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'07 Steel Blue Unlimited Sahara Build
'07 Steel Blue Unlimited Sahara Build
Finally I'll be able to start my build-up on my JK. I'm going for a build that will allow some crawling while still able to hit the dunes at speed. I'm working with 4ws.com to get this ball rolling and completed before I return to the states. Can't beat the free shipping and deals they offer.
I call it "CAIN". Build started March 2009
Phase I: COMPLETED*
Phase II: STARTED December 2009
Phase III: SCHEDULED September 2010
* = Installed
PICS:
SRT-8 seats prior to install
- 
- 
17x8.5" Walker Evans Beadlocks
39.5x14.50-17" Pitbull MadDogs
Front Dana 30 Gear and Suspension Work in Progress
Rugged Ridge XHD w/Stinger and Warn Powerplant - RK 5.5 Comp Installed (stock wheels and tires)
LOD Shorty Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier
Shot of the Coil Over
Phase I nearly completed
Side Shot
Shot from the front, underside
Phase I completed
Wild Boar Fastback T-Top Painted to Match
Removed trail rack and gerry can holders - will reinstall as needed for trail use
Happy 4th of July
Finally took some pic of some minor flex. I was limited though. the rear tire was rubbing. It will be corrected next time its in the shop.
swaybar connected:
tire rub:
swaybar disconnected:
and pics of the sound system. (found them)
its showing the old RF P3's that after a year of use blew. right now it has Sony Xplodes. they were cheaper and perform much better. deeper bass with more kick than the more expensive P3's
well last weekend i made it back to that "hill". this time instead of disconnecting the swaybar links i pushed the button. (yeah, i forgot it was there) HA! anyways the JK went up higher and flexed more. the rear tires did rub but only the inside of the xenon fenders (plastic part that runs along the body where i first took off the paint). i didnt hit the corners this time. might have been because i aired down from 25psi to 5psi. i did go back to the original spot and made it to the middle of that 2nd rock. the body seemed to stay more level this time around.
if it hadnt rained friday i could have gone higher. even in 4lo i was loosing grip on the grass. lockers would have helped. i was mostly playing around on the other side of the hill. behind the JK in the other pics. its a bit steaper on that side.
while messing around i made up my mind and will be going with an automatic transmission during the hemi swap. ive been debating it for over a year now. it was too much of a pain to control the clutch, break and go pedals. plus i dont have the time to learn before i deploy again and the JK hits the 4ws.com shop.
the v-6 just doesnt have the power to climb at idle with all the extra wieght it has to pull around. it just sits there and dies. give it some go juice and manage the clutch and you start to wonder. "what is that smell?" doh!! id rather go auto than change a clutch in the field.
ill be getting a better steering pump as well. these big tires are starting to take its toll on it. this pump was replaced in 2008 after the last time i did some wheeling, before the mods.
sorry no pics of that day's activities. i was having too much fun to think about pics.
oh, if anyone has the warn powerplant. how long does it take for the air to build up before i can air up again? i turned it on and waited for 30 mins. the pump would turn on and off every 2 mins for 5 seconds. i wasnt getting air. thankfully we had a bubble tank with us. which made quick work on the tires.
during the 118 mile drive down today the JK seemed to wonder more on the highway. on the way back i had 20psi and it seemed better. just FYI for those others with maddogs. im still trying to find the happy psi for them. 30psi was too much and the tires would grab every defect in the road and follow it. they are smooth as silk on concrete but asfault they tend to follow the ruts that can pop up every now and then (depending on how old/used the road surface is) county roads with the tar and gravel crap is worse than a loose gravel dirt road. the ruts really make you "drive" the JK
Phase II could start as soon as the end of november. i deploy again shortly and it will be time to take the JK back to 4ws.com for more work. the list hasnt changed but will be adding to it. should be done in time for EJS
MORE TO FOLLOW . . .
Any thoughts or comments would be helpfull for a successful build that works great and also looks good.
More pics to follow as i get them.
Finally I'll be able to start my build-up on my JK. I'm going for a build that will allow some crawling while still able to hit the dunes at speed. I'm working with 4ws.com to get this ball rolling and completed before I return to the states. Can't beat the free shipping and deals they offer.
