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Dwight's Willys Build

71K views 203 replies 41 participants last post by  dawhitesJKU 
#1 ·
2014 Willys JK 4dr 6spd
Build Date June 2014
Purchased July 2014 @ Huntington Beach CJDR
Servicing Dealer Orange Coast CJDR/OCMotorsports

Lift – I had the RE 2.5 kit on a previous jk and I would’ve gone that route again but my local terrains have deep ruts. Even though I rarely play on rocks, I got hung up on deep ruts and bent my geometry brackets. I wanted a kit that will eliminate the need for drop brackets, drive like my previous kit, and less bind when in flex situations. I always like new products so enter the New RK max travel kit.
Rock Krawler 2.5 Max Travel w/Triple Rate Coils, Krawler Joints, Pro Flex Joints (Northridge 4x4)
Bilstein 5100 3.5 front (Northridge 4x4)
Bilstein 5100 2.5 rear (Northridge 4x4)
Teraflex Coil Clips (Northridge 4x4)
Synergy Rear Correction Wedge (Northridge 4x4)
Teraflex Exhaust Spacer (Northridge 4x4)













Wheels/Tires/Insurance – My previous jk had fuel mavericks and they got roasted in bad environments. I wanted something with wheel protection so I snagged up the XHD’s (it was a tossup with interco birddogs). Tires… I’m a big fanboy of toyo since they treated me very well, and I was going to get the AT2’s again, but they were backordered. Since BFG came out with the 35” tires during the month of my lift install and available, I had to bite the bullet and cross my fingers on this one. So far they perform and I really like them…especially the sidewall protection (see their puncture test on their website). I chose the Maximus-3 tire carrier over over the others because of several factors… 1. it doesn’t hide the willys decal 2. it has the backup light accessory as well as other modular accessories to be added on anytime, and 3. the fact that I’ve seen the other brands more often on occasions.
Rugged Ridge XHD’s in Satin Black/Machined (Northridge 4x4)
Rugged Ridge Wheel Protectors (Northridge 4x4)
35x12.5/17 BFG KO2’s (Salinas Wheels and Tires, La Habra)
Maximus -3 Tire Carrier w/ backup LED light (Northridge 4x4/Maximus-3)
Offroad Evolution C Gussets (Offroad Evolution, Fullerton)
AEV Procal set to 34” tires and DRL fogs (Northridge 4x4)





Lights – I had the trucklites and really didn’t like the reflective housing. The projectors on the 8700 outshone the TL vastly. Trucklites have brighter hi’s though, but the evo 2’s are far superior and more crisp for night driving. So far I don’t see the need to spend $$ on any other lighting. Yes they look cool but it will be just a waste of money to use them never. I recently went camping and the JW’s are more than I need…for now.
JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2 headlights (Amazon)
Trucklite Anti Flicker Harness (Northridge 4x4)



 
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#2 ·
Exterior/Protection – I had my grill custom made and getting a bull bar or stinger would ruin the appeal, and I’m not planning to add a winch anytime soon. I always loved the 10a bumper, but couldn’t fathom the price until I saw a takeoff from Crawlur Offroad. I drove 4 hours back/forth just to pick it up. On a side note, Crawlur Offroad in Indio hooked it up with the install. They were able to fabricate my oem plastic air dam to work with the 10a, and rerouted my PA speaker to have a clean look when stubbied. If they were much closer, I would trust them with my rig. Last, one of my first mod was the white knuckle offroad slider. So nice , I bought it twice.
10A Modular Front Bumper (Crawlur Offroad, Indio)
White Knuckle Offroad Sliders (White Knuckle Offroad, Hesperia)
Custom US Flag Wrangler Grill (customwranglergrills@gmail.com)
Boltlock Hood Lock (4WP, Santa Ana)
Boltlock Cable Lock (4WP, Santa Ana)
Xpel Headlights/Grill (Advanced Auto Engineering, Cerritos)
Custom Distressed Decals (Decal Spec, Buena Park)









COMMUNICATIONS - I had the cooltech gatemount on my previous jk but with my current jk, opening the rear hardtop window while driving won’t work, hence the ultramount kit. I also had the cobra 19dxiv on my old jeep and I prefer that to my current 520xl since the 520 announces incoming transmission when on PA.
Cooltech LLC Ultramount kit (Cooltechllc.com)
Uniden 520XL (Amazon)
Rugged Ridge Hoop Mount (Amazon)
SWR Meter (Amazon)


