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Jay's 05 WK Build Thread

113K views 396 replies 62 participants last post by  Wingnutj 
#1 ·
Figured I'd start a proper build thread so I'd have somewhere to post up my progress rather than dropping random pics all over the place. After wearing out my WJ I decided to stick with another Grand and get a WK. Here is the WJ prior to selling with 180k miles on the clock:

After selling the WJ I looked long and hard across the entire US for the best deal on the exact WK I wanted. I had a few color choices but a few other specs were must have's-
-tow
-5.7l Hemi
-Heated Seats
-Sunroof
-QDII
-<50k miles
After a few months of patiently waiting and negotiation attempts I found the right WK at a steal of a price. So I made a two hour trip and negotiated that steal price further down and drove it home. I sold my Yakima basket with the WJ, so I picked up a Rola and installed it along with my Yakima load bars and bike trays:

I found that along with my Yakima parts, some of the black trim was beginning to fade, so I picked up some U-Pol Raptor liner and began removing and spraying parts. It's been months since spraying and each piece looks brand new. I highly recommend this stuff!


After saving for a couple more months and reading what seems like almost every lift related thread on the forums I decided on a 4" Superlift. My WJ had 2" pucks and crappy shocks and rode like a shopping cart. This time around I wanted maximum lift with minimal geometry change and ride impact. I'm picky about chrome but decided I liked the mix of chrome and silver on the Jeep, with the exception of the stock chrome wheels. I wanted a bit of a dish, but a very simple wheel. I also wanted a tough wheel that would take some abuse. The winning choice for me was the AEV Savegre. AEV makes great products and I knew I couldn't go wrong with them.

After much debate I decided to have someone do the Superlift install as I just didn't have the necessary tools to do it right. I wouldn't take it just anywhere, but I got connected with a great local shop[/URL] that does awesome work. Here is the post-lift result:



The next product I recommend is Plasti-Dip, at least as a temporary solution that is completely reversible. I'd read about it on the forums and I was toying with the notion of painting my grille black. So a trip to Home Depot and 5 bucks later, I sprayed the grille with Plasti-Dip:

I'm glad I only used Plasti-Dip instead of actually sanding, priming, and painting, becuase after two weeks of it I decided it wasn't for me. I peeled it off in about 30 seconds and my chrome grille was good as new. I've got plenty of upcoming projects, starting with a lighting overhaul. I chose Rigid Industries for the majority of my aftermarket lighting. They are pricey, but if you compare their light output vs current draw, then watch their ballistics testing videos on YouTube, you will see they make an incredibly great product. I am currently testing different fitment locations to achieve the max light output. Once that is complete I will setup a shoot that shows the different lights and their outbut brightness, all at same ISO/speed/arpeture. Here is a quick look at light output of just the Rigid LED, no headlights:
 
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#63 ·
Yeah. Paint it. Lol.
 
#65 ·
Yeah. The white PIAA covers would look really good with his Silver WK.
 
#66 ·
i think you should leave the hood alone, paint your grill black (again) get some black headlight housings and black out your pillars then it'll look gravy!
 
#67 · (Edited)
Black grille + cf hood wouldn't look right next to each other IMO. I'm too picky. I tested clear coating 3m dinoc to see of I could get it to match but no dice. It goes back in the shop for paint the week after Thanksgiving. Here's a little better pic:
 
#69 ·
I may do that, I'm going to play around in photoshop before taking it in. The guy doing the paint is actually a Street Rod/Classic car builder, not just a standard body shop, so he's got some great input. I'll think of something, because I just hate to paint over every inch of that CF!
 
#70 ·
Use photoshop to leave the scoop indents CF
 
#73 ·
painting everything but the scoops and sides of the cowl would look pretty cool...just trying to toss out ideas. my friend had a red camaro with a cowl induction hood and he painted the whole thing red except the sides of the cowl (painted them black) it looked really good...wish i had a pic to show you.
 
#74 ·
Yea if you guys can figure out a way to leave the inlets exposed and look good it would be awesome!
 
#77 ·
Well I'm either going to paint one of the following two schemes, then if I don't like it I'll paint the whole thing. I might airbrush a mural of a tiger on it too. LOL

No laughing at my paintshop job! I'd rather be playing with my kid than dicking around in photoshop for an hour.

 
#80 ·
The first one is much nicer! Do that
 
#82 ·
i like the first one better as well. but im still sticking with my suggestion of leaving the sides of the cowl unpainted...
 
#83 · (Edited)
Dude you better not just paint the whole thing! I have a couple suggestions.

1. If you want it to be subtle, paint everything but leave the scoops. Or leave the scoops plus the center stripe.

2. Not so subtle, paint the hood silver, but leave the entire cowl. Basically, paint the section from the headlamps back plus the scoops, and leave the raised cowl section CF. I think that would look sweet! Plus that way the part of the hood that mates up to the grill will be silver. Than you could rap the grill with CF if you'd like.

Another thought, I don't want you to get carried away with CF, but it would be interesting to open the headlamps and rap some of them in CF! Maybe do a mix of silver paint and CF in them?
 
#86 ·
haha thats crazy...


i like your first photoshop and some of Omlet's OTHER suggestions on the subltle side.

the idea of painting everything but your scoops would be awesome... i also like your first photoshop. There are SO many ideas... but i DEF dont think you should just paint it silver... where's the creativity in that?!?
 
#85 ·
I like them both but leaning more toward the 2nd picture.
 
#87 ·
I like the second one best or omelet Rainer idea would be cool too.
 
#88 ·
thanks for all the feedback guys! It always helps to get some great input. So far I think I'm liking the CF scoops idea. I may have some new headlights in for a projector retrofit before paint time, so I may do a mix of body color and cf on the reflectors and do away with the chrome altogether. I still like my idea of the tiger mural on the hood too...or maybe a wolf. lol
 
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