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GCJEEPING's Build/Mod thread-It's a green thing-

159K views 428 replies 78 participants last post by  gcjeeping 
#1 ·
GCJEEPING's WJ Build/Mod thread-It's a Tan thing-

Well I finally decided to start a build/mod thread to consolidate all my stuff in hopefully one thread. It's a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 with a 242 TC and 30/35 axles that I bought new with 16 miles on it in Tucson AZ. I have a lot of catching up to do. I'll try and catch it up as quickly as possible.

Been Jeeping since 1975. Have had CJs, a MJ, XJs, WJs and a WK. Even spent two years in Turkey with my MJ wheeling.

Here is a pic of when my current 01 WJ was stock (on the right).


Here it is now.




Some of the mod are hyper-linked to threads or pics until I get everything on here.

All mods either made, done or put on by me except for a custom built drive-shaft.

BOLD ITEMS ARE FOR THIS BUILD THREAD (page & post)

Here is a list of things done...

6" ROCKKRAWLER LONG ARM

15X8 SOFT 8's, 33x12.5x15 PROCOMP MT's/TIMBERLINES AT's

Aussie locked 30/35 w/4.10s

Hi-lift jack

Bilstein shocks

Carolina DBL/DBL front drive shaft..... #page 1 post 7#

home brew rock rails..... #page 1 post 12#

grille guard..... #page 1 post 14#

front/rear hitch

T-Max 12.5k lb winch

rock lights..... #page 1 post 12#

Meangeen alt

TJ transfer skid..... #page 1 post 13#

elec OBA

Kilby belt driven OBA..... #page 1 post 2#

CB with external speaker

Split rear seats..... #page 1 post 6#

Vinyl doors..... #page 1 post 5#

3AR seats..... #page 2 post 19#

Custom front bumper..... #page 1 post 14#

Power inverter

55W backup lights

half doors #page 1 post 3#

102" redneck whip antenna

Super Lift Tru-Speed

strobes all 4 corners

Pioneer head with 1200w Pioneer amp and 2 10" Pioneer Subs

Semi air horns with pull cord

Deambered tail lights..... #page 1 post 9#

Quad tail lights..... #page 1 post 8#

Tail light covers..... #page 1 post 9#

Headlight covers

Custom hood cowl..... #page 1 post 20#

Custom hood scoops..... #page 2 post 20#

Bluetooth ELM 327 Diagnostics, Inclinometer, Torque vehicle ODB II system monitor

Tank lift #page 4 post 59 & page 6 post 89#

Custom rear bumper with swing tire carrier #page 4 post 57#

Front fender trim...#page 2 post 26#

Rear fender trim...#page 11 post 157#

Dual batteries #page 6 post 89#

Rock rail side extensions #page 4 post 54#

Snorkel #page 3 post 45 & page 4 post 48#

Wrangler gas bezel #page 6 post 83#

Custom front bumper(new sides)...#page 7 post 100#

Custom belly skid...#page 9 post 122#

Oil pan and trans pan skids...#page 9 post 130#

4 point harness & harness bar...#page 7 post 102#

In cab winch control...#page 9 post 123#

"A" pillar grab handles...#page 4 post 56#

Auto dim light switch w/fogs install...#page 4 post 58#

Overflow bottle relocation and ZJ washer bottle install...#page 3 post 45#

Boat sides...#page 7 post 101#

242LD to 242HD swap...#page 8 post 113#

Dual 40" 80 LED light bars...#page 9 post 131#

Custom roof rack...#page 10 post 142# ver 2.0...#page 11 post 155#

"A" pillar light tabs...#page 10 post 138#

PA speaker

3+ din dash mod for cb/radio/whelen light-PA controller...#page 12 post 171#

Under hood aux fused power distribution panel...#page 12 post 172#

Carbon fiber decal center console...#page 12 post 173#

LED light bar cover build...#page 14 post 205#

Rear QTR armor w/led tail lights...#page 19 post 281#

Wireless Bluetooth light controller...#page 20 post 298#

Akebono front brake upgrade.

Things coming up...

35" tires

9" rear with ARB and either 4.56 or 4.88 gears(Have the 9" set up for WJ)

44hp front with ARB and either 4.56 or 4.88 gears

Radiator lift with a XJ 3 core rad and XJ AC condenser(have both already). Will eliminate the bottom rad hoop

Custom rear bumper

Tube fenders

LED rock lights

Back up camera

--------------------------------------

GCJEEPING

2001 4.0 Laredo

Modifications: A couple...

HOME MADE -
rock rails,
brush guard/winch/receiver front bumper,
roof rack,
OD Green rattle can paint job,
split rear seat mod,
rear seat quick release mod,
tank lift, rear swing tire carrier,
dual batteries(Diehard Gel cells),
york belt driven OBA,
full belly/trans pan/oil pan skids,
snorkel, front fender trim,
winch, in cab winch control,
half doors, vinyl doors(for half doors),
de-ambered tail lights,
quad tail lights,
custom hood w/cowl and 5.9 louvers,
Diamond plate boatsides,
Tail light covers, Headlight covers,
Rear Qtr armor w/LED tail lights

BOLTED ON -
RockKrawler 6" long arm w/front discos,
Pacer soft 8s w/33/12.5/15 Procomp MTs and Dayton ATs,
D30 4.10 Aussie locker, D35 4.10 Aussie locker,
242HD,
Peterbilt Air horns w pull cord,
CB, 102" redneck cb whip,
Pioneer head unit/760w amp/2 10 subs,
ZJ washer bottle,
Blue Sea dual Battery isolator/charger,
Dual 40" LED light bars,
3AR front racing seats w/4 point harness,
1200w inverter,
60" high lift,
12.5K T-MAX.
Front and rear hitch, M
ean Green high output alt,
PA speaker,
Super Lift true speed,
Valentine One radar detector,
A-pillar grab handles,
242HD swap,
Wrangler gas brezel,
Bluetooth wireless light controller,
Akebono brake upgrade.

Favorite Modification - Half doors, Rear QTR armor w/LED tail lights

Least Favorite Modification - Euro style tail lights.

Best Trail Damage - Destroyed axle shafts & ripped off track bar mount.

Build Thread - My Build thread -- GCJEEPING's build/mod thread-IT'S A GREEN THING...

Miscellaneous - Bought new with 16 miles on it. Started cutting and modding it 4 years later. Still cutting and modding it today.





 
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#161 ·
One of the best builds I've looked at. You make it easy to find inspiration sir.
 
#163 ·
ive seen your jeep on a few different sites. im pretty sure i even have a picture or two of it saved on my computer. but i just found your build thread, total props to the engineering in it. deffinatly a jeep to look to when doing stuff. good job man.
 
#164 ·
Love your sig, its a Green thing!!!
might steal that one ;)
 
#166 ·
Just orderd one right now, ha ha

Look at this on eBay:

HYBRID Sticker Green Decal Environmental

http://bit.ly/TFYDkz

Look at this on eBay:

Green Machine - Hybrid Car - Window Bumper Sticker

http://bit.ly/TIotbj
 
#168 ·
I've got a Prius hybrid one. I was gonna use it to make a selec-drive hybrid badge. Never used it.
 
#171 ·
My WJ Dash Mod

Got tired of my CB bolted to the top of the dash. So I cut it up and fitted the radio, CB, and Whelen controller into it and made a cover. The Whelen controller is wired up to control all the lights, OBA back up lights, rock lights and future accessories.

First, cut up the dash to make room.





Took some sheet metal and made a faceplate. Also cut a hole for the switch that controls my dual battery isolator. Was going to paint it black but found some carbon fiber stick on vinyl at Pep Boys on clearance.







So since I had the carbon fiber I decided to copy Thomahawk and do the other trim pieces also in the center console. The bottom of piece of the console I had contained the ashtray. But since I had another one with a cubby I decided to use that and put a speaker I had laying around for the external CB speaker. Fit perfect. I had to cut the top off the vent panel for this mod.















Next I made the cover. Used wood for this. Put a curve on the back and rounded the sides. Then I put a layer of bondo and formed it to the shape I wanted. Finally I covered it with black vinyl. I tried to match the gray but couldn't. If I fine some later I will recover it.







 
#172 ·
I picked up a fuse box from a local liquidation place for 3 bucks so I can try and keep everything tidy under the hood since I'm usually not doing that.



I fabbed a bracket for the fuse box from some scrap I had and mounted it to the batt hold down. Also some of the relays are from an early XJ engine bay. They are nice since the have the receptacle and are modular.









I made a cover for it from some scrap plastic I had. I heated it up with a heat gun and formed it to cover the fuse box.






I made a bracket for all the relays I was going to use for the Whelen controller.



Used wire loom under the hood to cover all the wiring I added.



The Whelen didn't have covers for the selectors for the switches so I went on line and found picks of switch labels and made some for mine. Used Power Point to make the symbols. Printed them and then used laminating paper to cover them. Cut them out and inserted them into the Whelen.





 
#173 ·
When the Whelen is on the switch labels show green, but when you select one it changes to red. I have the slider switch set up to Pos 1= KC lights, Pos 2= Both LED light bars and Pos 3= KC's and light bars together. I also have them set up that they will only come on when the high beams are on. Also Its nice now to have the Blue Sea batt isolator switch installed so now I can switch the batt's from 1 to 2 to off from the cab.







Finally all assembled and working. And yes I do have an external PA speaker on top and the sirens work. I have a kill switch hidden to disable the PA just in case PO-Po has a problem with the Whelen in the Jeep. I also have the CB hooked into the Whelen so it can rebroadcast the CB ext speaker through the PA. All in all I like it.





 
#174 ·
That is awesome totally gave me more ideas for what i want to do
 
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