Latest Build...

[thejafe]

Alright, over the last two weeks I've been hard at work installing the following parts to compliment Rubicon Express 3.5" kit:

Currie 1" BL
Currie 1" MML
WARN 6" Flares
ARB Rocker Guards
Rubicon Express SF2 Front Adjustable Upper Control Arms
Rubicon Express SF2 Rear Adjustable Upper Control Arms

Of course, all of this was in preparation for:

33x12.50 BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM Tires
15x8 American Racing Baja Wheels / 3.75" BS

A major reason to install the BL was that it allowed me to remove the .5" spacer kit from atop my Kilby gas tank skid so I could raise 'er up that extra .5" -- something I've been wanting to do for ages. For whatever reason Jeep redesigned the fuel lines on top of the tank in '04 and to run the Kilby skid you either need a 1" BL or the $50 .5" spacer kit from Kilby. Glad it's now a thing of the past for me :cool: .

Below you'll find pics from various stages of my installs. Enjoy, and feel free to post up any questions you may have.

[thejafe]

In progress:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8233.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8241.jpg

1" Body lift complete:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8240.jpg

Stock motor mount beside new Currie 1" raised mount:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8273.jpg

Stock engine bracket removed from vehicle:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8269.jpg

Currie 1" body mount:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8354.jpg

Currie 1" raised motor mounts installed:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8378.jpg

[thejafe]

Picked up a set of used RE3783 Rear Adjustable Upper Control Arms and replaced the cartridge joints. Cleaned them up and gave them a fresh coat of Rubicon Express REPSILVER paint while I was at it:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8243.jpg

The rebuilt arms next to the RE3780 front adjustable uppers:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8251.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8259.jpg

Front adjustable uppers complete:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8283.jpg

Rears too!

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8277.jpg

[thejafe]

Rear pinion angle dialed in and now she drives niiiice and smooth:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8279.jpg

[thejafe]

My ARB rockers utilize 30 pop-rivets! Had to take her to a body shop where they were forced to use a pneumatic rivet gun to fasten 'em down:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8313.jpg

Only problem was that my garage door decided to crap out on me when I tried to leave :rolleyes: :

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8305.jpg

[thejafe]

Rivets done:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8352.jpg

Internal brace:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8366.jpg

I love this mod! Quick Fist clamps for my Maglite:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8356.jpg

ARB Rocker detail:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8365.jpg

[thejafe]

Done!! :wings: :

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8384.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8375.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8376.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8374.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8367.jpg

[jwhutch]

Lookinig good. Couple of questions. I was looking on your web page, what color is that? Is it black, because it the build sheet said dark slate gray. Secondly clarify tires, said 33 x 10.5 AT's. Thanks

[thejafe]

Lookinig good. Couple of questions. I was looking on your web page, what color is that? Is it black, because it the build sheet said dark slate gray. Secondly clarify tires, said 33 x 10.5 AT's. Thanks

Allow me to clarify... my interior is "dark slate gray", exterior is black. I was previously running 33x10.50 BFG AT's with the stock Ravine wheels and 1.25" Spidertrax wheel spacers before I went to the 33x12.50 BFG MT's and AR Baja's.

[cshontz]

Well done, Andrew! I knew this post was comin'. I totally appreciate the love you put into your work, such as repainting the arms, and you'll use your vehicle for its intended purpose too. You don't run into folks who strike that balance very often, but I think its admirable. Mike Rauch at OK is like that too. Glad too see you made it out of the garage! :D

[ExpoMike]

Sweet Jeep! :D

Interesting about the rockers, I had never seen ones that pop rivit on. Cool idea.

Now go out and get it dirty. :26_7_2:

[hrjaw]

trying to figure out why you were selling your other rockers. it looks really really nice

[IH8RDS]

I have a question about your body lift. Are you supposed to remove the old spacer?

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8354.jpg

[thejafe]

trying to figure out why you were selling your other rockers. it looks really really nice

Well, I decided that I really wanted a rocker with both an internal brace and a steel tube on the side. Also, my Sun rockers were starting to rust and once I had them removed I discovered that the aluminum spacers that spaced them away from the body were all but disintegrated. They looked like someone left them sitting in acid -- gotta love the road salt here in the northeast.

