[UnlimiDozer]

Actually, I guess that title is a little misleading. I've done a few smaller things already: Quadratec Ultimate floor liners, some Rugged Ridge grab handles here and there, and a Carolina Metal Masters custom black anodized billet grab handle with Ram Mounting Systems 1" ball mount (for iPhone / iPad mounting, which I love!). But the best mod so far has been the Star Fabricating Smart Door Stops. My driveway is on a pretty significant slope, so the doors were just a pain. Then my wife had emergency surgery mid-July to remove a massive tumor that had almost blocked, and had perforated her colon. So a door swinging back on her was just not going to be a good day. Yes, it was cancer, but she's doing fine now and tolerating the chemo exceptionally well. Now, back to the Jeep.

So, recently got some 37" MTR/Ks from vfireman309 over on Pirate 4x4 and settled on some black MB 72s to mount them on until I can save the money to go with either Hutchinsons or the HMMWV wheels from TrailWorthy Fab. Mock up is below.

Of course, that's at factory ride height. AEV DualSport SC 4.5" lift is on its way as of this morning and should be here Wednesday. It's anybody's guess when I'll be able to get to the installation, but it will be as soon as I can squeeze it in. I'll put up some pics whenever I do.

There will be upgrades to the suspension in the future - like I'm leaning heavily toward the Metalcloak control arms for their DuraJoint - but for now this made the most sense for me, all in all.

Although I haven't posted much here, I've spent a lot of time following different threads and learning everything I can from the information here, as well as on Pirate. Thanks to those who put the site up, and to all who have made it the quality resource that it is.


Edit: Running List of Upgrades and Modifications (updated as things change or I remember something )

Interior

Quadratec Ultimate Floor Liners (Front, Rear, Cargo)
MOPAR Entry Guards
Star Fabricating Smart Door Stops
Black/Coyote Paracord Grab Handles
Molle Panels (Fender Wells & Tailgate / Drop-Down Table)
Poison Spyder JK Bolt-In Cage Kit
Poison Spyder C-Pillar Kit
Carolina Metal Masters JK Billet Grab Handle & RAM Mount
Bestop Quick Disconnects For Soft Top Bows
Smittybilt JK Rear Security Storage Vault
SuperChips TrailDash
ARB 50 qt. Fridge/Freezer

Exterior

Quadratec Manual Mirrors (For When Doors Are Off)
Crown Automotive Mirror Relocation Brackets
Teraflex HD Hinge
Teraflex Adjustable Tire Carrier
Custom Garage-built Stinger Front Bumper
Custom Garage-built Rear Bumper
Poison Spyder Aluminum Crusher Flares
Truck-Lite LED Mini Marker Lights
Truck-Lite LED Headlights
Poison Spyder Aluminum Brawler Rockers
Poison Spyder Crusher Corners
Truck-Lite 4" LED Tail Lights.
Poison Spyder LED Backup Lights with Adapter Harnesses (at corners and in bumper)
Poison Spyder 50” LED Light Bar Windshield Mounts
LED Warehouse 50" Dual Row Light Bar
AEV Gen 2 Snorkel

Suspension / Tires / Wheels

AEV DualSport SC 4.5”
Goodyear Wrangler MTR / Kevlar 37x12.50R17
MB Wheels 72 (Black) 17x8.5, 5x5, -6mm offset
Synergy Tie Rod
Synergy Drag Link
Synergy Ball Joints
Synergy Front Adjustable Track Bar
Synergy Track Bar / Steering Sector Shaft Brace
Raceline Monster Beadlocks, 17x9.5, 5x5.5, (Black w/ Polished AL Ring) (Not yet Installed)

Engine, Exhaust, & Drivetrain

Sierra Gear 5.13s
Poison Spyder D44 Bombshell Diff Covers (2nd gen.) w/ custom Dozer painted Spyder's
Ten Factory Rear Axle Shafts
BR6 Heavy Duty Front Brakes
TeraFlex Rear Big Rotor Kit
Hawk Performance LTS Brake Pads
TeraFlex 241OR 2 Low kit (2 Wheel Drive Low Range)
Adams 1310 Front Driveshaft
Wicked Flow (MagnaFlow clone) 14" Muffler (in place of resonator. Includes OEM Muffler delete and custom tailpipe)
Supertrapp 5" Disc Only Exhaust Tuner/Spark Arrestor
RCV Front Axle Shafts (Not yet installed)
SpynTec Conversion Front Lockout Hubs (Not yet installed)

