2025 WIllys 3.6 AT build

[WillysMeow]

2025 WIllys 3.6 AT Anvil color build thread, bought end of this summer after some research. First un-bolted and then cut off and flush ground remainder of the hang down piece on right frame rail just behind the tire.

Removed front and rear plastic bumpers, installed Mopar steel Rubicon front bumper (with Rough Country winch plate) and removed the end caps couple weeks later. Then cut the two hang down fangs from bottom of front frame rails leaving only the front swaybar mounts. Smoothed off my cuts with flapper sanding disc and spray painted black. Installed Metal Cloak JL Wrangler "Full Width" Rear Bumper with license plate mount.
https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-full-width-rear-bumper.html

Replaced differential covers, IME drain plugs get bumped and scraped on rocks and fall out at the worst time LOL, therefore nothing with drain plugs! Went with Currie nodular iron (black, as red attracts too much attention). Bought my own grade 12.9 black oxide coated fasteners and spring lock washers at local Ace Hardware store since I'd read of people snapping off the Currie 10.9 bolts.
https://www.quadratec.com/p/currie-...r-wrangler-jl/rear-dana-44-black-44jl-1005ctb

Ordered and received OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner for iPhone, Android, and Windows for troubleshooting, JScan use, etc.

Ordered Mini Tazer and SGW bypass harness today.

Purchased 5qty 35" tires to be mounted and balanced soon hopefully!

My started thread, will gather pictures and update!

In the Driveway with Christmas lights on a cold clear night! My Jeep is anvil color, but wow with just our tiny colored Christmas lights!

My little Christmas light helpers!

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[WillysMeow]

Took her gently wheeling for couple miles into Fordyce trail with only 74 miles on the odometer. Did not attempt anything difficult as she was brand new and still getting broken in....and just two of us in one Jeep.

Approximate cut line for the front lower skidplate mount fangs, but instead cut up as high as possible and made it one slightly rearward angled smooth cut.

Buh bye junk, initial cut before trimming, smoothing and painting with satin black!

Fordyce, large rock.

The night I just installed front Mopar steel Rubicon bumper!

Rough Country winch plate is actually pretty nice and made in USA again!

MetalCloak JL Wrangler "Full Width" Rear Bumper, 3/16" thick heavy duty and attaches the outer ends to the frame like stock does, but much thicker steel braces. Really like that it raises the factory Jeep trailer wiring/plugs up into the bumper away from rocks instead of underneath like the stock bumpers. Tapered underside and ends for sliding over rocks, thick steel but not overly thick and heavy. License plate mount above the bumper and tucked in with two positions. Stock spare tire has just enough room to not hit the bumper or barely touches. Only wish was that it had 2" receiver hitch built-in but then would probably be a frame chop installation. To route the trailer wiring plug (which is huge) I de-pinned it to slip the wires around between frame and body and then reassembled it to the plug and then into the bumper.
https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-full-width-rear-bumper.html

Really sweet bumper that checks off most the boxes, but weighs about 90lbs, might go frame chop for more clearance and less weight later on. I really like this bumper, think it's Barnes 4WD, that you buy as kit and weld together. I would cut out oval for the trailer hitch wiring or fab some other mount, didn't really want the trailer package, but it came with the Willys or some other package (W24 axle upgrade maybe?) that I wanted. I'm not planning on towing anything with my Jeep, but it could be usefull if I ever pull a U-Haul trailer or something and the receiver hitch is a great recovery point. I've got the Warn receiver recovery bit with the large D-ring shackle for my 30' yankum strap.

 

[WillysMeow]

Installing Bilstein 5100s all around on my 2025 Willys 4dr and even at ride height the boots bunch up badly around the shaft and lower mount! On compression going to be much worse and they are right next to ABS wires on front axle knuckle area and get very close to rubbing those wires due to bunching up.

In the past we always removed the boots (if they came with them ie Rancho RS9000) and ran without. Did this after maintenance one day and saw all the dirt and dust trapped in there and shock bodies were starting to rust! Also noticed that the boot had indentations from getting squashed between the shock body and rod end at full compression! Never had any problems running bootless in the past. Therefore cut off the Bilstein boots and got the front two installed, rears soon.

