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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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#92 ·
Good call Sean! Haha
 
#93 ·
Thanks guys!! uh oh, is this the Bob and Bob thing?? :lol:
Go to 0:37
 
#94 ·
Lmao! Why yes it is!
 
#96 ·
For those of us with electronic TB's, the grounding helps with the electrical current, allowing the TB to open faster, creating MOAR TB response :D :thumbsup:
 
#99 ·
Checked the flex on the new bumpstops: looks like i may be able to shave a little off to allow MOAR travel, but they're doing their job :D


New limited stop:


Close up - about an inch:
 
#101 ·
Just received my new (used) hitch from viking757 Thanks again bud!!! It's in GREAT condition for being used.....MIGHT be going on tonight - i have a nice "D-RING" for it :lol:
 
#102 · (Edited)
Hitch-on!!
First i pulled off the bumper:
4 push-pins on the step pad
2 20-T torx, 1 by each taillight
3 rivets in each wheel-well
1 nut for the bumper behind each wheel-well(toward the top of the bumper)
6 push-pins underneath (4 total bumper, 2 total shock absorber)

The before:


Bumper off:


Bumper shock absorber off:


Cleaned up a little:


Hitch-on!:


Cut the bumper (per the template on teh back of the bumper) with a Dremel. I was going to make this a little smaller, but i was excited, so i just cut the whole thing. Now i need a bezel :D:


Done!:


Close-up:


I saw Omelet's hitch MOD to accommodate his full spare - i'll tackle that when i get a nice spare under there :) Not sure if i'll just cut the existing bolts or need go go full Omelet on it :D :thumbsup:

Also - looks like i need to get a wiring harness - i'll look to ebay. All the push-pins went back in correctly. The rivets are another story. I went to HarborFreight an picked up a rivet tool - worked great!!
 
#105 · (Edited)
You'd be surprised! I've been pulled out of (ONLY)3" mud already - went too close to a lake - learned that lesson :) BUT - i love to have the rear option now, as opposed to hooking up to the frame :) What else is on the horizon? -

*Hitch bezel
*Intake tube header wrap - just need to apply
*need to fix 1 of my rocklights - went out for some reason
*Install of the CB/PA when it gets here
*Seasonal engine bay cleaning, claybay & detailing :)
* Now that i have the hitch, might look into a hitch/winch mount, so i dont have to fabricate on the front - i'm not that good yet :D

Rock on Jason good job!!! :thumbsup:
Thank you sir!!
 
#107 ·
Looking great! Awesome work.
 
#108 ·
That's a great list of mods...all fairly doable and not too expensive. Keep us posted on the cb/pa I'll be interested to see how you wire it...I am thinking the cig lighter would be easy? I want to mount it some where to the left of the shifter sideways in the center console. Ease of wiring IMO
 
#109 ·
Waddup Brad-installing today! I will be mother f'ing by dinner :) I like the side mount. I think I'll tap into existing wiring for my switch panel. Looks like my switches only draw 1.7A an the CB only draws 1.7A as well. Switch panel is in a 5A fuse, so should be good. Pics later :)
 
#110 · (Edited)
GTFOuttamyway, is what i say! CB - PA portion done! I look forward to doing the coax, mount and firestick at some point. Until then - freedom of speech!!

Here's the hardware I was working with, minus the TV remote :)


Started with the speaker mount. I think i saw someone else do trainhorns in this area, but figured it was a good spot nontheless. This is directly under the drop-cone of the factory airbox.


Speaker facing down for water drainage, but it installed nicely - a little tight, but went pretty smooth.




Ran the wire directly up and along the left engine panel, along the elevated part - hard to see in this pic, but its there :) :


Hit it with a zip-tie, put some elec conduit on it and ran it over the intake manifold, behind the factory conduit:




Ran it into and through the same firewall grommet i used for the MOAR LYTES switch panel wires:


The other side of the grommet (dash side):


Tapped into the same ground and accessory fuse tap (switch panel used 1.7A and CB uses 1.7A - for a 5A fuse - good to go.
Ground:



Power wire:


Here's where im going to try the 1st mount for this. It's on the center console of the drivers side. My leg rests against it - it feels different, but it's not an inconvenience yet. I'm going to roll with it for a week and see if it gets annoying enough to move. When i had one in my TJ, it hit the top of me knee - i just got used to it and didnt really care. OH - i had to use some leftover matte black vinyl to hit the sides of the CB mount :)



Mounted and ran the wires right behind it straight up - i even have the option for an external speaker, in which i can use an existing input wire from my receiver and just switch inputs to get the CB speaker through my stereo system :)



Next to my leg:


I'm waiting to mount the mic holder, until i make sure i'm good with the current position. I can take a few holes in the dash, but dont want swiss cheese :) If this position stays - i'll prob mount it just to the right, a few inches above, but under the ignition - so i dont hit it. I havent had any chance to use it, but i will update :D
 
#112 ·
I have the Saguaro switch panel there :)
 
#114 ·
Thanks Coop! I will be testing today - free comments for everyone in front of me today - will you be the lucky receiver?! :D
 
#115 ·
#117 ·
I was thinking about hanging it, but that door is right there. Then i though about mounting it on the door, but i didnt like it. I really didnt want to have to "figure" out where to mount this damn thing. The only good place is that cubby and i dont want to move my switches......may just live with it - time will tell i guess.
 
#119 · (Edited)
Back to the hiz-nitch at hand - that's hitch for you "whiter guys". The buddy that let me "borrow" :D the D-ring also let me "borrow" the hitch receiver: JJ helped my plasti-dip that sucka:


Now - you gotta love rolling around with this - i "ALMOST" want someone to rear-end me, but i dont - so dont F*&K me over karma! Dont worry about that littl ething sticking out the back. Also - that is a LOCKING pin :) I dont want to have to "buy my friend a new one" and go through all that crap :) .......an NO i havent hit my shin/knee........YET



I guess i'm throwing the D-ring onto that thing, although I HATE the vertical mount of it - need to change that. At any rate - i got them blue, but made them take the RED pill:
(JJ assisted again):



My fancy-pancy paint booth:


Hit it with 3 coats of VHT RED caliper paint - to match the rest - strut bar, struts, calipers, intake tube - :D



Alternate drying - BIG C-clamp:
 
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