Navydivedoc
Member
2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon LJ - LS Swap, Atlas, Dynatracs, etc.
$39k
Such a great truck, I've owned it twice! I listed this here back in 2019. Ended up trading it rather than selling it. I bought it back in 2022. Updated a few things, used it on a few wheeling trips, and have decided to move it along again.
Base truck: I am the 3rd (and 5th) owner. 2nd owner did an initial build.
Axles:
Front - Dynatrac Hybrid 44/60 5x5.5
You’ve read this far, so here are some more details. I built this as the “pinnacle build”, and you might say it was an arms race of sorts. My Son and I competed in the Vermont Overland Trophy 2014-2018, and every year we were a little closer. Long story short, we won 2018 with the LS converted LJ. Great story, great time.
The conversion started out as a project my brother and I were working on. He has done 6 other conversions, diesels and LSs, so was no stranger to these. He builds $2 million dollar boats for a living, wiring as a specialty, so everything is clean. We got the motor in, got it running, but ran out of time. I then sent it to Wilson and Steely Kustom Coachworks in Athol MA. Steve Wilson, the owner, said it was the only partially finished project that he ever took in where he didn’t simply start over from scratch. I’ll take that as a good sign. We took delivery and won VOT.
Why sell? It’s sorted, it’s essentially a brand new indestructible LJ? Mainly it’s because the chapter is over. VOT was shut down, I don’t need quite this much rig anymore. My son has his own Tacoma now. I would like to back off into the realm of 33” tires and not quite this much jeep.
Bottom Line:
More than twice that to build originally and would be north of 6 figures to do now with labor rates and parts. If you could find the parts.
Full Picture gallery
$39k
Such a great truck, I've owned it twice! I listed this here back in 2019. Ended up trading it rather than selling it. I bought it back in 2022. Updated a few things, used it on a few wheeling trips, and have decided to move it along again.
Base truck: I am the 3rd (and 5th) owner. 2nd owner did an initial build.
- I originally purchased in 2014 with 80k miles. This is an inland southern LJ (North Carolina and Virginia).
- It has never seen salt, either winter or beach. NO rust.
- Dual top Rubicon. Not a lot of Jeep left, but what is there is pristine.
- 98k miles when it became more GM than Mopar. 7500 miles since conversion
- Why 4.8? I needed a Gen IV engine to talk to the 6L80. The 5.3 in this generation have the “active fuel management” cylinder deactivation, which is causing a lot of lifter issues. The 4.8 has the variable valve timing without the AFM and associated problems. A 6.0 is the classic swap, but with the low lift, and tight exhaust clearance the 4.8 with the smaller bore exhaust fit better. 295HP/295Lbft, plenty for a rig actually used offroad.
- Engine was pressure tested in spec. Still cross hatching in the bores
- New water pump, ,starter, sensors, plugs, wires, etc - OEM
- New valve cover gaskets and GM orange paint
- Alternator opened and inspected, so little wear shop would not rebuild.
- Current Gen Camaro pan - lower profile, 8 qts capacity
- Dave's Custom motor mounts - professionally welded in place
- Air intake was repurposed from the Jeep OEM - Paper filter, available at NAPA, no worries about dust infiltration with aftermarket cone style.
- Hooker cast iron headers
- Speartech Wiring harness. Wiring pigtails remain in the wiring harness for post-cat O2 sensors and purge system. Currently, codes defeated and no post-cat O2 sensors in place. GM charcoal canister was also not utilized, as I did not have to pass emissions. Bottom line, I made this truck capable of a full emissions set-up, but chose not to do it.
- ECU is GM only. Jeep eliminated. 87 octane pump gas. Tuned to eliminate the early 5th and 6th gear entry on stock tune.
- Hooker cast iron headers, ARP header and flange bolts
- Custom “Pie cut” exhaust from professional Hot rod builder described below
- 2.25 stainless steel.
- Catalytic converters and resonators on both sides
- Meet at the stainless muffler, single 3 inch exit. Resonator in the tail section due to a drone at 1900 RPM on initial run.
- IIHS crash center was nearby when I lived in Virginia. This trans came out of an offset collision crashed truck for federal testing
- Opened and inspected, flawless.
- 2 fluid changes already as we had to pull the TCU, and then a second done as part of shakedown
- Cooler in grill, temp monitor in gauge package. Has never run above 195.
- Custom linkage that uses the stock TJ cable and shifter
- Tap shift works. Key for offroad technical use. Toggle switch in low dash for right hand tap shifting.
- 2.0:1 and 2.7:1 ratios. Can be combined to 5.4:1
- With 6L80 gearing, above ratios are almost identical to both the original Rubicon 4.0:1 case (the 2.7) and stock Jeep 2.7 ratio (the 2.0)
- 123:1 ratio when the cases are doubled and in 1st on trans.
- I find the combo to be excellent at various duties. 2.0:1 is great for higher speed trails, 2.7 for more technical terrain. Vermont trails tend to be wet enough that some momentum is necessary, so the doubled 5.4 is fun but not terribly useful. Would be fantastic in true rocks or out west.
