Money Pit Mojave Build

[BourbonRunner]

About time I start posting what I've done to the Money Pit. I'll add in pics and reorganize as I go.

Bought March 2026, 29,300 miles. Was registered in GA, traded into an Orlando, FL Chevy dealer.

Original Sticker:

Day I bought it:

Previous owners already installed:

stubby antenna
trifold hard tonneau, unknown
Spray in bed liner
Sunrider
Rugged ridge Arcus Bumper
Rugged Ridge Trekker winch with synthetic line (the label is faded and I can't tell if its 10k or the 12.5K)
Ironman 4x4 step sliders
Alien orange paracord oh shit handles (2) (removed)
Orange aluminum knob trim
Amazonian storage cubbies/bins
Auto start eliminator
Quadratec pre runner lights (removed)
Oracle aux backup lights
Single ball mount device *no arm* (removed)
Redline hood struts

Since I bought it:

K&N air filter
Motobilt full molle bed panels with hi lift, shovel, axe, traction board mount
Falcon nexus 2.1 stabilizer bar
Steersmarts Yeti drag links
Steersmarts Yeti adjustable track bar
Mopar extended LCA
Bullet point rubigrid with fuzz buster holder and clamping phone arm, 90 usb c through the dash to power.
GPCA titanium grab handles (2) with sunglasses holder and tactical pen/holder (sunglass holder is useless. The tactical pen sleeve fits my HF flashlight perfectly)
Lange Originals Coyote mirrors
Kurgo dog hammock and door protectors
Tool Kit in a Husky backpack
Jeep top removal tool kit (wasn't there when I bought it)
Bypass aux battery (see later)
Tazer JL
Amazonian dead pedal
Seat jackers Sportsman Bundle with molle panels (lock back knife, e100, pew pew holder, flashlight)
Pew Pew magnet holder from TacNation
F55 Ultrahook
Sunpie winch license plate mount
Console Safe
Oversized bottle cup holder (gotta have my Nalgene)
St Christopher medal
Rugged ridge neoprene arm rest cover
Oracle pre runner lights in grille
Full Hot Heads with Sunrider panel
Amazonian trash bag
30a Blue Sea subpanel with 2 20a Anderson PP45 plugs, 1 15a 12v socket, 15a USBC/ charger off Aux 1 40a switch (see post below)
Alpicool T50 12v fridge/freezer
No delete seat platform (see post)
Ouch Pouch with CAT TQ
Blue Ridge Overland Attic
Blue Ridge Overland Visor organizer

June 12, 2026
Removed aux battery fully, replaced main battery with Odyssey Performance Battery — ODP-AGM94R H7 L4

35,300 miles, June 13 2026:
Drain both diffs, replace with Liquimoly 75w90
Install front and rear Metalcloak diff skids
Drain oil, replace oil filter with K&N, Liquimoly SpecialTex 0w20 and 1 bottle of Ceratec. Sample sent to Blackstone for analysis. (see post below)
Install valvomax oil drain valve.
Inspect diffs for wear, none found. Teeth on front and rear clean. Minimal residue on magnetic fill plugs.
Inspect shocks for leaks, none found.
Inspect steering system install from March/April, no movement on any bolts.
Inspect ball joints, no noticeable issues.
Vevor 2-cylinder air compressor (modified with pressure switch and upgraded 1/4" NPT quick connect)

Road trip, Baltimore to Manchester, VT and back averaged 19.1 mpg weekend of June 28. Got some wheeling in on VT's famous Class 4 roads

7/15/26 - Deadman Off Road recovery kit (Scored this one off FB marketplace from a lady who bought it for a Rebelle Rally campaign and never used it for 1/3 the price of new.) Nice to have a proper lightweight sand anchor setup for the beach.

To be added: (currently have, just need the time), 37,XXX miles

Flag decal on rear window
Rockstopperz hinge protectors
Passenger side Seat Jackers
Mishimoto expansion tank
Mishimoto low temp thermostat and housing (on backorder)
Full cooling system flush (once the thermostat comes in)

Coming soon/Wanna do:

Side turn indicator lights in fender vents
KC Flex era 3 on KC cowl mount
KC Flex era 4 on bumper
Mopar rear steel bumper
Alu-Cab topper
Anderson on bumper for power.

