An "Endless" Rubicon Build

[Drastic]

Well, im new to the forum but not to "Jeep Forums" but here goes nothing. I built my original TJ on a college budget and cut corners, made mistakes, learned and grew through jeepforum. I'm now a 34 year old recently married..still immature adult. I'm a world class certified GM technician. I felt like getting back in the jeep life and I've always wanted a rubicon. With covid going on, prices were insane. I found a 2004 electric lime green rubicon TJ for 6000 and jumped all over it. It was meh and needed alot! of work. So feel free to follow, ask questions, leave comments and enjoy

OLD TJ 2.5in lift, 76 f150 Dana 44 front, Super 8.8 Rear. 4.88 gears, long arms, 37in iroks

 

[Drastic]

Some pictures of stuff done to the rubicon as of recent.

The list includes:
35" maxxis razr
Currie currectlync steering
Fox stabilizer
Rear bumper tire swing
Poison spyder diff cover
Poison spyder comp stinger
Synthetic winch rope, poison spyder comp stinger and welded hoop for the cable. Starting to come together.
Color matched the front poison spyder highline fenders. Wanted to keep as much green as possible. Cutting into the hood was much easier this time around, the old jeep had me scared to cut the 1st time.

 

[Drastic]

Ended up selling the 2004 and buying an identical 2005 rubicon, clean and garage kept..one owner. No rust at all!

Purchased another stock 4.0 with 100k miles and went completely through it.

Also tested out the metal cloak long arm kit, absolutely love it.

Decided to change a few things, ordered a set of 14in travel bilsteins for the front and 12in travel for the rear. Outboarding the shocks soon.

Also had an issue steering with the 37s at 8psi with the front locker engaged on stock power steering.

Ordered a complete PSC steering setup, plan on setting it up with mrblaines idea of removing the steering stabilizer.

 

[Drastic]

Went PSC hydro assist, just need to tuck the hoses. No complaints, besides the ram being mounted to my drag link collar. Overall, love the setup.

 

[Drastic]

Took a trip to Rausch creek offroad park, 1st time there since 2011. Overall it was an awesome day. Did the majority of blacks, 1 red trail. Ended the day slipping off a rock and shearing my LF brake line off. Vice grips for the win. PSC steering made a huge difference. Welded on some LCA skids and upper control arm brace sat which definitely helped.

 

[Drastic]

Changed the tire and wheel setup. Method MR105 true beadlocks and a set of 37 km3s. Ditched the JK spacers which is a lovely feeling.
Also took the jeep to the all breed jeep show in NEPA, got 2nd place in my class. Flexed a 980 on the RTI. I have so much more that needs to be done. Metalcloak stretch gas tank and skid, outboard rear shocks, 4in rear stretch, front RCV axles waiting to go in.

Got a great deal on a set of RCV from axle shafts, off marketplace for 350$ also finally picked up a trailer. It was impossible to find a trailer for under 4500 since Covid. The majority of them being homemade or too narrow or without a title. Picked up a 2018 suretrac 18x7 with a title and brakes on both axles for 2500. The jeep will now be a trailer queen

 

[Drastic]

went to rausch creek again with a brunch of buddies. Only jeep on stock 44s and 37s it was a good time. Bunch of carnage. Guys fuel pump died, towed out. Another snapped front driveshaft and punctured his trans, towed out. Another lost CPS, I towed him out. Overall it was a great day. Did every black trail everyone else did, did 2 bypass on the red trails. Hopefully it’ll be a little more capable once I stretch it with the outboarded shocks. Still…I want to be on tons and 40s

 

[Drastic]

Finally got around to installing my new MORE 1in motor mount lift, new tom woods front driveshaft, new motobilt aluminum half door armor installed, cant wait until motobilt releases their aluminum rear stretch body armor for the TJ

Also have everything finally to stretch the jeep 4in. New upper and lower control arms, new motobilt stretch gas tank. Only thing left is to install everything and measure for the new driveshaft.

 

[Drastic]

got a lot done on the jeep recently. Finally Bedlined the interior, sick of the carpets(even though they were immaculate)
Installed the aluminum crawler stretch tank from Genright.
Installed the rear stretch corners from Genright
the goal is a 4-5in stretch, nothing major.
installed Genright aluminum stretch corners, aluminum tailgate, stretched the rear 5in, outboarded the shocks. Still have some minor things to finish. Also welding Barnes truss kits on the front and rear.

 

[NDSpeed]

Upgraded the tow rig too?

 

[E-Ticket]

Welcome! It is great to have you here and look forward to your posts.

 

[Drastic]

Upgraded the tow rig too?

good eye, 2016 silverado with the 6sp was not the best tow vehicle. Now in a 2023 silverado with the 3.0 diesel and 10sp, cant say enough good things about the truck. Love it overall, comfort, power, reliability. Great tow rig with the little duramax.

 

[NDSpeed]

I love Diesel vehicles, I want to trade my 2020 Nisan Murano for an 08-16 Diesel Passat. Hands down best towing capabilities when it comes to trucks

 

[Drastic]

Absolutely, I love the 28mpg and I average 16-18 while towing.

 

[Sj's TJ]

Rear Stretch looks good. Those corners look awesome. Better than the hack job I did with a jigsaw that's for sure. You seem to following a similar path that I am on. At least you have a 44 front with RCVs. I used to run a HP Dana 30 with stock shafts and broke a bunch of shafts on 35s. We'll need to meet up at RC before the end of the year so I can get the most out of this year's membership!

 

[Drastic]

Rear Stretch looks good. Those corners look awesome. Better than the hack job I did with a jigsaw that's for sure. You seem to following a similar path that I am on. At least you have a 44 front with RCVs. I used to run a HP Dana 30 with stock shafts and broke a bunch of shafts on 35s. We'll need to meet up at RC before the end of the year so I can get the most out of this year's membership!

absolutely man! im only 45min from rausch, im still debating on keeping this or selling it and building an LJ on tons. I just dont know if I have it in me to ruin a rubicon its such a clean jeep, I know I can sell the axles for a pretty penny and build tons..I just dont know if I want to.

 

[PRNDL]

How did you do the color match? Were you happy with it? Asking for a friend...

 

[Drastic]

How did you do the color match? Were you happy with it? Asking for a friend...

I had a local body shop color match the fenders, I think they came out great. Cost $250 to paint the fenders.

 

[Sj's TJ]

absolutely man! im only 45min from rausch, im still debating on keeping this or selling it and building an LJ on tons. I just dont know if I have it in me to ruin a rubicon its such a clean jeep, I know I can sell the axles for a pretty penny and build tons..I just dont know if I want to.

It's a tough choice. You've already stretched it, might as well go full bore on a known Jeep. You going V8 to turn those tons and 40s?

 

[Drastic]

It's a tough choice. You've already stretched it, might as well go full bore on a known Jeep. You going V8 to turn those tons and 40s?

I would say yes…but this engine has a rod knock so I rebuilt another 4.0 and I’m just waiting to put it in.