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Clint's Wild Hair JK Build

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by jayhawkclint, Jul 19, 2011.

  1. Jul 19, 2011
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
    Joined:
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    Been wanting to improve the sound in the the JK for a while now, but couldn't figure out how to mount a decent sub that wouldn't be in the way all the time. Got a lot of inspriation from the first post of this thread, particularly from the "L" brackets: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/subwoofer-jk-556924/#post5201663

    Instead of the "L" brackets, I decided to use a piece of 2" angle iron about 2' long. You can also see the speaker wire I snaked along the pass side in the factory wiring loom:
    [​IMG]

    I built a box out of 3/4" MDF. Originally I wanted to mount the sub off to the left and the amp over to the right, but once I calculated the dimensions I realized that the amp would cut into the sub volume, so I just centered it. The box is pretty much a carcass that has been carved out with a router:
    [​IMG]

    On the back I routed a recess for the wire loom to enter behind the box and also for the angle iron to sit flush:
    [​IMG]

    I was a little worried about an MDF box riding around exposed to the elements in the back of the Jeep, so I shot 3 coats of urethane 2k primer and sanded it all smooth, then shot 2 coats of single stage urethane in the Jeep's grey body color. Should be very weather resistant now:
    [​IMG]

    In an attempt to minimize the rattle, I used some leftover foam-rubber drawer liner from my rollaway toolbox to act as a padding between the box and the tailgate. It's glued on with 3M Super 77:
    [​IMG]

    With the box resting on the angle iron, I removed the spare tire, drilled a couple 1/2" holes and through-bolted the box to the tailgate using fender washers on both sides:
    [​IMG]

    Finished product. Single MB Quart shallow mount 12" subwoofer. There is a 400w amplifier mounted under the pass seat. Also swapped out the radio for an aftermarket high-powered Pioneer unit with USB connections for .mp3 files. Huge improvement, can't hear ANY road noise at 70mph now:
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2011
  2. Jul 19, 2011
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    Re: JK Stereo Sound System Upgrades

    nice work....very clean
    Jim
     
  3. Jul 19, 2011
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    2,706
    Re: JK Stereo Sound System Upgrades

    Nice. Bet it has a little thump now.
     
  4. Dec 31, 2011
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    About a year ago I put some BFG All Terrains on the JK. The side lugs stick out quite a bit, and we were getting a little rubbing on the sway bar at full turn in both directions. It wasn't bad enough to do anything about it, the only thing that has really happend is we've rubbed a shiny spot on the track bar. Fast forward 1 year. The other day I was perusing the back shelves of my FLAPS looking for some oddball stuff to finish up the HEEP, and accidentally came across some bushings that looked as if they were spring spacers for what the late model guys call "Budget Boost," or "BB" on most of the forums. I measured, ran home took some measurements of the JK, then went back to FLAPS and said "Order me 4 of those." They were $25 after tax for all 4. They are listed at 2" nominal in the Big Book O' Parts, but installed height was about 1.75" total. It was enough to keep the track bar from rubbing.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    On a side note, this was the first time I've done any kind of suspension work to the late model stuff. It was so easy compared to the CJ! I did all 4 corners, did new brake pads, and rotated the tires in under 3 hours! All you have to do is jack up the Jeep, take the tire off, unbolt the shock, unbolt the sway bar and the axle droops down enough to take the spring out by hand. The Quitters Club is calling...
    [​IMG]

    2nd side note: While doing the suspension work, I noticed the shocks themselves and the sway bar links are the limiters to axle articulation. The sway bar links are an item that could easily be shop built. I think a set of 5160's and some home built sway bar links and the suspension performance could be at aftermarket levels.
     
  5. Dec 31, 2011
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    It took me less than an hour and a half to do a 2" BB and 4 new shocks on the TJ. Easy stuff! I put front sway bar disconnects on it today; supposedly gain ~30% articulation, almost 6" of down travel.. I'll continue to work on the suspension piece-meal style. Pretty cool stuff. Jeep looks good Clint!
     
  6. Jan 1, 2012
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    Dang, you guys really are quitters. What's this talk about easy to work on? Blasphemy! :D Oh, by the way you guys have some nice Jeeps! ;)
     
  7. Jan 2, 2012
    mdmeltdown

    mdmeltdown Member

    Bossier City,...
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    Feb 17, 2006
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    792
    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    the 2.5" Budget Boost kit I bought from Terraflex had spring spacers but it came with a few other parts too. It came with replacement longer sway bar links for the back and then you use those original rears and put them on the front. It also came with a drop bracket for the track bar. I have read that if you change the angle of that bar, even just a little bit, it can cause the rear end to slide to the driver's side when you go over a bump. It also came with shock extensions and rear brake line drop brackets. From what I can tell, you needed all those parts

    I'm no expert, but there is a reason they put all those parts in that kit. You may put strain on the other components over time by just using a spring spacer
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2012
  8. Jan 3, 2012
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    Without lowering the track bar or putting a longer/ adjustable one on it, the axle moves to one side as it drops. When you go over a bump it actually goes back closer to center as it goes up.
     
  9. Jan 3, 2012
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    That's good info that I can move those rear links to the front; now I only have to make 2.

    I just don't see where there's $200 of parts in those kits.
     
  10. Jan 4, 2012
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    "You may put strain on the other components over time by just using a spring spacer"

    Just a note... On my YJ lift kit, the track bar bracket has a way of loosening up, creating death wobble. Use good real hardware and torque it up "early and often."
     
  11. May 3, 2012
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Put a couple thousand miles on this now. Rides like factory on road. Moved the rear sway bar links to the front. No death wobble on 285/70-17 BFG AT. I have, however, had the sway bar links come loose 3 times now. Not sure why. Thinking about switching to a quick disconnect.
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2013
  12. May 3, 2012
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    thread lock is your friend. I do a bunch of lifts here at work and we had a couple bolts come loose on the first 2. After that I've threadlocked every bolt I put back on and haven't had a problem.
     
  13. Mar 31, 2013
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Been on the Jeep for a year now, over 15k miles on the spring bushings, several ORV trips, haven't had a problem. About to pull these off for a 3" coil lift, but wanted to post up how well this setup has performed both on and off road before I pull it. For JK owners using their Jeep as a DD with only occasional off road trips, these 285/70r17 BFG ATs with a 2" BB poly spacer have worked great, retaining a factory ride on road and a little more performance off road.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2013
  14. Apr 1, 2013
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    Have you thought about adding the axle tube and knuckle reinforcement kits out there for the front axle?
     
  15. Apr 5, 2013
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Hadn't until just yesterday. Some guys in the club run them. Looking into it.
     
  16. Dec 6, 2013
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    Ended up putting in a 3.5" coil lift. Springs, bumpstops and track bar bracketry are Rancho. Disconnects and some various hardware are JKS. Shocks are Bilstein. Also a control arm geometry alignment bracket by AEV. Tires are BFG MT KM2:
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Jan 11, 2014
    BeerMonkeY

    BeerMonkeY New Member

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    Dec 25, 2013
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    Re: The $25 JK 1.75" Lift Kit

    you can make your own knuckle gussest and i highly recommend adding them, as far as other front axle stuff goes look into a truss if your into wheeling. also if your into wheeling get lower adjustable control arms and ditch the aev brackets, i run a 2.5 rock krawler lift and love it, run 35's with stock flares.
     
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