BEAST - Building a 6.1 Hemi Powered JKU on 43's
10-01-2012, 03:25 PM
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JK Junkie
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BEAST - Building a 6.1 Hemi Powered JKU on 43's
This thread’s purpose is to document the continuing modifications being made to “Beast,” my 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. All work is being done by the master off road builder and fabricator Jim Cox and his crew at their shop in Sylmar, California, called HigherGround Fab & Off-Road.
Some History
I have owned Jeeps since back in the early 80’s, but I never wheeled them (yeah, I know – pretty sad). That is, not until my son bought his first Jeep in October of 2010. The very first weekend, we had it out on a “difficult” trail in the Big Bear area with the dealer paper plates still attached. Since that time, we have been hooked.
I bought my current Jeep used in December of 2010 and started wheeling it with my son every weekend we could. As we started running harder and harder trails – the modifications began – well, you know all about this! Then, in December of 2011 I decided to get serious after Full Traction Suspension introduced me to a man named Jim Cox of HigherGround Fab. After many discussions with Jim (he has since become a close friend), I finally said to him, “Jim, let’s stop talking – just build me the ultimate JK,” and although I have the final say with what we do, I have given Jim full reign to be creative and think outside the box. Since the early days, the common theme has been “GO BIG, OR GO HOME.”
In December of 2011, I started a build thread called “The Rubicon/Little Sluice Challenge Ultimate Junk-Yard Build” to document the modifications I was making to my JKU, in response to a challenge from my son to run the Little Sluice section of the Rubicon Trail. Unfortunately, I was not successful in running Little Sluice before they recently turned it into a fire road. (If you are not a subscriber to the original thread, you can find it here: https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-show-tell-33/rubicon-little-sluice-challenge-ultimate-junk-yard-build-210191/). With Little Sluice now nothing compared to what it was, I felt that I should close down that build thread and start a new one to document the completion of this project.
I have been very resistant to naming my Jeep, but Jim has called it Beast since almost day one,and I often times here, “Man, that thing is a beast!” So, the name has stuck. Welcome to the Beast build thread!
Completed Work
To date, we have completed stages 1 and 2 of the build, which has included the following:
6.1L Hemi out of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (using the AEV JK 6.1L Hemi Premium Conversion Kit)
545 RLE auto trans out of a late model Dodge truck
Set of Five 43x14.5-17 Super Swamper TSL SX Tires
Shaved 14-Bolt Rear Axle
Shaved High-pinion Dana 60 from a 1979 Ford F-350 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
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 3.0 x 18 Sway-A-Way Triple Bypass Shocks
Four Sway-A-Way 2.5 x 18 coilovers
Four Sway-A-Way hydro bump stops
5:38 gears and various builder parts from G2
Rear tube frame
Partial cage
Half-doors from Strike Force Zebra
RCV 300m front drive shafts
Pending Work
What we have left to accomplish includes, but is probably not limited to, the following:
Atlas 4-speed transfer case
Chromoly rear drive shafts
Skid plates and armor
Adding steel plate reinforcement to the frame
Completing the full cage
Rear of front diff mounted tie rod
Fab front and rear fenders and tie them into cage/frame assembly
Body work and paint to clean up all the ugly sheet metal trimming that’s been done
Mastercraft racing seats
Mastercraft five point harnesses
Lowrance 10 inch HD GPS unit
Race radio and intercom
Additional instrumentation to monitor engine systems
Performance upgrades to engine in hopes of getting closer to 600 h.p.
Staun internal beadlocks
Fire extinguishers
A smog check (pray that I pass!)
Some type of custom soft top to cover and enclose the front two seats
Custom high clearance dual exhaust
Replace and re-run all brake lines
Spare tire “Y” tie down strap
Clean up and re-run various electrical wiring and fuel lines
(I probably forgot a few things...but I will add to this list as I remember)
Current Photos
Here are a couple of pics of Beast as he now looks, during a couple of our recent shake down runs:
Subscribe!
If you’ve ever done a build thread, then you know that one of the most motivating things during the LONG and sometimes frustrating process is when you receive comments from people who view the thread or who see your Jeep. I’m no different and I really enjoy hearing your comments, ideas, and even criticisms. So, please post up to this thread, subscribe, and come along with me for the ride as we head toward the finish line of building Beast!
Thanks,
Dave
Some History
I have owned Jeeps since back in the early 80’s, but I never wheeled them (yeah, I know – pretty sad). That is, not until my son bought his first Jeep in October of 2010. The very first weekend, we had it out on a “difficult” trail in the Big Bear area with the dealer paper plates still attached. Since that time, we have been hooked.
