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GCJEEPING's Build/Mod thread-It's a green thing-

159K views 428 replies 78 participants last post by  gcjeeping 
#1 ·
GCJEEPING's WJ Build/Mod thread-It's a Tan thing-

Well I finally decided to start a build/mod thread to consolidate all my stuff in hopefully one thread. It's a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 with a 242 TC and 30/35 axles that I bought new with 16 miles on it in Tucson AZ. I have a lot of catching up to do. I'll try and catch it up as quickly as possible.

Been Jeeping since 1975. Have had CJs, a MJ, XJs, WJs and a WK. Even spent two years in Turkey with my MJ wheeling.

Here is a pic of when my current 01 WJ was stock (on the right).


Here it is now.




Some of the mod are hyper-linked to threads or pics until I get everything on here.

All mods either made, done or put on by me except for a custom built drive-shaft.

BOLD ITEMS ARE FOR THIS BUILD THREAD (page & post)

Here is a list of things done...

6" ROCKKRAWLER LONG ARM

15X8 SOFT 8's, 33x12.5x15 PROCOMP MT's/TIMBERLINES AT's

Aussie locked 30/35 w/4.10s

Hi-lift jack

Bilstein shocks

Carolina DBL/DBL front drive shaft..... #page 1 post 7#

home brew rock rails..... #page 1 post 12#

grille guard..... #page 1 post 14#

front/rear hitch

T-Max 12.5k lb winch

rock lights..... #page 1 post 12#

Meangeen alt

TJ transfer skid..... #page 1 post 13#

elec OBA

Kilby belt driven OBA..... #page 1 post 2#

CB with external speaker

Split rear seats..... #page 1 post 6#

Vinyl doors..... #page 1 post 5#

3AR seats..... #page 2 post 19#

Custom front bumper..... #page 1 post 14#

Power inverter

55W backup lights

half doors #page 1 post 3#

102" redneck whip antenna

Super Lift Tru-Speed

strobes all 4 corners

Pioneer head with 1200w Pioneer amp and 2 10" Pioneer Subs

Semi air horns with pull cord

Deambered tail lights..... #page 1 post 9#

Quad tail lights..... #page 1 post 8#

Tail light covers..... #page 1 post 9#

Headlight covers

Custom hood cowl..... #page 1 post 20#

Custom hood scoops..... #page 2 post 20#

Bluetooth ELM 327 Diagnostics, Inclinometer, Torque vehicle ODB II system monitor

Tank lift #page 4 post 59 & page 6 post 89#

Custom rear bumper with swing tire carrier #page 4 post 57#

Front fender trim...#page 2 post 26#

Rear fender trim...#page 11 post 157#

Dual batteries #page 6 post 89#

Rock rail side extensions #page 4 post 54#

Snorkel #page 3 post 45 & page 4 post 48#

Wrangler gas bezel #page 6 post 83#

Custom front bumper(new sides)...#page 7 post 100#

Custom belly skid...#page 9 post 122#

Oil pan and trans pan skids...#page 9 post 130#

4 point harness & harness bar...#page 7 post 102#

In cab winch control...#page 9 post 123#

"A" pillar grab handles...#page 4 post 56#

Auto dim light switch w/fogs install...#page 4 post 58#

Overflow bottle relocation and ZJ washer bottle install...#page 3 post 45#

Boat sides...#page 7 post 101#

242LD to 242HD swap...#page 8 post 113#

Dual 40" 80 LED light bars...#page 9 post 131#

Custom roof rack...#page 10 post 142# ver 2.0...#page 11 post 155#

"A" pillar light tabs...#page 10 post 138#

PA speaker

3+ din dash mod for cb/radio/whelen light-PA controller...#page 12 post 171#

Under hood aux fused power distribution panel...#page 12 post 172#

Carbon fiber decal center console...#page 12 post 173#

LED light bar cover build...#page 14 post 205#

Rear QTR armor w/led tail lights...#page 19 post 281#

Wireless Bluetooth light controller...#page 20 post 298#

Akebono front brake upgrade.

Things coming up...

35" tires

9" rear with ARB and either 4.56 or 4.88 gears(Have the 9" set up for WJ)

44hp front with ARB and either 4.56 or 4.88 gears

Radiator lift with a XJ 3 core rad and XJ AC condenser(have both already). Will eliminate the bottom rad hoop

Custom rear bumper

Tube fenders

LED rock lights

Back up camera

--------------------------------------

GCJEEPING

2001 4.0 Laredo

Modifications: A couple...

HOME MADE -
rock rails,
brush guard/winch/receiver front bumper,
roof rack,
OD Green rattle can paint job,
split rear seat mod,
rear seat quick release mod,
tank lift, rear swing tire carrier,
dual batteries(Diehard Gel cells),
york belt driven OBA,
full belly/trans pan/oil pan skids,
snorkel, front fender trim,
winch, in cab winch control,
half doors, vinyl doors(for half doors),
de-ambered tail lights,
quad tail lights,
custom hood w/cowl and 5.9 louvers,
Diamond plate boatsides,
Tail light covers, Headlight covers,
Rear Qtr armor w/LED tail lights

BOLTED ON -
RockKrawler 6" long arm w/front discos,
Pacer soft 8s w/33/12.5/15 Procomp MTs and Dayton ATs,
D30 4.10 Aussie locker, D35 4.10 Aussie locker,
242HD,
Peterbilt Air horns w pull cord,
CB, 102" redneck cb whip,
Pioneer head unit/760w amp/2 10 subs,
ZJ washer bottle,
Blue Sea dual Battery isolator/charger,
Dual 40" LED light bars,
3AR front racing seats w/4 point harness,
1200w inverter,
60" high lift,
12.5K T-MAX.
Front and rear hitch, M
ean Green high output alt,
PA speaker,
Super Lift true speed,
Valentine One radar detector,
A-pillar grab handles,
242HD swap,
Wrangler gas brezel,
Bluetooth wireless light controller,
Akebono brake upgrade.

