[Budasac]

So I've been on the forum for a while and figured it was time for a build thread. Nothing too crazy, but I've spent a lot of time doing little mods here and there and thought I'd share.

I don't have any totally stock pics so I'll throw up one of someone elses for a comparison. First is how she sits now (July 2012). Then a Sept. 2011 pic and some early shots I found.

[Budasac]

When I first bought it in 2005 I was looking for some accessories to make it stand out a little but, there was NOTHING on the market yet. I got some vent visors and Nifty Catch-All floor mats all the way around. Eventually Westin offered the Bull Bar and Nerf Bars so I scooped them up. Then I went a little chrome crazy. lol Chrome liftgate trim, door handles and wheel skins. Kinda going the street route.

At 19,000 my front rotors warped and I didn't want to have the dealer put the same crap on, so I went and got a set of EBC slotted/dimpled rotors w/ Green Stuff Ceramic Pads. Also figured I would paint the Calipers while I was at it.

[Budasac]

Then over the winter I slid in the snow and tagged another car.

(The pics won't work but are "clickable")

Also, since the hood was painted and the chrome "JEEP" lettering was removed, I decided to debadge the whole truck.

I also modified the Bull Bar mounting brackets so the bottom of the bar lined up with the lower valence. No specific pics, but in the first post you can see how far the bar is from the front bumper compared to the pics in the following posts after the lift is on.

[Budasac]

Eventually I got the lift bug. Too many chromed out Wk's runnin' around, and I hadn't seen any with a lift, so I changed direction a little. Got myself a Rough Country 2.25" Leveling Kit, some new shocks and struts, and strut mounts.

[Budasac]

Next it was time to fit some new rubber. The stock 235/65/17's (28") were lookin' a little silly. Two were almost brand new, so I was going to wait till they wore down, but I just couldn't. I got a used 265/70 (32") mounted on my spare rim to test fit before ordering new ones.

(Painted the Chrome skins black to see if I liked the look before doing the wheels.)

[Budasac]

The 32's just fit. (cleared the UCA bolt by about 1/8". After getting the tires mounted I ended up cuttin a bit off the bolt to give the tires a little more clearance).

After a little research I decided to go with a set of Firestone Destination A/T's. Got em' mounted and painted my rims.

I cleaned the wheels real good, sanded them, cleaned again, primed, two coats of black Rustoleum Wheel Paint, then two coats of clear.

[Budasac]

Did a little photoshoot after the tires went on.

[Budasac]

Had to mod my hitch so the spare would fit. I cut about 1 1/2 off the back of the receiver and cut the excess threads off the two inside bolts. Then I put some fresh paint on it. Still had to air down the tire and grease the cross member to make it fit, but it's better then having it the cargo area.

[biggoofy]

looking good man

[1stblack97ZJ]

Nice WK

[Budasac]

Next I removed the plastic valence in the front, but the Bull Bar looked stupid because it was hanging below the bumper now. Time to mod the mounting brackets again. I got it about as high and tight is it can go.

[Budasac]

Originally Posted by biggoofy

looking good man

Originally Posted by 1stblack97ZJ

Nice WK

Thanks guys. Got plenty more to post to bring it up to date but it's slow going since all the pics apparently need to be resized.

[Budasac]

At some point I decided to fold the pinch weld on the front fender to avoid slicing up my new tires when the front tire gets stuffed.

I made a few cuts(2) in the pinch weld with a sawzall, heated w/ a torch, folded it over with a BFH, added some ugly welds for strength, then primed and sprayed it with some rubberized undercoating.

[AJeepZJ]

Excellent dude... Very nice to see..... Good luck with the future mods.

[CmmdrDan]

Ohh a Buda build!