And So It Begins 04 Rubicon

[Intimnasc]

I figured it was time to start my build thread so I'd have somewhere to keep coming back to. Started with me buying my Rubicon earlier this year. Test drive it a little and fe in love. You guys have given me some great advice and I have a ton of parts sitting waiting on nice empty days.

Got my jeep home and it threw a misfire code. Ran the gauntlet of tests and it was a flat can on number 5 exhaust. So I started with a cam, lifters, push rods, rocker arms, valve seals, and ARP studs.

 

[Intimnasc]

Next I decided no DUCKS lol but I did come up with a name for my jeep lol.

 

[Apparition]

Like the name. This was already on order before I saw your thread.

 

[Intimnasc]

Like the name. This was already on order before I saw your thread.

View attachment 660174

Thanks I couldn't stop laughing while I was putting them on. Just perfect for a Red Rubicon lol. And you got the right one love the original.

 

[Intimnasc]

Question on the control arm bolts, what is with the 1/2" and 7/16" choice? What came stock on an 04 Rubicon. I'm about to buy the upper JJs for the front diff and not sure without taking a bolt out and measuring it with some calipers. Is half inch on some and which ones ? Are the half inch upgrades?

 

[Intimnasc]

So I stared yesterday with the Windstar air box upgrade. Cut the hole and siliconed in the F150 fender grommet. I used it because it looked slightly bigger and took a 3.5 inch hole. Let the silicon dry for a couple of days and finished today. I used several pointers from others including using rivers as well as silicone to put it back together and using the end of the old snorkel as a spacer on the 3 inch side.

 

[Intimnasc]

So the only very slightly annoying thing is the gentle hiss under light throttle. There is a deeper sound under hard throttle that I don't mind. Reminds me of the late 70s and early 80s when we would flip our breather lids to make them breath and a little louder. This isn't that loud. Next thing for Red Dawn is the body lift from mrblaine.

At the risk of sounding like an idiot it seems to feel a little better and I mean little at the mid to high range.

 

[Intimnasc]

Tomorrow Im doing the body lift. Thank you @mrblaine for the hints at what I might need. Shouldn't be too difficult I bought the cable and 1" engine lift after talking to mrblain. He mentioned something about leaving the bolt in the mount cause when you lift it the bolt can bind up so I'm hoping that makes more sense when I'm under it looking at it. I think I know what he is talking about. Any other pointers from anyone?

 

[mrblaine]

Tomorrow Im doing the body lift. Thank you @mrblaine for the hints at what I might need. Shouldn't be too difficult I bought the cable and 1" engine lift after talking to mrblain. He mentioned something about leaving the bolt in the mount cause when you lift it the bolt can bind up so I'm hoping that makes more sense when I'm under it looking at it. I think I know what he is talking about. Any other pointers from anyone?

Not necessarily leaving it in, just be aware that the ends of the bolt sleeve are aluminum, the edges of the cast motor side mount are sharp. The drive train tilts down in the back which causes the ends of the bolt sleeve to hang up in the cast mount. I try to get the bolt through while the mount is high enough off of the frame side that I can line up the motor mount.

 

[Intimnasc]

So today was quite eventful. I figured out what mrblaine was talking about with the motor mounts getting off a bit. Took a while but that rocks. Mounts went in super easy as expected except I'm a dumbass again and though the body lift replaced the mounts so I didn't buy new body mounts. That will be a future project as they were dorm but not shot. The Savvy cable really disappointed in the quality of the end joints. One of mine pulled itself right off pictures below. Cable and brackets were perfect and bad assed. The one that popped off had poor threads that pulled right out. I replaced with a himes joint in had in the tool box for the last 20 years lol. I might replace the other one soon I just don't trust it anymore. Motor mount looks stressed if y'all would look at the pics and let me know your opinions I'd appreciate it.

