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jlewissystem's Build Thread

49K views 219 replies 25 participants last post by  jlewissystem 
#1 · (Edited)
Had to join in the fun here, but try to keep up with these sweet Jeeps at the same time. For all of you ADHD ppl out there - you're going to like this thread....there's not really a nice flowing story line here.....just a bunch of "hey I want to do this" ideas that become reality :) I want to take a quick sec to thank everyone on this forum: this is a great place for ideas, trials/errors experience - 1/2 of this stuff would not have been possible for you guys. At the same time - that's where i place all of the blame for the MOD BUG :p

In the past I've owned a TJ, ZJ and now this WK. I've loved all of the past flavors and figured i wanted to try the ZJ's grandson - new and improved, with HEMI.

This Jeep started off a 2006 5.7 Limited. I had a great experience acquiring this Jeep:
At the time the only thing i new is that I wanted a JGC, BLACK, HEMI with lower miles....dont care about anything else. After searching nationwide for about 2 months, my Mom calls me up saying that she passed one where she lives (Chicago). I live in STL. Got the background on it (35K miles - 1 leaser) clean past. At the time my ZJ was on it's last leg - 210K (not all from me). The day before XMAS eve (2 years) ago, i got to Chicago to check out this Jeep. It looked great and i took it out for a spin (it was a Chicago winter): test drove in ice/sleet. I floored it all over and this thing grabbed and didnt loose control. I bought it right there.

After the purchase, i drove to my Mom's house to get her luggage, cuz we were due in Detroit for XMAS. The beauty was that we took this Jeep (first ride ever) through a 5 hour ice/snow storm up to Detroit and back through a different storm. I had no idea on expectations and with all stock equip, had no issues there or back - i was SO impressed. So impressed, i couldnt wait to see what this thing could do all MODDED up :D:D Let's get to work:

Before i get to "modding" i need proper lighting - at least something better than what was in my garage - so a few garage LYTES to setup shop:

I really dont have any "before" pics, so i'll have to start with this one - only mods showing are window visors, painted calipers and brush guard and rear tail light guards:


Speaking of - the 1st mod on this thing was a brush guard. The only reason why this is the 1st one is because i hit a deer with my ZJ. That wasnt it's ultimate demise. Crappy story too - I'll make it short - was coming home from a buddy's house (in a rural neighborhood) (going 20mph) a deer popped out of a street and tucked into someone's shrubs. As i slowed down to look where it jumped in, it jumped out in front of me. I hit it doing about 12-15mph. It bounced off my grille, hit the ground and popped back up like WTF. WTF to you deer - i have 2 guns on me and can't use them! :) Anyway - that cost me about $200 for new header panel, grille and headlight.

Not to be made a victim like that again (and soon to take my revenge on deer in Missouri) i put the Aries brush guard on :) and took some time to do a grille mesh (JJ helped and added the same mesh to her KJ :)). We took gutter guard, cut it, plasti-dipped it, cut it to grille hole length, bent them a little for better fit and glued the edges with Gorilla Glue. At the same time, i did the rear Aries tail light guards.






After some light protection on the outside, i took it inside: i could not handle the stock radio! Did a little upgrade: ordered the DVD NAV bezel - $75 eBay, i think and a Pioneer AVH-4200. It's a double-din with DVD, SD card...AUX inputs, camera - yadda, yadda. When i put all this in, i also wanted to watch movies when i drove (of course), so referenced this link for the DVD override.
Stock:

Relay:

New:


At the time of radio installation, i ran an input (for iPhone) through the center console and up along side of the drivers seat. I also ran a video/red/white wire into the glove box, in case we need a console system on a long drive :thumbsup:

While i've been liking the driving experience, i wanted to give it a little better sound than stock, so researched and ended up going with the MagnaFlow 16631 cat-back. Here's a comparison to the stock - i believe same diameter piping:
Side by side:

Tip comparison ;)



 
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#32 ·
What kind of switch set-up are you using to control all those awesome lights?
 
#33 ·
#34 ·
Just joined the "ORT" Club :thumbsup:
 
#36 ·
ahaha - thanks brotha!! Cant wait to see your new TYREZ! :)
 
#38 ·
wow really impressed with all your mods! you and Coop are ORT'ers for sure!

Do you have the part numbers on the all the mesh you bought for the under-hood hoses? I really like the look and want to do something similar. Also, what header wrap are you going to use?

keep it up...looks friggin awesome
 
#41 ·
OK - here's the list: I'm "FAIRLY"certain this is 99% correct :)

These are Spectre Stainless hose sleeving and MagnaClamps (links below)

Catch Can:
Hose:3008B
Clamp:3268 (4)

Upper Radiator:
Hose:6008B
Clamp:5168 (2)

Power Steering:
Hose:3008B
Clamp:3468 (2)

Coolant reservoir:
Hose:2008B
Clamp:2168 (2)

Breather Tube:
Hose:3008B
Clamp:3268 (2)

Total Qtys:
Sleeving
(2) 3008B
(1) 6008B
(1) 2008B

Clamps
(6) 3268
(2)(1pack) 2168
(2) 3468
(2) 5168
 
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#39 ·
Thanks Brad! I was REALLY hoping someone was not going to ask me that - LOL - i went through so many: i felt like i bought every kind then just returned some - I'll get a list together - i know i was going to have to at some point - check back soon :)

Header wrap - something like this
 
#42 ·
Just tried my hand at vinyl wrapping - still got a few things to prefect, as always. I was going to do all my wood bezels in gloss black and some other plastic(upper accent pieces, shown below) in matte. Also - i'm probably going to (re)do the entire Homelink/domelight "thing" in black - any opinions out there?

 
#44 ·
Do-over: did all of it - pretty cool, i'm liking vinyl :)

 
#46 ·
MOAR VINYL(Did both sides):
(Not perfect, but dont care)
 
#48 ·
MOAR VINYL - AGAIN!!! Yes :) and glossy.....

You'll observe the center bezel stack in it's natural habitat:


And after a visit to club glossy VINYL:


Shift Bezel....removed the QD2 tag prior to process:


Comparison of finishes:


Center stack re-assembled using it's new favorite pink towel :)lol:):


So far, i'm DIGging the change.... :D
 
#52 ·
Thanks Dave! I did it all myself - found 3m Scotchprint black glossy and matte on ebay.
It was about $15 for 4sq ft and $20 for 5sq ft

It's all about laying, cutting and working the vinyl while heating it. I'm going to redo 1 of my OS handles, but i LOVE the center bezels. I'll do the door bezels tomorrow - those should be cake!

RYAN!!! So sorry to leave you out :p
I also received Ryan's replacement TB. The original had some hardware issues. Ryan was VERY considerate and communicative to troubleshoot and replace it - thanks again!!

So far - we dont have any issues and i know it's roaring a little MOAR :) Looking forward to completing the FlyinRyan "Mad Scientist" Cocktail of PCM/TCM/TB :) I love acronyms :)

Here's a comparison:
 
#55 ·
The vinyl look great!


Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
 
#56 ·
Thanks Jon! Here's a little more :)

Fixed a LED and wr, wr, wrapped it:



 
#57 ·
Finished the last piece of the "wood" see ya wood!!!



 
#59 ·
The gloss does: just like the outside, gorgeous when clean :)
 
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