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My first jeep, JKU on a budget build

46K views 162 replies 40 participants last post by  Mc1123 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
This is my first jeep ever and I want to make it my own, but I have a very limited budget to play with, so I'm going after things that don't cost a fortune, while still getting the desired effect/look I want.


this is what it looked like the day I brought it home.





this is in the process of getting the wire routing figured out for the new light bar and pod lights.






if you look close, you can see the door handle inserts. i'll get pictures up tonight when the lights are all hooked up.
 
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#3 ·
Thanks! its just a no name brand from ebay. for the amount of times It will be used, it should be fine. besides, it was 1/16th the price of the comparable rigid light bar!!!
 
#5 ·
#7 ·
I was actually planning on painting them black with plasti-dip, just haven't got around to it yet. I did it on my sonic and it turned out pretty good.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
just got my new 1.5" wheel spacers on tonight!

stock pictures






the new spacers




and the after, sorry about the dark pictures, it was getting late.








to me, its just the right amount of offset for the jeep. I didn't think it would effect the handling as much as it did though!

it seems to have significantly less body roll than before. it used to have a little weeble wobble if just the one side went over a bump, now it seems the body is more controlled. I run my tires at 30-31 psi, so maybe the wider track width is not allowing as much lateral tire roll as before? it also seems like the ride is just a bit smoother too. maybe because there is added leverage on the shocks now?

I need to put more miles on to confirm these things for sure, but so far, I like EVERYTHING that they did for the jeep!
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
a little update on my build so far.

i got a new bumper!!!

here is the before picture (also showing the wider track width with the spacers)



side view




now the new bumper in the garage (don't mind the mess)



and with the bumper installed



this one was kinda blurry. they were taken with my phone.



side view



top view of the winch mounting plate




its made with 5/32" steel and 0.120" tubing. im pretty sure its a smittybilt SRC V1 clone, but it seems plenty strong enough and it came in perfect condition.

the winch is coming in on Thursday for it and i still need to get a new set of fog lights and a proper license plate mount (damn NYS front plate law!)

sticking with the budget part of the build, i spent $278 for this bumper, and it included the shackles!
 
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#12 ·
love the no name approach to keep it less costly. and the look of it all is so much improved. Looking forward to seeing more as you go
thanks eagle

i went with these as the wheel spacers. they changed the picture since i bought them, but it looks like they are still the black ones like i have, at least from the description.

now, for the pictures with the winch installed! (i just did a copy/paste from my winch thread)





temporary mounting of the license plate, till my new plate mount shows up. (tomorrow!)










i need to trim this a bit for more clearance on the cover.



 
#14 ·
bought the redrock 1/5 " spacers from extreme terrain last night and a leveling kit off the market that had been used for a few weeks and replaced. Budget for sure. NOW I need to figure out how to get it on the jeep .
 
#16 ·
thanks!

a little update, i got a christmas present early.

37x12.50 R17 cooper stt pro tires are on the way!!!

c-gussets will be on in short order to handle them.

i already have a flashpaq, so im good there. and when i can afford it, i'll order a fifth tire, tire carrier and maybe wider rims.

wow, not even 6 months and im getting 37's! :awesome:


its mostly a DD, so im not TOO worried about breaking anything right away. but now i officially have a 5 speed wrangler. LOL:lmao:


pics up when i get them here and then installed.
 
#19 ·
i just realized that i have not posted pictures of how my jeep sits with the lift kit installed on here.

so here are a couple pictures.









you can kinda see the led headlights in the first picture.
 
#22 ·
Hedges spec list on the bottom shows 3.73 gearing.
 
#21 ·
Can't wait to see them. I got the same jeep and a set of RK springs in the north ridge cart.
On 35 km2s but really thinking 37s.
 
#24 ·
Great budget build! Looking forward to seeing more!
 
#25 ·
thanks for the compliments guys! i just ordered a set of synergy c-gussets from northridge. im going to have a local shop weld them on for me (i really need to invest in a good welder).
 
#26 ·
brown santa came today!!!

i was going to change the tires myself on my friends harbor freight tire changer, but i was worried about the snow getting inside the tire as i was doing it.

i got one tire changed, but it was a bear. im bringing it to a shop tomorrow to have the rest changed.

but here are some pictures from tonight.









they look HUGE!!! i LOVE the side wall lugs!



and a picture of the new c-gussets from northridge. and im sipping on a glass of malibu orange cream flavored rum at the moment.:beerdrinking:



picture of the cut-offs from the pinch seam. took 2.5" forward and upward. then i filled the opening with jb-kwik weld. then tomorrow, im spraying the area twice (15 minute dry paint) and heading to work. although, it is only 26* here right now.
 