Mo better without the boots!

 

[WillysMeow]

255/85R17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss ATs installed on stock 17x7.5" wheels, no lift and no spacers...yet anyways lol. No steering rub, need to go wheel it and test for sure. ! So far great onroad and America's Tire was very expedient with the install, bagged up my MTs and loaded into back of Jeep! Done some around town driving and couple highway trips and they are very well mannered, steering wheel actually returns to center better than with the MTs and these are quieter.

Got 32psi now, going to go down to 30psi and test again.

I'm 6'2", these are definitely taller than many 35s

 

[Aonarch]

Looking good!

 

[WillysMeow]

@Aonarch Thanks!

Lower right front crash bar before and after, it's gotta be close to 5lbs with the bolts and all, plus in the way of rock crawling! I'll get an after picture, cut off, ground edges smooth and painted black. Was going to completely cut it off and smooth the frame rail with a flapper disc, when a friend pointed out that was a huge waste of time, so did the most expedient and nothing is left in the way!

Close to 5lbs of junk, used sawzall to cut the two top bolts in half after unscrewing them as far as possible and then used vise-grips to get the remainder out. They are so long that they can't come out in one piece with the body on, yes I left enough to grab onto when cutting them lol.

Installed genuine Mopar spare tire reinforcement bracket/kit, was quick and easy, but the four larger included Torx head bolts are soft JUNK! Was very careful while torquing them to the 35 ft lbs spec but two of them kind slipped and started to strip out the drive teeth. Used mini sledge to smack my impact bit into them (while carefully lined up) and managed to save them and finish the install! Need to go to local Ace hardware and get some regular black oxide coated hex head bolts or better quality Torx buttonheads and washers to replace those with.

Close up of one of the two buggered up Torx bolt heads.

 

[WillysMeow]

Removed all the stupid huge white and bright yellow warning stickers from both sun-visors before they get too baked on in the summer heat. Tried Goo Gone and Goof Off, neither worked very well at all and the stickers were taking forever to come off in tiny chunks, so used a heat gun on low and then the chemicals to clean up, followed by light wipe of WD-40. At first you could tell where the stickers had been, but now couple months later it's barely visible. Be very careful with the heat gun so you don't melt or distort the vinyl and plastic. After they cooled any sagging, bagging of the vinyl mostly went away and after a week or so parked in the sun, they are nice and tight like new.

Also managed to carefully work the rearview mirror around and get it flipped upside down to un-obscure this tall guy's view out the windshield. It could go up about another 1/2" and it would be easier to flip the lever to night time setting in normal position. Gotta find someone who welds aluminum and pay them to cut it and weld back together, so that I can un-flip it and gain that other 1/2" of height.

Flipped driver's headrest around because otherwise it pushes my head forward into a hunchback position! LOL Not good for the neck or back. I'll bend the mounting rods the proper amount and flip it back when I get around to it.

 

[jadmt]

@Aonarch Thanks!

Lower right front crash bar before and after, it's gotta be close to 5lbs with the bolts and all, plus in the way of rock crawling! I'll get an after picture, cut off, ground edges smooth and painted black. Was going to completely cut it off and smooth the frame rail with a flapper disc, when a friend pointed out that was a huge waste of time, so did the most expedient and nothing is left in the way!

Close to 5lbs of junk, used sawzall to cut the two top bolts in half after unscrewing them as far as possible and then used vise-grips to get the remainder out. They are so long that they can't come out in one piece with the body on, yes I left enough to grab onto when cutting them lol.

Installed genuine Mopar spare tire reinforcement bracket/kit, was quick and easy, but the four larger included Torx head bolts are soft JUNK! Was very careful while torquing them to the 35 ft lbs spec but two of them kind slipped and started to strip out the drive teeth. Used mini sledge to smack my impact bit into them (while carefully lined up) and managed to save them and finish the install! Need to go to local Ace hardware and get some regular black oxide coated hex head bolts or better quality Torx buttonheads and washers to replace those with.

Close up of one of the two buggered up Torx bolt heads.

I have to say 4 trips to Moab and I have never touched the crashbar bracket. Not saying it can't happen but it has not been an issue on any of the trails I have been on..and some have plenty of rock crawling.

