BlueScapegoat
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TJ's (me) TJ/JT T/J (Thread/Journal)
Kind of seems silly making a build journal considering I'm not planning anything crazy with my Gladiator, but after thinking the same with my last several Jeeps and then going way down the rabbit hole sometimes providing write-ups on numerous forums, etc, I thought maybe it'd be wise to do one this time around from the start. I'll try to use part numbers to make searching easy.
I've averaged about 1 car a year since I've been driving, but here's the Jeep history for me:
2006 Jeep TJ SE (2.4L & 6 speed) Sold
1987 Jeep Comanche (2.5 & 5 speed) Sold
1982 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limited (amc 360) Gifted
2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon (Supercharged 4.0 & 6 speed) Never Selling
2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (3.0 Ecodiesel & 8HP75)
The 2022 JT is the second vehicle I've ever bought from new, and the first that I had built to order.
Ordered on March 8th, I took delivery on Memorial Day, May 30th.
The current plan for this Jeep is to be a long distance cruiser/wheeler. I suppose in that regard you could call it an overlander, as cringey as that term has come to be to some people. You can see my TJ, it's build about as off-road oriented as I felt I could get away with going, while still serving my daily driver duties for the last 9 years. It's time for her to get retired at the ripe age of 96,000 miles. I want the JT to be a more compliant daily. Quieter, smoother, more convenient (ie no flinging mud and salt spray on the windows and mirrors)
Things I already have ordered, or have in the garage and I'm settled on, for now:
HotHead Headliner in Oak
Sound deadening sheets for the floor
Tazer for convenience
37x12.5r17 Cooper SST Pro
17x8.5 AEV Salta XR in Onyx
Regular/Original Size Rokblokz
Block heater - Mopar 56044738AA (how is this not standard)
2" Iron Rock Offroad Spacer lift with shock extensions
Currie bump stops front/rear
Currie carrier bearing spacer
Extended Mopar lower control arms 68322798AA
Rebadging. Planning on black/grey badging.
I was never a fan of the JK generation, but I've done full suspensions on many of them, and wheeled with groups with them of course. I've done a few TJs, XJs, MJs, ZJs, YJs. I haven't touched a JL or JT yet. I'm going with a spacer right out of the gate for a couple reasons. I want to see how the stock suspension rides - I can't stand the fluttery reverb that most stock suspensions seem to have when you hit a bump. I've always been a huge proponent of Currie Johnny Joints for that reason. But I see more and more of these different rubber or compound bushings becoming the recommended norm lately, so I want to feel it out. And Currie (now branding their Jeep parts exclusively as Rock Jock it appears) seems to have fallen out of favor. Which I just find surprising. I want to see how the stock suspension handles load in the rear. And honestly, my TJ is going to become more of a trail rig. The Gladiator just isn't going to see heavy trail use. If it does the job entirely adequately with spacers and exhibits no quirks, then why spend the extra dough? Lockers and a good set of tires get you far. But, I'm picky. I'm helping install a Clayton lift on a coworkers JT shortly, so I can use him as a guinea pig as well.
What I have in mind, potentially, or pretty soon:
Line-X Premium. This is scheduled to be sprayed next week.
Track bars, Clayton probably.
GDE Tune. I won't be doing this until I can get my hands on a spare PCM. I've tuned a few Chrysler PCMs before with my HP Tuner, so I might dig in myself before then. But I don't know squat about stuff post mid-00s.
Tint.
Trailer brake controller.
Tonneau cover.
Rebel half rack.
iKamper Skycamp Mini.
67 Designs dash mount.
FTM400XD radio, probably a Compactenna for garage convenience.
Basic maintenance stuff:
Hot Shot's EDT 1oz per tank.
Avalon King Ceramic Coat.
3M 08852 Cavity Wax for frame.
CRC 6026 for rust prevention.
I haven't delved into it yet, but I intend to do an oil change after a couple thousand miles.
I already started working on it last night, I'll post up some updates later. It'll be up on 37s by this weekend. Oh, and as the JT takes over daily duties, the TJ will be getting some love too. I might as well post that in here as well. We all like Jeeps here, right?
