i completely support this.
real trail rigs are built not bought.
my only question is if he went with a TJ because he liked the looks.
other than that a YJ or CJ would have been a better choice money wise especially if the interior comforts are going to be stripped. (but i love tj's!!!)
anyway.
what do you plan to do with this jeep?
sand rig
mud rig?
rock rig?
i assume you are handy with fabrication and you can build your own four link or weld spring perches on for leaf springs.
since you are putting in a 350 and an appropriate tranny to go with it
i would settle for nothing less than an Atlas 2
and on the brakes...i agree anyone with a highschool education can assemble a brake system.
i would like to suggest however going with the hydraulic brake booster from an Astro van (similar to the 1 ton trucks)
we use those in our sand rails and the braking is amazing.
all you need to do is make sure you have a matching power steering pump as you will need the extra return line port.
advance adapters is your best option for adapters but since you are going with chevy engine/tranny, if you do an atlas 2 you most likely wont need one. (im sure they make an atlas that bolts to a chevy tranny!)
wiring isnt so bad except if you want to run "pretty" switches, or stock switches, in that event you will need to run relays. Which in excess could get a little confusing.
after market fuse panels are easy to come by and small block chevy's are incredibly easy to wire and for custom dash i would go with autometer guages. which are also easy.
you may have to replace your fuel sending unit unelss you plan to do an after market fuel cell all together. (autometer provides a sending unit with fuel guages)
if you arent handy with wiring i would suggest a painless setup, however some things you will have to splice yourself.
the easiest way to do the lights would be to tap into the existing wires to avoid making a wiring mess trying to drill new holes for wires.
if the engine doesnt fit CUT THE INNER FENDERS OUT!
it doesnt sound like this is going to be a daily driver anyway.
but with no inner fenders, if you do go through water with any speed i would suggest doing some sort of snorkel or atleast something to divert water away from your air intake.
What kind of axles do you have?
you havent said.
anyway.
my favorite part
gut EVERYTHING from the engine bay.
take no prisoners.
cut, hack, mangle!
might i also suggest (since 350's are so easy to make brackets for) on board air from an old A/C pump.
they are easy to find with a V belt pully and the bracket should be cake to make.
you can read the post i made here about the OBA for my cherokee
Wing Nut OOA's On board air for the financially challenged