planned than money.
-----------------

"Roads, where we're going we don't need roads."

My KJ is paid for so it made sense doing this project. I wanted a 4 door hardtop Jeep w/ power options and the KJ fit the bill where a TJ didn't. I also thought about doing a 4wd conversion on a 2wd 4 door JK using aftermarket parts and building the crap out of it but it was going to be so expensve that it wasn't funny. There is no way I could get the amount out of my 03 KJ to buy a stripped JK and do the same project OR even buy an 03 TJ Unlim and do this to it and I still wouldn't have power windows, locks, 4 doors, etc.

The biggest additional expense on this project over doing a long arm TJ or JK (besides purchase cost) is the additional labor for the custom parts that have to be built to the vehicle. It is real easy to spend $15-20K on a TJ or JK and I have seen that happen many times.

My only slight regret on this whole project is that I didn't do it sooner instead of spending so much on the KJ before getting to this point.

I think that if a person wants a modified Jeep and doesn't ned 4 doors then buying an already built TJ or even JK would be the way to go. Heck, I could have bought a couple built TJ's for what I have spent on this One KJ since buying it but they wouldn't fit all of my needs/wants.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

There isn't a speedo pickup on the KJ transfer case. Using a TJ case is possible (as we are doing w/ the NV241OR) but it uses 3 wires instead of the two found on he KJ's diff pickup. (or vice versa, brain cloud right now)
I am sure it is easily possible to figure that all out and make it work but changing to a D44 is also an additional expense over using the 8.25 diff.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

I don't know why they stopped making that bumper, that is the best one by far for the 02-04 kj.

Jeep looks sick and inspiring!

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06 White KJ Sport 4x4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2432458/1

Wait until you see what I have planned for it. Changes coming.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

To the bumper? Do tell!

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06 White KJ Sport 4x4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2432458/1

JJ,
Looking real nice....cant wait to see pics of the finished product! I am sure you cant wait to wheel it.
Merry Christmas all!

BLAINE!?!?!? HOw the heck are ya man?!!? Long time no see.

I can't wait to see it done too. Someday.....

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

Hey John,
Doin' good, just living up here near where I think you got your lift, Carson City, right? Anyway, was hoping you all would have got something going for the Rubicon (just a stones throw from me), I would have definately joined you. But there is mucho offroading here, just about anything you would want, but sadly, I think Im the only Modded KJ up here....lonely lol
Anyway, next time your in the area, make sure to let me know, would like to see ya all.

Lookin' good JJ. Does it come with a ladder.

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2005 CRD , Moab Rims, 245/75/16 Goodyear M/T
RL rear bumper, TMJ Front bumper, Frankenlinft,
*TOTALED*

1985 Mitsubishi Pickup SP 2.3 Turbo Diesel Watercooled turbo,4D56 ported head,
12" Suspension Lift with JK Rubicon axles, Elockers, 5.13's, Fox coilovers, Atlas 5.0, Rock Lizard supersliders

1996 Lexus LX450 -locked and lifted-

After watching Wally climb in and out of his I wondered the same thing. (of course hes a short little guy ) (love ya man!)

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

very nice.

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02' Sport- SOLD

07' Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1500 4x4
Yeah it's got a hemi!