311LJ's UNLIMITED Build

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:10 PM

Well guys and gals, I finally am giving in to starting another build on the new Jeep.

Some of you know me for my WJ named Jimmer. The 2009 Grand Cherokee of the Year. Which sadly I sold...
Here's a few pics for remembrance and build thread link-
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f197/...thread-644569/

At the end of January 2011 I was shown a for sale ad for a Tj Unlimited. I have always wanted one and it peaked my interests. I found a buyer for the WJ and went and picked up the LJ.

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:16 PM

Here's some stats on the LJ when I purchased it

2004 Jeep TJ Unlimited
4.0 I-6
40k miles

4.56 Gears and LockRight Lockers Front and Rear
Rubicon Express Long Arm Kit with full belly skid and Custom 4 link Rear by Ben Hanks Racing
2" Teraflex coils and shocks
Cragar Soft 8 wheels, 15"
37x12.50x15 Goodyear Wrangler MTR's (old style)
no name front bumper and burned up winch
GenRight Highfender Flares, Corner Gaurds and Sliders
ORO Rear LED Taillights

Pics from ad

From the Day I bought it

jclauson · 05-26-2011, 10:23 PM

That seems like a good way to buy a rig :P

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:24 PM

Now yes, it needs some work. And yes it was previously built which goes against every part of me that loves building them... But I got this jeep for 11k. So for the low miles, it being an Unlimited and all the parts on it, I couldn't pass it up.

As you can tell from the pictures at the top, he slapped the GenRight Flares on and then sprayed primer on them while they were on the Jeep. You can see the overspray on the hood

Between the Time he took those pictures and I bought it, the primer had all but washed away and they were starting to surface rust. So the night I bought it I went to TuffJeeper's house and his dad helped me clean off the Primer on the body and we cleaned some things up and removed the seized up worthless winch..

We then headed to the some snow piles we knew of to play around ha ha ha

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jclauson

That seems like a good way to buy a rig :P

specially for 11k? lol thank, hope it works out in the end.. Its been 4 months and I've made quite a few improvements I am working on getting everything posted...

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:31 PM

So I had quite the list of things needed..

Big things are Axles and Tires
--It has a D30 and D44 and they are a little small for 37's lol
--These tires have like a half inch of tread. so some life but not much

Smaller things / Cosmetics
--Pull Cornerguards/ Fenders and get them painted or something to stop rust
--Relocate Mirrors
--Rear Bumper
--Winch
--Coat the Tub because there is crappy carpet and a scratched up tub
--Figure out how to make the cut hood look better

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:40 PM

So I decided the best way to find out what else I need to at to the list was to take it wheeling...

Sorry I don't have any great pics because it was in the dark but I got a pics at the beginning and the end lol

I did figure out a few things...

My pinion angle sucked and my rear lockright was acting up...

So I ordered a Spartan Locker for the rear to get me by until I can build axles..
I also Fixed the rear pinion angle.. the rear uppers where all the way short as they could go. I added 4-5" and got it all fixed.

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:45 PM

Next thing I did was change the Oil and ReCharge the K&N

I also picked up some color matched Paint. A little Fingernail polish type bottle and a rattle can.

I used the Little brush bottle to touch up the edge of the hood. Then I added some Black rubber trim so it didnt look as bad

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:49 PM

I decided while I waited for my spartan locker I would try to get my Jeep Legal (since I was in the Police academy and all, I'm graduated now)

First thing was the spare tire he gave me was brand new but there was no wheel.

So i ordered a wheel and decided to buy a rear bumper / tire carrier off my friend bradentaala.
I also ordered a license plate bracket, license plate light and 3rd brake light from KevinsOffroad.

Random Pic

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 10:53 PM

Then the parts showed up!

UPS thought he was funny hiding "two in the bush" lol

Spartan

License plate bracket and License plate light / 3rd brake light

I also thought about getting this plate lol

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 11:03 PM

I also got my Spare wheel

And When I was out wheeling I felt the jeep was a little low at 2", I would hit my belly skid on some small stuff.. So I picked up some 1" pucks from my buddy Tyler at CrawlerReady

I also found out that the PO had taken out the Windshield washer bottle and didn't know where it was so LUCKILY I have a ZJ bottle I will have to try to mount under the hood

The PO also gave me a brand new Header Bar and Best Top Bikini TOP :Thumbsup:

**311LJ** · 05-26-2011, 11:06 PM

Next I decided to install the Spartan in the Rear D44

So I pulled the LJ into my dads garage and popped of the diff cover...

and found this... missing teeth on the ring AND the pinion... a big old F...

So I ordered a Ring and Pinion and Master Rebuild kit from Randy's and my friend helped me Replace them.. Sorry no pics..

**311LJ** · 05-27-2011, 12:21 AM

Next was time to replace the stock bumper with the tire carrier from bradentaala...

before

after

lights on

Brake lights

When it got dark

**311LJ** · 05-27-2011, 12:28 AM

pic up at the Police Range in Orem

Now if you've noticed in the previous pics.. the body armor was getting bad.. So it was time to get it taken care of.. I have a friend who does powder coating so I decided to do his standard Black with a little silver flake in it.

Here's how bad they got...

So My Wife and I started pulling them off... it was a ROYAL PAIN! The PO had welded over bolts / nuts and stripped some out so I had to cut some off and drill others out.. Took me all day to get them off...

**311LJ** · 05-27-2011, 12:38 AM

When we took them off we discovered they had rusted pretty good behind them as well..

I got them back from powder coat the same day I took them off and they turned out good! If you look closely on the inside of them, you can see the rust had eaten down the metal. But not to bad.

The rust had also eaten into the Paint. So i wanted to clean it up best I could and Protect it..
I started with some rubbing compound

Which cleaned up the rust in the paint but still left discoloration..

So I followed that up with some clear Rustoleum Rust reformer and them some color matched paint..