JKUR Build It Better Build

Gregulator said

I caved and sent my bumpers to powder coat...Jeep is looking naked right now.

Ive never had anything powder coated, what are they charging for your bumpers if you don't mind me asking?

k-jeep said

You building a jail cell in your Jeep? What is that?

It's the Aldon Smith edition.

JohnDF said

k-jeep said

You building a jail cell in your Jeep? What is that?

It's the Aldon Smith edition.

Ahh that's messed up!

kris_olof said

Gregulator said

I caved and sent my bumpers to powder coat...Jeep is looking naked right now.

Ive never had anything powder coated, what are they charging for your bumpers if you don't mind me asking?

They are powder coating 2 bumpers, 2 rock sliders and 2 brackets all the same color and they quoted me $350.

Greg,
If you give up trying to get your rig built for 4X4ing you could go this direction.....

Specialsoundman said

Greg,
If you give up trying to get your rig built for 4X4ing you could go this direction.....

Lol!! All,I can think of is "why"?

30s!?!?! Way to small for me!!

Why????

Those in 40' would be good😜. if just going to run it on the road🥱, why not?

Specialsoundman said

Those in 40' would be good[https://posse4x4.org/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/silly.png]. if just going to run it on the road[https://posse4x4.org/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/yawn.png], why not?

Oh but can't you just hear the Jeep groaning....? Poor thing. [https://posse4x4.org/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/crying.png] Designed to be off road and they are torturing it with that blingy stuff and those wheels that belong on a bouncing 1972 Rat Rod...[https://posse4x4.org/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/laughing.png] But, if that is what you like to roll in, then, by all means, it's...um...nice. 👍
L

Gregulator said Figured I might as well start a build thread for this jeep. I have several questions and thoughts I will layout in this thread for your honest opinions and experiences. Feel free to comment and ask questions. It's how we all learn.

The basics:

2014 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
3.6L, 6 speed manual with all the rubicon goodies.

Plan:

Eventually, I'd like to be on dynatrac 60s, 40s and a long arm with coilovers. Budget is a concern as of now. I don't intend to think about an axle swap for 5-6 years from now. With that in mind, I'd like to start with a short arm, coilovers, rcvs, chromoly rear shafts, drive shafts, armor, 5.13/5.38s (haven't decided), 38s and beadlocks.

Sounds like a plan right? I'm sure many of you will tell me to forgo the baby steps and just dive head first into the axle swap and 40s. I really wish I could. I totally get the buy once cry once mentality. I'm no baller through. I can't afford a 2014 JKUR and $20k plus in axles, lift, and tires. Once the jeep is paid off, different story. If I really just saved until I could do it, I may not be on the trail for 3 plus years. I'm already becoming restless and I've only had the jeep 4 months.

Well, looking at the original post above, I can't help but giggle.

It's time I upgrade this thread.  It has been approximately 1.5 years since I've done any real modifications since my original build.  Well, lots of saving, hard work and building relationships through our podcast, I have been able to make some substantial leaps in my build plans.  Over the last week, Jeff and I have been trying to pull off these new upgrades before we leave for Moab.  We are still working on dialing everything in, but I think we will make it.

So what upgrades have I done?  Glad you asked, they are as follows:

1. Swapped the Dana 44s for the Ultimate Dana 60s with 5.38s and ARBs
2. New 8 lug KMC Machete beadlock wheels  
3. 40" Mickey Thompson MTZ P3 tires
4. 1350 Drive shafts front and rear
5. PSC XD Big Bore steering box
6. Cut factory flares...

If your interested in the details:

I'm still running the Metalcloak 3.5" Game Changer with the RockSport shocks for now.  The jeep seems to ride really nice once we got the alignment done and balanced the tires.  One tire called for 12oz of weight...Might have to call and swap that one out.

I opted for the XD Box from PSC to try out as this is a mid grade upgrade going from a factory box to a hydraulic assist.  The box is recommended for 37" but several people are running 40s with it.  I plan to move to hydraulic assist later at some point.  Especially now that the stock box is out and I can send it in to be ported and rebuilt without any down time on my jeep.  The XD Box has a 42mm sector shaft compared to factor 37mm sector shaft.  It also has a larger piston inside at 80mm compared to 70mm factory.

