Well I have wanted a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (JKU) ever since their release in 2007 but they were way outside of mine and my wife's budget. We have saved our pennies and were able to start looking last September (2011). I was originally looking for about a 2008-2009, possibly a 2010 if the price was right and something with fairly low miles and a virgin Jeep. I wanted one that someone else hadn't cut up or cut corners on.
We have had several Jeeps over the past 18 years, a 1991 XJ and two 1996 ZJ's. My son has my wife's old 1996 ZJ that he has done some mods to and has kept it in pristine condition and we bought a second 1996 ZJ that I had built up in 2009 for a daily driver, off-road exploration vehicle that we also used to tow behind our motorhome. I figured we had enough money saved up to buy a JKU and then I could sell the ZJ and use that money for the modifications, at least a good start on them anyway.
We stumbled across a 2011 in November and took if for a test drive, the wife (as well as myself) fell in love with the new interior but couldn't afford a new 2012. We struck a deal and drove off the with our new to us 2011 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with only 3208 miles on the odometer.
I sold my ZJ the next day to the first guy that came and looked at it and then I commenced purchasing parts. Most of the build came fairly easy because I had this thing built in my head for the past several years just waiting for when we could afford it.
Although the build thread is not in real time as it was on another forum as I was building it, I will cover the entire build here and then keep it updated as things change. After all, it is a Jeep they are never really "done".
My Goal:
My goal with this Jeep, my "dream Jeep" as my wife calls it, was to build a vehicle that would be my daily driver as well as a very capable off-road vehicle. It will also spend a lot of time/miles being towed behind our coach or in the trailer over its lifetime. Being a mechanic I wanted this vehicle to showcase my workmanship and somewhat stand out from the average JK on the streets. I am sure I overbuilt it for what I plan on doing with it but like my son and I say, "overbuilt is underated".
I appreciate and welcome any comments.
Mike.
Here it is on the lift in the shop. I went with a BDS long-arm suspension as I really like the on road manners of a long-arm as well as the off-road capabilities. Overall impression of the BDS system is fantastic. Very happy with the ride on road as well as off-road. I currently have approx. 4k miles on it since we bought it in Novermber 2011.
Tires/wheels are 35x12.5x17 BFG KM2 wrapped around 17"x9" ATV Crawl wheels. I wanted a fairly light tire/wheel package so it robbed as little power as possible from the already anemic 3.8 engine. I also have heard good things about the KM2s as far as longevity and street manners. I must admit I am overall very impressed with this tire so far. I have had them off-road but have not had the opportunity to air them down and try them on the rocks. I don't think I will be dissappointed.
Here is a shot from outside my shop prior to installing the tires/wheels and setting it down for it's rolling debute.
Sitting on all four after torquing the wheels on.
Here it is after backing it out of the shop for its road test. The picture is not the greatest but it was late and I was tired.
I also debadged the entire Jeep upon first bringing it home. I am almost embarrased to admit this but it is the Black Opps edition and the stickers did nothing for me. At this point it also has a MBRP off-road exhaust system on it with the muffler mounted up under the left framerail and exiting at the left rear corner. This is actually a very good sounding system and tucks up nice and tight under the chassis/body. I was really torn between the Dynomax and the MBRP.
I have also installed an AFE cold air intake at this point. I know the exhaust/CAI do not really do much where the 3.8 Jeep engine is a speed/density system but I like the sound and any additional air into the engine has to help even if you don't gain any seat of the pants feel.
We have had several Jeeps over the past 18 years, a 1991 XJ and two 1996 ZJ's. My son has my wife's old 1996 ZJ that he has done some mods to and has kept it in pristine condition and we bought a second 1996 ZJ that I had built up in 2009 for a daily driver, off-road exploration vehicle that we also used to tow behind our motorhome. I figured we had enough money saved up to buy a JKU and then I could sell the ZJ and use that money for the modifications, at least a good start on them anyway.
We stumbled across a 2011 in November and took if for a test drive, the wife (as well as myself) fell in love with the new interior but couldn't afford a new 2012. We struck a deal and drove off the with our new to us 2011 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with only 3208 miles on the odometer.
I sold my ZJ the next day to the first guy that came and looked at it and then I commenced purchasing parts. Most of the build came fairly easy because I had this thing built in my head for the past several years just waiting for when we could afford it.
Although the build thread is not in real time as it was on another forum as I was building it, I will cover the entire build here and then keep it updated as things change. After all, it is a Jeep they are never really "done".
My Goal:
My goal with this Jeep, my "dream Jeep" as my wife calls it, was to build a vehicle that would be my daily driver as well as a very capable off-road vehicle. It will also spend a lot of time/miles being towed behind our coach or in the trailer over its lifetime. Being a mechanic I wanted this vehicle to showcase my workmanship and somewhat stand out from the average JK on the streets. I am sure I overbuilt it for what I plan on doing with it but like my son and I say, "overbuilt is underated".
I appreciate and welcome any comments.
Mike.
Here it is on the lift in the shop. I went with a BDS long-arm suspension as I really like the on road manners of a long-arm as well as the off-road capabilities. Overall impression of the BDS system is fantastic. Very happy with the ride on road as well as off-road. I currently have approx. 4k miles on it since we bought it in Novermber 2011.
Tires/wheels are 35x12.5x17 BFG KM2 wrapped around 17"x9" ATV Crawl wheels. I wanted a fairly light tire/wheel package so it robbed as little power as possible from the already anemic 3.8 engine. I also have heard good things about the KM2s as far as longevity and street manners. I must admit I am overall very impressed with this tire so far. I have had them off-road but have not had the opportunity to air them down and try them on the rocks. I don't think I will be dissappointed.
Here is a shot from outside my shop prior to installing the tires/wheels and setting it down for it's rolling debute.
Sitting on all four after torquing the wheels on.
Here it is after backing it out of the shop for its road test. The picture is not the greatest but it was late and I was tired.
I also debadged the entire Jeep upon first bringing it home. I am almost embarrased to admit this but it is the Black Opps edition and the stickers did nothing for me. At this point it also has a MBRP off-road exhaust system on it with the muffler mounted up under the left framerail and exiting at the left rear corner. This is actually a very good sounding system and tucks up nice and tight under the chassis/body. I was really torn between the Dynomax and the MBRP.
I have also installed an AFE cold air intake at this point. I know the exhaust/CAI do not really do much where the 3.8 Jeep engine is a speed/density system but I like the sound and any additional air into the engine has to help even if you don't gain any seat of the pants feel.