My journey with this 1997 Jeep TJ, called "Recoil TJ," is a prime example of innovation, a drive to learn, and the ultimate goal of building a crawler capable of tackling trails from coast to coast. After purchasing the Jeep in 2017, Recoil underwent several revisions and testing of what worked and finding what didn't work by trial and error, extensive research, and the goal for what the Jeep would turn into. In 2022, I dove head first into a frame-up rebuild, pushing the vehicle's capabilities to the next level. This article dives into the details of the Recoil TJ build, the back story, and highlights the critical features and components that make this Jeep a trail-ready powerhouse.
Prelude:
The first few revisions of Recoil started in an ordinary, two car, home garage. While working at the fire department in central Florida, I started into the offroading world with the basic bolt on upgrades and after installing, breaking, and fixing the typical Jeep upgrades every new Jeep owner installs, I wanted more. Not just to install more parts, but to BUILD more. Everything I had done up to this point was easy installs with basic tools but the big hurdle was not acquiring the parts themselves, it was learning another set of skills that it took to build something greater. The next few years were a whirlwind of making changes to the Jeep, swapping axles, making suspension changes, fabricating custom parts and learning what worked and what didn't by trial and error.
Every free moment I had I was deep into youtube and old Pirate forums digging for all the information needed to plan a build around what I had pictured in my mind. I finally reached the point where a frame up rebuild was in order. I formed a long list of parts, drew up several different concepts of what the end goal would be, and started taking the entire Jeep apart! After parting almost everything out and restocking the small 20x20 garage with bins of new parts, I started the long build process.
A little less than a year later after repeated trips to every local parts store, long conversations with friends seeking advice when I needed a second set of eyes, and countless all nighters in the garage fueled by Rockstar, Recoil was finally completed. With little time to spare, I was already planning the shakedown run at AOAA with the rest of the Rockstar Performance Garage team that I missed from being consumed with the building process for close to a year.
After a successful shakedown run and minor tweaks and changes, I was beyond thrilled that Recoil was everything I'd ever dreamt of and I was so happy with the results. Since then it has made it to trails from AOAA in Pennsylvania, to Johnson Valley California, and everywhere in between. We even made it into SEMA and had a prime spot right in Central Hall! Here are some of the build details on the rebuilt Recoil TJ and what parts were used for those interested.
Key Features of the Recoil TJ Build
1. Frame & Suspension:
At the heart of the Recoil TJ is a robust foundation featuring Motobilt's front and back half frame kits. These kits provide enhanced clearance that move the frame higher and narrower and are essential for serious suspension. The other key component being the double triangulated four-link suspension system allowing for exceptional articulation and handling, Lower center of gravity, as well as dialed in and predictable suspension geometry. These products build out the entire frame and work together allowing the Jeep to sit as low as possible.
2. Tires & Wheels:
I opted for the formidable 42-inch Baja Boss tires from Mickey Thompson, paired with Dirty Life Mesa aluminum beadlock wheels. The Baja Boss offers unmatched traction and durability, and is perfectly suited for various off-road conditions even at 8PSI. Having run several sets of these wires in the 40” size I knew I wouldn't be let down by this voice and have to fight for traction.
3. Axles & Drivetrain:
The Jeep's drivetrain showcases top-tier components, including East Coast Gear Supply's pre-shaved 14-bolt castings, 40-spline chromoly shafts, and Yukon Grizzly lockers. This rig is also running one of the most revolutionary components in the axle market being East Coast Gear Supply’s 40 spline locking hubs, the first of their kind. I also integrated Motobilt's front and rear truss kits and full hydro steering ram mounts to optimize this setup. The gears are all spun by JE Reel 1410 drivelines, and the front runs up through a Busted Knuckle carrier bearing to the transfer case outputs.
4. Shocks:
For superior stability when crawling, I chose ORI struts over traditional coilovers. These struts offer complete adjustability for different terrains, ensuring the Jeep performs consistently on any trail as well as easy suspension adjustments and simple packaging. Struts on all corners are mounted using Motobilt shock hoops and builder parts and filled with a Powertank Dual shock Nitrogen fill kit.