Communication

Yaesu FT857D All Band Mobile Amateur Radio (Remotely Mounted)
Yaesu ATAS-120A All Band Mobile Active Tuning Antenna System (Optional Antenna for HF/VHF/UHF)
Yaesu FC-40 Automatic Antenna Tuner
102" Stainless Steel Whip (HF Antenna)
Kenwood TH-215A 2 Meter Handheld
Kenwood TH-415A 440 Mhz Handheld
Uniden Pro 538W CB Radio
FireStik 48” CB Antenna
Rugged Radios RRP660 Intercom (3 H-22 Headsets, 1 H-15 Headset)
Rugged Radios Billet (Black) Tube Mounts

Recovery

Hi-Lift Xtreme in Custom Carrier (Mounted to Teraflex HD Hinge)
Smittybilt 3x30 30K Recovery Strap
(4) ¾” Screw Pin Shackles (Working Load Limit 6 1/2 Tons Per)
Warn Zeon 10-S 10,000 lb. Winch with Synthetic Rope
Factor 55 Pro-Link (Orange)

Misc.

PowerTank 10#
Fire Extinguisher, 5# (with PowerTank Mount)
First Aid (Molle IFAIK Bags - 1 Minor Trauma, 1 Major Trauma, Field Surgical Kit)
Max Axe (Military Surplus OD Green)

On the Wish List:

Artec Industries:

Rear Truss
Front Armor Kit (Truss, C Gussets, Track-Bar Mount)
Belly Pan

Metalcloak:

Duroflex Control Arms (Maybe Lock-n-Load Long Arm Kit)

Poison Spyder:

Inner Fenders (Maybe. Not settled on this. Maybe ACE Engineering.)

Rugged Ridge Heat Reduction Hood (Maybe)
SPOD? (Also considering SwitchPros SP-8100)
Cube Lights (flood pattern) for lower windshield corners
LED Fog Light replacements (JW Speaker or similar).
Corbeau Baja XRS Front Seats
TrekArmor Seat Covers (Maybe. Rear only.)
Tuffy or similar under-seat drawers.
AFE Y-Pipe With Loop Eliminator Down Tube or Magnaflow equivalent
Rear Drive Shaft as needed.

 

[bhoch]

Cool - Good color choice for your JKU!

Hope your wife has not further complications due to her cancer!

 

[Gotlime?]

Looks good. I like bright colored Jeeps.

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Thanks guys. I like the brighter colors too. Although I really like a military themed Jeep and that's kind of hard to do in bright yellow-orange!

My wife's doing really well and prognosis is for a full recovery. She had a lot of complications because the tumor was so advanced. Was in the hospital for 21 days trying to get rid of the accompanying infection, and correct the collapsed lung from the invasion of the tumor and abscess below it. But that was late July and early August. Lots of water under the bridge since then and she is more "herself" now than she has been in probably 3-5 years. It's strange to think back about things that were going on and realize it was not something minor, but the effects of cancer attacking and depleting her body.

We're actually at the chemotherapy treatment center right now, getting treatment #4, so she is 1/3 of the way through the process. They're probably going to do some radiation after that's done, but its all precautionary at this point. They think they got all of the tumor and that it has not spread. We're certainly thankful for that, and for the concern of those who have expressed it.

 

[TEXASKEV]

Love that color, keep posting pics as you do your build

 

[zpgray19]

That is going to look great. Glad to read your wife is doing well.

 

[ttechris]

Great color choice!

 

[Off Pavement]

Great news about your wife. I'm a 21 year survivior myself so it's not a death sentence like it used to be. Prayers your way.

