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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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7
#3,890 ·
We've got pretty hefty fines out here for driving with an unsecured load (after a string of deaths-by-garbage-falling-out-of-pickups). Be safe! Lash that yard waste down!

Looks like a nice utility trailer! My next-door neighbors have a similar tandem-axle version. Jealous!
 
#3,891 ·
I am sure we do to, the last thing I want is some crap to fly out on to someone's car! This was shot before my friend and I had a good ol time jumping on it then putting 5 ratchet down straps over it.

Thank you, my best friend who is a year old then me just flat out bought it one day. Nice to have friends with cash and who let you borrow their stuff any time! 6*12 and gets the job done with out a problem! He considered tandem with a 6*16 but did not need the length or want to deal with brakes.

My dad also has a "Load-Rite" single axle trailer that is pretty useful. Can fit our 3 ATV's on it. Will probably be using that this summer as well. Neither trailers have brakes so I want to get some good brakes on the Jeep.

Found some pictures of the Rubicon with the other trailer

 
#3,892 ·
Neither trailers have brakes so I want to get some good brakes on the Jeep.
Now I understand the NEED for the super-spendy Stillen brakes. You'll probably want to put some aggressive pads on the rear brakes as well, something that can hold heat without fade.

Of course I'd be remiss if didn't mention that it was a very bad idea and also (likely) quite illegal to tow a 1200 lb trailer with 3000lbs of mulch in it without trailer brakes. Most states have a 2000lb limit on un-braked trailers.
 
#3,893 ·
Another note - if you are perma-borrowing your friend's trailer all summer to make money, you might want to pay the dude a cut as a "rental fee" on the trailer. Even if it's just a couple hundred bucks at the end of the season. Borrowing is one thing, running a business on someone else's equipment is another.
 
#3,894 ·
Yes, I want to be safe as I can and do not mind getting some more expensive brakes that can handle the extra weight by biting more and dissipation of the extra heat. I will have to check the amount of pad left on the rears, they were replaced not too long ago. The rear rotors, I am not sure when they were replaced off hand.

I am not sure how much 6*12*(2 or 3 foot sides) of mulch weighs... We had it pretty much leveled out through the whole trailer once. That was very heavy. The other times were less. They sold the trailer with a "Gross combined weight of 2995 pounds" in VA which apparently deems brakes are not needed?

I agree with that and don't want to take advantage of someone's kindness. The few times I used it, we actually used it together (we also do lawn business stuff together). He will let me tow the trailer for fun too, depending on what we are doing etc. This summer may be different etc, so I am bring down Dad's trailer to use to avoid any conflicts (I need it vs he needs it) and not put wear and tear on his trailer. I am going to be doing a lot more yards in a larger area this summer. I totally understand where you are coming from with that too. In THIS case, he has more money that he knows what to do with and could care less!

Towing regularly this summer, glad I prepared with the aux trans cooler and need to get some serious brakes going.
 
#3,895 ·
If you went 6*12*3 you'd be carrying 8 yards of mulch. If we're talking about bark-type mulch you are looking at 450-500lbs/yd. So yeah, min 3600lbs for a full trailer. Best stick to 4 yards to keep it legal and within the trailer's rated weight limit.

FWIW Jeep recommends max 2k with no trailer brakes but your brake upgrades should surely be able to handle it. Then the question becomes liability... if you are in a wreck and it is determined that your trailer was overloaded or beyond the rated capacity of your vehicle you expose yourself to personal liability beyond mere insurance coverage. Another consideration is insurance when vehicle/trailer are used for a commercial purpose. Sorry, I don't mean to massively over-complicate your summer landscaping work, and you may have thought of these issues already, just lookin out for you.
 
#3,896 ·
Yikes, while the Jeep was more then capable of towing 3600 pounds, the fact that the trailer didn't have brakes is the issue. I just looked up the laws in VA and the max trailer combined weight before needing brakes is 3000 pounds. Anything over legally should have brakes. Now as far as liability. Scenario, trailer GCWR is 2995 and I've got ~2500 (total) in there and something were to happen, would it be the Jeep's rating for "non braked trailers" (2000) that they would be looking at?

Well the black trailer is 1100 or 1200 dry and my Dad's silver one is about 900 dry. The "normal" use for the trailer will be toting around the lawn mower (self propelled walk behind), blower, weed eater, gas, and some misc tools. Maybe a cooler. I doubt all of that will break 2K pounds. I know that both the trailers are overly big for that small amount of stuff, I wish I had a small 4*8 haha. If need be I can get a tandem trailer with brakes (and a controller for the Jeep) for some bigger stuff or just half it with the current trailers.

Just want to do as much as I can to stay safe and legal and out of any trouble! :)
 
#3,897 ·
Your normal cargo wouldn't be a problem. Just when you are doing mulch... to stay legal with that trailer you'd be limited to 4 yards, to stay within the Jeep's rating you'd be at 2 yards and only using 1/4 of the capacity of the trailer.

How about when you need to spread mulch you rent a U-haul truck for the day (or borrow someone's?) and you don't have to worry so much about about trailer weight.
 
