Midnight LJR Build

[Alex01]

New shorter front shocks arrived need to get these painted.
View attachment 119420

I ran into the same issue with the RS5000x being too long with 35s. The 2.5's should solve the up travel issue though you will lose down travel. (duh) The 2.5" version netted (I "rented" a set from amazon to measure) around 6ish inches of up leaving only 3ish for down. As far as performance I have no comment since I never drove the jeep with them installed.

Those seat covers look awesome. So much storage.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Changed out the shocks.

Replaced my super cool chrome hood lathes with black ones.

Installed Savvy corner and steering box skidS onto the front bumper and repainted. One bolt on the corners won’t work with my Sway-Loc bar. Likely going to epoxy it in for aesthetics.

Went to mount the tube to the front bumper and looks like it is going to take a bit of modification to make it work with my Warn Zeon. Actually kind of like it without the bar. Going to run it like this for a bit and see how I like it. I still plan to add some fog lights to the front bumper as well.

Line is just loose in the winch for now going to order a TRE safety thimble, then get it all dial in.

That’s enough typing time to go get to work on the back bumper.

 

[DrDmoney]

Changed out the shocks.

Replaced my super cool chrome hood lathes with black ones.

Installed Savvy corner and steering box skidS onto the front bumper and repainted. One bolt on the corners won’t work with my Sway-Loc bar. Likely going to epoxy it in for aesthetics.

Went to mount the tube to the front bumper and looks like it is going to take a bit of modification to make it work with my Warn Zeon. Actually kind of like it without the bar. Going to run it like this for a bit and see how I like it. I still plan to add some fog lights to the front bumper as well.

Line is just loose in the winch for now going to order a TRE safety thimble, then get it all dial in.

View attachment 119692View attachment 119693View attachment 119694

That’s enough typing time to go get to work on the back bumper.

yeah the Zeon is a little wider than most winches, I ran into a similar issue.

 

[L J]

Installed Savvy corner and steering box skidS onto the front bumper and repainted. One bolt on the corners won’t work with my Sway-Loc bar. Likely going to epoxy it in for aesthetics.

I also have a SwayLoc and mrblaine tapped that hole and cut the bolt down when he fit my corners.

Actually kind of like it without the bar. Going to run it like this for a bit and see how I like it

I prefer the lo-pro look as well. I bought a Warn 9.5XP-S and moved the box to the engine compartment with the help of mrblaine and his crimper, cable and lugs.

I still plan to add some fog lights to the front bumper as well.

I got the hooks (OEM are too small to access with the tabs/fogs installed) and tabs for the lights from Savvy (edit* looks like you did as well - I didn't look close enough) but still have to fix my broken OEM fog light bracket.

 

[DrDmoney]

That’s a good idea if you haven’t drilled the holes yet

 

[DrDmoney]

I prefer the lo-pro look as well. I bought a Warn 9.5XP-S and moved the box to the engine compartment.

x2

 

[L J]

x2
View attachment 119708

That is so clean. I am looking for a tie plate that will work with the 9.5XP.

 

[DrDmoney]

That is so clean. I am looking for a tie plate that will work with the 9.5XP.

That is so clean. I am looking for a tie plate that will work with the 9.5XP.

I think that would look good on the XP plus protect your rope from the elements better

 

[Midnight LJR]

That’s a good idea if you haven’t drilled the holes yet

That would have been a great idea! if I didn’t already drill the hole. I didn’t know it wasn’t going to work.

 

[DrDmoney]

That would have been a great idea! if I didn’t already drill the hole. I didn’t know it wasn’t going to work.

How much room is there? a Jamb nut might work they are much thinner.

 

[Midnight LJR]

How much room is there? a Jamb nut might work they are much thinner.View attachment 119718

Not sure they are close. Threading them would have been the secret.

 

[Alex01]

Not sure they are close. Threading them would have been the secret.

View attachment 119894View attachment 119895

Hindsights always 20/20. How about adding a helicoil?

 

[DrDmoney]

Not sure they are close. Threading them would have been the secret.

View attachment 119894View attachment 119895

You can get a jamb nut on those, cut them down to the thickness of the bumper + the plate + 5/16” measuring from the flat part of the screw, slide a jamb nut over the back and screw the fastener into it. Use locktite red.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Ok I will pick some up and try. Driver side I agree passenger side I am not sure, but will try. On the passenger side there is barely enough room with just the bumper.

But that’s enough excuses I will pick some up and give it a shot this week.

 

[DrDmoney]

Ok I will pick some up and try. Driver side I agree passenger side I am not sure, but will try. On the passenger side there is barely enough room with just the bumper.

View attachment 119906

But that’s enough excuses I will pick some up and give it a shot this week.

Wow I see that now, that picture is much clearer. It looks like your arms will hit the bumper at droop, at least on the cross bolt.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Wow I see that now, that picture is much clearer. It looks like your arms will hit the bumper at droop, at least on the cross bolt.

Yeah if it doesn’t it’s going to be very close.

My new wheels are supposed to be in Tuesday or Wednesday once I get them changed I will have to check out everything out again. It’s a interesting project as each change tends to domino and causes other problems.

 

[DrDmoney]

Yeah if it doesn’t it’s going to be very close.

My new wheels are supposed to be in Tuesday or Wednesday once I get them changed I will have to check out everything out again. It’s a interesting project as each change tends to domino and causes other problems.

Yeah those collateral modifications can beat you up. Back to the original problem though what about a riv-nut in the bumper? How hard would it be to pull those bumper plates off and riv-nut the bottom holes then you would just have a threaded hole the thickness of the bumper and you could cut your fastener off flush to the back of the bumper

 

[bobthetj03]

Yep, welcome to the life of modifying a TJ. Heck, you might have enough meat in the bumper to just drill/tap some fine threads and use the appropriate length bolt. Rivnut is a good idea too DrD.

 

[jjvw]

Yep, welcome to the life of modifying a TJ. Heck, you might have enough meat in the bumper to just drill/tap some fine threads and use the appropriate length bolt. Rivnut is a good idea too DrD.

Why not drill and tap out to the next largest bolt size? Switching to metric can be like a half step if going too large is a concern.

 

[DrDmoney]

Why not drill and tap out to the next largest bolt size? Switching to metric can be like a half step if going too large is a concern.

I am assuming the fastener head sizes won’t match depending on diameter of the current clear hole size, there are matching fastener head sizes available for different diameter screws. Mismatched screw head sizes might not be an issue though so it is an option.