07' JK lift day

[SCRubicon]

I lifted the JK last summer. Full on July heat and no air tools... My (new) sister-in-law was in town and lended a big helping hand during the project. What? A chick wrenching a jeep you ask? 15 years in the Coast Guard fixing diesel engines - sometimes in hostile waters -makes her more than qualified in my book. It was great to work with someone who knows their way around a toolbox. We kept a good pace, and she made me take breaks because of the heat. I have a bad habit of working to the point of exhaustion. Anyhow, here are some pics of the day...


Here's where it all started - Superlift 4 inch kit. Boxes and bags o' plenty

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1191.jpg

Front shocks, springs and spring stops on their way out

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1192.jpg

New front shocks, springs and stops on - driver's side

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1201.jpg

Me working the rear swaybar bracket

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1206.jpg

Here's a shot of the rear driver's side

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1208.jpg

End of the day - it hit 103 that day... It wouldn't have mattered if Sonja drove over me at that point, I was already dead from the heat

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/Rubi%20Lift/DSCN1215.jpg

[SCRubicon]

I've been in need of a real C.B. for some time now, so I gave the little hand
held Cobra 38WXST it's walking papers. My choices were narrowed
down to a Uniden 68 series and a Cobra 29 series. (I had a PC68XL in the
CJ5 and it worked great) The Cobra was the limited black face/chrome
case edition. But, I figured I would get the less flashy more ballsy unit. I
went with a Uniden PC68LTW. With the power boost upgrade she came
in at the same price as the un modded Cobra. As for the antenna, I went
with a 4' top loaded Everhardt Tiger. They work really well for soft top
Jeeps and they flex all day long.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN2996.jpg
(yeah baby!!!)


I ran the install process a little backwards - antenna first. Simple stainless
steel body mount on the back side above the license plate. The fun part
came when it was time to route the co-ax up to the front and behind the
dash. I'll tell you now, there isn't much room to play around with the JK's.
That dash is tight... With that done, I got into the C.B..

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN2979.jpg


Alot of people have been somewhat troubled as to where they can mount a
traditional C.B. in their JK. The answer is right in front of your face. You
know, that big useless flat spot right above the stereo... Simple, easy -
right? Wrong... If you have the factory electronic compass, the brain box
is directly under that square wad of dashboard plastic. To avoid a costly
mistake I carefully measured out where the bracket was going to mount,
marked it off with tape, then measured again.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN2981.jpg

Now, where to get power for my new toy? I did some research as to
where some other people stole power from. Seems the best place (if you
don't hook up directly to the battery) is to splice into the aux power port.
You can also tap into the cig lighter - if you want the power to be switched
on and off by the key. So, liking to use the C.B. while the Jeep isn't
running - I spliced into the aux power port.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN2990.jpg


To get the power wires to the C.B. I drilled a small hole through that square
wad of plastic and popped a rubber grommet in place. (not required, but I
like those little things) I left the fuse for the C.B. on the outside of the dash
because it is quick to change. Sure beats taking the dash apart again just to
change a silly little fuse...

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN2985.jpg


After the the dash trim was buttoned up, I mounted the C.B. bracket with
four 1" screws. There is a plastic cross piece above the stereo to bite into
too once the top dash plastic is penetrated. The mic bracket mounted nicely
between the heat vents.


With everything connected, I have the C.B. tilted up in the front. I can hear
the bottom mount speaker better... I really don't see the need for an
external speaker.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKCBRadio/DSCN3003.jpg

[SCRubicon]

I went with Smittybilt bumpers for the JK. I like the tube style and the price was great.


I was told by the rep that the rear bumper was going to get here first, so (just my luck) the front one came. The Fed-Ex driver noticed the Jeep in the garage with the rear bumper off. She beat feet as soon as the front bumper was off the delivery truck. Lol, not her fault...

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3004.jpg

Ok, back to business. Once the back bumper besmirchment anger was over, I tore into the front.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3007.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3011.jpg

The factory stuff came off easy skeezy. The new bumper weighed a ton and required some mounting holes to be reamed out.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3018.jpg

(a couple days after the bumper was on) With the winch and fairlead in place, it was time to wire it up.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3020.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c174/SteveChabala/JKbumpers/DSCN3021.jpg

(BTW - the back bumper is still on backorder...)

[4Runninfun]

Steve you jeep is really cool, and it's actually used which is even better. You do need to put a hiflow muffler or something on it so we can tell when it's running!

[Funrover]

As I have said before, YOUR RIG IS SWEET!!!!!

[Brody]

Hey Steve

Thanks for posting (and reposting) all of the pictures! I always like to see build up stuff and I think everyone else does, too. It isn't just cool to see what other people have done to their rig, it is also cool to see the pictures and use them as an inspiration to do or fix something on your own. Like" Gee, if Steve is out doing that in 103 degree temperature, I guess I have to stop whining and fix project XX." It is too easy to procrastinate...

Great!...

[Patrolman]

Always glad to see someone who does their own work! Even though you didn't built the parts, at least you know how they were installed. Any trail failure has a much better chance of being repaired with your knowledge! Nice rig and hope to see it someday!