I decided to start a build thread to show what I have done to my Jeep over the past 5+ years and the changes I continue to make today. I’m not at the point where I am looking to tear everything down and start over (as the thread name may imply), but I have constantly tweaked or am trying new things. Hopefully this will help answer questions that other people may have when looking to start a build or changing things up.
Most importantly, I felt the need to add another 2 door thread to the mix. This began as a 2008 Rubicon in Red Rock Crystal with 4.10 stock gearing.
Where to begin… I started with the Rubicon suspension and 14/57 springs with the tow package. I cycled through JKUR 18/59 springs, a 2.5” BB, 18/59 springs and the BB, and even added a body lift to it. I scrapped all that and went with a Rock Krawler 2.5” lift. I now run a Rock Krawler X-Factor 3.5” lift. I have ran the stock 32’s, 35’s and 37’s. More changes coming soon. I’ll try to cover everything along the way. There are some install things that I don’t have pictures of and other things I will omit (brake pad/rotor changes, etc).
My goals from the beginning were to maximize my spending to fun ratio and do mods I wanted only once (doing it right the first time). My preferences changed a lot, so that went out the window early on. I ran it stock for awhile before starting to build. I have done everything in my garage ever since.
I started out with the 18/59 swap and a body lift. I later added the 2.5” BB on top of that. Looking back on it, the Jeep looked a little ridiculous. I was running 35” Falken Rocky Mountain tires with cut fenders and a huge gap in the wheel wells. I didn’t have to run bump stops to prevent the wheels from getting buried.
Here are a few pictures of the body lift going on, the 35’s on 15” wheels, the BB, cutting the fender flares, and adding a set of ACE sliders. Not pictured, I corrected caster with a set of lower adjustable control arms and centered the axle with a new adjustable track bar. I also added a MBRP light/bull bar to the stock front bumper.
I didn’t care for the chopped stock bumper and the thin cut fender flares, so those were replaced. For the front bumper, I went with a Pavement Ends bumper and winch plate. I welded the light bar to the winch plate. I replaced the fender flares with Bushwackers. I added a Warn 8000 winch and roller fairlead, as well as a Pavement Ends rear bumper.
I later added some Teraflex D44 diff covers, an Or-Fab tire carrier, and IPF 968 lights. I built a hoist for my hardtop earlier when I had the Jeep, but here is a picture showing it with the lights.
The Or-Fab carrier was the jerry can version. I purchased two Rampage jerry can containers to store my trail stuff. The containers were red, but I bedlined them since the red clashed with the Red Rock exterior.
I started messing with shocks and coils to replace my setup. I tried out a Rubicon Express 4” coil for a bit, but wasn’t a fan. Again, way too tall. Pictured here with Fox shocks up front (4-6”).
Here are a few things I added to the interior that didn’t get posted earlier.
I have a Pioneer 4300 head unit with Polk db speakers. I was running a 12” Infinity Reference subwoofer in back, but it was taking up too much space (more on that later).
I added heated seats to the front and covered the seats and rear bench in Cover King’s leatherette covers. These things are amazing and make cleaning super easy. I have a black lab and hair was almost impossible to clean off before covering.
Finally, I added an Or-Fab vent plate for the tailgate and a CB mount.
The CB is a Uniden and I have it stored in the glove box with the amp. It looks a little crowded, but it’s out of sight with the glove door modification.
As I mentioned earlier, I replaced my coils with a Rock Krawler 2.5. I would eventually piece it together to make it an X-Factor. I am using adjustable JKS front end links, and JKS front and rear adjustable track bars.
I ditched the hard top since I moved and have had no regrets ever since. I have been running soft top only year-round for the past 3+ years. Here’s a shot coming out from dinner one night when it started sleeting.
Here’s another picture on a clear day after installing a Drake fuel door.
I decided to rip out the carpet and bedline the interior. I had to get creative with the cable routing for my speakers and amp. This is one reason why I moved the amp to the glove box. The grill also got bedlined.
I also mounted the subwoofer to the tailgate. I was thinking about building another box, but the Rockford Fosgate 10” and enclosure I picked up fit it perfect. A few L brackets and upper support, and we are good to go.
You’ll also notice I took off the roll bar padding and paint matched the areas that weren’t finished from the factory.
