RatchetMaster10

Hey everyone, so I had a request today to do a build thread for my Jeep. I apologize for not doing one when I first started modifying it. So here it is, Im going to do my best to walk y'all thru it. This is Judy (named after my aunt that had taught me so much before she passed) when I bought it bone stock March 12th, 2011. I am the second owner and purchased it with 138k miles for 3k.

RatchetMaster10

About 2 months after having her I decided she needed a little more rugged look and bought a Rugged Ridge tube bumper.

RatchetMaster10

After a few wheeling trips decided it didn't flex enough so decided to remove the sway bars. Sorry don't have any flex pics from before the removal.

RatchetMaster10

Well got a phone call from a friend saying that he had a customer bring a wrangler to his shop for some new wheels and tires and just wanted to scrap the current wheels and tires so picked these up for free knowing that I would be lifting it down the road.



31x10.5x15 super swampers

RatchetMaster10

Ah what the hell lets see how well these 31s fit a stock xj...



They rub like crazy on acceleration, braking, and any time I hit a bump as small as a pen :/ guess its time to lift it

RatchetMaster10

Alright I couldn't stare at the tires in the garage any longer so bout a Rough Country 4.5" short arm aal kit.

RatchetMaster10

Spent 4 hours with 3 people one night after work and used the shop to install the lift kit.









These were taken the next morning.

RatchetMaster10

Arorton has some lights behind the grill on his XJ and I decided to copy his idea, took more work than I wanted to do but looks good.

RatchetMaster10

So after about a month of driving with the super swampers I got a phone call from a shop up the street... "hey Zach, we have a customer here with a land cruiser fj40 getting some new tires. He has a set of 33x12.5x15 Maxxis Bighorns that have 200 miles on them and will sell them to you for $100. He just doesn't like the "on road" ride." so told work I'd be back, left and went to the bank got out the cash and picked them up. Mounted them the next day!











Unfortunately, didn't account for for the additional width and not enough back spacing. So had to put the 31s back on and wait until I could get spacers. Which I later bought used for $100 (1.5")

RatchetMaster10

So decided that before I put the 33s on and wheeled it I should probably cut the front fenders. Not fun to do with a circular cut off wheel :/

RatchetMaster10

Sweet finally got the 33s on it!!!

RatchetMaster10

Found out fast that the 33s will rub the rear fenders at full flex, time to do a cut and fold job back there.











Added some 3m undercoating spray to the edges to prevent rust issues down the road.

UsmclovesXJ

Sub' nice!!!

RatchetMaster10

Thanks brother, still have some more to add before I'm caught up to where she's at now

RatchetMaster10

Decided its time to add some recovery gear. After debating wether to fabricate a winch mount for the tube bumper or to get a winch bumper, I decided on going with a Nates4x4 recessed winch bumper and also got a tuffstuff 12,500lb winch kit from truckandwinch.com