JL's JLs Builds

[jlewissystem]

Wanted to post this, if this helps anyone else:

Up to this point, i have been struggling with the dis-engagement of my factory lockers. I have found that they dis-engage the best when you dont use the button: just go from 4L to 4H and the lockers will behave better (at least they did for us). Wanted to share, in case it helps anyone else!

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[awdkamil]

What did you use to make your hardtop black inside?

 

[BbyGrlJJ]

What did you use to make your hardtop black inside?

We taped & used 2 coats of Plasti-Dip on the inside

 

[jlewissystem]

Been awhile - hope everyone is staying safe! Rounding out some small mods: smoked tail lights. Got these off of Amazon and opted for the smoked 3rd light as well - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RXHBQ24/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Referenced this vid for removal and re-install - it was easy!

There are no instructions with these lights. The only thing i would note is that you will need to use the new zinc snap-clips and re-use your factory light mount, with the 3 screws.

You can pick any place, but here's where i used double-side tape to mount the resister: similar location on the passenger side:

 

[jlewissystem]

HEY! Can you hear me? I can now, with these replacement speakers. I was getting annoyed with the OEM "Alpine Premium". I'll assume the only part that is "Alpine" and "Premium" is the sub. I decided to try some Infinitiy replacements. Went with Inifinity because we tried Kicker in my wife's JK and they just seemed "meh" to me. I've had Inifinity in the past and I really like these.

3.5" - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B8T66KB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Front Dash:
For the front dash, just used a trim tool to pull the grille up. Removed the OEM 3.5 with a 7mm.
Purchased Metra connector 72-7902 - https://www.amazon.com/72-7902-Spea...hild=1&keywords=72-7902&qid=1600004431&sr=8-1

Did some research and found that Metra reversed the OEM wires in their harness, so had to pull the wires and reverse them - used this as a reference - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/metra-speaker-harness-polarity.49506/

I also used this to ensure polarity of the correct wires - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/JL-Wiring-Diagrams/AUDIO-SYSTEM---PREMIUM.pdf

To install the speakers, i did have to use a Dremel and cut 1/2 of the mounting tabs off, so they will fit. After that and a little shimmy, they went right in. They dont hit the grille at all and make a pretty good difference.

Rear:
The rears were a little different. Initially, the new 3.5s didnt fit, so i was considering grinding off some of the plastic, so the new magnet would fit. I went a different direction after thinking "work smarter, not harder", so i just took a few wood screws (so they would bite). Used some spares that i had sitting around. 1 short and 1 .5". Just screwed them into the OEM pod....didnt care.

They mounted up flush and sound great as well. I can now hear my soundbar way better. These have really good highs and i decided not to replace the 4". I felt that there wouldnt be too much gain in replacing 4" speakers. The new 3.5" do a great job! We will prob do the front kick-panels in a bit (to add some mid/bass up front), but will wait for now as i dont feel like pulling dash portions.

Since the new highs are more clear, i backed down my treble. Here are my current settings.

Highly recommend this one!! Cheap and a good gain!

 

[jlewissystem]

Been a while - happy Holidays and New Year! Here's a few Xmas gift installs that we've done:

Santa brought Hood tie-downs from DV8. also got the black turnbuckles:

The Archangel got new side lights, love these (with the backlight) - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JG67CPT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A drunken purchase found me with 2 Quadratec grill light sets, which we love. I have ordered a grille for mine, so it's not in yet, but the Archangel's looks fantastic!

Next was the Archangel's winch!!
Got her a Warn EVO 10s. I decided to wire in an isolator, so that the AUX1 button is the winch ON/OFF and that AUX3 is spool in and AUX4 is spool out. For some reason, the bracket consumed more thought than i wanted, but it was a simple design:

Since we have 2 Jeeps (and after wandering Home Depot for about 45 mins), finally found something that was simple: a 4x4 post bracket:, cut it in 2:

Put it on the bolt hole and lined up the fitment for drilling the hole:

Lined up the isolator https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WDPZEW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and drilled holes in the mount and mocked it up:

Next i painted the bracket: primer, 2 coats of factory paint, wet sand, 1 more factory and 1 clear. Also painted our new Synergy eBrake brackets:

Wired in the AUX to the winch: the blue wire is SPOOL IN, the yellow wire is SPOOL OUT:
I soldered in my wired and used the included boots:

For the isolator, i used these (Thanks to @Roky for the references )
Isolator - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WDPZEW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
12" Wire - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SFXVMYW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Red Caps - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017DZQL9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Black Caps - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012T3YU2Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With this setup:
We have to turn on AUX1 to turn on the winch
AUX3 is momentary and will spool-in
AUX4 is momentary and will pool-out

Front pics with ultrahook - looks awesome!