Favorite Modification - Half doors, Rear QTR armor w/LED tail lights

Least Favorite Modification - Euro style tail lights.

Best Trail Damage - Destroyed axle shafts & ripped off track bar mount.

Build Thread - My Build thread -- GCJEEPING's build/mod thread-IT'S A GREEN THING...

Miscellaneous - Bought new with 16 miles on it. Started cutting and modding it 4 years later. Still cutting and modding it today.





 
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#183 ·
Let the fun begin....

The only thing is I dont have a good measurement from the front of the metal part of the bumper you cut out to the plastic bumper where the front of the winch plate touches the back of the bumper. Looks about 5".

Also I think the Limited and Laredo will be slightly different in as far as how much the winch plate will stick out to the bumper. The Laredo's bumpers are indented between the bumperets and Limited's have no indents.

Mine design doesn't curve on the front like the original one. My winch is a 12.5k and the warn one is like 8k so mine is bigger. That wouldn't be a problem reproducing it with the sides 1/2-3/4 curved in.

So the original...







Ok I went out and took a few measurements and cut the center section.









Then the mock up. It fit perfect.









Wont get to work on it again until Thur.
 
#184 ·
Let the fun begin....

The only thing is I dont have a good measurement from the front of the metal part of the bumper you cut out to the plastic bumper where the front of the winch plate touches the back of the bumper. Looks about 5".

Also I think the Limited and Laredo will be slightly different in as far as how much the winch plate will stick out to the bumper. The Laredo's bumpers are indented between the bumperets and Limited's have no indents.

Mine design doesn't curve on the front like the original one. My winch is a 12.5k and the warn one is like 8k so mine is bigger. That wouldn't be a problem reproducing it with the sides 1/2-3/4 curved in.

So the original...

Ok I went out and took a few measurements and cut the center section.

Then the mock up. It fit perfect.

Wont get to work on it again until Thur.
Can u post the piece that came off.
 
#187 ·
gcjeeping said:
Let the fun begin....

The only thing is I dont have a good measurement from the front of the metal part of the bumper you cut out to the plastic bumper where the front of the winch plate touches the back of the bumper. Looks about 5".

Also I think the Limited and Laredo will be slightly different in as far as how much the winch plate will stick out to the bumper. The Laredo's bumpers are indented between the bumperets and Limited's have no indents.

Mine design doesn't curve on the front like the original one. My winch is a 12.5k and the warn one is like 8k so mine is bigger. That wouldn't be a problem reproducing it with the sides 1/2-3/4 curved in.

So the original...

Ok I went out and took a few measurements and cut the center section.

Then the mock up. It fit perfect.

Wont get to work on it again until Thur.
Very nice and clean - next youll be cutting off the radiator support :)
 
#189 ·
Got some plate cut and tack welded. Adjusted the one I'm making so the front curves like the Went out and did a quick test fit and seems to be good. Would have done more to it but the wind and rain is blowing and expecting snow tomorrow.

If I get a break in the storm I'll go out and mark the mount holes, drill them out and make the backing plates.

Then I'll make the sides for the winch plate. Also this one is made to fit a Warn XD9000. I found the dimensions online, made a template for the test fit.

Mine will have to be bigger since its a 12.5k. But here are the picks so far.



















 
#190 ·
Shhhhh thats sweet, when i think your rig is complete and nothing ells to improve, you always pulls of a new and better mod.
It must be a Green thing, Thumbsup.

GO GREEN!!!
 
#192 ·
I haven't been as diligent at watching the WJ side as I used to be, but this is what I think I saw... Somebody put up a link to a sweet recessed winch plate from a fabrication place's Facebook. Two days later, you're working on your own recessed winch plate. Is that about how things went down?

Regardless, I'm jealous of your fabrication.
 
#196 ·
Back on the winch plate...

The only problem I see for those looking for this kind of mod is the winch lock/free spool lever needs to face down or forward because it will hit the bottom of the grill otherwise. You can see in the pics of the original in one pic the handle is up and in the other it is facing down.

So you need to make sure the winch you have will let you rotate the end of the winch down. Other wise you can fab the plate to fit on top of the uniframe rails.
 
#200 ·
Awesome build. Wish I had your fad and welding skills, oh and your garage lol.
 
#204 ·
I got a kerosen heater and a torpedo heater. But i'll just wait a few days.



Drove the Jeep to the packing store to get some quotes on shipping on Jeep items I have for on here. Tried to list them on NAGCA but they cut me off at 3 post saying I was bumping threads by posting more that 3 posts in the sale thread every 48 hours. So the mod says I was bumping when I posted a new thread after 3 so he deleted all but 3 and I deleted the rest so there wouldnt be any questions. I know i posted a lot on here but it is too hard to manage 15 items in 1 thread and the thread would get too long to be worth reading. O'well JF may get more traffic in the sale section now.

And yes they have since "clarified" changed the wording for posting in the sale section. 2 things sold and 3 pending.


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