Building JK for street.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Orlando,Florida
Building JK for street.
Yes, I will be flamed for this alot, but before you go out and flame me, Please understand me, I am previous owner of a 2009 CRD JK Rubicon Unlimited,(I lived in Turkey), and I loved it, it was modded engine wise, etc...
But 3 months ago after moving to USA, I purchased a 2011 JK 2 door Rubicon, auto..
And I can say since I live in orlando and there is no snow, I am not having much fun... dont have time to go offroad either, which is why I need to ask you guys this, I will be focusing on building my Rubicon to be a good street jeep, I can't trade it in or sell it due to private reasons, but I do have about 10 thousand dollars of budget to modify it, so I can have it be as fast and nice as I want..currently it has:
6000K DDM HID headlights.
6000K DDM fogs.
6000K 4" Optilux driving lights HID
K&N Intake
Magnaflow Cat-back.
Its a black Rubi, so please tell me for 10k, as a jeep that might see off-road once in a year or twice... what I can do for 10k to make it look amazing, and perform great on-road with improved handling and have more power...
I am thinking of RIPP SC GEN 2 STAGE 2, and Borla longtube headers and exhaust.
KMC or SRT8 style 20 inch wheels in black, with BFG A/T 32 inch tires, not bigger than stock, not smaller...MAYBE a little
And I will be flamed but Eibach springs, from quadratec, and bilstein shocks, steering damper, DBA discs HAWK pads, ignition coils, spark plug wires and NGK iridium plugs.. and sprint booster...
Thats it as for mods I'm thinking...if you have any suggestions please say so ,I'd rather have my JK done for what I will use it for, not what I want other people to think I go off-road when I actually dont which is why I dont lift it, so...will 32.5 tires even fit with the eibach kit?...if not will stock size do without rubbing( not max flex..) on hard cornering or very light off-road..
Don,t flame me please and try to picture what I want, my english wasnt good enough to describe..
Thank you
But 3 months ago after moving to USA, I purchased a 2011 JK 2 door Rubicon, auto..
And I can say since I live in orlando and there is no snow, I am not having much fun... dont have time to go offroad either, which is why I need to ask you guys this, I will be focusing on building my Rubicon to be a good street jeep, I can't trade it in or sell it due to private reasons, but I do have about 10 thousand dollars of budget to modify it, so I can have it be as fast and nice as I want..currently it has:
6000K DDM HID headlights.
6000K DDM fogs.
6000K 4" Optilux driving lights HID
K&N Intake
Magnaflow Cat-back.
Its a black Rubi, so please tell me for 10k, as a jeep that might see off-road once in a year or twice... what I can do for 10k to make it look amazing, and perform great on-road with improved handling and have more power...
I am thinking of RIPP SC GEN 2 STAGE 2, and Borla longtube headers and exhaust.
KMC or SRT8 style 20 inch wheels in black, with BFG A/T 32 inch tires, not bigger than stock, not smaller...MAYBE a little
And I will be flamed but Eibach springs, from quadratec, and bilstein shocks, steering damper, DBA discs HAWK pads, ignition coils, spark plug wires and NGK iridium plugs.. and sprint booster...
Thats it as for mods I'm thinking...if you have any suggestions please say so ,I'd rather have my JK done for what I will use it for, not what I want other people to think I go off-road when I actually dont which is why I dont lift it, so...will 32.5 tires even fit with the eibach kit?...if not will stock size do without rubbing( not max flex..) on hard cornering or very light off-road..
Don,t flame me please and try to picture what I want, my english wasnt good enough to describe..
Thank you
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 3
From: Columbus, Ohio
its going to be tough to get good cornering characteristics and tight steering out of a jeep without completely changing the suspension it is built on..
for sure adding a RIPP and a K&N along with a decent exhaust will get you a lot better response out of your 3.8.. and in my opinion better bang for the Buck than a HEMI conversion.. esp since your Jeep is on the street and not on the trail..
does the RIPP kit come with a tuner for tuning the transmission? if Not, you might want to invest in some tuning for the auto.. adjusting the shift points and shift feel to better match your driving style...
however that said, a Jeep, esp a Rubi is never going to handle like a car, even if you drop it an inch or two.. just looking at a stock Sport, I wouldnt want to try and run 32's and Lower it, looks to me like you would have some issues, but I will let the suspension experts answer that...
I dont wheel my Jeeps hardly at all either, in fact they pretty much stock except for a small mod here or there...
-Christopher
for sure adding a RIPP and a K&N along with a decent exhaust will get you a lot better response out of your 3.8.. and in my opinion better bang for the Buck than a HEMI conversion.. esp since your Jeep is on the street and not on the trail..
does the RIPP kit come with a tuner for tuning the transmission? if Not, you might want to invest in some tuning for the auto.. adjusting the shift points and shift feel to better match your driving style...
however that said, a Jeep, esp a Rubi is never going to handle like a car, even if you drop it an inch or two.. just looking at a stock Sport, I wouldnt want to try and run 32's and Lower it, looks to me like you would have some issues, but I will let the suspension experts answer that...
I dont wheel my Jeeps hardly at all either, in fact they pretty much stock except for a small mod here or there...
