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Snobrdrkid's WJ Build Thread

420K views 7K replies 99 participants last post by  snobrdrkid07 
#1 ·
I figured I would start one of these for the fun of it! Unfortunately no lifts yet. But my WJ is at least not bone stock anymore! :D

I will start from the beginning.

The build Sheet
Code:
Sales Code:  ---    Description:
*E7 Cloth Low-Back Bucket Seats
-L5 Taupe
ADC Convenience Group
AHT Trailer Tow Group
APAS Monotone Paint
A24P 4.0L Engine(ERH)/4Spd Auto Trans(DGK
BAZS 136 Amp Alternator
BC6S 625 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
BRYS Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
CACS Low Back Bucket Seats
CBWS Highline Door Trim Panel
CFNS Rear 60/40 Folding Seat
CGUS Child Seat Anchor System-LATCH Ready
CG1S Next Gen Multistage Front Air Bags**
CKDS Floor Carpet
CKNS Cargo Compartment Carpet
CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops
CLE Front & Rear Floor Mats
CLHS Cargo Trim Panel w/Storage Net
CLPS Door Sill Scuff Pads
CSC Cargo Compartment Cover
CSRS Passenger Assist Handles
CUDP Mini Overhead Console
CUFS Full Length Floor Console
DGBS All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions
DGK 4-Spd. Automatic 42RE Transmission
DHAS Lock-Up Torque Converter
DHPS Selec-Trac Full Time 4WD System
DJJS Dana 30/186MM Front Axle
DMEP 3.73 Rear Axle Ratio
DRMS Dana 35C/194MM Rear Axle
ERH 4.0L I6 Power Tech Engine
GBBS Tinted Windshield Glass
GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass
GEGS Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass
GEPS Flipper Liftgate Glass
GFAS Rear Window Defroster
GNAS Rear View Day/Night Mirror
GNVS Sun Visors w/Vanity Mirror
GTNS Power Mirrors, Fold-Away
GWA Power Sunroof
GXMP Remote Keyless Entry
GXXS Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
HAAS Air Conditioning
HGAS Hood Insulation
HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group
I38S Route 38 - UP, Mesquite, TX
JAYS Instrument Cluster w/Tach
JCBS 120 MPH Primary Speedometer
JHAS Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
JHBS Rear Window Wiper/Washer
JJBS Dual Note Electric Horns
JKAS Locking Glove Box
JKPS 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
JKYS Power Accessory Delay
JPBS Power Locks
JPDS Power Windows, Driver One-Touch
JPSS Power 6-Way Driver Seat
KRSS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
KWSS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K4SS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
K5SS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR
LACS Illuminated Entry
LAGS Warning Chime
LAZP Vehicle Information Center
LBBS Courtesy Lamps
LBCS Glove Box Lamp
LCES Rear Courtesy/Reading Lamps
LDBS Cargo Compartment Lamp
LETP Traveler/Mini Trip Computer
LMBS Halogen Headlamps
LPSS CHMSL Lamp
MDAS Front License Plate Bracket
MFTS Body Color Grille
MHAS Black Windshield Moldings
MT2S Trail Rated Badge
MVCS Jeep Badge
MWES Side Roof Rails
NAS 50 State Emissions
NBGP Federal Tier 2, Bin 9A Emissions
NFPS 20.5 Gallon Fuel Tank
NHMS Speed Control
PB8 Midnight Blue Pearl Coat
QB8S Midnight Blue Pearl Coat
RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles
RBKS AM/FM Compact Disc Radio w/Chgr Ctrl
RCGS 6 Speakers
RDDS Fixed Long Mast Antenna
SBAS Power Rack and Pinion Steering
SCAS Steering Wheel
SDAS Normal Duty Suspension
SUAS Tilt Steering Column
TBBS Full Size Spare Tire
TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire
TTB P245/70R16 OWL All Terrain Tires
TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires
WDQP 16" Steel Spare Wheel
WDRS 16X7.0 Lux Alum Silver Wheels
WLYC All Steel Wheels
WLZC All Aluminum Wheels
XFJP Class III Receiver Hitch
XFKP 7 Pin Wiring Harness
XFLP 7 to 4 Pin Wiring Adaptor
XPFS Protective Coating and Remover
YAAS Build To U.S. Mkt. Specifications
YGCA 7 Additional Gallons of Gas
ZKFP Spring - Left Front
ZKYP Spring - Left Rear
ZYFP Spring - Right Front
ZYYP Spring - Right Rear
Z6DS GVW/Payload Rating
1AAS U.S. Dealer Retail
135S Zone 35-Washington
2TEA Customer Preferred Package 2TE
26E Customer Preferred Package 26E
3FTA Convenience Group Discount
39BA New Price Tracking
4X7A Virginia Chapter-90 Recovery
5I1S WJ-Vehicle Family
5I4S Four Wheel Drive (4WD)/(4X4)
5I8S Left Hand Drive (LHD)
594S Vehicle Order Tracking
6USS U.S. Specifications Label
647S Virginia Ship to State Code
947S Virginia Sold to State Code
My 2004 Grand Cherokee was bought brand new in 04, It was the family SUV until it was given to me in the Summer of 2010. I have been driving it and loving it ever since!

