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Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread!

jlewissystem

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2019 JLUR MANUAL Mojito!
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Looking good dude!
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Krondor

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12/2/2020 27,207 mi

I haven’t done a great job of keeping my build thread updated. Here’s the latest.

I started back on 12/5/20 upgrading wheels, tires, and lift. Specifically I replaced the 7.5”x17” +44 upgrade Rubicon wheels with 8.5”x17” +12 Mopar off-road wheels. Changed out the 315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia tires with the same ones in3 37/12.50/17 size.


I also took off my Dynatrac Endurosport 2” lift to replace it with MetalCloak’s 2.5” GameChanger lift. Actually I purchased a set of 6 slightly used MC arms from a member here and added them with the True Dual lift which saved m hundreds of dollars. I gained much more than 1/2” in height and a lot of articulation.

I installed a Mopar tailgate reinforcement along with the Teraflex Alpha tire carrier to handle the added weight of the bigger tires.


I’ll add more pictures of it all later.

AA355072-3A86-4F46-8AEF-072EEDCC1271.jpeg


DBD0C8F1-1F2A-48F2-8D3F-5B12D36EADE1.jpeg


35AD0F24-F63F-4052-B11F-818EBC670DFF.jpeg


43C4529C-E22E-4071-A087-6C33AE201DF1.jpeg


CB22BF36-D333-43FC-97E1-0FB6FFC88672.jpeg
I do love those wheels!

Very nicely done.:like:
 

stevieb92

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12/26/2020 27,207 mi

I haven’t done a great job of keeping my build thread updated. Here’s the latest.

I started back on 12/5/20 upgrading wheels, tires, and lift. Lift installation took me about 9-11 hours spread over 3 weekends. I don’t work fast and I had lots of starts and stops for various reasons.

I replaced the 7.5”x17” +44 upgrade Rubicon wheels with 8.5”x17” +12 Mopar off-road wheels. Changed out the 315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia tires with the same ones in3 37/12.50/17 size.


I also took off my Dynatrac Endurosport 2” lift to replace it with MetalCloak’s 2.5” GameChanger lift. Actually I purchased a set of 6 slightly used MC arms from a member here and added them with the True Dual lift which saved m hundreds of dollars. I gained much more than 1/2” in height and a lot of articulation.

I installed a Mopar tailgate reinforcement along with the Teraflex Alpha tire carrier to handle the added weight of the bigger tires.


I’ll add more pictures of it all later.

AA355072-3A86-4F46-8AEF-072EEDCC1271.jpeg


DBD0C8F1-1F2A-48F2-8D3F-5B12D36EADE1.jpeg


35AD0F24-F63F-4052-B11F-818EBC670DFF.jpeg


43C4529C-E22E-4071-A087-6C33AE201DF1.jpeg


CB22BF36-D333-43FC-97E1-0FB6FFC88672.jpeg
Love it!
 

jimim

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Looking really good. That silver with blue IDK to me it just looks amazing.
Yes I totally agree. Sometimes the contrast of one color is better on one build vs another.
 

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ExpeditionBuilds

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Thanks everyone. As we all know, they’re always a work in progress and seldom ever completely done.
And that is one aspect I really appreciate about Jeeps...they are constantly evolving. Keep up the great work :like:


-Steven
 
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Chocolate Thunder

Chocolate Thunder

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1/8/2021 27,375 mikes

I installed Oracle’s reverse lights today. I haven’t had a chance to reverse in the dark yet but I will soon. Of course I had to force the driver side fixture into the bumper and it sustained a small crack. If it leaks or fails prematurely I expect @ORACLElights to make good with a new one. Preferably one that fits correctly. Ily off by about a mm or so.

8EEBCEDB-1166-49B3-BC71-2CB4F10575A9.jpeg


194BB491-84F7-48CD-88B8-1B5E29179243.jpeg
 

rickinAZ

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12/26/2020 27,207 mi

I haven’t done a great job of keeping my build thread updated. Here’s the latest.

I started back on 12/5/20 upgrading wheels, tires, and lift. Lift installation took me about 9-11 hours spread over 3 weekends. I don’t work fast and I had lots of starts and stops for various reasons.

I replaced the 7.5”x17” +44 upgrade Rubicon wheels with 8.5”x17” +12 Mopar off-road wheels. Changed out the 315/70/17 Milestar Patagonia tires with the same ones in3 37/12.50/17 size.


