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Rubi-L - A TJ Unlimited |
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Specifications: 2004 year model 4.0L engine with automatic transmission, cruise, hardtop and CD player. Stock rear axel: Dana 44 with 3:73 gears and disk brakes. Stock front axel: Dana 30 with 3:73 gears and disk brakes.
What am I going to do to it?
Rubicon stuff: The rear axel will get 4:10 gears out of a Rubicon and an ARB air locker. The front axel be replaced with a Dana 44 Rubicon axel and will also will get 4:10 Rubicon gears with an ARB air locker. The transfer case will be replaced with a NP241 out of a Rubicon. It will get Rubicon fender flares.
Suspension: Lift will be 3" with maybe a 1" body lift. I will probably run 33" tires.
Protection Armor plating will include a belly-up transfer case skid plate and also rocker panel and rear quarter panel protection. The steering box is also protected. The rear bumper has a 2" receiver and the front bumper holds the Warn 9000# winch. |
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First views on dealer lot |
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When the Wrangler Unlimited came out, I had to have one. I sold Marvin, Miss Liberty, and the Red Baron to get me an Unlimited. It was ordered for me in the color I wanted with all available options |
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1st Week Modifications |
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The first week I had it, I added the winch, rear bumper and CB radio. | |||||||||||
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2nd Week Modifications |
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Week 2 added the ARB air pump and switches as well as steering gearbox protection. |
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3rd Week Modifications |
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Week three I started on the rocker and rear quarter panel protection. I also replaced the stock fender flares with Rubicon flares. |
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4th Week Modifications |
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I had the rocker and quarter panel protectors powder coated before final installation. | |||||||||||
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5th Week Modifications |
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Big changes this week! Replaced front
Dana 30 axel with a Dana 44 front axel from a Rubicon. Front and rear
axels were set up with ARB air lockers and 4:10 gears. At the time of
the axel change, I also added a 3" Rubicon Express lift and a 1" body
lift. A high strength tie rod and 1/2" thick front differential cover
was also added.
I also tried 35" Super Swamper tires on it. I did not like this and removed them. |
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I prefer the 9.5" X 34" Super Swamper tire for off road. | |||||||||||
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6th Week Modifications |
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The hard top came off and a custom half soft top was put on for local travel. |
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Runs |
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Colorado - Labor Day 2004 |
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| Near Colorado Springs | Holy Cross trail. It did great! | Rollings Pass, near Winter Park | ||||||||||
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Spring Creek trail near Georgetown. This was the best trail we found that week. |
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| Rocky Mountain National Park | ||||||||||||
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Farmington, New Mexico - The Intimidator |
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What a fun trail | |||||||||||
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The last obstacle (The Crapshoot) got the
best of me. My rear bumper hung as I was trying to clime the ledge and
this allowed the right shock to pull out of its mount on the frame. This
then allowed the spring to come out. I winched up. The fix was to add a set of Currie Enterprises spring keepers. These bolt the springs to the frame at the top and the axle at the bottom. The springs are now my limiting strap. |
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Las Cruces, New Mexico - Broad Canyon |
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Broad Canyon, about 20 miles North of Las Cruces is one of our favorite places to play. You can run it easy or you can run it as hard as you want. | ||||||||||
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Car Shows and Parades |
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Rock Crawlers displayed in downtown Farmington, NM |
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The Whole Enchilada Fiesta 2004 car show. Took 1st place in its class |
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2004 NMSU Homecoming parade. I carried candidates for Homecoming King and Queen. |
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