When I got the Jeep - could not wait to start making it my own
  1. New Steering Stablilzer
  2. 4 Skyjacker Nitro 8000 Gas charged shocks
  3. New tailgate lift struts. (June 2010)
  4. Projector and Halo headlights (Aug 2010)
  5. Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X794 Head Unit (Aug 2010)
  6. Interior white LED's put in. (September 2010)
  7. New Yokohama Geolander All Terrain 245/70/16's (November 2010)
  8. Memphis Coax 3-way 6x9's Fronts and Memphis Coax 2-Way 6.5 Rears. (which are freaking loud) (November 27th 2010)
  9. 55w H1 HID Lights at 6000K Color Temperature (December 1st 2010)
  10. Alpine MRP-M500 amp with Alpine 12" 1223D Dual Voice Coil Subs running at 2-Ohms (500 watts RMS)
  11. Alpine MRX-F30 amp for the doors pushing 75 watts x4 (August 2011)
  12. SuperChips - Flashpack
  13. Painted the bottom part of the bumper to look like an Overland.
  14. Got the Front Windows Tinted
  15. Put on a set of Overland Rims
  16. Electro-Luminescent Overland Gauges

Table of Contents
1. HID's
2. Halo Lights
3. Subs
4. Snow Jan 2011
5. Kenwood Headunit
6. Factory Build Sheet
7. NC Pictures, OBX
8. Fuel Filter Change with Picture
9. Mopar Skid Plate
10. Auto-Dim Mirror
11. Rear 3/4 Inch Spacer Install
12. Front Bumper Painted Silver Strip
13. Yard Work
14. Left for VT
15. Front Drive Shaft
16. Sinking Creek - Potts Run 1
17. Double Din Face Plate
18. Highlights from Callalantee, Mountain City, TN
19. Maintenance Day
20. Hit the 4Runner Pretty Good with the Trailer - Pictures
21. Idle Videos
22. First Look at the OME HD Coils
23. OME HD and JKS Adjustable TB - Pictures
24. Overland Rims 1
25. Gear Oil Change and Differential Pictures
26. Overland Rims on
27. Overland Rims 2
28. Window Tint Pictures
29. Rock Light Switch 1
30. Rock Lights On!
31. Car Show - Jeeps!
32. Ready to go back to Tech
33. Rolled 100,000
34. Overland Gauges Came in
35. Overland Gauges at Night!
36. Mountain Lake Wheeling
37. To-Do List
38. Kickdown Video
39. Snow at VT
40. Another Wheeling Picture
41. Wheeling Aftermath Clean Up and EVIC disassembly
42. Rear Axle Seal Going
43. Cleaned up
44. OME HD Coil Spring Update!!
45. 0-60 Videos
46. Back at VT - Spring 2012
47. K&N Filter Numbers
48. Cold Start Up Video
49. HID's driving
50. Auxiliary Transmission Cooler 1
51. Auxiliary Transmission Cooler Install
52. Copperhead Wheeling Pictures
53. Copperhead Rocks with the WJ
54. Mechanical Fan Hitting the Electric Fan
55. Noob Lift Chart
56. Turbo Encabulator
57. Freedom Roof Rail Teaser
58. Freedom Roof Rails Installed with Pictures
59. Cam Talk
60. Can't Trade in my Jeep
61. City Driving and Acceleration Videos
62. 2/10 Would no Drive - VERY FUNNY
63. OME HD LIFT - FINALLY
64. Trunk LED's
65. Painted Rear D.S.
66. Cleaned Up with the Lift
67. Moog Order - Open boxes
68. Stillen Brakes
69. Moog TRE - Measurements
70. Brakes and Tie Rods Installed
71. Rear 5100's
72. JKS Track Bar Movement 1
73. Air Box Mod
74. 4.0 Wheel Spin
75. Front D.S. Angle :(
76. IRO Control Arm Info
77. Broken U-Joint
78. JKS Track Bar Movement 2
79. AP Run-Down
80. Results from Southern Performance

