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Moony's "Big Red" 08 JK Build Thread

87K views 455 replies 58 participants last post by  sadass 
#1 ·
Hello to all in the JK section.. I rarely am over here but when I was, the drooling never stopped. So I suppose I can give a small background on my jeep history!

Ive owned a ZJ, and a WJ. Loved them both and they impressed me beyond my expectations. I favored the WJ, mainly for comfort and space while having the v8. Also heated seats and a sunroof while wheeling was nice too ;)

Anyways, I sold the jeep to my parents for a down payment on my Kia, decided that I didnt like it enough to make payments on it for 5 years so I traded it in today for a preowned 2008 JK 4 door sahara with 18k miles on it. Very, VERY satisfied with the quality of the rig, sound system is awesome and everything is perfect from a wrangler.. definitely not what I expected. Overall, very happy so far! Heres a picture at the dealer today as I was signing papers. Very clean, and yes I like my rigs in good shape so expect offroading but then a clean rig after haha



More than likely will be a slow build, but I will be getting new wheels and tinting my windows here pretty soon around tax return season.

Other than that, nice to meet y'all! :2thumbsup:
 
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#42 ·
Thank you! I like it too ;)

nice pick up on the sliders, imo, trim, if done right and you put the door trim on they will look great, i get constant compliments and people asking me where i bought mine. when i say they're trimmed stockers they are blown away. imo, depending on the shape you choose, trimmed stockers look the best, plus if you don't like them then you can buy the bush wackers. btw, imo bush wackers only look good if you have a very wide setup. just saying but ultimately its your jeep. so do what you like. i also like the stocks flexibility, saharas usually crack but mine get smushed on trees and just fold in and back out instead of getting ruined. here in pa, there are some very tight trails.
Good point actually. We have a lot oftrees butt they are spaced out enough to miss them easy. I might trim them, or imight be able to sell them. Got some time to figure that out.

Going to get the sliders, wahoo!
 
#41 ·
nice pick up on the sliders, imo, trim, if done right and you put the door trim on they will look great, i get constant compliments and people asking me where i bought mine. when i say they're trimmed stockers they are blown away. imo, depending on the shape you choose, trimmed stockers look the best, plus if you don't like them then you can buy the bush wackers. btw, imo bush wackers only look good if you have a very wide setup. just saying but ultimately its your jeep. so do what you like. i also like the stocks flexibility, saharas usually crack but mine get smushed on trees and just fold in and back out instead of getting ruined. here in pa, there are some very tight trails.
 
#44 ·
Haha yeah i wouldnt do it until I got tires

Picked up the sliders! No.. no pictures because its dark but these are pretty stout. Never been offroad, still look like new. Feels like they weigh 50-60 pounds a piece. Will be putting them on tomorrow for sure.

Also have decided on the size of lift I want. The guy I bought the sliders from had a 2.5 mopar lift on it with 35" duratracs, looked killer! I looked around and I saw the price and was a little surprised how expensive it was. I saw a friend of mine has a RC lift and went to their website. Normally I would stay away but their stuff looks like its good quality. I can get the 3.5" kit and then try out the stock shocks. If I dont like them, then Ill look at some bilsteins. That said, heres the kit. Seems like a good basic lift, and can be upgraded as time goes on.

http://roughcountry.com/jeep_jk_3-seriesII.html
 
#45 ·
MoonyJohn said:
Haha yeah i wouldnt do it until I got tires

Picked up the sliders! No.. no pictures because its dark but these are pretty stout. Never been offroad, still look like new. Feels like they weigh 50-60 pounds a piece. Will be putting them on tomorrow for sure.

Also have decided on the size of lift I want. The guy I bought the sliders from had a 2.5 mopar lift on it with 35" duratracs, looked killer! I looked around and I saw the price and was a little surprised how expensive it was. I saw a friend of mine has a RC lift and went to their website. Normally I would stay away but their stuff looks like its good quality. I can get the 3.5" kit and then try out the stock shocks. If I dont like them, then Ill look at some bilsteins. That said, heres the kit. Seems like a good basic lift, and can be upgraded as time goes on.

http://roughcountry.com/jeep_jk_3-seriesII.html
I have the rc 3.25 lift and have been completely happy with it. I've had it for almost three years 0 issues. I clear 35's easy. I bet I could clear 37's if I trimmed a little.
 
#48 ·
Ok, ill try them out. Bilsteins or other options are always available!

Got my sliders mounted up, took maybe 3 total hours. Longest part was bolting the pinch seam up, and being smittybilt the holes didnt line up perfect but we got them in! Beefy and look sleek, just wish they stuck out more.

 
#49 ·
Took the jeep for its first wheeling trip, and probably the first time its ever seen mud. It did pretty well for being stock, mainly the tires were holding it back and ofcourse the low belly, but other than that it maneuvered well! I found out that the sliders are a rare occasion, I think I only hit them maybe once. I bottomed out multiple times which werent really a big deal, but the lift will be nice right about now. Took some pictures, and most dont do justice but some things were pretty sticky. I went with my brothers WJ (Badmoony), and a buddy with a lifted jk on 35s (blackwhiteriot).