 

[Aonarch]

@Aonarch Thanks!

Lower right front crash bar before and after, it's gotta be close to 5lbs with the bolts and all, plus in the way of rock crawling! I'll get an after picture, cut off, ground edges smooth and painted black. Was going to completely cut it off and smooth the frame rail with a flapper disc, when a friend pointed out that was a huge waste of time, so did the most expedient and nothing is left in the way!

Close to 5lbs of junk, used sawzall to cut the two top bolts in half after unscrewing them as far as possible and then used vise-grips to get the remainder out. They are so long that they can't come out in one piece with the body on, yes I left enough to grab onto when cutting them lol.

Installed genuine Mopar spare tire reinforcement bracket/kit, was quick and easy, but the four larger included Torx head bolts are soft JUNK! Was very careful while torquing them to the 35 ft lbs spec but two of them kind slipped and started to strip out the drive teeth. Used mini sledge to smack my impact bit into them (while carefully lined up) and managed to save them and finish the install! Need to go to local Ace hardware and get some regular black oxide coated hex head bolts or better quality Torx buttonheads and washers to replace those with.

Close up of one of the two buggered up Torx bolt heads.

Yeah those bolts are trash. I went with regular 6 point heads and 8.8 grade black oxide bolts.

 

[WillysMeow]

I have to say 4 trips to Moab and I have never touched the crashbar bracket. Not saying it can't happen but it has not been an issue on any of the trails I have been on..and some have plenty of rock crawling.

Yeah probably not in the way, but I dislike that kinda junk on my truck.

Yeah those bolts are trash. I went with regular 6 point heads and 8.8 grade black oxide bolts.

Trash is an understatement...wow like buttah...LOL. Yes, need to go to local Ace Hardware store and buy some good regular 6 point bolts and flat washers of proper size and length. I'll pull one bolt to measure before heading out.

Been driving a lot lately and love these new MT BB ATs, they are amazing in the rain even with standing puddles on the highway! Backed down driveway the other day in the dry and stomped brakes a little too hard and they made tiny chirp like good sticky rubber and stopped ASAP...so far highly recommended, need to off-road them soon.

 

[WillysMeow]

Changed engine oil and filter couple times now using Wix Gold filters, tried 5w-20 Castrol synthetic and it was quiet at cold startup! Once up to temp, noticed the usual tick ticking type of engine noises, my neighbor who builds engines and has several Jeeps of different flavors came over and checked it out. I didn't even mention the oil and he said never run that 0w-20 water, 5w-30.

Other day I changed oil again and wen with Castrol 5w-30, OMG it runs so smooth and quiet at all temps! Did a bit of hot-rodding around and it's my new oil of preference.

 

[bmpcamry09]

It’s about time for some tuning now

 

[WillysMeow]

@bmpcamry09 Agreed, downloaded, printed and read your directions. I need to buy MPIV and 8 credits (4 for my GPEC5 and 4 for TCM). Make two separate orders, one for the MPIV and one for 8 credits.

Then buy Dodge Upgraded PCM service, send my PCM into HPTuners for unlock.
https://www.hptuners.com/product/do...xPoYg-7NZb1m4zFUdGatPm3V7Y0yI2mkaAp4CEALw_wcB

Already have Mini Tazer SGW bypass harness, but haven't installed it yet.

Get in touch with you for the tune!

 

[bmpcamry09]

@bmpcamry09 Agreed, downloaded, printed and read your directions. I need to buy MPIV and 8 credits (4 for my GPEC5 and 4 for TCM). Make two separate orders, one for the MPIV and one for 8 credits.

Then buy Dodge Upgraded PCM service, send my PCM into HPTuners for unlock.

Already have Mini Tazer SGW bypass harness, but haven't installed it yet.

Get in touch with you for the tune!

Well damn, your reading comprehension is on point

Looking forward to it!!

 

[WillysMeow]

Well damn, your reading comprehension is on point

Looking forward to it!!

Hot dam, sweet! Thanks for the reply, purchased MPVI4 and 8 universal credits, waiting for arrival. Then I'll pull my .HPT file, use that and VIN at HPTuners and send my PCM in, will be contacting you for tuning!

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