5. Engine & Transmission:
At the core of this beast is a powerful 5.7 Gen III Hemi engine sourced from an '05 Ram, adapted to a 4L80 GM transmission through a Reid Racing bell housing. Manual shifting adds simplicity to this setup, enhancing the overall driving experience. This custom swap was far from easy to get dialed and used a custom ordered torque converter and flex plate.
6. Cooling & Electrical:
The build is equipped with a 250-amp JS alternator, an Odyssey battery, and a K&N intake, paired with Mishimoto cooling components to ensure optimal engine performance and reliability even under the stress of high RMP climbs. I threw the entire Mishimoto catalog in this engine bay from the radiator, transmission/power steering coolers, down to the AN lines and fittings, to ensure to keep the drivetrain as cool as possible.
7. Exterior:
Recoil boasts an exterior outfit entirely with Motobilt components. Features include boatside rockers, Highline fenders,complete tub armor, and Drop down tailgate. The Jeep’s finish showcases a unique two-tone gray and black design coated in Steel-It for added durability against rust and corrosion complemented by Patriot Liner on the interior and underside. To contain the rest is a full custom roll cage which took inspiration from a variety of different builds.
8. Tools & Recovery:
Equipped with a Warn Zeon 12s winch recovery is a breeze. The wince is set up for easy connections with a Factor 55 Loop Guard and the winch also functions as a suck down through the Motobilt front half kit bumper. The rear storage area features a Motobilt aluminum 19-gallon fuel cell and an aluminum tailgate outfitted with Milwaukee Packout mounts, as well as a slide out Motobilt cargo rack for supreme utility. Mounted to the storage rack is a 10lb Powertank which is used to air up and down tired after a day on the trails and has proven a very versatile tool for the Jeep and even the truck when airing up and down airbags when towing.
9. Interior:
Inside Recoil, comfort and convenience reign supreme. PRP Enduro Elite seats with New Glory 4.3 harnesses, a quick-release steering wheel, and a custom fabricated dash housing an Edge CTS3 monitor provide both style and functionality. The custom center console puts all the necessities in hands reach when harnessed in. An in dash Rugged Radios unit enhances communication on the trails, ensuring a seamless off-road experience.
10. Lighting:
Finally, the Jeep incorporates Baja Designs lights, front to back. LP6 off-road lights integrated into the grill to serve as headlights, Squadron A-Pillar Lights, and even S1 pods on the axle provide ample illumination during night rides. All of the Jeep's lighting and electronics are controlled with two SPOD units mounted under the dash.
Build Timeline and Future Plans
The rebuilding process of Recoil TJ was ambitious, taking under a year from November 2022 to its debut in September 2023 at The Great American Crawl. I am thrilled with the rig's performance after wheeling this rig from Johnson Valley CA to AOAA Park in PA and everywhere in between and look forward to pushing this build to its limits. I anticipate making changes in the future as needed to optimize the drivetrain, as well as giving the abused exterior a refresh.
Parts List
To assist fellow enthusiasts, below are the Motobilt components used in this build.
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Front Half Kit: MB3034
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Back Half Kit: MB3008
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Double Triangulated suspension: MB7009
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Front Truss Kit: MB4117
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Rear Truss Kit: MB4094
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Tailgate: MB1168
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Tag Mount: MB1077
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Highline fenders: MB1083-0
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Boatside Rockers: MB1136
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Door Armor: MB1142
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Rear fenders: MB1128
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Corner Armor: MB1127
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Tub Armor: MB1074
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Cowl armor: MB1236
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19 Gallon Fuel Cell: MB5010-TJ-3010-5007
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Cargo Rack: MB5017
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Shock Hoops: MB1556
Recoil TJ stands as a testament to what can be achieved even when building in a home garage with drive and determination to build the most capable rig possible. Whether on the trails or in the garage, this Jeep is a true reflection of adventure and innovation, setting the bar high.
