The Build

🤫Kevin's just waiting for the new decals! 😉

Jeff_R said 🤫Kevin's just waiting for the new decals! 😉  

😀

Latest update. After some troubleshooting, I found that both my starter and battery needed replacement. They've been through a lot!

I got a Mopar OEM starter and an ACDelco AGM Group 48 battery. I went with that battery and ordered from Amazon because it was on sale, had an additional 20% off coupon, and I had a $100 gift card. So my total for the battery was $44 and free shipping. Here are the quick steps. Let's just say I got some practice and my swap time for the starter is down to about 15 minutes on the 3.6L.

Disconnect battery (hey, I learn!)

The starter on the 3.6L is on the driver side above the drive line:

Starter removed:

Old and new:

New starter installed:

Glad you got it figured out.

In preparation for my new 38s (no 40s+ for me) I decided to clean up the outer rims on my wheels. Sanded all the sharp scrapes and edges as best I could, taped just below the start of the outer rim, used self-etching primer, and then 2 coats of matte hammered textured paint. It’s a lighter black than my wheels (more of a carbon color), but I wasn’t going for perfect as they will be chewed up more by end of summer. 2 done, 2 to go.

The wheels look good Kevin.

Here’s a prep shot of my last wheel just before primer.

I like the way your wheels look 👍

Nice work Kevin!

What brand of tires are you going to try this time around?

Josh said Nice work Kevin! What brand of tires are you going to try this time around?   

The same Toyo 38x13.50R18. They were great, and my spare is still new, so I'll start doing a 5 tire rotation and get more life out of this set. I bought the spare much later so never worked it into the rotation.

I finally added my traction control kill switch. If your JK steering wheel ever gets out of center for one reason or another, the traction control likes to kick on randomly and makes for some interesting driving. Under the center console there is a purple wire with a LIGHT blue stripe (there is also a purple with a dark blue stripe). Splice an on/off only switch into this wire and you can now turn it off at will. My switch is in the always on position and flips up to turn off.

Interesting. Good idea Kevin. Thanks for sharing the details.

Nice! I was doing some snow wheeling with a guy in a 17 JKUR, and we couldn't figure out how to turn off his traction control... it kept bogging down his momentum and wheel speed every time he started spinning out, regardless of how fast or slow he was going. He ended up having to jump back a space in line and let the Tacoma break trail 😉

Tyler - K6TLR said He ended up having to jump back a space in line and let the Tacoma break trail 😉  

That had to be a slow trip 🙂

Installed aluminum Artec inner front fenders and Metalcloak front and rear fenders. Also finally painted the fender wells textured black.

Nice work Kevin. Looks good! Congrats.

This does look good, but will it lower the flow on Fordyce Creek crossing?

Very nice Kevin! Did you have any fitment issues with the Artec inners or need to modify them at all?

Looks great Kevin.

Jamie - K6NUB said Very nice Kevin! Did you have any fitment issues with the Artec inners or need to modify them at all?

I should have been more specific, any fitment issue with the MetalCloak fenders or mods you had to do because of them.

Jamie - K6NUB said

Jamie - K6NUB said

Very nice Kevin! Did you have any fitment issues with the Artec inners or need to modify them at all?

I should have been more specific, any fitment issue with the MetalCloak fenders or mods you had to do because of them.

Not at all. Install the Metalcloak fenders first, then the Artec inners.

Looks GREAT, Kevin.

I’m confused. I have never had a traction control problem in the snow, or while wheeling.  What is causing the problem that warrants the switch?

BKGM Jeepers said I’m confused. I have never had a traction control problem in the snow, or while wheeling.  What is causing the problem that warrants the switch?

I’m guessing you mean the traction control kill switch and not the fenders. 🙂

I’ve had my steering wheel end up off center after a wheeling trip. When this happens the traction control will turn on randomly on the drive home. This will also happen if something happens to the wires (like rubbing on the tire). Pulling the fuse in mine puts it in limp mode.

The steering is beefed up and wires better protected now, but the switch is a simple solution to allow me to get home and make a proper repair should it happen again. And it doesn’t go into limp mode.

k-jeep said

BKGM Jeepers said

I’m confused. I have never had a traction control problem in the snow, or while wheeling.  What is causing the problem that warrants the switch?

I’m guessing you mean the traction control kill switch and not the fenders. 🙂

I’ve had my steering wheel end up off center after a wheeling trip. When this happens the traction control will turn on randomly on the drive home. This will also happen if something happens to the wires (like rubbing on the tire). Pulling the fuse in mine puts it in limp mode.

The steering is beefed up and wires better protected now, but the switch is a simple solution to allow me to get home and make a proper repair should it happen again. And it doesn’t go into limp mode.

Don’t you have hydro assist?  How does your wheel come off center with hydro assist?  I haven’t had that happen, and I drive like you Do!