Howdy yall! I'm from Central NC and I am a first time Jeep owner. I've had my rig for about 2-1/2 years, and have made some drastic changes since I bought it in 2020.


The day I bought it, 2.5" Metalcloak Lift kit, 33's, and Method wheels. I had no idea it had the underlying issues that it did. Bad transmission, coolant leaks, slightly bent D30 axle.

Same night.

I bought it with 17" Method wheels, 33" A/Ts, stock axles and gears, and a plethora of issues that I had to address because of my being so naive when checking it out at the dealership. (Capital Chevrolet, will never go there again.)


The first few months lead to a lot of Amazon mods and cheap parts bought, I was just in love with how much I could modify.





Now a couple years down the road, I've learned the errors in my first year of Jeep JK ownership, and have taken a few steps back from what I was doing to make giant leaps forward.


35" A/ts, back to stock grill, still having axle issues and coolant/radiator problems.


This year saw a huge leap, Dana 44 front axle with 4.56 gears all around, high clearance fenders, new radiator, 37" M/T Patagonias, Rough Country tire carrier, new control arms and Rubi Express shocks



Here we are today, lots of money into solving most prominent issues, and 70k miles later. 151,xxx miles now and 3.8 has seen better days, but will start tackling that soon. I love this vehicle, despite the growing pains it brought with it, I hope to make it last a lifetime, and it has brought so many great and wonderful memories.

Happy to be here and to learn!

 

Welcome, good you joined up.. Yep much upgrades to your ride. Looking good and it is good to read that you really enjoy it.

 

It is crazy how the Jeeps grow up... they grow in stages! At least for most of us, there is that occasional person that drops 60 more grand on a Jeep he just paid 65 for... but most of us gothrough a multi-year process of workign through issues and making it more and more like we want. It is a journey!

 

Welcome to JKF! Growing pains.....most of us have had those in the past . You never know what you don't know when you first get into these things. I was one that learned the tiny bit of knowledge I have the hard way . Back to the stock grille was a good move .

 

Welcome from GA!

 

Welcome and I got beat to it but glad you got rid of that air flow restricting Darth Vader grill. Only place they are good is the North/South Poles. In fact JK Jeeps do better with more as opposed to less air flow past the radiator to make up for winches etc. Check out JLs they have more air flow in the grille. But great setup you got there now.

 

like your jeep's shoes.