The cool thing with the Ultimate Dana 60s is that your steering swaps over so I am still running my beefy Rare Parts steering which I love!!  After much debate with Kris and others, I decided to go with the ARB 60s instead of the E Locker version.  I really don't think you can go wrong with either choice, but ARB has been really gracious to us on our podcast.  After talking with their engineers on what makes ARB what it is, it was a no brainer for me.  The 60s were iconic from Dana.  Every other axle manufacture out there is using products from Dana.  Dana has been making jeep axles since 1941.  The huge brakes are awesome as well.  It's crazy that I can stop better with 40s than I could with the 37s on factory axles.  Plus all replacement parts I can get at almost any parts store or dealership.

I had a hard time picking tires.  I love how smooth my Toyos were, but I love trying new things and it's good content for the podcast.  The MT MTZ P3's were launched at SEMA last November and they looked really cool to me with lots of sidewall tread and not many people have been running them.  Plus, they were fairly cheap if you shopped around.  Discount Tire had them for $390 a piece.  Well, I took that price somewhere else and had them beat it for $385 a piece.  Not too bad for a 40" tire.  Besides one tire needing 12oz of weight, I am happy with them so far.  I love the growl on the road that they make.

I went with KMC wheels because I use to have ATX beadlocks and KMC is the parent company of ATX.  The new Machete wheels have drain holes machined into the ring to drain water, snow and mud which I thought was cool.  The wheel design is very similar to the ATX Slabs I ran and I really like how the bead locks on the wheel.  They also have dual valve stems so I can air up on one and check the pressure on the other.

I bought the drivelines from Sacramento Driveline Services.  I was debating ordering Adams Drivelines from Northridge, but I wanted a good fit and a local company to stand behind them incase I ever have issues.  Plus when I was down there picking them up, they gave me a free spare U joint.

Doing this build and swap has been a dream for a long time coming.  Anyone that listens to the podcast knows that. LOL!!  But it sure isn't cheap!!  After Moab I will be grounded for a long time.  Huge shout out to Jeff for helping me a long the way.  I think we both about killed ourselves trying to lift these axles.  Jeff is the man at installs!!  He works way faster than I do and it was hard to keep up with him.

Here's a few pictures:

Awesome. I listened to your podcast the other day so I knew what you two were up to! Looks great!!! Congratulations on the upgrade.

Freakin' Awsome! Glad you updated us.

Now I will let you de-bug everything for 40s with a 3" lift so I will know exactly what needs to be done when I step up in tire size.

It's tight and I haven't had a chance to flex it out yet.  I need to do some trimming or massaging of the sheet metal.

JohnDF - What have you done for inner fenders?

Gregulator said   JohnDF - What have you done for inner fenders?   

I'm still running the stock plastic fender liners.

Nice summary.  I haven't had any issues with Sac Driveline outside of being really busy during harvest season fixing shafts for tractors.  They made the shafts for Rubicon Express back when they were a local company.  I took my rear shaft in to get it shortened and the guy immediately recognized the then custom to them 1350 TJ Rubicon flange adapter.

I will have to check what are on mine but im thinking that 12oz is acceptable given that these are 40" tires.  Im pretty sure my 36s take that much.  If you are concerned you can have a tire shop dismount the tire and rotate it 180 degrees relative to the rim and try to balance again.  If they are balanced then I would just call it good and run them.

Very cool upgrade Greg! Congrats!!!

Just to confirm, 12oz is fine on a tire that big.  Two of my tires were new last october and took 10.5 and 16.5 oz each to balance.  Having them re-balanced on different wheels resulted in 4-6oz each needed.  I dont recall what i did the last time i swapped rims but maybe they just need less weight as they wear?  I will write down the weight on each I have now and see what changes when i swap to beadlocks in the future.

Greg the Jeep looks amazing now!  Brad's Jeep brought me into the Club, now your going to send me to the poor house.  Hopefully sooner than later

davesjk said Greg the Jeep looks amazing now!  Brad's Jeep brought me into the Club, now your going to send me to the poor house.  Hopefully sooner than later   

LOL!!  Well, thanks.  I hope you don't have too much jeep envy.

Very Purdy.