The Rubicon/Little Sluice Challenge Ultimate Junk-Yard Build
12-21-2011, 09:05 PM
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JK Junkie
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The Rubicon/Little Sluice Challenge Ultimate Junk-Yard Build
My son Vince ("modestoperandi") ran the Little Sluice section of the Rubicon Trail twice this last summer in his 2-door and basically dominated it. After our last run, he challenged me to run it in Summer 2012 in my 2007 JK Unlimited Rubicon. So, I've got some building to do!
This build thread is to document the modifications made to my Jeep in preparation of running Little Sluice in Summer 2012. My intention is to build a rig that is street legal, but modified to be the best rock-crawler possible, while still being affordable. Therefore, the build will incorporate used and re-built junk yard parts wherever possible, without sacrificing quality.
Accordingly, I will be relying upon the expertise of someone who knows what he is doing: Jim Cox of Higher Ground 4x4 (formerly JCFab Offroad) in Sylmar, California. Jim built Vince's Jeep and he is very well respected in the 4x4 industry as a custom Jeep builder and fabricater.
This will not be a super fast build. My goal is to get it done by next summer, and not sit around in Jim's shop for months. I will be adding parts we find at junkyards, re-building them, then storing them at Jim's shop to get ready for the final build out. Jim will also be doing a lot of custom fab work on the Jeep, including one of his crazy full cages and a completely custom suspension system.
This custom build will put my 4-door on 43's with one-ton axles (high pinion Dana 60 in front and 14-Bolt in rear), a 6.1L Hemi, and I'll be upgrading whatever else it takes to get there! Tentative plans are coilovers and bypasses front and rear, a triangulated rear suspension, and relocated fuel tank.
I'm starting with a pretty basic 4.5 inch AEV lift. Here is a photo of my son trying to help me get over a little rock near Buck Island Lake:
This should be fun...So subscribe, offer feedback, and help the Old Man meet his son's challenge!!
Parts Obtained to Date:
6.1L Hemi out of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Atlas II 2-speed 5:1 truck transfer case
545 RLE auto trans out of a late model Dodge truck
AEV JK 6.1L Hemi Premium Conversion Kit
Set of Five 43x14.5-17 Super Swamper TSL SX Tires
Four 3.0 x 18 Sway-A-Way Triple Bypass Shocks
14-Bolt Rear Axle out of some big old truck
Five 17x9.5, 8x6.5 bolt pattern Spyderlock beadlocks
Oasis HP3000 air compressor
GenRight 20-gallon fuel cell and various builder parts
Artec Industries 14-bolt Truss, Pinion Guard, and Bridge Kit
Artec Industries long arm 3-link kit
Artec Industries Dana 60 Truss and Full Hydro Mounting Kit
High-pinion Dana 60 from a 1979 Ford F-350 truck
PSC full hydro steering with double-ended ram
Mile Marker manual locking hubs
Ballistic Fabrication shave kits for front Dana 60 and rear 14-bolt
ARB locker for rear 14-bolt
Randy's Ring and Pinion Zip locker for front Dana 60
Artec Industries Triple Battery mount
Four Sway-A-Way 2.5 x 18 coilovers
Four Sway-A-Way hydro bump stops
This build thread is to document the modifications made to my Jeep in preparation of running Little Sluice in Summer 2012. My intention is to build a rig that is street legal, but modified to be the best rock-crawler possible, while still being affordable. Therefore, the build will incorporate used and re-built junk yard parts wherever possible, without sacrificing quality.
Accordingly, I will be relying upon the expertise of someone who knows what he is doing: Jim Cox of Higher Ground 4x4 (formerly JCFab Offroad) in Sylmar, California. Jim built Vince's Jeep and he is very well respected in the 4x4 industry as a custom Jeep builder and fabricater.
This will not be a super fast build. My goal is to get it done by next summer, and not sit around in Jim's shop for months. I will be adding parts we find at junkyards, re-building them, then storing them at Jim's shop to get ready for the final build out. Jim will also be doing a lot of custom fab work on the Jeep, including one of his crazy full cages and a completely custom suspension system.
This custom build will put my 4-door on 43's with one-ton axles (high pinion Dana 60 in front and 14-Bolt in rear), a 6.1L Hemi, and I'll be upgrading whatever else it takes to get there! Tentative plans are coilovers and bypasses front and rear, a triangulated rear suspension, and relocated fuel tank.
I'm starting with a pretty basic 4.5 inch AEV lift. Here is a photo of my son trying to help me get over a little rock near Buck Island Lake:
This should be fun...So subscribe, offer feedback, and help the Old Man meet his son's challenge!!
Parts Obtained to Date:
6.1L Hemi out of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Atlas II 2-speed 5:1 truck transfer case
545 RLE auto trans out of a late model Dodge truck
AEV JK 6.1L Hemi Premium Conversion Kit
Set of Five 43x14.5-17 Super Swamper TSL SX Tires
Four 3.0 x 18 Sway-A-Way Triple Bypass Shocks
14-Bolt Rear Axle out of some big old truck
Five 17x9.5, 8x6.5 bolt pattern Spyderlock beadlocks
Oasis HP3000 air compressor
GenRight 20-gallon fuel cell and various builder parts
Artec Industries 14-bolt Truss, Pinion Guard, and Bridge Kit
Artec Industries long arm 3-link kit
Artec Industries Dana 60 Truss and Full Hydro Mounting Kit
High-pinion Dana 60 from a 1979 Ford F-350 truck
PSC full hydro steering with double-ended ram
Mile Marker manual locking hubs
Ballistic Fabrication shave kits for front Dana 60 and rear 14-bolt
ARB locker for rear 14-bolt
Randy's Ring and Pinion Zip locker for front Dana 60
Artec Industries Triple Battery mount
Four Sway-A-Way 2.5 x 18 coilovers
Four Sway-A-Way hydro bump stops
Last edited by CALIJK; 06-10-2012 at 09:20 PM.
12-21-2011, 09:36 PM
#3
JK Junkie
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Dana 70 Rear
So we found a Dana 70, 8-lug rear axle in Jim's shop yard. Full width. Pretty sure it is off of a Ford 1-ton. It is in really good shape once you get past the mud and weeds it is imbedded in. This looks like a keeper for our Little Sluice Challenge build:
