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Tarantula_TJ Rubicon Build

464K views 4K replies 171 participants last post by  AngryTJ 
#1 ·
UPDATED 12/19/2013***

Story:
I purchased this Jeep back in 2011 with the intent of a mild build and enjoying some offroading on the East Coast. Through Jeepforum I met a small group of guys that invited me to go wheelin for my first time at Rausch Creek, PA. Little did I know how I would get so hooked!

As the obsession grew my game plan was always to have a weekend warrior that would be able to drive to the trails, take a beating, and drive home. With that in mind I started to dig into many projects I would have never imagined trying on my own. I also received help from some great guys out there to get the rig where is it today. Like all of you my jeep has become part of my life.

Back in June I had the opportunity to take a cross-country trip to Colorado and Moab. What made the trip so unique was being able to drive my jeep from CT over 2,200 miles out there and wheel with a bunch of other forum members for 7 straight days! It was one of the greatest experiences a jeeper could have and I'm extremely happy with how the jeep performed. I hope to make it an annual trip to wheel with so many of the great guys on this forum and explore different parts of the US and the wheelin terrain it offers.

I still have a few things to do to the rig but I'm almost at the point where I can just wheel, repair and repeat. If you have any questions about my rig feel free to ask. Thanks for looking!

Mods:
Engine:
• 4.0 I-6 w/ Brown Dog 1" MML & custom Hendrix hiline hood covering it up!
Transmission:
• 6 speed w/ Lopro mount
Transfer Case:
• NV241 w/ Novak shifter
Front axle:
• Dana 44 locked w/ Riddler cover, Superior Shafts, Synergy Ball joints, Alloy axle seals & lower CA skids
Rear axle:
• Dana 44 locked w/ Riddler cover, TnT Truss & Superior Shafts
Gear Ratio:
• 4:11
Suspension:
• Custom stretched rear 4-link 98" WB
• 1" Daystar BL
• OME 930/949 coils
• Front and Rear Antirock Swaybars
• Savvy Alum front upper and lower alum control arms
• 12" outboarded rear Bilsteins
Tires:
• 35x12.5r15 Goodyear MTR/Kevlars
Wheels:
• 15x8 Alum Raceline Monster Beadlocks
Recovery:
• Warn 9.5ti w/ Viking synthetic line. Poly Front half Rollcage w/ custom rear additions
Armor:
• UCF ultra high clearance tcase skid & engine skid, UCF Windshield armor
• Savvy Alum front bumper
• Warn Rear bumper w/ tire carrier
• Rokmen Sliders & Steering skid
• PSC 3" flare Defender Hilines w/ matching rear flares
• Genright Stretched corners & EXT tank
Accessories:
• JKS adj front track bar
• Tom Woods Driveshaft
• Currie Steering w/ Savvy tie rod
• 4pt harness'
• Balistic Fab Battery tie-down box
Awaiting install:
• Evo Front axle sleeve's
• Vanco Big Brake kit
• Front tie rod flip w/ raised sway bar brackets
• Gusset front axle C's
Final Mods list:
488 gears
Hydro assist
3 link front suspension
Yukon Zip or ARB lockers

The starting point:




Where she sits now




 
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6
#2,395 ·
G Beasley said:
I think the highlined ones just make sense being as Hendrix is painting the Jeep and he is rumored to make a nice hood :D
Haha yeah this hood is great!

143DAD said:
Lu, great job on all the video's I wish I had the editing skill's to get my stuff together like you do. Much like Beasley wish/hope we can all make a trip again.
Thanks Rory a lot of your video clips were used so thanks for the footage. Can't wait for the next trip.

dayriesw said:
Lu, what did you do to mount the stock fuse box up there? Did you modify or add to the bracket and what does it bolt to?
Zip tied to the grille support bar lol
 
#2,397 ·
green50gt said:
Thanks for posting those pictures Lu! Whenever my Defender XC's show up I have some reference shots! Looks like you had to bend the hell out of your AC line to get it out of the way?
Nope didn't tough the AC lines but right where you see everything mounted is about where you will have room. Any closer to the front of the jeep and the angle Of the hood reduces the space
 
#2,398 ·
Those videos are awesome! It makes me really want to b plan a trip like that.

In video 1 or 2, you have a section that is in fast forward through sand/ desert trails with the camera in your black Jeep. It looks like it is focused on the horizon and not bouncing around with the jeep. How did you Mount it for that part?
Usually one part is a fixed point of rederence in the line of sight and looks like every thing else is moving but the video makes it look like it would if your actually in the Jeep with the Jeep moving around but keeping your sight level with the terrain. It made it come out awesome though being able to focus on what your driving through not just a a still hood with a moving background.
 
#2,400 ·
Those videos are awesome! It makes me really want to b plan a trip like that.

In video 1 or 2, you have a section that is in fast forward through sand/ desert trails with the camera in your black Jeep. It looks like it is focused on the horizon and not bouncing around with the jeep. How did you Mount it for that part?
Usually one part is a fixed point of rederence in the line of sight and looks like every thing else is moving but the video makes it look like it would if your actually in the Jeep with the Jeep moving around but keeping your sight level with the terrain. It made it come out awesome though being able to focus on what your driving through not just a a still hood with a moving background.
The fast forward section in Moab Part 1 I used the video making software stabilizer. Not sure if thats what your referencing but the camera was mounted directly on my windshield. Glad you liked them :thumbsup:

I can get my ac line to move up like your at all. That is why mine still sticks out so far. I need to get to that.
Do you have a photo for reference?
 
#2,406 ·
So I havent had much time to wheel or wrench but I did want to put together a list of items still needing to be addressed on the rig. I will be getting my rear main seal done to avoid leaking oil everywhere in the next couple weeks. Besides that the following list wont even be touched until after the 1st of the year when my wife and I will be looking to buy a house and I'll finally have a garage.

Winter To Do list:
-evo front 44 sleeves
-raised sway bar brackets
-tie rod flip
-Vanco Big Brake kit
-gusset the Cs
-savvy tailgate armor
-genright hood louvers
-rokmen strykers
-fix my destroyed body mounts and A pillar tie in
-cutout rear crossmember to improve rear uptravel
-test flex the rig and see if Ill need to outboard my front shocks

Once all that is done I will be looking to do the following (with no timetable in mind) to "finish" the jeep.
-hydro assist
-488 gears
-ARBs or selectable of that nature
-LED's
 
#2,408 ·
So I havent had much time to wheel or wrench but I did want to put together a list of items still needing to be addressed on the rig. I will be getting my rear main seal done to avoid leaking oil everywhere in the next couple weeks. Besides that the following list wont even be touched until after the 1st of the year when my wife and I will be looking to buy a house and I'll finally have a garage.

Winter To Do list:
-evo front 44 sleeves
-raised sway bar brackets
-tie rod flip
-Vanco Big Brake kit
-gusset the Cs
-savvy tailgate armor
-genright hood louvers
-rokmen strykers
-fix my destroyed body mounts and A pillar tie in
-cutout rear crossmember to improve rear uptravel
-test flex the rig and see if Ill need to outboard my front shocks

Once all that is done I will be looking to do the following (with no timetable in mind) to "finish" the jeep.
-hydro assist
-488 gears
-ARBs or selectable of that nature
-LED's
Thats a great list I might move the gears, lockers and assist up on the list but that just, me.

Some how I thought you already regeared?
 
#2,409 ·
bobthetj03 said:
Impressive list! There is no such thing as "finishing the jeep"! LOL!
True

GregStephens2 said:
Thats a great list I might move the gears, lockers and assist up on the list but that just, me. Some how I thought you already regeared?
Well the to do list are all things I already have so they will be done first.
 
#2,410 ·
Rotated the tires yesterday for the first time in a long time. Main reason for delaying it so long is because I have two tires balanced with sticky weights and the others with dynabeads.

The 2 with weights I always kept in the front to avoid any vibes at highway speed but it was time to give it a try the opposite way around.

Went for a quick ride on the highway and at first as I got above 40 it started shaking like crazy. Not sure if the dynabeads had perhaps stuck to the inside of the tire from sitting so long? Stopped at a gas station inflated the tires to 28psi then jumped back on the highway and got it up to 70 without any major vibes so hopefully we are good to go.

Hardtop and hard upper doors are going on this week. Rear main seal getting done next weekend.
 
#2,422 ·
Ok I need input on how to get my tires balanced properly. I took my jeep to work today and got a bad shake again around 40 which eventually went away as I got up in speed but Im convinced the dynabeads dont work.

What do the rest of you out there use? Metal BBs? How much did you use per tire?
 
#2,423 ·
My bet from personal experience is you have a lateral imbalance which the beads are not going to fix.

Breaking the wheel and tire combo down and spinning the tire 180* may help if you can isolate which tire is causing the issue.

As for how much weight I would use the db's chart or the equal chart.

Again I am running airsoft pellets and have 8 oz's in each 36" tire.

Why didn't you just have these tires road force balanced?
 
#2,425 ·
When originally mounting the beadlocks on the tires they were so far imbalanced that I broke them back down and made sure to evenly torque the bolts in a criss-cross pattern so the exterior ring was as even as possible across the front lip of the tire. As I mentioned two I was able to get balanced with a small amount of sticky weights and the others are just so far off I went with the dynabeads.

Another thought of mine is that the rim is not centered in the tire properly when I mounted them? Its just weird how sometimes its a crazy shake and other times I can get up to 70 no problem. Also this shaking has only started now that I moved the dynabead tires in front and the sticky weight 2 in the rear. :brickwall:brickwall

I never road force balanced because there are very few places around here that do that and several wont even touch a 35" tire with beadlocks. :crying:
 
#2,429 ·
My local discount tire will do bead locks but only if I call ahead so I get a fresh daily calibration first thing in the morning. Might be worth a try to stop by there and ask. Then schedule a balance with them. Need to vacuum all the beads out first.

I feel your pain, been there with my krawlers.
 
#2,430 ·
Somewhere back in time I had dynabeads in my front tires and it did much the same as you experience. It would shake so violently at times that the front would actually move up end down. First jack the front up slightly spin the tire with a jackstand near it to check it for runout and wobling on the rim. If all that is good get a proper tire balance
 
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