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[BourbonRunner]

$88 Vevor Air Pump Mod Thread:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...or-88-including-shipping.109289/#post-1763191

 

[BourbonRunner]

Undeleted Seat Delete and Auxiliary Power Distribution thread:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...station-fridge-cold-beer.108649/#post-1763187

 

[BourbonRunner]

@Metalcloak Diff Skids

These things are beefy. And frankly one of the easier mods that I think gives substantial bang for the buck. I've dragged diffs on rocks before on other rigs, last thing I want is to high side it and chunk the pumpkin. (See what I did there?)

I'm a "since you were in there" type of car owner. My e46 gets similar treatment because, well, sometimes it's just easier to knock it all out at once.

The front skid uses the factory mounting holes on the lower side but does require drilling through a flange on the side of the diff housing. Not gonna lie, I was a little worried but figured in the end Metalcloak figured this is the way so even I can't eff it up.

The back skids require removing the mounts for the factory sway and then using their spacers to reinstall. Not difficult at all but definitely helped having an extra set of hands to get it in place before sending all the bolts home.

Front Skid

Reverse of the front. The drilled flange is on the left.

The monster out back. Given the little bit of rust I suspect the previous owner took this out on the beach a lot since GA doesn't get snow/salty roads. Which works because so will I.

This definitely dragged a little in Vermont. LOL

 

[BourbonRunner]

Some more randoms:

Blue Ridge Overland Attic.

This was a breeze to install- with the roof removed or loosened. I did it the same time I did the HotHeads.

Said @Hothead Headliners

Seat Jackers "Sportsman Bundle" molle kit with an E100 fire stick and the Tacnation Pew Pew holder

Oracle PreRunner lights: The PO had the round Quadratecs lined up below the camera and I didn't care for the placement. Originally I planned on putting these in the scoop but changed my mind and did this.

Bed Setup 1.0:

Since this pic I've mounted a smaller Estwing hatchet that matches the big one and moved the HiLift from the back to the passenger side and mounted the traction boards in its place. Right now my bed is full of chainsaws and gear from helping clear tree damage so no current pic. The hatchet is mounted in front of the axe and Beaver. The Dewalt Bag has the kinetic rope, tree strap and some other recovery goodies that wouldn't fit under the back seat.

 

[BourbonRunner]

To answer the question of how 3 c/ft bags of mulch can a JT hold: The answer is 32. 26 in the bed and the rest on the back seat.

Oops. Should have made two trips I guess. Lowes is 2 miles from my house on surface roads and I strapped it all down and went slowly.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I kinda dig the pic but need to re shoot it with the Oracle lights.

 

[Jeep Creep]

Love your Mojave and the direction you’re going with it.
Thanks for posting some updates

 

[BourbonRunner]

Love your Mojave and the direction you’re going with it.
Thanks for posting some updates

Thanks!

I guess I should have made a note in the first post: This is my daily driver and I still need it to do truck things.

It's also the dedicated camping/hunting/surf fishing vehicle where her Bronco Sport is the non-outdoorsy road trip car. It was kinda hard to throw a deer or a goose in the back of the BMW or the Bronquito after my old Tacoma's frame rotted.

Eventually I plan on using it to haul the BMW to the track, too. On my way back I'll be stopping at either bankruptcy court or the looney bin. Maybe both.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Geesh!!!! You’ve put in a lot of work in not a lot of time. I’ve been slacking! Looks good.

 

[ShadowMojave]

Looks great! Seems like a thoughtful build!

 

[JTGuy]

Yes I also have a PIT. You need to do the 4 link triangulated rear suspension.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Geesh!!!! You’ve put in a lot of work in not a lot of time. I’ve been slacking! Looks good.

Hahhaha I wouldn't call it slacking.

The combination of buying a used Jeep around the first major services and breaking my foot on Mother's Day made me a prime target for Memorial Day sales. LOL

 

[ASU_Greg]

Love the St Christopher medal!

 

[BourbonRunner]

Love the St Christopher medal!

In the pic in Post #5 my wooden Rosary bracelet is on the transfer case. AMDG.

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