My 2021 JLU build thread

[Adamparis22]

I purchased my jlu 2.0 in February 2021 and it was the only base model that I could find in the state at the time

I proceeded to put 500 hundred miles on it and then went to 37/12.50r17 cooper stt pros on method 703 bead grips. Also added the rugged ridge max terrain flares and eBay inner fender liners (max terrain fender fit like garbage and deteriorated in 6 months. I bought them for two jeeps and was not happy about the waste of money they were!) as well as adding the Genright aluminum rocker guards.

Then I added the rugged ridge amfib snorkel. (That was also an overpriced trash price of plastic. What a joke!)

Next up for me was the Nemesis Helix stubby front bumper. Love the look and the fit of this bumper!

Next addition was the Gen right aluminum rear bumper with their LED back up lights. The rough country spare tire delete with two Baja designs S1 pods. As well as the next venture motor sports flush mount tail lights.

The next task at hand was a complete interior strip to add lizard skin heat and sound insulator to the tub and hard top. On top of that is Armorlite floor mats.​

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[Adamparis22]

The next big step is the 6” rough country long arm lift. Only reason I went with rough country was the price.

Lots of cutting and grinding ahead!

No in progress lift pictures but it’s finally starting to take shape. In case you’re curious the rear end of your jeep will float, had to put it in 4x to make it out.

 

[Adamparis22]

Finally got ahold of a winch to fill the gap in the bumper. Good ole harbor freight apex 12k.

And finally the question no one asked, how long will the rear axle last on 37s. Well my rear axle lasted 12k miles before it bent and started destroying its self. So like any one else I drove it for another 4k miles until I had my one tons ready. But I was not easy by any means on my jeep.

On the other hand my fiancé had 37” cooper at3s on her jlu with very mild off road sand trails for 55k and her rear axle is still in immaculate condition. So take that as you may.

Well back to the story, with a plan to travel in the jeep around the country i added the gen right spare tire carrier

Also added was the long range America fuel tank for an extra 17 gallon capacity

 

[Adamparis22]

I used the artec jl one ton swap kit for the dana 60 front and gm 14 bolt rear, with the 14 bolt tone ring and modified jk 14 bolt wheel speed sensor bracket. I have arb air lockers front and rear with 5.38 gears. The rear axle flew together the truss kit was stupid simple and just bolted right up. The front axle had a few more pieces and had to be placed in the jeep for fit up to set caster and UCA angles.

In the front end im using reid racing knuckles with skys offroad steer arm, artec one ton aluminum steering links with a PSC hydro assist kit. ( I had two of the psc hoses that came with the kit blow apart as well and one that was way too long. For safety and piece of mind i had them all remade.) The dana 60 front cover is from moto built.
In the rear i have a 14 bolt shave kit from TMR Customs which gains 1.75" of clearance.
Tom Woods for the custom 1350 driveshafts, they got them done insanely fast.

I also upgraded the battery to an optima DH7 size which fits in the factory spot with removing a spacer in the battery tray, as well as removing the aux battery.
Somewhere in the timeline i installed rock jock sway bars front and rear.

The jump from 37/12.50r17 to 40/12.50r17

Heres the first time out of the shop and first time home.

Heres a cost break down of the axle swap
2012 Dana 60 $400
2001 gm 14 bolt $200
Artec Dana 60 truss $609

Artec 14 bolt truss $599.99

Artec 14 bolt tone rings $49.99

Dana 60 arb locker $1,183

14 bolt arb locked $1,113

Dana 60 Reid knuckles $1,195

Skys off road steering arm and studs $252

5.38 gears and bearing/seal kits $719.99

Artec 14 bolt wheel speed sensor $36.29

Tmr 14 bolt shave kit 449.99

Rock solid fab Dana 60 wheel speed sensor brackets and tone rings unsure what I paid it was over a year ago so will guess $250

$7,050

 

[Wabujitsu]

What rear axle did yours and your fiancé’s Jeeps come with? I can’t see a Dana 44 destroying itself on 37s without hard-core rock crawling.

 

[Adamparis22]

What rear axle did yours and your fiancé’s Jeeps come with? I can’t see a Dana 44 destroying itself on 37s without hard-core rock crawling.

Pretty sure the base model sports come with the dana 35? Her rear axle held up fine, I'm from florida no rocks here just alot of sand, mud. But like I said I wasnt easy on it at all.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Pretty sure the base model sports come with the dana 35? Her rear axle held up fine, I'm from florida no rocks here just alot of sand, mud. But like I said I wasnt easy on it at all.

Adam, I live in FL too - Sarasota County. I’ve had 35” MTs on my Rubicon with Dana 44s for tens of thousands of miles. I’m certain you can get by with 44s instead of tons - it may be less expensive.

 

[Adamparis22]

Adam, I live in FL too - Sarasota County. I’ve had 35” MTs on my Rubicon with Dana 44s for tens of thousands of miles. I’m certain you can get by with 44s instead of tons - it may be less expensive.

