JK505

We're twins now Pat! Well kinda... I opted to leave the doors off to test the new bedliner, but this storm is supposed to last 5 days at least so I'm not sure I'll make it the whole week yet.

NJKURPat

Yea, and I haven't lined my pedals. But I've been thinking about it.

JK505

All the Kool kids are doing it

JJohnson1892

Damn dude, I didn’t even know you owned doors

I went through that storm with just the safari top, pulled my plugs and trunk carpet and let it roll through. People at work just don’t get it...

Love the door hinges Pat, I may do the same. Already have paint missing on my hinges.

NJKURPat

A couple weeks ago I ordered an Artec Truss and C Gussets (thanks Cody) in preparation for my move to 35's. My current thought is 17" MB Razors with -6 offset on a 8.5" wide wheel is 4.5" BS??? Then wrapping them in 35x12.5x17 Nitto Trail Grapplers. Still not finalized, but thats my current setup.

So, on Saturday August 8th at 8am I dropped my jeep off at SmashBoogie4x4 with a truss and gussets in the trunk. Originally they told me it would be 3 days, and I understand as long as the job is done properly. Then on Sunday, they called and I picked up my jeep at 2pm. They did a really good job and got it done quick.

Truss Pano


C Gussets Close Up


Edit: Not sure why the gusset picture isn't verticle.

More to come later this week/weekend. Need to clean the jeep and take the doors off today.

NJKURPat

I am also currently thinking of pulling the carpets and using floor mats without bedliner.

NJKURPat

Well, its been a little while so it's time for an update.

I was having that itch for a while and was still trying to figure out what I was going to do for 35's, so I decided to plasti-dip the grill. I used 1 can and got 3 coats with a touch up coat. I wish I got 2 cans, but I can always add more to it.



To continue my prep for 35's I ordered the Synergy Sector Shaft and Track Bar brace on August 4th along with the Daystar Hood latches because the 500 mile drive to school drove me nuts. Well, two weeks later I went to install the brace and got the TB brace on only to realize I didn't have a 33mm socket to pull the nut off the putman arm. I hunted around town, but eventually decided to wait until I was back at school and could borrow an impact gun and socket from a local club member. So finally, after a month of driving around with half of my brace on, I got the sector shaft brace on.






EDIT: Pictures are sideways again, must be an issue with my phone uploading to google drive.

NJKURPat

Then right when I got back to school, I went and hit Potts Mountain Jeep Trail in SW Virginia. They just added three new obstacles and a couple of the guys in SC4WDA wanted to give it a shot. Having never run the trail, I certainly wasn't expecting this:



I was stuck there for a good bit between a tree, my fender, my rear diff, a rock and my axle tube. The tree did some work to my fender, but I guess I was just looking for an excuse to trim the flares.

NJKURPat

Then, this weekend I was shopping around trying to decide what I wanted to do for my rear bumper/tire carrier and 35's. I noticed both DTD and NR4x4 were having labor day sales that were hard to pass up on. I was so undecided on a rear bumper. Between ACE, Body Armor, and a couple other brands. Then after seeing the discount I was able to get on the Teraflex rear hinge and carrier, I pulled the trigger. It saved me a little extra cash up front, and now I have the option to go with a strong rear bumper without compromising for a price in the future (PSC BFH looks really good to me).



I spoke to DTD and finally ordered 5 35x12.5 Nitto Trail Grapplers on 17" MB Razor Wheels, all black. The service rep on the phone even gave me black lugs instead of chrome to really complete the look. With the labor day sale, JKF discount, and rebates the package was uner 2k!!! Super happy with the look and finally feel like a real jeep.

NJKURPat

Forgot to update my thread but I trimmed my flares, pinch seam, and rubi rails before my trip to Rausch on 10/17.





I ended up trimming the pinch seam more about a week later, but don't have a picture of it. I took the rear tires off and got a better angle to cut and grind a smoother section.




I also used this time to prep for Rausch and measued my bump stop. I'm running two inches both front and rear. If my measurements and calculations are correct I'm running 4" up travel and 7" down in the front and 3"up and 7" down in the rear. It's approximate, but with on 2.5" of lift and a driveway to do calculations I'm happy with it.