I bought my current Jeep used in December of 2010 and started wheeling it with my son every weekend we could. As we started running harder and harder trails – the modifications began – well, you know all about this! Then, in December of 2011 I decided to get serious after Full Traction Suspension introduced me to a man named Jim Cox of HigherGround Fab. After many discussions with Jim (he has since become a close friend), I finally said to him, “Jim, let’s stop talking – just build me the ultimate JK,” and although I have the final say with what we do, I have given Jim full reign to be creative and think outside the box. Since the early days, the common theme has been “GO BIG, OR GO HOME.”
In December of 2011, I started a build thread called “The Rubicon/Little Sluice Challenge Ultimate Junk-Yard Build” to document the modifications I was making to my JKU, in response to a challenge from my son to run the Little Sluice section of the Rubicon Trail. Unfortunately, I was not successful in running Little Sluice before they recently turned it into a fire road. (If you are not a subscriber to the original thread, you can find it here: https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-show-tell-33/rubicon-little-sluice-challenge-ultimate-junk-yard-build-210191/). With Little Sluice now nothing compared to what it was, I felt that I should close down that build thread and start a new one to document the completion of this project.
I have been very resistant to naming my Jeep, but Jim has called it Beast since almost day one,and I often times here, “Man, that thing is a beast!” So, the name has stuck. Welcome to the Beast build thread!
Completed Work
To date, we have completed stages 1 and 2 of the build, which has included the following:
6.1L Hemi out of a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (using the AEV JK 6.1L Hemi Premium Conversion Kit)
545 RLE auto trans out of a late model Dodge truck
Set of Five 43x14.5-17 Super Swamper TSL SX Tires
Shaved 14-Bolt Rear Axle
Shaved High-pinion Dana 60 from a 1979 Ford F-350 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
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 3.0 x 18 Sway-A-Way Triple Bypass Shocks
Four Sway-A-Way 2.5 x 18 coilovers
Four Sway-A-Way hydro bump stops
5:38 gears and various builder parts from G2
Rear tube frame
Partial cage
Half-doors from Strike Force Zebra
RCV 300m front drive shafts
Pending Work
What we have left to accomplish includes, but is probably not limited to, the following:
Atlas 4-speed transfer case
Chromoly rear drive shafts
Skid plates and armor
Adding steel plate reinforcement to the frame
Completing the full cage
Rear of front diff mounted tie rod
Fab front and rear fenders and tie them into cage/frame assembly
Body work and paint to clean up all the ugly sheet metal trimming that’s been done
Mastercraft racing seats
Mastercraft five point harnesses
Lowrance 10 inch HD GPS unit
Race radio and intercom
Additional instrumentation to monitor engine systems
Performance upgrades to engine in hopes of getting closer to 600 h.p.
Staun internal beadlocks
Fire extinguishers
A smog check (pray that I pass!)
Some type of custom soft top to cover and enclose the front two seats
Custom high clearance dual exhaust
Replace and re-run all brake lines
Spare tire “Y” tie down strap
Clean up and re-run various electrical wiring and fuel lines
(I probably forgot a few things...but I will add to this list as I remember)
Current Photos
Here are a couple of pics of Beast as he now looks, during a couple of our recent shake down runs:
Subscribe!
If you’ve ever done a build thread, then you know that one of the most motivating things during the LONG and sometimes frustrating process is when you receive comments from people who view the thread or who see your Jeep. I’m no different and I really enjoy hearing your comments, ideas, and even criticisms. So, please post up to this thread, subscribe, and come along with me for the ride as we head toward the finish line of building Beast!
Thanks,
Dave
Last edited by CALIJK; 10-01-2012 at 04:01 PM.
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10-01-2012, 04:06 PM
#8
JK Junkie
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No, I'm lucky to have company cars I can drive and I have a Ford Fiesta that gets 40 miles to the gallon for when going long distance. But, one of my requirements for this build is that it stay street legal and we've been able to do this by adding some removable semi-truck mud flaps to all four wheels. It actually rides great on the freeway and I've had it up to 75, with no issues. Of course, the gas mileage stinks...!
10-01-2012, 04:08 PM
#9
JK Junkie
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Hey Pastor - nice hearing from you!
Thanks guys!
Too funny - some else suggested "Beast Master" but I think I will keep mine.
Too funny - some else suggested "Beast Master" but I think I will keep mine.
10-01-2012, 04:09 PM
#10
JK Jedi
Your getting another set of wheels or are you just adding bead locks to the inside of the wheel?
And do jeeps need smog checks i though it was just older cars that need it i haven't gotten ask by the DMV for a smog check and I've had my jeep almost 3 years?
And do jeeps need smog checks i though it was just older cars that need it i haven't gotten ask by the DMV for a smog check and I've had my jeep almost 3 years?
Last edited by Jeek.OlllllllO; 10-01-2012 at 04:11 PM.