5:41 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline
Sooo, I decided after reading Tom's thread, I decided I too would make a build thread. I love criticism and I need help with my creative juices and I figured you guys could help me out. Plus, it will give you guys something to read and snicker about.
HISTORY:
I'll start out with some history of my rig. I traded in my 2004 Subaru STI for a 2006 Rubicon Unlimited with 24k miles in 2007. It was completely stock and unmolested. My brother talked me into an automatic, I still can't figure out if I like it or not.
(insert stock picture here when I find one)
My jeep didn't stay stock for long. I sold a lot of after market parts of my Subaru to be able to purchase a Clayton 5.5 Hard Arm Kit, 5.13 gears, RE Shocks, Coast rear Driveline, longer break lines, and some used 36" PJ Dirt Grip tires and some black rock crawler rims.
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5:52 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline I wheeled it that way for a while, but the tires where horrible so, I upgraded to some used 37" SSR's. 
Went to the Rubicon for a shake down
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5:57 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Drove it that until around 2009 when I got a smoking deal on some Trailready beadlocks. Hid them in my garage until it was safe to reveal them to wife and convince her that I needed new tires to match the new 17" wheels. 
She was cool and said I could get new tires. So a buddy of mine got me a wholesaler discount on some brand new 37" MTR Kevlars.
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6:06 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Then towards the end of 2009, I found a smoking deal on a set of fullsize HP44 and 9 inch. They where both geared to 5.13's with TJ brackets on them all ready. The rear 9 inch had a detroit and 31 spline cromo shafts. The front was stock besides the gears. Best part of the deal was that they came with hy steer and installation all for $900.
The only bummer was I had to ditch the beadlocks for wheels with a different bolt pattern. Back to black rock crawler wheels. 
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6:20 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline To be continued...
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1:33 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline That Jeep looked sexy with those TR beadlocks!
How did you ever cram into a Subi?
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:46 pm
January 27, 2011
Offline After reading "The MOST Awesome Build Thread EVER!!", 3 things come to mind ...
1 - You'll NEVER hear any snickering from me!
2 - I love starting with a bone-stock rig. Easier to take credit (blame?) for the whole process.
3 - Nothing beats a good build thread. Seeing how people did things has saved me LOTS of $$$ as I don't know enough to ask the right question many times.
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If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading -- Lao Tzu
7:39 pm
"finder_87" wrote: Sooo, I decided after reading Tom's thread, I decided I too would make a build thread. I love criticism and I need help with my creative juices and I figured you guys could help me out. Plus, it will give you guys something to read and snicker about.
Thanks for getting the gumption to share this.
[Image Can Not Be Found]
9:38 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Woah, something happened with my pictures. I'll have to resize them so they aren't cut off.
"JohnDF" wrote: That Jeep looked sexy with those TR beadlocks!
How did you ever cram into a Subi?
Tell me about it. I loved those TR beadlocks. I still want another pair.
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5:30 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Been slacking on my build thread...but I've been at a crossroad. I'm at the point with my jeep where I am about to spend a lot of money on it. All this thought of spending money on it has me thinking that I may want to switch projects. I can't decide. I had a toyota before the jeep and I am constantly thinking about going back to a toyota. But I love my jeep. Parts are just sooo pricey for jeeps. Anyways, I've been feeling the need for a diesel truck with house projects and whatnot. So I've been thinking of trading in the jeep on a diesel truck. What do you guys think? I know what the jeep guys will say. But sometimes I'd rather have a more expensive daily driver and a wheeler that is not going to kill my wallet. I'm open for thoughts. Thanks.
Um...what?
5:44 am
Club Member
January 19, 2011
Offline Keep the Jeep. A full size diesel will not do trails as well if that is your passion. Snow runs will be over as you will be to heavy.
Semper Fi
6:11 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Jeep
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:04 pm
July 15, 2005
Offline Why a diesel? Do you need it for hauling heavy loads? Would a good used gas truck serve Just as good?
Your Jeep is over 1/2 built. All you really need is a set of axles to run your 40's..if you start over with a Toyota it will be expensive too. Toyotas are not as comfortable as a jeep and not nearly as reliable on the trail.
I would really think about selling your jeep. Only you will know if it is the best choice for your current situation.
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
4:28 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Well, I could use a diesel. But I talked with the wife last night and she set me straight. Looks like I'll continue building the jeep and buy a truck after its payed off.
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4:36 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline So the jeep needs a lot off maintenance and up grades. I think I'm going to start in the back of the rig and work my way forward. So up first, I'm going to pull the Detroit out of the rear end and run an open carrier. I'm tired of all the crazy unloading of the Detroit. I'm also going to do new axle seals, new wheel bearings and rework the rear hard brake lines on my rear axle, make my own rear bumper and I'm thinking a rear gas tank skid is in order. Any suggestions on a rear skid?
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4:49 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "finder_87" wrote: So the jeep needs a lot off maintenance and up grades. I think I'm going to start in the back of the rig and work my way forward. So up first, I'm going to pull the Detroit out of the rear end and run an open carrier. I'm tired of all the crazy unloading of the Detroit. I'm also going to do new axle seals, new wheel bearings and rework the rear hard brake lines on my rear axle, make my own rear bumper and I'm thinking a rear gas tank skid is in order. Any suggestions on a rear skid?
Outside of the genright tank I think getting a replacement rather than a cover up gets you more ground clearance.
5:04 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline "BKGM Jeepers" wrote:
Outside of the genright tank I think getting a replacement rather than a cover up gets you more ground clearance.
I'm not really looking for more ground clearance but more for protection. Plus I don't think I can afford a genright tank.
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5:42 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I didn't mean to suggest the genright, only that it was a complete replacement option.
The skid row plate is a cover up style (for example).
The Warn plate is a replacement style (for example).
The only difference between the two is time to install and that the Warn gives you 1" more clearance in the rear.
5:56 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Oh!! Got it. Sorry I'm slow. But yes, I agree I don't want a cover up but a complete replacement skid.
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12:24 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline This is what I'm thinking of creating for my rear bumper. Any thoughts?
http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/freakjeep/ ... otostream/
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5:35 am
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline "jsmorrow" wrote: Why not just copy a Hanson ?
I like the low profile look of almost no bumper. Plus having an unlimited, anything I can eliminate hanging off the backend should help out a lot.
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7:20 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline Ok, a little update-
I've been debating with my rear axle. It currently is a rear ford 9 inch, 31 spline with chromoly shafts and a Detroit. I've had in my garage for about a year a fab9 housing with 35 spline shafts and matching 5.13 gears to my current set up. I haven't put it in the rear of my jeep yet, because it has a spool. I've been saving for an ARB and a bracket kit.
I was starting to think that I was going to sell the fab9 axle to fund other parts for my jeep. But now I'm debating going back to keeping the fab9. If I keep it I'm debating going with a a Detroit or Grizzly locker to cut costs. Buying one of these lockers saves me about $600 over the ARB.
I like the idea of only doing things once. If I go fab9 I can run pretty much any tire I want with that axle. If I keep my current 9 it could last me a long time and allow me to buy other things now.
So my question is which axle should I run? I'm a mild wheeler and plan to jump to 40s but I honestly think my current axle is fine for 40s. It's the next stage I'm worried about.
And what locker should I run if I go fab9? Money is an issue because my wife hates extra cash laying around the house.
Any thoughts from the wise peanut gallery?
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7:58 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline How much do you think you can get for the axle under your jeep currently?
What about holding the axle in the garage until you have the money for the ARB, and then selling the under-the-jeep axle to offset those costs?
You reference not wanting to do things twice but are looking to cut costs in your rear locker. This doesn't seem logical. It seems what you have currently is working fine. What are you now trying to build that has you competing for funds? 40's usually require considerable additional costs in upgrades/lift/suspension/bumpstop changes. How new are those 40's? Can you get a swap for 38's? The cost for me between 38's and 40's was $80 for the tires in total, but a lot more in suspension changes and configuring ways to limit my uptravel.
I guess it comes down to what you want are ultimately trying to do with your LJ.
9:24 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline You make good points Brad. The real fact is I'm not very logical. But I'm working on it.
I'm just feeling like the ARB my not be worth the extra $600. I know everyone says they are awesome. My Detroit works awesome too.
I'm not sure where my LJ will be in a couple years. I just want a reliable trail wheeler that I can take my family through rubicon and fordyce and other local trails with ease.
The 40s I have are fairly new. One tire has been repaired from a tear. So as soon as they aren't on back order I need to buy one and make the repaired tire a spare.
Um...what?
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