Turbo'd Rubinot

[Sgt Jarhead]

Had an amazing last few weeks meeting new friends off this forum @gbirk and @EJD

Started off last week out in Browns Camp earning a few Trail badges for the first time. Fell in love with the area varying from simple to more technical obstacles! This weekend with the same group with the addition of a few more of my friends tagging along with me, we hit up Sand Lake and man... breathtaking to see the Dunes, Coast and Mountains in a 360* view.

With about 1,000 miles under her since doing the ride up to Salem for work, It’s the most fun I’ve had since moving back to Oregon in January. Looking to make plans for Rubicon possibly in August and who knows what else before the end of the year...!

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Been relatively quiet for me since my trip out to Northern Oregon. Badges came in not too long after! Since coming back I’ve just been doing light maintenance. Replaced the rear pads/rotors, alignment, greased the RCV’s, steering, ball joints, and drive shaft components. Pretty nice for a change Looking at changing the oil/tire rotation very soon whenever my wife’s JKU shows up from Hawaii to knock them both out.

In the meantime I’ve been enjoying riding the Honda Shadow whenever the weather out here cooperates.

 

[Ron Hockett]

Nice build! Congratulations on one fine TJ!

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Nice build! Congratulations on one fine TJ!

Thank you! I really wished I would have came across this forum when I first started this build. One day I’ll access my photos on my old computer and post photos of some parts of the process.

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Well, when I did my cooling overhaul I may or may not have skimped out on replacing my water pump ...

Thus my Jeep decided to begin leaking coolant out of the water pump a little while later. So I finished replacing the pump today and while I was at it the fan clutch.

On a better note, I ended up purchasing from a good friend a AFR gauge that’ll be used in conjunction with HP Tuners to set up a better tune for my Banks Turbo!

 

[Lost In The High Desert]

Nice build! I've enjoyed reading through your thread and seeing the transformation through all of the photos with the details on what you've done.
I'm just getting into Jeep's and I look forward to having another way to explore all of the great areas we have access to in Oregon. I had never heard of the Jeep Trail Badges from the Tillamook State Forest. I love the Oregon Coast Range and I now I have yet another reason to go back over there...
I hope to see more of your adventures!

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

I finally came across an old album full of photos of the rig during its process.

Here’s how she originally looked September 19th of 2017.

When I started looking more throughly into the vehicle did I find a pretty good chunk of change somehow wedged inside the stock seats…

The only issues the rig had was a torn passenger side soft top (from someone attempting to break in which is why the original owner sold it) and a missing glove box. Oh not to mention the AC only working on low but later through this forum was only a resistor. But for $4,500 whose complaining.

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

I began by transferring some items from my YJ over to the TJ in the beginning. I’ve attended 4 Wheel Parts Jeep and Truck Fest and were always a hit when checking the “scratch and dent pile”. I did some questionable things in the beginning now looking through these photos like the initial attempt to run a YJ Hardtop on a TJ (never got to trimming the hardtop to fit thankfully), making a JK SmittyBilt Tire Carrier work with a TJ SmittyBilt Rear Bumper (10/10 do not recommend ).

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

After the initial attempt on modding my rig that I came to the realization that I want to run my Jeep on 35’s. With this idea in mind and research is when I believe many deals basically fell on my lap. From 4 Wheel Parts Expo getting a “scratch and dent” Spice Soft top and Matching Seats, classified ads between Craigslist/Facebook market place of used/built axles beginning with a Dana 30/44 geared and locked, new SYE sold at a used price, tires, armor/hi-line fenders (that needed a ton of work in the following photos shown), gas tank skid etc. On top of all these used items did I jump on a new lift from Metal Cloak since we had a connection on island that could have it all shipped for free through bulk buys.

Let’s just say my wife gave me this look once the pile of items took up half the garage space…

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

With all these items sitting I finally put her under the knife with my wife and a good friend: With a 3.5” MC lift, Built Axles, Adam Drive Shafts, painting the wheels and many smaller items.

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Shortly after the hi-lines were installed and after a few wheeling trips I decided to jump the gun due to finding more used parts in Oahu and back home in Southern Oregon for sale. Those parts included KMC Machete Beadlocks, Geared and locked Dana 44 front Axle from another island, Mr. Blaines BMB Kit (as some of this was mentioned before) and the complete Teraflex Belly Up Skid.

Thus, a photo op was in order of the rig before the Dana 44 and beadlocks and after.

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Well, the time line is sort of backwards but I’m glad to have finally added it all for my own safe keeping and your pleasure to read!

I’ve appreciated everything this forum has had to offer and then some! It’s taught me most of what I know about my rig and learn in awe of the TJ/LJGeneration.

I’ve always thought I’d take this rig to the grave with me but as is life, things change.

After moving around a few parts to the rig she’ll be up for sale…

I’ll be leaving this Link for those that have followed my Journey thus far-Thank You!

 

[Sgt Jarhead]

Nice build! I've enjoyed reading through your thread and seeing the transformation through all of the photos with the details on what you've done.
I'm just getting into Jeep's and I look forward to having another way to explore all of the great areas we have access to in Oregon. I had never heard of the Jeep Trail Badges from the Tillamook State Forest. I love the Oregon Coast Range and I now I have yet another reason to go back over there...
I hope to see more of your adventures!

Thank you! There’s so much of Oregon to explore and hope to really find both the known and unknown trails while living here. As for the trail badges you’ll just need to download the app: Jeep Badge of Honor, type your vin # in and start checking in (wether you have service or not). It’s a nice momento that I’ve used to stick on framed photos of the obstacles I’ve done/seen with the rig such as this!