Preparation questions about 2005 Rubicon I'm taking delivery of Thursday

[Henchman59]

You should start a "Build Thread" and track what you do. Looks like a great TJ to start with, and a good price considering your budget. Good stuff, and a Rubicon, all good.

I will do that, I created a spreadsheet to track the project. I like to fix things, make upgrades, shop parts and I am pretty handy as I've been twisting wrench's and doing electronics since I was a kid. I have a lot of history as many of us do. Sold a tech company, turned 65, became a yoga instructor, learned to surf... all I can say is, being type A, needing to play and learn continually is in my DNA. Now time for a Jeep! It will take me places, compliment my toys and my need to be outdoors.

 

[cpwolf]

I will do that, I created a spreadsheet to track the project. I like to fix things, make upgrades, shop parts and I am pretty handy as I've been twisting wrench's and doing electronics since I was a kid. I have a lot of history as many of us do. Sold a tech company, turned 65, became a yoga instructor, learned to surf... all I can say is, being type A, needing to play and learn continually is in my DNA. Now time for a Jeep! It will take me places, compliment my toys and my need to be outdoors.

Cool, I'm in Tech now, that's cool, I do this to keep me sane, I thought it was "Something I can finish"....but it's a Jeep...and then end of every project seems to be the beginning of the next....although I'm pretty close, ha.

There is a Build Section, instead of the General, it's a cool way to track what you're doing, and get help on just your build as it goes.

 

[Henchman59]

Cool, I'm in Tech now, that's cool, I do this to keep me sane, I thought it was "Something I can finish"....but it's a Jeep...and then end of every project seems to be the beginning of the next....although I'm pretty close, ha.

There is a Build Section, instead of the General, it's a cool way to track what you're doing, and get help on just your build as it goes.

Yup, keeping sane is key!! Whatever we do as long as we enjoy and have fun. I think Jeeps are like my Harleys, they become unique to each owner, I like yours, and many others here, let's see what happens to this one.

I'll follow up in the build section. Thank you!

 

[SCiotola]

Looks like a fun project. I hope the frame is ok under that skid. Curious to see how it plays out.

 

[Henchman59]

Looks like a fun project. I hope the frame is ok under that skid. Curious to see how it plays out.

It will be a fun project. I have found some frame problems. They did a lot of past mitigation so it's still structurally ok, what I've found will keep me busy as time goes by. The intel here is spot on. So many good things about it and nothing that I can't fix. I'll be careful what I do put into it for money and keep an eye on everything of value. My Camaro and Cuda's needed donors back in the day. So my drivers became just that... it was nothing personal final cars were badass.

I don't mean this in a cocky way as I would have still bought it after looking at so many as I wanted the toy now... I'm not getting any younger and sometimes lessons can cost us money from my education to my divorces but my kids are doing great from my past lessons.

I ordered the 2" BDS lift, all new audio, soft top and tube doors and that will go smooth. I'll move all up to to the project page once I start. Sprayed down the bolts and I'll go at it in the winter as it looks like I will break a few body bolts to make a few future repairs at the back end of the frame.

Like all said, when I cut the plate away... could be in for a big surprise. I'm gonna say it won't be my last Jeep (lesson) as my 06 Rubicon had to go in 2021 was a little of a money pit in that it went with the relationship!! I missed that Jeep, so I needed a stunt Jeep.

No one left to tap into me, this will be all mine... maybe it will be a successful marriage... some of my Beantown humor squeaking out. Thanks all for your input as you weren't wrong.

 

[Westtown Willy]

Like all said, when I cut the plate away... could be in for a big surprise. I'm gonna say it won't be my last Jeep (lesson) as my 06 Rubicon had to go in 2021 was a little of a money pit in that it went with the relationship!! I missed that Jeep, so I needed a stunt Jeep.

I'd start doing some research into Safe-T-Caps, I have a strong feeling when you cut that skid off the lower rails will come with it; a prior owner likely spun the bolts & didn't look enough into it to realize there was a fix, so rather than doing it the correct way he welded the skid on... the condition of the lower rails has been in a Biden-style free-fall ever since so depending on when that was done it could be pretty bad. So, provided the balance of the frame is good enough to weld onto you'll likely be putting on the Safe-T-Caps, then you'll be able to properly mount that skid once again & you really want that thing to be removable as it was from the factory, lots of fun stuff to do with that thing off...

 

[Henchman59]

I'll started looking into Safe-T-Caps, thank you, it appears they're easy to come by. it appears I may not be the first. Once I saw it, really saw it, first question was something like... being able to take driveline apart would be nice, totally understand. I've seen some pictures, not pretty, but for now I'll do more research, share what I'm up to with it, and maybe see how it will hold up.

My life is typically one based on baptism by fire, so why change now, god forbid I take an easy route. Then again, I'm never bored, learn a little, and I'm pretty patient. On look a Jeep Rubicon... it's pretty. Compulse much... yup!! It's why I joined, now I'll learn. Thanks again!

 

[The4bangertj]

I will do that, I created a spreadsheet to track the project. I like to fix things, make upgrades, shop parts and I am pretty handy as I've been twisting wrench's and doing electronics since I was a kid. I have a lot of history as many of us do. Sold a tech company, turned 65, became a yoga instructor, learned to surf... all I can say is, being type A, needing to play and learn continually is in my DNA. Now time for a Jeep! It will take me places, compliment my toys and my need to be outdoors.

Ima about to move to New Hampshire here in a week. I grew up in Maryland and love to surf and have always wondered where in the New England area people do surf? Hopefully you learned somewhere close to home. Got a nice jeep especially for that area it’s very hard to find not rusted ones.

 

[Henchman59]

Ima about to move to New Hampshire here in a week. I grew up in Maryland and love to surf and have always wondered where in the New England area people do surf? Hopefully you learned somewhere close to home. Got a nice jeep especially for that area it’s very hard to find not rusted ones.

Folks will go to Hampton Beach and Salisbury area on Mass/NH border, you can head north towards Maine as well. It's very new to me as I went to Nicaragua in February and took lessons there, it wasn't pretty but I managed. I'll ask a friend where she likes to go as well, she's just south of NH.

 

[The4bangertj]

Folks will go to Hampton Beach and Salisbury area on Mass/NH border, you can head north towards Maine as well. It's very new to me as I went to Nicaragua in February and took lessons there, it wasn't pretty but I managed. I'll ask a friend where she likes to go as well, she's just south of NH.

That good to hear, I was worried I’d have to go to the cape to find some waves. I normally go to the southern part of obx and now that’s a bit far going to New Hampshire so that’s good at least I’ll be able to ride something bc I’ve only see the rocky Maine coast when I was there visiting.

 

[DB04RedJeep]

Ima about to move to New Hampshire here in a week. I grew up in Maryland and love to surf and have always wondered where in the New England area people do surf? Hopefully you learned somewhere close to home. Got a nice jeep especially for that area it’s very hard to find not rusted ones.

Southern Rhode Island is a big surfing area to add to your list also.