From Stock To Stacked...The Story Of A JK
- Thread starter WFTW
- Start date
WFTW
Adventurer
I got an email from Brad (Overbuilt Customs) yesterday. He said he wasn't happy with the front track bar bracket he initially built. Even though it was stronger than the original bracket, he said he wanted to make it even tougher. So, he built this...
He then tackled the hydro-assist steering. And as though that weren't enough, he also did some painting to clean everything up (the salt in the air on the coast of Florida can play havoc on vehicles).
He then tackled the hydro-assist steering. And as though that weren't enough, he also did some painting to clean everything up (the salt in the air on the coast of Florida can play havoc on vehicles).
WFTW
Adventurer
Yep, I broke the front track bar bracket when I took the Jeep to Tellico a few months ago to test it out. It was 2 o'clock in the morning on a night run...not the place you want to break your track bar bracket. Luckily Brad was with me and used the dual battery set-up on the Jeep to weld it back in place (which was good enough to get me off the trail and back to the cabin). That guy has MAD talent. I'd recommend anyone in the southeast get in touch with him if you want any sort of custom work done to your rig (www.overbuiltcustoms.com).
WFTW
Adventurer
Time to put the seats in.
Out with the old...
In with the new...
My friend proving the Tuffy glove box works...
As you can see, the new bracket for the rear seats is just tacked on...it will be painted black and then welded on afterwards. As you can also see, driving around with your doors off at Tellico will ensure you bring back some trail dust with you. Geez, I've got a LOT of cleaning to do when I get back.
Out with the old...
In with the new...
My friend proving the Tuffy glove box works...
As you can see, the new bracket for the rear seats is just tacked on...it will be painted black and then welded on afterwards. As you can also see, driving around with your doors off at Tellico will ensure you bring back some trail dust with you. Geez, I've got a LOT of cleaning to do when I get back.
WFTW
Adventurer
I'm hoping to have more pictures by the end of this weekend. In the meantime, I mentioned in an above post that I busted the front track bar bracket in the middle of the night on Lower 2 at Tellico. Here is a picture of the trail fix by using the dual battery set-up to weld with.
WFTW
Adventurer
Finished up some more things with the Jeep. The hydro-assist steering has been completed. This is going to really help out. Not only will it give the Jeep nice road manners, but turning those 40" tires will be a lot easier when off-road.
The EVAP canister was relocated. This is a common and necessary modification on the JKs. If you look at some of the prior pictures I've posted showing the underside of the Jeep, you'll see a little black box in a position which is just begging for a rock to crush it into a pancake.
The skid plates were installed. I went with the skid plates from Rock Hard, which I obtained through Trail Duty. The factory skids held up okay at a place called Hard Rock in Florida, and I didn't use any skid plates when I tested out the Jeep in Tellico, NC (probably not a smart thing to do, but I got away with it). But these skid plates are really tough and will give me some piece of mind as well. From what I understand, they needed to be adjusted a bit...although I'm not sure how or what exactly was done. My Jeep tracks 3" wider than stock because of the Dana 60 axles...maybe that had something to do with the adjustment.
In the previous pictures you'll notice the rear seat mounting system is just tacked on and not painted to make sure it was going to fit correctly. Well, that has since been painted and welded on completely. The front seats were installed as well.
I don't have any new pictures at the moment but I'll see what I can do about getting some sent. Brad (Overbuilt Customs) stays pretty busy, so I try not to bug him too much about pictures. But, I'll be back in Florida in a week so if I don't get any from him, I'll snap some and post them up.
It's hard to believe, but there's still quite a bit to do to the Jeep before it's ready. Have TONS of lights to wire up, along with the CB. Since I'll be towing a trailer, I'll also need to install a tow hitch. The rear bumper and rear corner guards will be hit with black rustoleum (SP?) paint and detailing the Jeep inside and out. Then I've got a few smaller things needing to be put in...floor mats, G.E.A.R. seat covers (which I may have sewn directly into the back of the front seats), Raingler netting, etc.