#3,898 ·
I guess when it comes to mulch, may just have to do 2 trips if need be. I still need to get back home and see how big some of these client's yards are. As for the regular, that really shouldn't be an issue. If I get something crazy (which I doubt) My uncle has a 07 Chevy 3500 dually and a 16 yard dump trailer. Haha

Just because of the frequency of toting around 1.5 or 2k pounds is why I want the Stillens. I think that would be worth the money still.
 
#3,899 ·
Gunna go ahead and raise my hand here I did some research and I'm pretty sure my trailer dry is ~1200lbs and
My good ol Mako 19 should clock in at just about 2100. Luckily the trailer is in great shape, dual axle (not quite necessary) and has proper weight distribution. The WJ seems to have absolutely no problem with it and braking has never been a task since the Thermoquiet upgrade. I was kind of scared when it had OEM pads though. Wouldn't mind running trailer brakes on it eventually but it's hard to justify the price for the little distance I tow it... Highway twice a season and the rest are trips across a town with max speed limit of 20mph
 
#3,900 ·
"Lash that yard waste down!" BAHAHA Sorry Billzcat but I had to laugh. "Yard waste," why not just say ****?

All this trailor talk I wish I knew the weight of my trailor. Ehh o well.

Hey comp crasher I wanted to say thanks for helping me out for my overheating problem. I should get the relay tonight and have it done tomorrow morning.
 
#3,902 ·
"Lash that yard waste down!" BAHAHA Sorry Billzcat but I had to laugh. "Yard waste," why not just say ****?
Mostly because of the board censoring program. That's exactly what I was thinking, just had to find a JF-friendly way to say it.
 
#3,904 ·
I think with the upgraded brakes I wont have an issue with what I need to do. Now, I know some rules/limitations to keep it legal too.

Also, I think I may need to check my fan relay as well. Hard to get in there with the mechanical fan being there too. I.E. can't tell if spinning with the mechanical fan going.
 
#3,905 ·
snobrdrkid07 said:
I think with the upgraded brakes I wont have an issue with what I need to do. Now, I know some rules/limitations to keep it legal too.

Also, I think I may need to check my fan relay as well. Hard to get in there with the mechanical fan being there too. I.E. can't tell if spinning with the mechanical fan going.
What brakes Are you going for?, i am looking into new brakes myself. Heard great things about the Black magic pads, also s little sceptic to drilled and slottted Rotors, lots of users reports that they Are noise and that you can feel the slotts thrue the pedal. IDK.
 
#3,906 ·
I don't know of either of those thing? Apparently with the drilled you get a "woooshhhing" type sound.

I am looking to go for Stillen Drilled front rotors and Stillen Metal Matrix Pads
 
#3,907 ·
Yeah, it's sort of a grinding, grabbing feel you get through the pedal and a low-frequency hummmmm you can hear on the brakes. I found that I had pretty awful pad wear with any of the slotted, grooved, drilled, dimpled brakes and I now prefer flat faced. However I have heard nothing but good things about the Kolak Stillen brake package. Since cost is an issue I'll be trying out the Hawk LTS pads. I sold a lot of Hawk pads in the past with good feedback on them and the LTS compound is well-reviewed.
 
#3,908 ·
Is it annoying or really not that big of a deal? I believe the Stillens are ONLY drilled, no slots, dimples, etc if that makes a difference. I would like to get the Stillens because they have been raved about by so many, like you said. People wouldn't make that up.
 
#3,910 ·
So you WILL hear them from inside when stopping? But only slightly? Onomatopoeia, I still can not spell that word ;) (that is why I am going to be an engineer)
 
#3,912 ·
^^^Thanks guys, then i Will go for the wooshy cool stilen Rotors, what pads Are the best to Go with at the stillen Rotors?
Btw, you guys Are great, thumbsup!
 
#3,913 ·
I can take that trade off for the extra stopping power. I think it'd be worth it. It could sound cool! Just got to finish my Finals, get home and order this stuff!

Kolak offers the Stillen Rotors and the Metal Matrix Pads (by Stillen) as his WJ brake upgrade.
 
#3,915 ·
I have not heard of those pads before. Kolak has the metal Matrix pads for 60 for the set.
 
#3,916 ·
Ok great. I Will look a bit more into it before i decide, i actually do not need new brakes for about a year from now, but then they Are toast most likely, but they have been holding up well, 3 years 55k km. Anyway i want to get it done durring this summer.
Not to sound like a prick, but The price difference isnt that much of a problem for me, when everything is dirt cheap in US compered to over here, also the currency rate Are still good/cheap $, ha ha, I always end up saving Money and getting better parts after i started to buy from US.
 
#3,917 ·
You should really check out the Black Magic pads and Centric rotors from Savvy. I changed my mind. Hawk LTS's are out the window. These things grab better than EBC Yellowstuffs (considered the king of Jeep pads). http://blackmagicbrakes.com/

Check the reviews: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/vanco-brake-pad-evaluation-1104156/

MrBlaine is giving me a fantastic deal, giving me some extremely honest advice and taking care of me in a way no other vendor has. No not like THAT. I'm just saying there's a great alternative here that seems to be phenomenal.
 
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