Pictures:


Current:



 

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#6,199 ·
Ahh ha, the ATF trick, I did not forget about this and was thinking about it. (After I saw a quart sitting in my trunk, left over from the Aux Cooler install. :cool: ) Just got some coupons for Mopar Parts, and picked up 3 oil filters for free at the dealer. I might just have to utilize an extra one. I won't be doing an oil change though for another 1,800 miles. Shooting for a 5k OCI again. When I sent in my oil to BlackStone, while dirty, they said it was still considered "good" so I feel running out to 5k shouldn't hurt.

While on the oil topic, dare I bring up the Synthetic vs. Conventional debate? This has been picking my brain for awhile. I had dropped off the Saab, 2011? 9_3 Turbo, the service guys I took it too said that they wanted to switch it over to Conventional after the warranty expires. The manual calls for synthetic xxw-xx, so running what the manual says won't void warranty blah blah. But afterwards, make the switch because he was telling me that synthetics can gel up and cause clogs? There was more too it but I was too busy trying to figure out why he would say that in my head at the time, I forgot some of the rest. Bottom line he was pretty adamant about not running Synthetic. We've been running synthetic literally for the entire life of the WJ and I don't thinks its had any harm done because of it. It seriously has not seen a drop of conventional since the break in oil, per my memory and data log. Don't know, seems like everyone has opinions, would love to see some numbers/tests/data. :confused:

I've considered running Rotella T5 since the I6 is such a diesel at heart. :cool:
 
#6,200 ·
Also picked up a leather steering wheel with radio controls. Got it for a steal and it is in good condition. Leather isn't torn up or anything.


Also taking care of this little guy too, well girl haha

 
#6,201 ·
Been busy blah blah blah as usual. Have not had a chance to finish the rims yet... STILL.

-Put the leather steering wheel on after I cleaned it. In real good shape too. Have to get my audio guys to program the radio controls on the wheel.
-Won a heated passenger mirror for cheap on eBay
-Ordered some new rear glass hatch struts on closeout for $7 a piece. Figured they should work better than... not at all haha. Tired of getting hit in the head!
-Got some vertical power motors of eBay for cheap too. Going to finally attempt to replace the broken motor on the driver's side rear up and down.

Jeep has not been seeing as much love as usual haha. Just been driving it around town and some hour trips. I've found that just taking it easy on the highway will result in a much better ride. Hitting an off center bump at 55-60, eh maybe a shimmy or two. Hitting the same thing at 80... more than a shimmy or two...

The track bar bushings I guess finally soaked up all the grease from about a month ago. It has been quiet and I've been happy. I can come to a stop and not here any clunks or pops! Being able to drive around and not here those sounds are comforting!
 
#6,202 ·
#6,203 ·
Interesting... I wonder if they sell just the johnny joint end. It'd be curious to try it out since I've been using the standard JKS for quite some time now.
 
#6,204 ·
Probably wouldn't sell just that end. I guess they finally redid it after having bushings problems.

I wonder if that Johnny Joint has like a spanner tool too tighten it or its just a sealed unit.
 
#6,205 ·
Just another day with the transmission screwing with me. Oh well.

 
#6,206 ·
I'm not sure I noticed anything weird... What's it doing?
 
#6,207 ·
When I was letting off the gas after cruising at speed, it would kinda clunk and the RPM's would drop and it would feel like it's applying brakes. Is there supposed to be that much of a drop in RPMs?
 
#6,208 ·
Hmmm... I'm not sure. Remember, RJ stole my WJ so I won't be able to check for some time! :)

Have you checked to make sure the clunk isn't coming from a drive shaft u-joint?
 
#6,209 ·
"Felt" different, maybe it isn't. This stupid transmission is always trolling me. It makes the weirdest vibrating and grinding sound only in Neutral. Screw it, when it really breaks, I'll know haha.

U-Joints are still good. There is the large amount of slop in the rear diff. Always get a nice clunk going to Reverse. Lol
 
#6,210 ·
snobrdrkid07 said:
When I was letting off the gas after cruising at speed, it would kinda clunk and the RPM's would drop and it would feel like it's applying brakes. Is there supposed to be that much of a drop in RPMs?
Clunk: slop in drivetrain and you're unloading the power suddenly and switching to coasting

RPMS dropping: letting off gas and torque converter unlocking

Feel like its applying brakes: aerodynamics of a Jeep at highway speeds while not applying any power.
 
