Dark Helmet- ‘22 JLUR build thread

[failsafe306]

I suppose at this point, I’ve amassed enough mods to warrant a build thread. So I’ll go ahead and start at the beginning, and work my way up to how it sits now.

Back in late ‘21, when used car prices were INSANE, my wife gave the okay to sell my ‘15 Ram Big Horn to Carmax for $30k. I couldn’t believe the offer; I only gave $35k for it new a few years prior. I ordered my JLUR at 6% under discount, but after being stuck in JB purgatory for weeks, and then having sit in the back lot for several more weeks waiting to be shipped, I snapped and found one in transit to a local dealer and immediately threw down a deposit. Here it is fresh off the truck.

The day I picked it up.

Wasn’t long before I found a great deal on a set of Method 702s with 35” Ridge Grapplers. I threw on a set of Teraflex 1” front coil spacers, Teraflex 2” bump stops front and rear, and Fox 2.0 IFP shocks. Oh and by that point I had also added a Motobilt front bumper and Warn EVO 10k winch.

After dragging myself across several ledges, I decided I should probably beef up my diff covers, so I added Dana Advantek front/rear. I also added front / rear RockJock AntiRocks.

Stock flex, baby! ?

Full list of current mods:
**Gorilla black lug nuts

**Quadratec door sill guards

**Teraflex 1” front coil spacers

**Motobilt Hammer front bumper

**Warn EVO 10-S winch

**Warn power interrupter kit

**Warn medium recovery kit

**FOX 2.0 IFP 2-3” lift shocks

**Teraflex bump stop extension

**Midland MXT275

**Method 702 wheels

**Nitto Ridge Grapplers

**ARB tire deflator

**ARB digital tire inflator

**ARB dual compressor

**Rydonair 7” stubby antenna

**JSCAN

**Doors off mirrors

**Dana Advantek diff covers

**RockJock AntiRock F/R

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[failsafe306]

So now we are all caught up. Wait not quite…my latest mod, and reason behind the name…

I racked my brain forever trying to come up with a name for a black Jeep that wasn’t Black Betty or Bambalam, and once I came across this decal on eBay, it just hit me….Dark Helmet from one of my favorite movies of all time.

Now that we are caught up, we can talk about where the build is heading. I took advantage of the 15% Vets Day discount from MetalCloak, and ordered a 3.5”GC lift.

Phase II in progress:
3.5” MC GC w/ Fox BDS shocks
Adams front driveshaft
38” Nitto Trail Grapplers
Rusty’s tire carrier
Rusty’s skid plate system
EVO weld on rock sliders
Motobilt rear bumper
AFE high tuck muffler (although the new Banks for the 2.0 looks good too)

 

[LKG]

I see your schwartz is as big as mine ? OK, your schwartz might be bigger, cheap bastard here that'll probably wear out my factory BFG's before I go 35's.

 

[failsafe306]

It will be a couple months at least before I get tires. I’m wondering how silly the 35s would look with the 3.5” GC lift ?

 

[Flip]

Nice build Chris,

Can't wait to see Dark Helmet sitting on your new lift and 38's (Beast!!!)

 

[failsafe306]

Nice build Chris,

Can't wait to see Dark Helmet sitting on your new lift and 38's (Beast!!!)

Thanks! I can’t wait either. Tax return can’t come fast enough.

 

[FreedomFur]

Love the build thread. Jeep looks great. Special nod to the name. One of my all time favorite movies as well. COMB THE DESERT!

I am running 37” K02s with the same 3.5” GC lift. After messing with the fenders, sometimes the tires look too small to my eye. Since I have only done a 4 tire rotation, I plan to run one more set of K02s then switch to something else.

 

[failsafe306]

Love the build thread. Jeep looks great. Special nod to the name. One of my all time favorite movies as well. COMB THE DESERT!

I am running 37” K02s with the same 3.5” GC lift. After messing with the fenders, sometimes the tires look too small to my eye. Since I have only done a 4 tire rotation, I plan

You went over my HELMET?!

I’m hoping that since I’m still running full fenders, my 35’s won’t look too ridiculous. I’m too impatient to wait for the new tires. The added clearance will be nice off road.

 

[failsafe306]

In preparation for the upcoming 3.5” GC lift, I installed a new Adams driveshaft and relocated the parking brake lines using a Synergy bracket.

FYI on the bracket- Synergy has you use two OEM nuts to mount the bracket to the crossmember. On my ‘22 2.0, the studs are there, but no nuts. Just two plastic push-on wire harness tabs. So I had to go run to the hardware store to pick up a couple of M6x1.0 nuts to mount the bracket with. Annoying, but at least the studs were still there.

 

[failsafe306]

I started the lift install yesterday. I started up front because I knew that end would be the biggest PITA. Everything has gone smoothly so far. All that’s left up front is to find my cutting bit and open up the window on the axle side track bar mount. Then it’s on to the rear end

Stuffed

Love these Teraflex bump stops. I can add or delete in 1/2” increments. Better than the MC hockey pucks IMO.

 

[Slippery Pete]

p

 

[Deleted User 38384]

@failsafe306

Bro....

If you don't reupholster your interior plaid, I'm going to be soooooo butthurt!!

It looks AMAZING man! Really happy to finally see your rig!

 

[failsafe306]

@failsafe306

Bro....

If you don't reupholster your interior plaid, I'm going to be soooooo butthurt!!

It looks AMAZING man! Really happy to finally see your rig!

Thanks!

Plaid interior would the ultimate inside joke. 99.99999 percent of folks would be like, WTF? But that one guy who nods in approval would make it all worth it.

 

[GrumpyOldVet]

Great build thread!! May the Schwartz be with you!!

 

[failsafe306]

He’s on the ground! Still have to check caster, rear pinion angle, center axles, align steering wheel, and torque everything down, but it’s been a long day and I’m tired.

Everything went really smooth; no real hangups. Not sure how much I like it with the 35s, but the 38s will be on there sometime after the first of the year. I’m just glad to finally have some clearance offroad!

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