Moving my build thread over here, I frequent here more often than the rubicon owners and thought Id share my Jeep adventure and pocket burner...
Name is Andrew and Ive named the LJ Steeler, cause Im a diehard Steelers fan, someone mentioned the name when I was hammered so it stuck.
As with any Jeep owner there's always a back story.. Grew up in a Jeep family, Dads been wheeling since the 70s in his CJ5 and continued with Jeeps til today and passed that on to me. Ive had a few Jeeps, ZJs, an XJ, XK Commander but never a Wrangler.. So I began looking for an LJ, didnt think Id find a Rubicon in my range. Well, after 2 months of searching I found this 05 LJ Rubicon out of Ft Myers Fl where my parents live. It had 118k on it, 6" RC short arm, DC driveshaft, clean as a whistle, 38x15.50 TSLs on 15x14 Centerline Forged wheels.
Day I took delivery, required a special transport. It wouldnt fit on a regular truck, it measured 80" high and 80" wide cause of the tires...
At this point, Ive searched and searched trying to see what way I wanted to take the build. Im on a budget since I have a wedding to pay for and wasnt sure on many things. First order of business was maintenance, obviously. So plugs, pack, valve cover, intake filter, oil, coolant, transfer case, diffs, TPS threw a code as well as CPS, new wheel studs as one was broke and figured Id do em all for peace of mind, TREs etc.. It has the stock gears and with 98 lb tires, although it looked cool this just wasnt practical for a DD and weekend warrior, so I planned on selling that wheel and tire set up. I also removed the single fog light and installed Truklite LEDs.
Thought it had a wicked stance...
After cleaning it up a bit..
It didnt take long to figure out the OEM top has seen better days, so I sold it and picked a nicely used Trektop NX.
I found out later its missing the plastic piece on the windows but whatever, Ill get some replacements eventually... This is where I decided it was time to move on from the 38s and ridiculous offset wheels. I ended selling the TSLs and buying 5 MTRs for about the same price, so now I have a spare. I still have the wheels but decided to pick up 17x9 ATX Ravines for the MTRs. I really liked the concave look and imitation beedlocks. I sort of have buyer remorse with not going full on beedlock but I love the way these look. I thought at the time 4.5 BS was enough but i was rubbing at full lock and even after adjusting steering stops wasnt enough.
Quick trail ride...
G2 1.25" spacer install
Before
After
I definitely like the stance better but it kind of sucks when you drop COIN on new wheels only to need spacers, guess thats on me for not researching enough. Oh well, Ive ran them before without issue..
I found a great deal on some Genright HiFlares for the rear and grabbed em for future install...
After all this, I felt it was time to take it out and see what the wheeling experience was like. Ive wheeled others but never and LJ Rubicon, so I picked one hell of a nasty weekend to go. It had been raining for 6 days straight so Uwharrie was a mess, clay is a *****!!!
Was a lot of fun and was pretty surprised with it capabilities but I kind of expected it be awesome! Im an absolute neat freak so very next day...
Name is Andrew and Ive named the LJ Steeler, cause Im a diehard Steelers fan, someone mentioned the name when I was hammered so it stuck.
As with any Jeep owner there's always a back story.. Grew up in a Jeep family, Dads been wheeling since the 70s in his CJ5 and continued with Jeeps til today and passed that on to me. Ive had a few Jeeps, ZJs, an XJ, XK Commander but never a Wrangler.. So I began looking for an LJ, didnt think Id find a Rubicon in my range. Well, after 2 months of searching I found this 05 LJ Rubicon out of Ft Myers Fl where my parents live. It had 118k on it, 6" RC short arm, DC driveshaft, clean as a whistle, 38x15.50 TSLs on 15x14 Centerline Forged wheels.
Day I took delivery, required a special transport. It wouldnt fit on a regular truck, it measured 80" high and 80" wide cause of the tires...
At this point, Ive searched and searched trying to see what way I wanted to take the build. Im on a budget since I have a wedding to pay for and wasnt sure on many things. First order of business was maintenance, obviously. So plugs, pack, valve cover, intake filter, oil, coolant, transfer case, diffs, TPS threw a code as well as CPS, new wheel studs as one was broke and figured Id do em all for peace of mind, TREs etc.. It has the stock gears and with 98 lb tires, although it looked cool this just wasnt practical for a DD and weekend warrior, so I planned on selling that wheel and tire set up. I also removed the single fog light and installed Truklite LEDs.
Thought it had a wicked stance...
After cleaning it up a bit..
It didnt take long to figure out the OEM top has seen better days, so I sold it and picked a nicely used Trektop NX.
I found out later its missing the plastic piece on the windows but whatever, Ill get some replacements eventually... This is where I decided it was time to move on from the 38s and ridiculous offset wheels. I ended selling the TSLs and buying 5 MTRs for about the same price, so now I have a spare. I still have the wheels but decided to pick up 17x9 ATX Ravines for the MTRs. I really liked the concave look and imitation beedlocks. I sort of have buyer remorse with not going full on beedlock but I love the way these look. I thought at the time 4.5 BS was enough but i was rubbing at full lock and even after adjusting steering stops wasnt enough.
Quick trail ride...
G2 1.25" spacer install
Before
After
I definitely like the stance better but it kind of sucks when you drop COIN on new wheels only to need spacers, guess thats on me for not researching enough. Oh well, Ive ran them before without issue..
I found a great deal on some Genright HiFlares for the rear and grabbed em for future install...
After all this, I felt it was time to take it out and see what the wheeling experience was like. Ive wheeled others but never and LJ Rubicon, so I picked one hell of a nasty weekend to go. It had been raining for 6 days straight so Uwharrie was a mess, clay is a *****!!!
Was a lot of fun and was pretty surprised with it capabilities but I kind of expected it be awesome! Im an absolute neat freak so very next day...
Steeler, Another LJ Rubicon
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