I also took off my Dynatrac Endurosport 2” lift to replace it with MetalCloak’s 2.5” GameChanger lift. Actually I purchased a set of 6 slightly used MC arms from a member here and added them with the True Dual lift which saved m hundreds of dollars. I gained much more than 1/2” in height and a lot of articulation.

I installed a Mopar tailgate reinforcement along with the Teraflex Alpha tire carrier to handle the added weight of the bigger tires.


I’ll add more pictures of it all later.

AA355072-3A86-4F46-8AEF-072EEDCC1271.jpeg


DBD0C8F1-1F2A-48F2-8D3F-5B12D36EADE1.jpeg


35AD0F24-F63F-4052-B11F-818EBC670DFF.jpeg


43C4529C-E22E-4071-A087-6C33AE201DF1.jpeg


CB22BF36-D333-43FC-97E1-0FB6FFC88672.jpeg
Those last two pictures are especially good. A great stance and muscular look, tastefully done.
 

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Chocolate Thunder

Chocolate Thunder

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1/11/2021 27,411 miles

My tow wiring skid plate was delivered yesterday but nonstop playoff games all day (and freezing rain) prevented me from putting it on. Still cold today but dry, so I braved the harsh 38 degree weather for 6 minutes to put this on. It’s a thick steel plate that protects the tow wiring. The steel is thicker than the OEM bracket aIt’s hangs ever so slightly lower than the tow hitch itself, so I’m hoping that if it comes into use it’ll help protect the tow hitch and possibly the muffler from damage.


Before
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 74FBB906-93F8-4B39-AAFE-BD637D5A583F


Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! D6BA6213-FB4D-4B4A-A3BD-47DEF7B0F014



After
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! E991D3E1-5747-40FA-8AF7-1C1504C44690


Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 6309C4F8-DB38-451F-BC1E-A5CDB00AA1C0
 
Last edited:

Fastmover

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1/11/2021 27,411 miles

My tow wiring skid plate was delivered yesterday but nonstop playoff games all day (and freezing rain) prevented me from putting it on. Still cold today but dry, so I braved the harsh 38 degree weather for 6 minutes to put this on. It’s a thick steel plate that protects the tow wiring. The steel is thicker than the OEM bracket aIt’s hangs ever so slightly lower than the tow hitch itself, so I’m hoping that if it comes into use it’ll help protect the tow hitch and possibly the muffler from damage.



Before
L
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 6309C4F8-DB38-451F-BC1E-A5CDB00AA1C0


Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 6309C4F8-DB38-451F-BC1E-A5CDB00AA1C0



After
Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 6309C4F8-DB38-451F-BC1E-A5CDB00AA1C0


Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 6309C4F8-DB38-451F-BC1E-A5CDB00AA1C0
Looks great. Where did you get it? I've hit my oem guard a few times and now I can't open the little doors because the guard is bent and the whole assembly is canted upwards.
 
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Chocolate Thunder

Chocolate Thunder

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Chocolate Thunder

Chocolate Thunder

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1/16/2021 27,716 miles

I went out to BnL Jeep Shop this morning to get a post-lift alignment from Brett. Thorough, quality work as usual. Brett wouldn’t just align it and send me on my way. He noted all the stuff that needed to be corrected or adjusted from my lift installation. Replacing some fasteners, adjusting control arm lengths to better position my axle, meticulously torquing fasteners correctly, and getting caster and toe adjusted just where drivability and tire wear is maximized.

Thanks @rustyshakelford

Jeep Wrangler JL Chocolate Thunder’s Most Excellent Build Thread! 9F527F87-2EC6-4B9F-A463-CEC3B9E84109
 
Last edited:

rickinAZ

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1/16/2021 27, miles

I went out to BnL Jeep Shop this morning to get a post-lift alignment from Brett. Thorough, quality work as usual. Brett wouldn’t just align it and send me on my way. He noted all the stuff that needed to be corrected or adjusted from my lift installation. Replacing some fasteners, adjusting control arm lengths to better position my axle, meticulously torquing fasteners correctly, and getting caster and toe adjusted just where drivability and tire wear is maximized.

Thanks @rustyshakelford

9F527F87-2EC6-4B9F-A463-CEC3B9E84109.jpeg
Your caster is in the heart of the sweet spot for flightiness-free tracking on the highway.
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