Bottomed out here, in the second picture





Heres my brothers WJ













And Chads JK









 
#52 ·
Thanks guys! It was alot of fun and it was nice to get back on the trails after over a year.

Ordered my wheels and tires, went with 35" km2's with the 15" level 8 trackers. Only ordered 4 for now until I decide to get a matching spare (just to save some money). Also deciding on the AEV 2.5" coil lift with bilsteins. Looks like a good quality lift and it includes bilsteins. So look forward to some changes here soon!
 
#53 ·
MoonyJohn said:
Thanks guys! It was alot of fun and it was nice to get back on the trails after over a year.

Ordered my wheels and tires, went with 35" km2's with the 15" level 8 trackers. Only ordered 4 for now until I decide to get a matching spare (just to save some money). Also deciding on the AEV 2.5" coil lift with bilsteins. Looks like a good quality lift and it includes bilsteins. So look forward to some changes here soon!
Hurry up and get it on! I wanna go to browns!
 
#58 ·
Ordered originally a RE 3.5 lift kit and it was all backordered, so i started rethinking a different route. I went with the AEV 2.5" Dualsport XT Lift with a Rock Krawler front adj. track bar since the kit didnt include one and I knew the inch difference in the way the axle sat would bother me.

Next on the list will be my wheels and tires, ill let you see them when I get them here soon. Will be rolling a stocker with 35s here shortly lol

Way stoked, will be a killer setup with bushwackers some day. Ill get the AEV module here sometime too for recalculating the speedo
 
#60 ·
Ordered originally a RE 3.5 lift kit and it was all backordered, so i started rethinking a different route. I went with the AEV 2.5" Dualsport XT Lift with a Rock Krawler front adj. track bar since the kit didnt include one and I knew the inch difference in the way the axle sat would bother me.

Next on the list will be my wheels and tires, ill let you see them when I get them here soon. Will be rolling a stocker with 35s here shortly lol

Way stoked, will be a killer setup with bushwackers some day. Ill get the AEV module here sometime too for recalculating the speedo
I see you reconsidered your options:p JK :thumbsup::thumbsup:
You'll like the ride of the AEV. It flexes prety good disco'd as well. Did you end up getting the control arm drop brackets. They hang down a bit ,but I feel the difference in handling with mine. Glad to see your build coming along and your getting her dirty.:highfive:
 
#59 ·
MoonyJohn said:
Ordered originally a RE 3.5 lift kit and it was all backordered, so i started rethinking a different route. I went with the AEV 2.5" Dualsport XT Lift with a Rock Krawler front adj. track bar since the kit didnt include one and I knew the inch difference in the way the axle sat would bother me.

Next on the list will be my wheels and tires, ill let you see them when I get them here soon. Will be rolling a stocker with 35s here shortly lol

Way stoked, will be a killer setup with bushwackers some day. Ill get the AEV module here sometime too for recalculating the speedo
Should of tried RC.
 
#62 ·
Took another wheeling adventure, and this time was more of a challenge. Didnt get many action pictures cause most of them are blurry, but we got plenty video of snow which we got stuck in for a while. Heres some pictures to hold you off until I get a few videos up. Went up with my brother "Badmoony"

















Then we found snow, wet snow



Videos soon
 
#65 ·
It was crazy up there, lots of snow. That trail is cedar tree, its 3 times longer than powerline. Shoots you around firebreaker 5 area, we got really familiar with the roads now so it should be easier now
 
#69 ·
Got a couple things for the jeep these past few days. Picked up my new wheels and tires, 35/12.5R15 KM2's with Level 8 trackers. Changed the stance completely (in a great way ofcourse), also picked up a bushwacker hood scoop. Also trimmed the bumper, will definitely be keeping the stock bumper and getting a winch plate and making my own hoop with light mounts. Functionality over looks at this point. No sense in buying a $600+ bumper for supporting a winch.

Pictures for everyone!













Lift couldnt take any longer to get here
 
#71 ·
It's only sad for everyone but us. I'm still trying to figure out what I want for my jeep. So much aftermarket support that it gives me a headache.

I'm only lifting it to 2.5" so that's not too bad
 
#74 ·
Those tires look good , that should help you out alot. Notice any power loss?

Keep an eye on that pinch seam ,you may need to trim it.
Thanks man, it sits more stout for sure! I noticed my mileage, and on the freeway it goes in overdrive alot but city driving it's really not that bad. I've noticed it rides more rough though. The jeep overall iis just rougher, i dont mind though :D

I'll definitely lookout for that pinch seam. Nothing a dotco can't take care of!
 
#73 ·
Great wheeling videos man! Pretty sweet that you are able to wheel with your brother and the WJ stays in the family! Sub'd :)
 
#76 ·
Moony Jeeps looking real nice. Let me know how you like the tires off road. I am looking to put them on my Wj.
 
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