I call it "CAIN". Build started March 2009
Phase I: COMPLETED*
- Rock Krawler 5.5" X Factor Plus Coil Over Long Arm + Heavy Duty Tie Rod, Drag Link, and Bilstein Shocks
- Rubicon Electric Disconnect Swaybar
- Superior 5.13 Gears
- Tom Woods Driveshafts
- Rugged Ridge XHD Front Bumper + Stinger
- LOD Signature Series Shorty Rear Bumper Gen2 Tire Carrier
- LOD Rock Rails
- Gerry Can Holders and Cans
- Trail Rack
- Xenon Flat Fenders (Painted to Match)
- Walker Evans 17x8.5" 5x5 Beadlocks
- 39x14.50-17" Pitbull MadDogs
- Warn Powerplant with Viking Orange 3/8x100' Synthetic Line with Winch Safety Thimble Eye and 10' HD Line Protector
- AEV ProCal
- Dana 30 USA Alloy Chomoly Axle Shafts
- Rock Hard Transmission, Transfer Case, Gas Tank, and Evap Skid Plates
- Rock Hard Full Safety Cage
- Rugged Ridge XHD Skid Plate
- Tuffy Security Deck Enclosure
- Cobra 75 WX ST
- 102" Whip Antenna
- Wild Boar Fastback T-Top Painted to Match
- MyGIG (Lockpicked)
- Completely Detailed Upon Delivery
Phase II: STARTED December 2009
- Re-work Rear RK Suspension (This will be impressive)
- Currie Rock Jock Dana 60's
- ARB Lockers
- PSC Steering
- 17x8.5" 5x5.5 Walker Evans Beadlocks (Ring Painted to Match Jeep)
- Body Gets Trimmed for Tire Rub Issues
- Atlas II 4-Speed Transfer Case (2.72:1, 3.8:1 and 10.3:1)
- 1350 Tom Woods Drive Shafts
- Front and Rear SRT-8 Seats (Power and Heated)
- Delta Quad Bar Xenon Headlights
- Delta Xenon Fog Lights
- Delta Skybar Xenon Lightbar
- Delta 150 Driving Lights
- Delta Windshield Light Mounts
- LED Rock/Trail Lights at all 4 Wheel Wells
- Custom "12VoltGuy" Switch Panel for Lights, Air, and Winch
- 2 Gallon On-board Air Tank
- 2nd Air Chuck Routed to Rear
- Repair Tail Gate (Custom Sheet-metal to Smooth it out and Raised JEEP Lettering)
- Relocate Radio Antenna to Rear Bumper and Replace it with Trail Rated Badge
- Sponsor Sticker Application
Phase III: SCHEDULED September 2010
- 6.1 Hemi install (Swapping to 5-sp Auto)
- Custom 3" Dual Exhaust
- AEV Heat Reduction Hood (Painted to Match)
- River Raider Snorkel (Painted to Match)
- Steering Cooler
- Transmission Cooler
- Dual Yellow Top Optima Batteries
- 18 Gallon Auxiliary Fuel Tank
- Skid Plate for Auxiliary Fuel Tank
- Auto Meter - Trans Temp, Water Temp, Aux Fuel Level, Oil Temp
- Complete Speaker Upgrade (still looking for the right speakers)
- Full Dynamat Interior
* = Installed
PICS:
SRT-8 seats prior to install
- - 17x8.5" Walker Evans Beadlocks
39.5x14.50-17" Pitbull MadDogs
Front Dana 30 Gear and Suspension Work in Progress
Rugged Ridge XHD w/Stinger and Warn Powerplant - RK 5.5 Comp Installed (stock wheels and tires)
LOD Shorty Rear Bumper/Tire Carrier
Shot of the Coil Over
Phase I nearly completed
Side Shot
Shot from the front, underside
Phase I completed
Wild Boar Fastback T-Top Painted to Match
Removed trail rack and gerry can holders - will reinstall as needed for trail use
Happy 4th of July
Finally took some pic of some minor flex. I was limited though. the rear tire was rubbing. It will be corrected next time its in the shop.
swaybar connected:
tire rub:
swaybar disconnected:
and pics of the sound system. (found them)
its showing the old RF P3's that after a year of use blew. right now it has Sony Xplodes. they were cheaper and perform much better. deeper bass with more kick than the more expensive P3's
well last weekend i made it back to that "hill". this time instead of disconnecting the swaybar links i pushed the button. (yeah, i forgot it was there) HA! anyways the JK went up higher and flexed more. the rear tires did rub but only the inside of the xenon fenders (plastic part that runs along the body where i first took off the paint). i didnt hit the corners this time. might have been because i aired down from 25psi to 5psi. i did go back to the original spot and made it to the middle of that 2nd rock. the body seemed to stay more level this time around.
if it hadnt rained friday i could have gone higher. even in 4lo i was loosing grip on the grass. lockers would have helped. i was mostly playing around on the other side of the hill. behind the JK in the other pics. its a bit steaper on that side.
while messing around i made up my mind and will be going with an automatic transmission during the hemi swap. ive been debating it for over a year now. it was too much of a pain to control the clutch, break and go pedals. plus i dont have the time to learn before i deploy again and the JK hits the 4ws.com shop.
the v-6 just doesnt have the power to climb at idle with all the extra wieght it has to pull around. it just sits there and dies. give it some go juice and manage the clutch and you start to wonder. "what is that smell?" doh!! id rather go auto than change a clutch in the field.
ill be getting a better steering pump as well. these big tires are starting to take its toll on it. this pump was replaced in 2008 after the last time i did some wheeling, before the mods.
sorry no pics of that day's activities. i was having too much fun to think about pics.
oh, if anyone has the warn powerplant. how long does it take for the air to build up before i can air up again? i turned it on and waited for 30 mins. the pump would turn on and off every 2 mins for 5 seconds. i wasnt getting air. thankfully we had a bubble tank with us. which made quick work on the tires.
during the 118 mile drive down today the JK seemed to wonder more on the highway. on the way back i had 20psi and it seemed better. just FYI for those others with maddogs. im still trying to find the happy psi for them. 30psi was too much and the tires would grab every defect in the road and follow it. they are smooth as silk on concrete but asfault they tend to follow the ruts that can pop up every now and then (depending on how old/used the road surface is) county roads with the tar and gravel crap is worse than a loose gravel dirt road. the ruts really make you "drive" the JK
Phase II could start as soon as the end of november. i deploy again shortly and it will be time to take the JK back to 4ws.com for more work. the list hasnt changed but will be adding to it. should be done in time for EJS
MORE TO FOLLOW . . .
Any thoughts or comments would be helpfull for a successful build that works great and also looks good.
More pics to follow as i get them.
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