First JK Build, Long Time Jeeper
05-30-2016, 06:40 PM
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After 15 years of owning various TJs Nd doing a few builds my life has transformed to the point of being married, having 3 kids and flat outgrowing my latest TJ.
I found this beauty in Denver and drove it home 660 miles in one day.
So far it's got 3.5" LA Lift, 5.38 gears, stock rubicon lockers, chromoly shafts, 37s on method wheels, PSC rear bumper, some other stuff I'm forgetting. Anyhow it's a good base to start with. A lot of the big ticket stuff is done and that'll leave me to build the stuff I really like building and messing with.
I'm starting off with basics. Front winch bumper build. It's all 3/16 plasma cut plate and will be getting some extra pieces for tying the winch plate into the frame rails.
Next I'll probably tackle skids, rocker guards, add the actual winch to the bumper. At some point it will be getting roll cage additions and probably harnesses.
I've already done a couple little things, replaced a blown shock, solid hood latches in place of the rubber ones, a good once over on suspension bolts that I'll be repeating after another thousand miles to see what my consistent issues are in any. I make also build new beefed up rear lower control arms. The current ones are the bent RK long arms and they have a pretty hefty bend in them. I'd like to build some similar to the Ruff Stuff trailing arms but the same bend the current ones have. Still thinking through some of that stuff.
I found this beauty in Denver and drove it home 660 miles in one day.
So far it's got 3.5" LA Lift, 5.38 gears, stock rubicon lockers, chromoly shafts, 37s on method wheels, PSC rear bumper, some other stuff I'm forgetting. Anyhow it's a good base to start with. A lot of the big ticket stuff is done and that'll leave me to build the stuff I really like building and messing with.
I'm starting off with basics. Front winch bumper build. It's all 3/16 plasma cut plate and will be getting some extra pieces for tying the winch plate into the frame rails.
Next I'll probably tackle skids, rocker guards, add the actual winch to the bumper. At some point it will be getting roll cage additions and probably harnesses.
I've already done a couple little things, replaced a blown shock, solid hood latches in place of the rubber ones, a good once over on suspension bolts that I'll be repeating after another thousand miles to see what my consistent issues are in any. I make also build new beefed up rear lower control arms. The current ones are the bent RK long arms and they have a pretty hefty bend in them. I'd like to build some similar to the Ruff Stuff trailing arms but the same bend the current ones have. Still thinking through some of that stuff.
07-04-2016, 02:12 PM
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Since the last post the front and rear diffs have been rebuilt to varying degrees and the lockers all work. I made more bumper progress and found my next hiccup. The rear drive shaft yoke rubs the gas tank skid when flexed.
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07-29-2016, 06:17 AM
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Thanks guys.
I got the bumper all wrapped up except the rear winch plate frame tie in. It's drawn but not cut yet. I also mounted up a roller fairlead and got my maglite plate hold put together.
I also started an engine skid. I cut a prototype and bought the mounts for a MORE engine skid because those brackets are complex. Since my jeep has an extra crossmember, I didn't really know which ones fit.
I don't think I'm going to share the CAD file, at least not yet. I'm might be offering the cut flats with the winch tie in at some point. They will be slightly different from mine.
I got the bumper all wrapped up except the rear winch plate frame tie in. It's drawn but not cut yet. I also mounted up a roller fairlead and got my maglite plate hold put together.
I also started an engine skid. I cut a prototype and bought the mounts for a MORE engine skid because those brackets are complex. Since my jeep has an extra crossmember, I didn't really know which ones fit.
I don't think I'm going to share the CAD file, at least not yet. I'm might be offering the cut flats with the winch tie in at some point. They will be slightly different from mine.