-Christopher
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Orlando,Florida
its going to be tough to get good cornering characteristics and tight steering out of a jeep without completely changing the suspension it is built on..
for sure adding a RIPP and a K&N along with a decent exhaust will get you a lot better response out of your 3.8.. and in my opinion better bang for the Buck than a HEMI conversion.. esp since your Jeep is on the street and not on the trail..
does the RIPP kit come with a tuner for tuning the transmission? if Not, you might want to invest in some tuning for the auto.. adjusting the shift points and shift feel to better match your driving style...
however that said, a Jeep, esp a Rubi is never going to handle like a car, even if you drop it an inch or two.. just looking at a stock Sport, I wouldnt want to try and run 32's and Lower it, looks to me like you would have some issues, but I will let the suspension experts answer that...
I dont wheel my Jeeps hardly at all either, in fact they pretty much stock except for a small mod here or there...
-Christopher
for sure adding a RIPP and a K&N along with a decent exhaust will get you a lot better response out of your 3.8.. and in my opinion better bang for the Buck than a HEMI conversion.. esp since your Jeep is on the street and not on the trail..
does the RIPP kit come with a tuner for tuning the transmission? if Not, you might want to invest in some tuning for the auto.. adjusting the shift points and shift feel to better match your driving style...
however that said, a Jeep, esp a Rubi is never going to handle like a car, even if you drop it an inch or two.. just looking at a stock Sport, I wouldnt want to try and run 32's and Lower it, looks to me like you would have some issues, but I will let the suspension experts answer that...
I dont wheel my Jeeps hardly at all either, in fact they pretty much stock except for a small mod here or there...
-Christopher
. I just wanna know max tire size I can use with it
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Porterville, CA
How bout this? Lowered, big rims, skinny tires, even chopped. The ultimate street JK
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JK Freak
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Weston, FL
Oh man, why oh why did you buy a Rubicon? I can't help but feel a little jealous, I would love all of those components that will never get used. (elockers, edisco, 4.10) Oh well. 
An answer to your question may be found on another thread here by Rippmods, they were asking for opinions on a certain look. Check it out here
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-Needed-On-Pic
It doesn't talk about specifics of the Jeep but you can get an idea for the look you want, plus if you want to squeeze as much out of the engine, the guys at Ripp would be able to help you out. BTW, I still don't get the purpose for the winch (you'll see what I mean)
An answer to your question may be found on another thread here by Rippmods, they were asking for opinions on a certain look. Check it out here
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-Needed-On-Pic
It doesn't talk about specifics of the Jeep but you can get an idea for the look you want, plus if you want to squeeze as much out of the engine, the guys at Ripp would be able to help you out. BTW, I still don't get the purpose for the winch (you'll see what I mean)
Eternal ***erator
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,270
Likes: 3
From: Niagara, New York
I think you would probably be the first. To each thier own, but I really dont know how to help you answer your question.
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JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
My suggestion is that since you bought a Rubicon, just make it a rubicon with all terrain tires. If you really want to go fast, just sell it and get an used SRT8 GC. Or you could trade it in for an X and use the extra cash towards a hemi conversion. Now, that'll be fast!
As for the suspension. I really doubt dropping the Jeep will add more control to the steering. I would focus on getting the swaybar bushings modded to polyurethane. I ran those in my 95 Cherokee and that thing could turn on a dime with 35 TSLs.
How about this? Get an X (drop the weight of the Rubicon), drop the suspension as you wanted, add some stiffer shocks (maybe Rancho RS9000 RCX for remote control between stiff and soft ride), add some swaybar modifications, and 18 inch rockstar wheels with 32s or 20" SRT8 repros with 275/55R20 Terra Grapplers. As for the HID, you will blind everyone in Florida with it. I hear that they are strict with HIDs down there. Better off just getting a IPF Headlight kit with the blue fatboy bulbs (They are BRIGHT and blue).
I have no experience with street JKs, but I can use my imagination for something not so tacky looking - like this...
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-would-do-that
As for the suspension. I really doubt dropping the Jeep will add more control to the steering. I would focus on getting the swaybar bushings modded to polyurethane. I ran those in my 95 Cherokee and that thing could turn on a dime with 35 TSLs.
How about this? Get an X (drop the weight of the Rubicon), drop the suspension as you wanted, add some stiffer shocks (maybe Rancho RS9000 RCX for remote control between stiff and soft ride), add some swaybar modifications, and 18 inch rockstar wheels with 32s or 20" SRT8 repros with 275/55R20 Terra Grapplers. As for the HID, you will blind everyone in Florida with it. I hear that they are strict with HIDs down there. Better off just getting a IPF Headlight kit with the blue fatboy bulbs (They are BRIGHT and blue).
I have no experience with street JKs, but I can use my imagination for something not so tacky looking - like this...
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-would-do-that
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 3
From: MD
I know you said you can't sell it but a non rubicon would be financially better to make a street ride. Definitely do the Ripp but in good conscience I can't tell you to lower it. Nice wheels and 32s will keep a nice jeep look and maintain it's abilities.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
And if you are able to sell it and get a 4 door X or Sport (whichever you prefer) you can opt for 2 wheel drive and that will save on weight and extra wear and tear on parts that your not using anyways.