#27 ·
Where'd you get the coopers and how much?
 
#28 ·
ordered them from discount tire direct, they were $336 each.

its too dark to get good pictures tonight, so i'll get some up tomorrow.
 
#29 ·
Can't wait to see it. Buying the RK Springs this week and probably move it over to 37s next year.
 
#30 ·
sweet! i could have probably gone with 35's and been good, but it just makes me smile every time i look at it on 37's!



now, its PICTURE TIME!

picture of the cut pinch seams




my jeep next to a stock willy's at buffalo wild wings last night.




having fun in the woods with the new tires. (i LOVE this picture!)




same spot as above




nature's flex ramp. stuff's nicely in the stock fender!




same spot, other side




picture from the rear showing i need flats to get more flex




after i took the trailer through the woods (use this to get wood for the boiler). not sure if i will be able to pull it through the woods with a load on it in the snow yet.

BTW, this could be a NICE background screen!




pic from the front




and a pic from the other side

 
#31 ·
since i still have 3.73's, 6th gear is useless, and 5th works on flat ground. but overall, i dont mind the gearing too bad. in 4th gear at 55-60, im turning about 2500 rpms (i think?)

it does take more feathering of the clutch to get rolling, but its not bad once its moving.

the braking takes a SIGNIFICANT amount more space to stop/slow down, so i will need to address that soon. but right now, i just increase my follow distance and start slowing down a lot sooner. (last minute red lights SUCK!)

i do get a bit of wander on the road with these tires, but thats to be expected with the wider width and super tall sidewall.

i think im going to get the bilstein dual steering stabilizer to help reduce the bum steer a bit. i dont have any death wobble, but when a tire falls into a valley in the road, it pulls the jeep to that side a bit. it can be a little unnerving at times.

there is a little bit of vibration from the tires at 55 and up (maybe balancing issue?), but its not too too bad. i had a set of cooper st blems that came on a dodge when i bought it(didnt know they were blems at the time) and they could not be balanced. they bounced like a basket ball down the road(in a 32" tire), so im not complaining about a slight vibration from a 100lb+ tire!


i had a little bit of rubbing on the frame behind the front right tire, so i added a couple washers to the spindle stop bolt. i only needed to add it to one side, so i need to get my axle perfectly centered to make it even (about 3/8-1/2" to the drivers currently).

would i get 37's again? IN A HEART BEAT! they bring a smile to my face EVERY, SINGLE, TIME i see them! i think i would regret going 35's over 37's.



i still need to do a couple things to make driveablity a bit better for everyday use, but its not as bad as i thought it would be.

i thought i would be completely under powered with the 3.73's like everyone suggested, but thats simply not the case. i can drop down into 3rd gear on the highway and have plenty of passing power(4k rpms at 70 in 3rd), or cruise along in 5th gear.

with a slushbox, i would have gotten gears firs, but being a manual, its completely fine till i get a set of gears.

im also thinking about getting a locker for the rear, and a detroit true trac LSD for the front(to help preserve the front axle). the BLD just DOES-NOT-CUT-IT with 37's. :nonono:

:awesome: :iamhappy:
 
#32 ·
Looks good. How about some measurements when you get a chance. To the flair is fine since I wil likely have the same set up (JKU sport with RK 2.5 and 37 coopers or coursers)

Merry Christmas!
 
#33 ·
i'll try and get some for you tomorrow.

BTW, if your going with RK springs, if at all possible, wait to order the shocks for it until after the lift is installed. i need shocks for a 3.5-4" lift in the, since i have 1.5" spacers on my 2.5" shocks in the back!
 
#35 ·
new lights!

i got a new set of driving lights for Christmas. i mounted them on top of my bullbar and wired them up directly to my stock fog light wires. i used my flashpaq to allow them to come on with the high beam, but i may change the wiring so that they come on ONLY with the high beam.






















i still need to adjust them tonight, but i think they look great, and i can see the top of them from inside the cab! :bop:


i dont have any pictures of them, but i also got a set of front and rear weathertech floor mats for christmas! they fit PERFECTLY to the jeep, i love it!
 
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