Dana 44s are expensive and are still relatively weak in general. Find a used set for 4k if you’re lucky swap gears and gusset them, FAD delete, etc. I don’t even want to know how much people put into Dana 44s.
Into my Dana 60s I have $6,900 ready to rock accurate mph, no dash lights.
I also forgot to add in on 40’s now in the thread. But for any kind of wheeling especially out of state I wouldn’t feel comfortable on 44s even if I was still on 37’s
I updated the thread to include cost break down. One tons seemed like the better financial move as well.
If I was in it for the cheap I could’ve saved cost by keeping the post rear and open front

 

[Wabujitsu]

Dana 44s are expensive and are still relatively weak in general. Find a used set for 4k if you’re lucky swap gears and gusset them, FAD delete, etc. I don’t even want to know how much people put into Dana 44s.
Into my Dana 60s I have $6,300 ready to rock accurate mph, no dash lights.
I also forgot to add in on 40’s now in the thread. But for any kind of wheeling especially out of state I wouldn’t feel comfortable on 44s even if I was still on 37’s
I updated the thread to include cost break down. One tons seemed like the better financial move as well.

Sounds reasonable. Lockers?

 

[flyer92]

How are the stock, non-heavy duty brakes holding up with all that weight? Always wondered just how much less "heavy duty" they are vs. the HD brakes that come with higher trim levels.

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

Pretty sure the base model sports come with the dana 35? Her rear axle held up fine, I'm from florida no rocks here just alot of sand, mud. But like I said I wasnt easy on it at all.

Hey!.. great job on the mods!.. I am working on a similar project and I have a couple of questions..

- it seems you still do not have a solution for the front Dana 60 speed sensors?.. or, do you? I know there is a company that makes the sensors for the JL for the Dana 60 Superduty 2005+ axles, but I have not called them yet (they do not seem to sell the tone ring online)... if you
do not have a solution yet for the front speed sensors... how did you manage to drive without the
onboard computers going crazy?

- for the rear GM 14 bolt, what kind of spacers did you use, what thickness ?

- did you go with 8x170 or 8x6.5 wheel lug pattern?... how did you solve the discrepancy in
wheel pattern (Dana 60 8x170 vs GM 14 Bolt 8x6.5) ??

Rig looking great! Thanks!

 

[Johnny B]

Dana 44s are expensive and are still relatively weak in general. Find a used set for 4k if you’re lucky swap gears and gusset them, FAD delete, etc. I don’t even want to know how much people put into Dana 44s.
Into my Dana 60s I have $6,900 ready to rock accurate mph, no dash lights.
I also forgot to add in on 40’s now in the thread. But for any kind of wheeling especially out of state I wouldn’t feel comfortable on 44s even if I was still on 37’s
I updated the thread to include cost break down. One tons seemed like the better financial move as well.
If I was in it for the cheap I could’ve saved cost by keeping the post rear and open front

Dana 60's are just beefy from the start. Not completely indestructible, but pretty darn close. I am just in awe over your build. You can see the amount of detail you've paid attention to. Enjoy that beast, it's absolutely beautiful...

 

[Adamparis22]

How are the stock, non-heavy duty brakes holding up with all that weight? Always wondered just how much less "heavy duty" they are vs. the HD brakes that come with higher trim levels.

For the stock sport axles with 37s? I felt like they were sufficient could still stop quick if needed

 

[Adamparis22]

Dana 60's are just beefy from the start. Not completely indestructible, but pretty darn close. I am just in awe over your build. You can see the amount of detail you've paid attention to. Enjoy that beast, it's absolutely beautiful...

Was the plan from the start, that’s why I got the cheapest model, I knew nothing was staying in the end. Researched every detail for over a year before I even started gathering parts. Thank you

 

[Adamparis22]

Hey!.. great job on the mods!.. I am working on a similar project and I have a couple of questions..

- it seems you still do not have a solution for the front Dana 60 speed sensors?.. or, do you? I know there is a company that makes the sensors for the JL for the Dana 60 Superduty 2005+ axles, but I have not called them yet (they do not seem to sell the tone ring online)... if you
do not have a solution yet for the front speed sensors... how did you manage to drive without the
onboard computers going crazy?

- for the rear GM 14 bolt, what kind of spacers did you use, what thickness ?

- did you go with 8x170 or 8x6.5 wheel lug pattern?... how did you solve the discrepancy in
wheel pattern (Dana 60 8x170 vs GM 14 Bolt 8x6.5) ??

Rig looking great! Thanks!

I looked for probably a little over 2 hours for them to no avail, I think the name is on the tone ring I’m just going to have to pull the rotor off to find out.
Real slick set up tone ring presses on the outside of the unit bearing, bracket blocks off factory wheel speed sensor hole and holds the jeep one.

I used 2” spacers and they were 8x6.5-8x170

I thought about going to 8x6.5 in the front just for ease of finding a spare wheel and tire anywhere on the trail but for ease of replacement parts and keeping things “factory” I kept the unit bearing knowing I can go just about anywhere and get one.

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