 

[Marman]

Really enjoyed this write-up. Loved what you two have done and have given me so many ideas. I'm in the Kansas City part of MO and have also run the trails at SMORR and Hot Springs, great places. Looking forward to more posts. Thanks...

 

[jlewissystem]

Really enjoyed this write-up. Loved what you two have done and have given me so many ideas. I'm in the Kansas City part of MO and have also run the trails at SMORR and Hot Springs, great places. Looking forward to more posts. Thanks...

Thanks for the feedback Larry! We appreciate that! Maybe we'll see you out and about, now that spring is around the corner.

 

[Daffydnbugs]

Where did you hook up the power for the backlighting on the Rigid lights? Great looking Jeeps, btw!

 

[jlewissystem]

Where did you hook up the power for the backlighting on the Rigid lights? Great looking Jeeps, btw!

Thanks! We have VoSwitches that have control boxes on the drivers side of the engine bay. We run most wires up there for switchpanel control.

 

[Daffydnbugs]

Thanks! We have VoSwitches that have control boxes on the drivers side of the engine bay. We run most wires up there for switchpanel control.

Using the Voswitch also, great product. Was just wondering if the backlighting was always on or hooked up to a switch. Thank you.

 

[jlewissystem]

Using the Voswitch also, great product. Was just wondering if the backlighting was always on or hooked up to a switch. Thank you.

Nice! Those are a cheaper (but nice) alternative. Gotcha - yeah, we chose to do switched for that.

 

[jlewissystem]

Had to give a little attention to the rear end:

New bumpers (Motobilt Crusher) - https://motobilt.com/collections/je...h-spare-tire-cut-out-2018-present-wrangler-jl
License Plate relocation - Artec - https://www.artecindustries.com/jllpmount


Prepped and painted the bumpers with Por15, in the basement paint-shop, as always!!
2 Coats of base and 1 top coat

It's not perfect, but that's all good! We plan to bash and like the imperfect look. "Rugged".

We have a few plans for lighting....coming soon!

With the aftermarket bumper, comes a license plate relocate. We chose to go with Artec, as it elevated the plate and allowed the wheel to be shown. Love the wheels, so we want them to be seen, so here we go:

Here is the mount, step by step:

22mm on the long bolts and 19mm on the short:

What was nice, is that we just flipped our Teraflex (Alpha HD) 3rd brakelight mount.....literally just turnt it 180 to 6 o'clock.


Followed a video here, for tapping into wiring, but decided to tap into the aftermarket taillights, instead of tapping into factory wiring -

For these lights (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RXHBQ24/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1), the RED/WHITE is positive for accessory marker and BLACK is ground (as typical).

Ran some 16ga red/black in 1/4in sheat shrink from the light through the tailgate and used waterproof connectors:

Bought some cheap LED lights form amazon for the license plate:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X2FCDGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Night mode:

 

[jlewissystem]

Gotta "backup" a little in this thread! I never posted about the rear bumper LYTES. Just before i installed the bumper, i had some thoughts - YES, those kind of those.....those modding thoughts that haunt you all the time - lol - MOAR LYTES! Decided to use the backup sensor spots (since we dont have the safety package) and put some LED bolts in there, then use the Rigid Radiance pods for the light cutouts - love those Radiance!

Lets start with the LED bolts! This is our first time using Oznium, but wanted to give them a shot. We used the 11mm cool white 3W stainless. We wanted the higher wattage and cool white, so tried them - they are nice!

https://www.oznium.com/led-bolts-prewired-leds/led-bolt

Pics of the bolts. They are flush-mountable and they have 2 "washers" on them:

For install, i put some washers over the backup sensor openings and covered them with the paint we used on the bumper (POR-15). I dont care that you can see the washer or added paint. Not enough "mall-time" to care about that The pic below is 1 coat. I used 2, to make it more seamless.

Wired them up and ran all of the wires out the driver side. I used my typical waterproof connectors that i used earlier in this thread:

Ran and tucked all the wires/connectors in the frame and used some flex tube around:

 

[jlewissystem]

Couple pics of them:

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