Nice lookin' Rubi... will be fun watchin'

 

[Gecko JK]

Will be fun to watch build. I'm on the same path but a little smaller AEV 3.5 and 35s. Great to hear people beating Cancer

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Half lifted

Was able to carve out a weekend, and got started on the lift tonight. There's a crappy iPhone night shot using a work flood for light in My Garage if you wanna see. Here's the link: http://www.jkowners.com/forum/dto_garage.php?do=viewvehicle&vehicle_id=1717 :thankyou:

Definitely going to have to trim the pinch seam and Rubi Rails. I've got about 3/8" between the tire and the rail at ride height. :cwm13:

Tomorrow we do the front. My 17 year old and 12 year old daughters are helping with the lift, but tomorrow it will be just me and the 12 year old. Looking forward to some great memories from this. I love the fact that my girls are a part of it.

 

[Ryanralston07]

Was able to carve out a weekend, and got started on the lift tonight. There's a crappy iPhone night shot using a work flood for light in My Garage if you wanna see. Here's the link: http://www.jkowners.com/forum/dto_garage.php?do=viewvehicle&vehicle_id=1717 :thankyou:

Definitely going to have to trim the pinch seam and Rubi Rails. I've got about 3/8" between the tire and the rail at ride height. :cwm13:

Tomorrow we do the front. My 17 year old and 12 year old daughters are helping with the lift, but tomorrow it will be just me and the 12 year old. Looking forward to some great memories from this. I love the fact that my girls are a part of it.

That's awesome that you're doing that. My wife spent a lot of time with her dad working (he's a contractor), and now that we do work on the jeep and other various things, it's quite a blessing that she is so skilled and crafty. I tell you that to tell you that what you're doing with your daughters will make great memories, teach ethic, and make a future husband happy. haha :shitstorm:

 

[UnlimiDozer]

How do you like me now?

OK . . .

Before:

Half Lifted (sorry for the crappy picture):

Mostly done, just have a few details to wrap up -- final torques, reprogram PCM, trim pinch seams, mod Rubi Rails . . .

Only problem is now the step is almost at my wife's waist! (She's little, only 5'-1".) I guess I'll have to pick her up and set her in her seat until I can come up with a solution I like. Oh well, that's not so bad. Maybe she can :bounce::lol:

So here's a better one, maybe my new avatar?

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Just installed my new Teraflex HD Hinge and Adjustable Carrier today. Write-up at http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84437.

 

[J1000]

Looks great; I really dig the Dozer/black wheel combo. Best wishes to your wife.

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Thanks J1000. She's doing really well. Has her next treatment on Tuesday and then will be half-way done. We've been really blessed the way the whole situation has gone.

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Took some time yesterday and went out to Carnegie SVRA to play a little in 4x4 and get some fresh air. The wife and I just needed to be able to let down and think about something else for a while. It was a good time and I finally got the chance to flex out the suspension. Hadn't had the opportunity since lifting it, so it was time well spent as well as having some fun. Was a beautiful day, so we got some pics as well.

Last one is out at Lake Del Valle. Pretty much had the place to ourselves except for the Canadian geese. The dog loved it.

 

[UnlimiDozer]

Easy & Cheap 3rd Brake Light Solution

Had this idea almost as soon as I installed my Teraflex HD Hinge and Adjustable Mount. Turns out it worked great! The holes in the MB 72 wheels are perfect for installing a 2" Marker Light with the Rubber Grommet. I've got less than $30 in 4 (!) of the marker lights with grommets and pigtails. (I bought spares, and may use a couple of them on my M101a2 expedition trailer project. Also had originally thought about using two for the CHMSL on the Jeep, but I may just stick with the one.) Let me know what you think!

Just used Scotch-Locs to tap into the OEM wiring after snipping the loom in a couple of places. Then taped it up good so it's protected from water.

Installed closeup ^^ and lit vv

Could also be done in the center hole if I cut a circle in the mounting adapter plate and installed the grommet there. But I intend to relocate the license plate to the spare, so the center location is out.

Unfortunately, I can't find a rotation of the spare that places one hole precisely at vertical. I can rotate it where 2 are horizontal at the top of the circle and that's why I was initially thinking about using 2 lights. What do you guys think?

 

[Thisguyhasadd42]

Jeep looks great man! Really like it without the doors too, also great to here your wife is doing good!

 

[UnlimiDozer]

No opinions on the brake light question?

 

[Trembley]

It being off-center would drive me bat-shit crazy...