Kind of seems silly making a build journal considering I'm not planning anything crazy with my Gladiator, but after thinking the same with my last several Jeeps and then going way down the rabbit hole sometimes providing write-ups on numerous forums, etc, I thought maybe it'd be wise to do one this time around from the start. I'll try to use part numbers to make searching easy.
I've averaged about 1 car a year since I've been driving, but here's the Jeep history for me:
2006 Jeep TJ SE (2.4L & 6 speed) Sold
1987 Jeep Comanche (2.5 & 5 speed) Sold
1982 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limited (amc 360) Gifted
2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon (Supercharged 4.0 & 6 speed) Never Selling
2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (3.0 Ecodiesel & 8HP75)
The 2022 JT is the second vehicle I've ever bought from new, and the first that I had built to order.
Ordered on March 8th, I took delivery on Memorial Day, May 30th.
The current plan for this Jeep is to be a long distance cruiser/wheeler. I suppose in that regard you could call it an overlander, as cringey as that term has come to be to some people. You can see my TJ, it's build about as off-road oriented as I felt I could get away with going, while still serving my daily driver duties for the last 9 years. It's time for her to get retired at the ripe age of 96,000 miles. I want the JT to be a more compliant daily. Quieter, smoother, more convenient (ie no flinging mud and salt spray on the windows and mirrors)
Things I already have ordered, or have in the garage and I'm settled on, for now:
HotHead Headliner in Oak
Sound deadening sheets for the floor
Tazer for convenience
37x12.5r17 Cooper SST Pro
17x8.5 AEV Salta XR in Onyx
Regular/Original Size Rokblokz
Block heater - Mopar 56044738AA (how is this not standard)
2" Iron Rock Offroad Spacer lift with shock extensions
Currie bump stops front/rear
Currie carrier bearing spacer
Extended Mopar lower control arms 68322798AA
Rebadging. Planning on black/grey badging.
I was never a fan of the JK generation, but I've done full suspensions on many of them, and wheeled with groups with them of course. I've done a few TJs, XJs, MJs, ZJs, YJs. I haven't touched a JL or JT yet. I'm going with a spacer right out of the gate for a couple reasons. I want to see how the stock suspension rides - I can't stand the fluttery reverb that most stock suspensions seem to have when you hit a bump. I've always been a huge proponent of Currie Johnny Joints for that reason. But I see more and more of these different rubber or compound bushings becoming the recommended norm lately, so I want to feel it out. And Currie (now branding their Jeep parts exclusively as Rock Jock it appears) seems to have fallen out of favor. Which I just find surprising. I want to see how the stock suspension handles load in the rear. And honestly, my TJ is going to become more of a trail rig. The Gladiator just isn't going to see heavy trail use. If it does the job entirely adequately with spacers and exhibits no quirks, then why spend the extra dough? Lockers and a good set of tires get you far. But, I'm picky. I'm helping install a Clayton lift on a coworkers JT shortly, so I can use him as a guinea pig as well.
What I have in mind, potentially, or pretty soon:
Line-X Premium. This is scheduled to be sprayed next week.
Track bars, Clayton probably.
GDE Tune. I won't be doing this until I can get my hands on a spare PCM. I've tuned a few Chrysler PCMs before with my HP Tuner, so I might dig in myself before then. But I don't know squat about stuff post mid-00s.
Tint.
Trailer brake controller.
Tonneau cover.
Rebel half rack.
iKamper Skycamp Mini.
67 Designs dash mount.
FTM400XD radio, probably a Compactenna for garage convenience.
Basic maintenance stuff:
Hot Shot's EDT 1oz per tank.
Avalon King Ceramic Coat.
3M 08852 Cavity Wax for frame.
CRC 6026 for rust prevention.
I haven't delved into it yet, but I intend to do an oil change after a couple thousand miles.
I already started working on it last night, I'll post up some updates later. It'll be up on 37s by this weekend. Oh, and as the JT takes over daily duties, the TJ will be getting some love too. I might as well post that in here as well. We all like Jeeps here, right?
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