[thejafe]

I have a question about your body lift. Are you supposed to remove the old spacer?

Nope, the Currie 1" BL as well as the JKS 1.25" BL are designed to encapsulate the stock body mounts. I think this is a nice design feature as opposed to a puck that simply sits on top of the stock mounts.

[hrjaw]

Well, I decided that I really wanted a rocker with both an internal brace and a steel tube on the side. Also, my Sun rockers were starting to rust and once I had them removed I discovered that the aluminum spacers that spaced them away from the body were all but disintegrated. They looked like someone left them sitting in acid -- gotta love the road salt here in the northeast.

let me know how the ARB's hold up. at some point I want to go the same route. although I honestly have never seen rockers with rivets before.
Roger

[thejafe]

Well done, Andrew! I knew this post was comin'. I totally appreciate the love you put into your work, such as repainting the arms, and you'll use your vehicle for its intended purpose too. You don't run into folks who strike that balance very often, but I think its admirable. Mike Rauch at OK is like that too. Glad too see you made it out of the garage! :D

Hey Chris! It's nice to be appreciated :cool: . I am somewhat of a perfectionist and if I didn't go the necessary extra mile sometimes then I truly wouldn't be satisfied with my work.

Those arms took a LOT of extra effort to get them up to my standards. Here is what they looked like before I got my hands on 'em:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_0317_1.JPG

New RE Super-Flex Joints:

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Img_Products/Pn/6/1976/Photographs/0/590.jpg

Cartridge joint tool:

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Img_Products/Pn/6/1966/Photographs/0/590.jpg

I got the special tool to remove the threaded end of the cartridge joints but they simply would not budge. Also, the snap rings that held the washers in place were completely seized on. I had to take a dremel to them and cut off the old parts. I then had to use a wire brush to scrub out all of the corrosion inside the joints, then use the new threaded piece to further cut through the crud.

Also, one of the stop nuts had to be drilled out and the threads tapped. Once I had everything reassembled using the cartridge joint tool I sanded the painted areas down, masked off the joints and bushings and shot the arms with two coats of REPSILVER.

Now that I have 8 Super-Flex cartridge joints on my rig I'm not looking forward to servicing them in the future :( .

[86cj]

Congratulations on the latest build........

I like the path you have followed, it should do everything good enough......

A nice combination for sure, and a good use of patience......

My Jeep seems like it's cousin these days, the set ups are very similar (3" SA 1.25" BL /MML and 33's). I have found it to have very little shortcomings...

[thejafe]

So, I decided that the Warn flares were just too wide for my liking and went back to the Rubicon flares. Rubicon flares are 4" and the Warns are 6" -- I think a 5" flare would be just about perfect but I don't think they exist :( .

Started snowing just as I was about to snap some pics today:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0005.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0006.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0007.jpg

Flash went off:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0004.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0008.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0011.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0016.jpg

[MossMan]

So, I decided that the Warn flares were just too wide for my liking and went back to the Rubicon flares. Rubicon flares are 4" and the Warns are 6" -- I think a 5" flare would be just about perfect but I don't think they exist :( .

Started snowing just as I was about to snap some pics today:

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/DSC_0007.jpg



:eek: :yikes: you didn't photoshop your license plate number out. They're gonna come after you.....








:shakin:

[kjp98TJ]

smart lookin' jeep :up:

[4Rescue]

http://homepage.mac.com/thejafe/.Pictures/For%20Posting%20On%20Forums3/IMG_8367.jpg

Nice!!!!!!!!!


I love this pic...

[hrjaw]

very classy build

[blk03rubi]

Looks good!

[Brett M]

That's a clean looking TJ you've built. I love it. Nice job on all your work.


Now, I just checked the RE website.....did you find the REPSILVER anywhere cheaper or did you match it to something more standard? I want to re-spray the arms that I have on mine (RE upper adjustables and the Tera lower longarms going on):shakin:

[thejafe]

That's a clean looking TJ you've built. I love it. Nice job on all your work.


Now, I just checked the RE website.....did you find the REPSILVER anywhere cheaper or did you match it to something more standard? I want to re-spray the arms that I have on mine (RE upper adjustables and the Tera lower longarms going on):shakin:

Thanks for the compliments guys :victory: .

I went straight for the REPSILVER off the Rubicon Express website.