The post-build thread

Bigmac

Rather be in 29 palms.
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2018
Messages
714
Location
Oklahoma, USA
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Been reading the build threads lately and I've been asking myself "why didn't I do one of these?".

Well I still have most of the photos so I'll attempt to get from start point to present day.

I've rebuilt a Rubi Tcase, an ax15, built most of the current jeep from scratch ( and my old jeep ) and recently did a rear outboard job... doing the front this month.

We'll see if I can keep the timeline straight and get it all in here...
 
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So most of these pictures are on my laptop at home, I'll insert a few placeholders for them and upload them when i get back from my trip.

My old Jeep had an 8.8 rear, HPd30 front 4.88 gears, ax15. Bought a 241 rubi case blown apart in a 5 gallon bucket and a milkcrate for 400$. 800 in parts later, it was great...

Saved for a whole deployment to do a mid arm, and found frame rust... damn.

An extremely generous friend of mine offered up a 2000 sahara for a deal to start fresh.
"you should see it first"
"why?"
"lets go see it"

It had 100k less miles on the motor, the 32RH trans, and rubi dana 44s. and a good frame. incredible.

what it did not have....
a good steering wheel
doors
dash
console
tailgate
rollbar
seats
windshield frame
a top
wheels / tires
carpet
T-Case (not included in the deal)

needed replacing was
Hood
suspension
fenders
rocker gaurds.

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And so began a jeep made up of at least 12 different Jeeps. I'd swap what I wanted, sell what I had left, and try not to go broke making it my dream jeep.

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So from this point the first step (after convincing the wife of my plan) was installing the mid-arm. I didn't do it, but I did get to help...

I'll post some photos of it getting the Mid-arm installed if the shop owner is alright with it, not my call to post pictures of someone else's shop.

After getting the mid arm installed, made arrangements to have it delivered an hour down the road to where I was living at the time so I could begin frankensteining the two jeeps together.

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Started by swapping over the wheels and tires, (knew I'd be keeping them and had to return the rollers)
Then a good cleaning of the new jeep, removal of what was left of the dash, pedals, steering equipment, and anything else inside the tub for cleaning up the inside and laying on a layer of paint, insulation for heat and noise, and finally the bedtread floor liners.

Next would be the seats, swapping over the dash, center consoles, shifters, the rubi trans case from the other jeep, big brake kit from other jeep, and a steering wheel.
 
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Next came the armor I had slowly been collecting, the corner guards were a steal on criagslist.
Savvy corner gaurds, rock sliders, bumpers, and a custom raised 03-06 gas tank skid.
These were prior to powder coating, and I believe prior to the exhaust routing.

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getting the exhaust routed (the first time) had to redo it again last month when I finished the outboard job. I guess this came prior to the armor, having issues keeping the timeline straight.

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Still had the green doors and green tailgate, old rampage pos soft top.

Cant find the photo of all the armor freshly powder coated.

I don't know if you've already seen it in the other photos or not, but the hood is obviously replaced. Although it does have rubi axles, rubi lockers, rubi transfer case, I know how sensitive all you rubicon owners are about the 8 in your VIN, so the stickers were later peeled off. The other side said "RUB CON" for a good while.
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I'm realizing that I don't have as many of my previous photos as I thought, they may all be on a hard drive somewhere.
I do have to acknowledge I had ALOT of help on this build from a good friend of mine. I've learned alot and although I won't call him out I very much appreciate all his help. This Jeep wouldn't have come out nearly as great without him.
 
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These photo dumps are the best! Awesome jeep man! Huge fan of the black with tan interior!!:love:
 
Appreciate that, it's been an incredible journey building it.
I wish I had been doing the thread all along so I could have have added in alot more detail and better photos.
You still at 29 stumps? We should link up and go wheeling!