Looking for advice

CGman · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:46 pm

So the Libby is paid off, the sting of this Summer's bills for parts and labor are starting to fade and this thing has had no problems for 4+ months...so I'm thinking about spending some more money on the Jeep. :mrgreen:

Here's my quandary: :juggle:

I need new tires/struts/coils/etc and I would love to get a nice lift and be able to get a bigger tire on this thing (I've given up on 30+ mpg suburban driving dreams). And in fact I would like to mod this thing enough to be able to take this thing on LOST jeep rides in the Rockies, etc. :JEEPIN:

BUT

This thing has 102,000 miles and I'm not sure how much money I want to put into this thing with the chance it might eat the valves, blow the head gasket, grenade the turbo, or a dozen other minor tribulations that could occur. :dead:

Does this thing really have another 100,000 miles in her? Can it even really go offroading with the big boys without damaging some overly-sensitive, Italian designed, engine parts?

Thanks for listening to/reading my whining, any advice would be appreciated...

CGman · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:55 pm

So I assume everyone is deep in introspective thought, not rolling their eyes and cursing me under their breath?
:roll:

thermorex · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:31 pm

My opinion, if you really want to go offroad with the "big boys", get a wrangler, stiffen up the chassis, put a diesel, an atlas, some bad arse axles to go with the tires you want and you're in a different league. You can obviously modify the kj to do the same thing but I don't think you'll get such a quality offroad vehicle as a wrangler.

I personally don't see why the engine wouldn't last 2-300k, if properly maintained should be fine. You can get at minimum 250k with proper care and doing offroad. Just add a bunch of gauges to monitor egt (pre and post turbo), boost, various coolant temp sensors thru-ought the engine, various oil temp and oil pressure at minimum. Plus have a strict schedule of maintenance and inspection based on the trails you go.

minesbigger · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:23 pm

I say build it dont buy it there lots of aftermarket support out there take it wheeling find out what you need to fix next tires lift skids your on the best start go from there ya take care of her she will take care of you 200k 300k go for it

gmctd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:27 pm

CGman wrote:

So I assume everyone is deep in introspective thought, not rolling their eyes and cursing me under their breath?
:roll:

Have you perused the Noob guide, top of this forum section?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54207

CATCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:48 pm

CGman wrote:

So I assume everyone is deep in introspective thought, not rolling their eyes and cursing me under their breath?
:roll:

It's just that nobody really wants to tell you what to do with your money! If you like the idea then do it and you can't worry about what may or may not happen down the road.

CGman · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:25 am

gmctd wrote:

CGman wrote:

So I assume everyone is deep in introspective thought, not rolling their eyes and cursing me under their breath?
:roll:

Have you perused the Noob guide, top of this forum section?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54207

If you're referring to all the problem areas to watch, yes I've read it, and I've fixed almost all of them. If you're referring to "not cluttering the site"... Well, I'll just say that's a matter of opinion. I appreciate not wanting to tell people how to spend their money also, but I guess I was wanting to know whether people that were offroading in their CRDs were having any unexpected issues.
I don't to spend $5k more on this thing and have it break, and I sure don't have $20k+ to spend on a nice wrangler.

gmctd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:49 am

There's more upgrade info in the CRD TECH section, also

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:12 pm

Some suggestions for basic upgrades for offroading and bigger tires are: (not in any order!)
1 Springs, Ironman or OME are two of the better ones, 2 - 2.5 inch lift, there are some others also available...
2 After market upper control arms if you got the funds. (much better than OEM)
3 Shocks while you are changing springs, Bilsteins or OME are highly recommended by many on this forum...

Be sure and check ball joints and all front and rear suspension parts for any worn out joints while you are changing springs...

4 Plan on buying or building some good quality skid plates to protect the engine, oil filter area, and transmission / transfer case areas if your Jeep does not have any installed from the factory. (oil filter on the CRD is in a very vulnerable location! I would not recommend doing any serious offroading without first protecting this area...)
5 Tow hooks, sure comes in handy when you need them... :wink:

There are probably some other upgrades that some on here can recommend.... :SOMBRERO:

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