- 1310 output on the front, Rubicon flange rear
- Usual twin stick Atlas for 2.0, second stick for 2.7
- Tummy tuck custom crossmember, nearly flush with the frame rails
Axles:
Front - Dynatrac Hybrid 44/60 5x5.5
- Center pumpkin and R+P are the JK 44
- 5.38
- ARB Locker
- Axle tubing and outers are Dana 60 one ton
- 35 spline shafts, 1480 U joints
- 13.25 inch dual caliper brakes, 17 inch wheel required
- Dynatrac prosteer ball joints - rebuildable in place
- Dynatrac “stub hub” locking hubs - 4 inches less per side for improved clearance
- 5.38
- ARB locker
- 35 spline axle shafts
- 11.25 inch disc brakes
- AEV/Nth Degree 3 inch lift springs
- Savvy aluminum control arms
- Ballistic fabrication control arm joints
- Bilsteins shocks new 2024. Replaced fox remote reservoir after 3 of the 4 lost seals. Honestly, no difference in feel.
- JKS quick release front sway bar disconnects.
- Suspension was completely removed from the truck and inspected/serviced winter of 2022.
- PSC TJ steering gear
- Stock Silverado PS pump
- New master cylinder from Dodge Durango, appropriate piston size for larger calipers
- No ABS (Did not come on stock Rubicon)
- New custom TJ to LS All aluminum custom radiator, Superior Radiator, Michigan
- SPAL 16” 2025 CFM electric fan
- Derale variable speed controller.
- AC - new Sanden compressor, custom lines and new condenser. Runs from stock Jeep controls. All HVAC dash controls work as they should.
- Genright 31 Gallon aluminum Safari tank with steel skid
- New OEM Mopar fuel pump at time of build
- New fuel lines tank to motor, inline filter outside of tank for easy maintenance
- II Much VSR vent system on the vent lines.
- Savvy aluminum front and rear bumpers
- Metalcloak Arched highline front fenders
- Custom ventilation in fender panels
- Genright aluminum rear fenders
- Mopar tube rock rails
- Undercover fab aluminum engine skid with mods for LS
- Undercover fab T-case aluminum tummy tuck skid with custom welded aluminum crossmember for Atlas and trans.
- Custom bent front grill hoop/guard.
- Plate steel steering box skid
- Front recovery hooks
- Rear recovery point at 2” receiver, Factor 55
- Genright stock thick steel fuel tank skid
- Complete coverage front to rear.
- Method 17” rims 5x5.5.
- Yokohama G003 37x12.5 x 5. New in 2022. Approx 2000 miles. No chunking or sidewall damage.
- Complete dynamat coverage from firewall to tailgate
- Bed Rug vinyl carpet replacement
- Between the two above, very quiet for an LJ
- Poly performance full roll cage
- Standard Rubicon seats with no tears
- Carharrt seat covers
- Center console subwoofer, Sony single DIN head unit with bluetooth
- Hot heads full headliner on the hard top. Much cooler and quieter
- Warn 8000 winch with synthetic line
- Trucklite LED headlights
- Poison spider hood louvers
- Exogate spare tire carrier. No issues with the 37” spare
- Full hard top and doors with no issues
- Half steel doors and soft top, no issues though the top has been stored for a couple of years
- Set of soft half doors
- Safari bikini top
- Rear seat not installed but goes with it.
- There is an electrical kill switch, hidden, as a theft preventative device
- New Oddysey battery 2022
- SPOD for lockers, compressor, manual fan override.
You’ve read this far, so here are some more details. I built this as the “pinnacle build”, and you might say it was an arms race of sorts. My Son and I competed in the Vermont Overland Trophy 2014-2018, and every year we were a little closer. Long story short, we won 2018 with the LS converted LJ. Great story, great time.
The conversion started out as a project my brother and I were working on. He has done 6 other conversions, diesels and LSs, so was no stranger to these. He builds $2 million dollar boats for a living, wiring as a specialty, so everything is clean. We got the motor in, got it running, but ran out of time. I then sent it to Wilson and Steely Kustom Coachworks in Athol MA. Steve Wilson, the owner, said it was the only partially finished project that he ever took in where he didn’t simply start over from scratch. I’ll take that as a good sign. We took delivery and won VOT.
Why sell? It’s sorted, it’s essentially a brand new indestructible LJ? Mainly it’s because the chapter is over. VOT was shut down, I don’t need quite this much rig anymore. My son has his own Tacoma now. I would like to back off into the realm of 33” tires and not quite this much jeep.
Bottom Line:
- One of the cleanest LJs in the east to begin with
- With the exception of a low mile and very clean long block, everything is essentially new on this jeep. Enough miles to be shaken down and sorted. Trans, atlas, axles, driveshafts, etc.
- It has been used, but never abused. A few pinstripes but no dents, no rust. It is pretty and will detail up beautifully.
- ************, bullet proof, sorted. Needs only a new owner
- Clear Maine Title.
- Last of the LJs, refreshed and improved.
More than twice that to build originally and would be north of 6 figures to do now with labor rates and parts. If you could find the parts.
Full Picture gallery
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