INTERIOR – The headliners, warpig offroad spacers, and the grabars are my favorite interior mod. Now people love riding in the backseat and don’t have to call shotgun everytime. The metalcloak middle seat support also helps with the whining person in the middle. Since 2007, jeep couldn’t do it right with the back seat so I’m thankful for the aftermarket support.
Hothead Headliners (Hothead in Buena Park)
Mopar Door Sills (Amazon)
Mopar Slush Mats (OEM)
Mopar Cargo Mat (Premier CJDR West Covina)
Mopar Grab Handles (OEM)
Grabars (Northridge4x4)
Warpig Offroad rear seat spacer kit (Forum Member @WhiskeyMike)
Metalcloak middle seat support (Metalcloak.com)
LED Interior Lights (Advanced Car Creations, Garden Grove)
Street Fighter Glow in the dark ornament (classified)


This is my daily driver/family vehicle, with aspirations of using it as it should be used, while attaining great gas mileage. I expected at least 15-17mpg and <300 per tank, but I’m getting 17-19mpg and >320 per tank. I reached my goal, I’m mostly done with the mods for the year (still deciding on the Maximus-3 hi lift jack carrier/rotopax mount). Next year is a different story, but only subtle convenience features are on my for sure list. ETA March 2016.




 
#21 ·
@ExitLeft. With my current setup, its fine for daily driver w/ the current 3.73 gears. If I add more weight, i'll regear. If the jeep is packed with 5 adults, I of course feel more significant loss of power but its only once in a blue moon that my jeep is packed with 5 adults.

choosing all terrain tires will help out as opposed to mud terrains.
 
#23 ·
@ExitLeft... at least you don't have 3.21 gears.

2012 3.21 JKU/6spd/33"/4dr - 6spd ONLY can be used above 65mph as an overdrive gear. It will propel the jeep at flat ground to 80+ (but at a snails pace).

My current Jeep can propel the 35" tires from 45mph to highway speeds less than the time it takes for my previous 2012 at 65-80mph on 6th gear.
 
#26 ·
Here was my initial wish list. The plans came to fruition... just a few more items like the rear bumper, fenders, and perhaps a regear and boost... all will be done next year.

07/29/2014
Willys Themed JK

Mopar Door sills
HR Front/Rear Bumper (still pending)
White Knuckle Offroad Sliders w/ oem rubi rails
2.5 Metalcloak/RK lift
Maximus-3 Winch Mount (still pending)
Winch? (still pending)
Maximus-3 Tire Carrier
Maximus-3 side led light/bracket, Side rotopax mount, Hi lift Jack mount
2 Gallon Rotopax, 48” hi lift jack
RR XHD w/ wheel guards/Interco Birddog Wheels 17”
Toyo AT2 35x12.5/17 - switched to BFG KO2
Rear Seat Recline
Grab Bars
Interior Led
JW Speaker Headlights/Xpel
JW Speaker Fogs - switched to led bulb instead
Spyder LED Tail Lights - switched to JWS Tail Lights
Upgrade Grill? - done
Boltlock Hood
Boltlock Spare Tire
MC/PS Fenders – Two Tone Paint Scheme. (Gloss Black Willys, Billet rub rails) pending
Decals – Distressed Willys all around
Regear + Boost*
 
#29 ·
Added the rest of my Maximus-3 Tire carrier accessories. I also received a new led light from Maximus-3 due to condensation. I adjusted the tire carrier for it not to come in contact with the JW Speaker tail light, however with the neoprene cover, it barely touches the light. I'm not gonna test a full swing though. I have to be careful when opening it from now on just in case.
 

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#30 ·
a few photos of the Maximus-3 accessories w/out the hi lift jack, rotopax, and tire. I also added a WF distressed decal to match the rest of my theme.
 

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#33 ·
Thought I'd stop by and say your Jeep looks great. Well thought out build and I've enjoyed following along.
 
#36 ·
so my current HR/10a front bumper is 87lbs.

My new front PS bumper should be 74 lbs (according to shipping weight) ... also i'm not going to be running the skid.
and my rear PS bumper should be 67 lbs (according to shipping weight)

Once added (sometime next week) i'll update my mpg. So far i'm averaging mid 17's to mid 18's hand calculated and over 320 miles... that's 17.5 - 18 gallons each fill up.
 
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