#6,211 ·
So its Jeep being Jeep. Figures. Thanks guys.
 
#6,212 ·
Finally fixed the driver's side power seat with a new motor off eBay and some pins from TSC haha





Yeah I cleaned all that up too ^^^ haha
 
#6,213 ·
You should see the inside of the WJ and the TJ, especially after hitting that 'mud puddle'.
 
#6,214 ·
Yeah I would rather not!
 
#6,215 ·
Even thought I just fixed my power seat up front. I just got a full set of leather seats!

Taupe, 10 way power, heated, memory all for $100. In great condition too.
 
#6,216 ·
Even thought I just fixed my power seat up front. I just got a full set of leather seats!

Taupe, 10 way power, heated, memory all for $100. In great condition too.
$100 WOW what a steal michael :rofl:
 
#6,218 ·
Here we go! Won't be able to get the memory to work. But would like to get the heated seat option going somehow!

They look great and are really comfy!





 
#6,219 ·
They look good. Really. If I recall, the heated seat module is under the driver's seat, and this goes under the carpet to the passenger seat. There's an in-dash button/switch that turns it on. It looks to be some form of transformer under the driver seat. I'm not sure how it all works. I never could figure it out, so when I transplanted leather WJ seats into my ZJ, I just lived without the heating function. I hope you're able to find a way to make them work. It might be easier as you're putting them into another Dub.
 
#6,220 ·
WJJeeps is my hero lol. I'll keep an eye on eBay. Should have snagged that whole WJ. He wanted a Grand and it was mine. There was much money to be made.

For 1999-2004 Grand Cherokees that came without heated seats the wiring is a little more involved as the heat function is controlled via the PCI Bus and you will be hooking up two seats. Two heated seat switches will have to be purchased and installed in the center bezel. Some center bezels have the holes pre-cut with blank plates installed while others may have to be trimmed out with a dremel type tool. Some owners elect to just purchase a new center console bezel assembly as there are several choices available (with and without ashtray for example). See Interior Trim for a list of part numbers for center bezels.

NOTE: A factory pre-wired harness for the heated seat switches is located behind the center lower bezel in most if not all models that did not have this feature. All you have to do is plug the two harness plugs into the two heated seat switches.
 
#6,221 ·
Well I saw something I didn't really like yesterday from the Jeep. Saw a puff of blue smoke from the exhaust on start up. Just a little bit and stopped. (my friend was moving the Jeep and I saw it). So I was told that this was the valve seals leaking a little oil into the exhaust. I guess it is something to keep an eye on and check the oil levels more frequently. I'm going to be curious with the next oil analysis if they find any excessive iron or metal.
 
#6,222 ·
I put in the other heated mirror for the passenger side today. While I had the door panel I remembered that the Keyless Entry antenna was in the passenger door panel. I read around a while ago on here that people had luck extending the range by adding some more wire to the antenna wire. So, I added about 3 feet of similar gauge wire to it and taped it to the door panel. Put it back together and BAM I now have about 20-30 foot range compared to 2-3 feet of range! Simple and easy!
 
#6,224 ·
Awesome thread and WJ!

I'm still on page 388 and need to catch up.

I was wondering if you could possibly measure your IRO LCA's length so I can get my caster close to yours.
 
#6,225 ·
BAM BAM... BAM!

Hey Thanks man, Sure has been a project. Haha.

Every Jeep is a little different but, to get a rough count I have about 4-5 threads showing on my LCA's. Barely extended over factory length from what I can tell, I really does not take much. Where I am at, caster wise, is a little too much. I am round 6.7° of caster at the moment and I am getting some driveline MINOR driveline vibes at 70-75+ mph.

I would recommend a bit of trial and error with the control arms and shoot for a caster number around 5-5.5°, that seems to be a general number to shoot for in the WJ community with a lift. I got myself an unlimited alignment plan with a local tire shop so they can measure my caster angle for me. (They won't adjust it, the print out just tells me what I needed to do).

If you would like, I can take some pictures for you for a visual reference.
 
#6,226 ·
Thanks, that would be great, I replied to your PM prior to reading this post. Dang, I wish i could find a shop that does UNLIMITED alignments, shame they don't adjust it for you...
 
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