 

[mrblaine]

So today was quite eventful. I figured out what mrblaine was talking about with the motor mounts getting off a bit. Took a while but that rocks. Mounts went in super easy as expected except I'm a dumbass again and though the body lift replaced the mounts so I didn't buy new body mounts. That will be a future project as they were dorm but not shot. The Savvy cable really disappointed in the quality of the end joints. One of mine pulled itself right off pictures below. Cable and brackets were perfect and bad assed. The one that popped off had poor threads that pulled right out. I replaced with a himes joint in had in the tool box for the last 20 years lol. I might replace the other one soon I just don't trust it anymore. Motor mount looks stressed if y'all would look at the pics and let me know your opinions I'd appreciate it.

View attachment 661910

View attachment 661911

The mount looks that way because the transmission is still lowered.
The end fitting for the cable shifter failed because there was not enough thread engagement.

 

[Intimnasc]

The mount looks that way because the transmission is still lowered.
The end fitting for the cable shifter failed because there was not enough thread engagement.

Yeah I realized the thread engagement but thought the threads were so long with a jamb nut to give a little adjustment. The instructions are non existent so I screwed the pooch. The heims joint worked perfectly so it will probably stay. Working on getting the shifter working today then wait for my Savvy control arms. Thanks again for the advice over the phone when I bought the body lift you saved me some headaches. Ill reach out next year sometime for the big brake kit and ask some questions when I am ready to buy.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah I realized the thread engagement but thought the threads were so long with a jamb nut to give a little adjustment. The instructions are non existent so I screwed the pooch. The heims joint worked perfectly so it will probably stay. Working on getting the shifter working today then wait for my Savvy control arms. Thanks again for the advice over the phone when I bought the body lift you saved me some headaches. Ill reach out next year sometime for the big brake kit and ask some questions when I am ready to buy.

It could have also just been a bad part. I've installed more of them than should be legal and never had an issue with the threads.

 

[Intimnasc]

So a dumb question for anyone reading this. There are some spacers on the transfer case skid plate that are about an inch long. Is that normal or is that what someone before me put on to space the transfer case down? Also to be sure I get everything a tummy tuck is primarily a new skid plate and a longer drive shaft right? I am looking at it since my shifter is so close to not shifting. I nipped out a little of the plastic and put a little bend in the shifter for now. The Savvy one is 1150 dollars are there more affordable options that work well?

 

[GoldenGorilla]

So a dumb question for anyone reading this. There are some spacers on the transfer case skid plate that are about an inch long. Is that normal or is that what someone before me put on to space the transfer case down? Also to be sure I get everything a tummy tuck is primarily a new skid plate and a longer drive shaft right? I am looking at it since my shifter is so close to not shifting. I nipped out a little of the plastic and put a little bend in the shifter for now. The Savvy one is 1150 dollars are there more affordable options that work well?

Someone put those spacers there. Likely because they lifted the Rubicon around 2.5-3" and had a rear driveshaft vibration or other driveshaft issue and $40 for a spacer is less than $430 for a DC driveshaft. Should look like this minus the thick silver washers - which you might consider as they maintain an air gap between the skid and frame that prevents rust.

 

[97' 4 Popper]

So it begins, and Red Dawn. Is someone a fan of LOTR?

 

[Intimnasc]

So it begins, and Red Dawn. Is someone a fan of LOTR?

View attachment 662090

More like the Patrick Swayze in Red Dawn 1984. Loved that movie when it came out. But yes I love LOTR as well.

 

[Intimnasc]

I want it as high as I can go with a 1.25" body lift, 1" motor mount lift, and not have to modify the tub. I'm putting pricing together and may get it sooner rather than later. I don't like my motor mounts stressed like that and I hate how far back the shifter has been pushed. Im not a hard core off roader but do take some risk so the ultimate extremities' are not necessary for me.

 

[tnjeepguy]

Someone is living life on the edge, putting Jeep parts on Momma's good Thomas Payne Collection couch !!

"I am 59 years old, divorced (happily)"

Never mind. D

 

[Intimnasc]

Someone is living life on the edge, putting Jeep parts on Momma's good Thomas Payne Collection couch !!

"I am 59 years old, divorced (happily)"

Never mind. D

It was easier to get rid of Mama lol. Now I fly solo and girlfriend has her own place and pays her own way.