The last thing of some value that will be bought for the Jeep are new doors. I can't exactly remove the hard doors during the trip because I'll have nowhere to store them. So, I'm thinking some Best Top 2-piece soft doors would be the way to go. I plan on having the doors off 90% of the time, so those are pretty much a necessity.
Guess that's about all for now.
The EVAP canister was relocated. This is a common and necessary modification on the JKs. If you look at some of the prior pictures I've posted showing the underside of the Jeep, you'll see a little black box in a position which is just begging for a rock to crush it into a pancake.
The skid plates were installed. I went with the skid plates from Rock Hard, which I obtained through Trail Duty. The factory skids held up okay at a place called Hard Rock in Florida, and I didn't use any skid plates when I tested out the Jeep in Tellico, NC (probably not a smart thing to do, but I got away with it). But these skid plates are really tough and will give me some piece of mind as well. From what I understand, they needed to be adjusted a bit...although I'm not sure how or what exactly was done. My Jeep tracks 3" wider than stock because of the Dana 60 axles...maybe that had something to do with the adjustment.
In the previous pictures you'll notice the rear seat mounting system is just tacked on and not painted to make sure it was going to fit correctly. Well, that has since been painted and welded on completely. The front seats were installed as well.
I don't have any new pictures at the moment but I'll see what I can do about getting some sent. Brad (Overbuilt Customs) stays pretty busy, so I try not to bug him too much about pictures. But, I'll be back in Florida in a week so if I don't get any from him, I'll snap some and post them up.
It's hard to believe, but there's still quite a bit to do to the Jeep before it's ready. Have TONS of lights to wire up, along with the CB. Since I'll be towing a trailer, I'll also need to install a tow hitch. The rear bumper and rear corner guards will be hit with black rustoleum (SP?) paint and detailing the Jeep inside and out. Then I've got a few smaller things needing to be put in...floor mats, G.E.A.R. seat covers (which I may have sewn directly into the back of the front seats), Raingler netting, etc.
The last thing of some value that will be bought for the Jeep are new doors. I can't exactly remove the hard doors during the trip because I'll have nowhere to store them. So, I'm thinking some Best Top 2-piece soft doors would be the way to go. I plan on having the doors off 90% of the time, so those are pretty much a necessity.
Guess that's about all for now.
WFTW
Adventurer
Got my hands on some more pictures...
The X-Jack doesn't seem to work once you lift your vehicle 6" and throw on some 40" tires.
Close up picture of one of the shocks.
Skid plates.
Front
This is a good picture to give you an idea of the vehicle's height.
Custom rear seat mounting brackets.
Rear seats.
Front seats.
The X-Jack doesn't seem to work once you lift your vehicle 6" and throw on some 40" tires.
Close up picture of one of the shocks.
Skid plates.
Front
This is a good picture to give you an idea of the vehicle's height.
Custom rear seat mounting brackets.
Rear seats.
Front seats.
Ranger Steve
Adventurer
sweet seats man :victory:
WFTW
Adventurer
Thanks, glad you like it. Hope you'll swing by the FL or GA WFTW event and take a closer look. As amazing as the Jeep is, the trailer I'll be towing will really complete it (has the same wheel/tire combination as the Jeep).
I splurged and got the one with lumbar support for the driver's seat. Being on the road for six months, I figured I'd need it. I'm real happy with the seats...so much better than the OEM seats. Wasn't sure about getting rid of the bench seat in the back, but I'm happy I did now.
WFTW
Adventurer
Photobucket has some new features where you can alter your pix, so I did this...
A few small things will be done to the Jeep this weekend, but I probably won't have any new pictures.
However, the good news is I'll be reunited with my Jeep again on Wednesday. Once that happens, I can take pictures of the last bit of modifications that will be done before the start of the WFTW program.
A few small things will be done to the Jeep this weekend, but I probably won't have any new pictures.
However, the good news is I'll be reunited with my Jeep again on Wednesday. Once that happens, I can take pictures of the last bit of modifications that will be done before the start of the WFTW program.
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