W.T.F.D.I.G.M.I - Turning my daily drive into a trail rig.

[drewcnit]

They are also adding some rock lights while they do this (ignore the talking lol) -
Flash Warning on the first video.

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[drewcnit]

First shot of the rear on the crate. They have to cut off the rear track bar bracket as I have a 4 link and they have to weld the 4 link mounts to the top of the truss.

 

[drewcnit]

So it went into the shop February 6th, I got it back at 7pm on the 21st.
Here's the story -
Original appointment for the work was on 2/4, but we pushed it to 2/6 because the steering still wasn't in-house yet.
So they started work on 2/6 tearing down the old drivetrain parts and completing some of the smaller ancillary work I had them doing - rock lights, front fenders refit after powder coat, front bumper refit after powder coat and it's also when we started realizing some small hiccups in the process.
Notice what's wrong in the picture of the rear axle? -

You'd be correct if you said the truss is wrong and there's no need for the rear track bar bracket since I'm 4 linked...
So the guys had to cut the truss and track bar mount off the axle, weld the correct truss in place and do some touch up repainting. East Coast Gear did overnight the correct truss for free, but -1 point for not following directions that were in the email and causing more labor on the shops side.
Rear Axle after the rework -

Once that was fixed and our first set of steering was in house from RPM they began to set up the front axle... except the tie rod was too long because apparently East Coast recently changed their kingpin knuckles and even though RPM knew of the change, they did not realize this was one of the new knuckles. So back to waiting for steering as they had to cut a new tie rod and ship it out.
In the meantime, they worked on driveshafts. Originally we had hoped my Adams front drive shaft could be reusable, but with the new front pinion length, it was too long. So the option was re-tube it or get another one for the front of the appropriate length, while also buying the rear. Rather than ship it to Adams, let them re-tube it, then have them ship it back, I opted for the faster, albeit more expensive route of ordering new front and rear driveshafts from Adams.
Shout out to Adams drive shafts, not only were they better priced then some of the competitors, they were faster. On that note, I'll have an Adams 1350 Front Driveshaft for sale real soon that will recoup some of the cost, it was on my Jeep for less than a year and still in amazing shape.
With the second set of steering and driveshafts on the way, there was really nothing to do but wait at that point.
They buttoned up smaller parts of the project, got the front fenders and bumper back from powder coat, added some rock lights, the gatekeeper knuckle mounts for pod lights that turn with the knuckles, and finished up the rear axle after welding/painting.

On the 18th, I got the call that the second set of steering was in, but it was still wrong. Tie rod was now contacting the stabilizer mount on the axle. Bracket for ARB compressor was lost in shipping somewhere. I was beginning to lose hope I'd make the club ride on the 22nd at this point.

And then on the 20th got the message that everything was in house, they were going to be fitting everything and working late to get it to me on the 21st.

So fast forward to the 21st and I spent the last 3 hours with the owner's husband and two of the shops mechanics buttoning it up and test driving it.

 

[drewcnit]

Overall the process of going to tons was stressful, had some bumps in the road, expensive, but altogether worth it.
I got rowdy on Saturday at Golden Mountain Off Road Park in Sparta, TN with the Jeep club -

Got it real nice and muddy -

 

[JTenn]

So it went into the shop February 6th, I got it back at 7pm on the 21st.
Here's the story -
Original appointment for the work was on 2/4, but we pushed it to 2/6 because the steering still wasn't in-house yet.
So they started work on 2/6 tearing down the old drivetrain parts and completing some of the smaller ancillary work I had them doing - rock lights, front fenders refit after powder coat, front bumper refit after powder coat and it's also when we started realizing some small hiccups in the process.
Notice what's wrong in the picture of the rear axle? -

You'd be correct if you said the truss is wrong and there's no need for the rear track bar bracket since I'm 4 linked...
So the guys had to cut the truss and track bar mount off the axle, weld the correct truss in place and do some touch up repainting. East Coast Gear did overnight the correct truss for free, but -1 point for not following directions that were in the email and causing more labor on the shops side.
Rear Axle after the rework -

Once that was fixed and our first set of steering was in house from RPM they began to set up the front axle... except the tie rod was too long because apparently East Coast recently changed their kingpin knuckles and even though RPM knew of the change, they did not realize this was one of the new knuckles. So back to waiting for steering as they had to cut a new tie rod and ship it out.
In the meantime, they worked on driveshafts. Originally we had hoped my Adams front drive shaft could be reusable, but with the new front pinion length, it was too long. So the option was re-tube it or get another one for the front of the appropriate length, while also buying the rear. Rather than ship it to Adams, let them re-tube it, then have them ship it back, I opted for the faster, albeit more expensive route of ordering new front and rear driveshafts from Adams.
Shout out to Adams drive shafts, not only were they better priced then some of the competitors, they were faster. On that note, I'll have an Adams 1350 Front Driveshaft for sale real soon that will recoup some of the cost, it was on my Jeep for less than a year and still in amazing shape.
With the second set of steering and driveshafts on the way, there was really nothing to do but wait at that point.
They buttoned up smaller parts of the project, got the front fenders and bumper back from powder coat, added some rock lights, the gatekeeper knuckle mounts for pod lights that turn with the knuckles, and finished up the rear axle after welding/painting.

On the 18th, I got the call that the second set of steering was in, but it was still wrong. Tie rod was now contacting the stabilizer mount on the axle. Bracket for ARB compressor was lost in shipping somewhere. I was beginning to lose hope I'd make the club ride on the 22nd at this point.

And then on the 20th got the message that everything was in house, they were going to be fitting everything and working late to get it to me on the 21st.

So fast forward to the 21st and I spent the last 3 hours with the owner's husband and two of the shops mechanics buttoning it up and test driving it.

It all looks amazing!! I have a bent Adams 1350 rear drive shaft that they will retube for me. The catch is I have to send it to Vegas and I pay for the tube and shipping both directions. The labor is covered. I thought about just taking to a local drive shaft shop and having them do it but I don't know. I might be interested in the box if you still have it on the chance I send it back to Adams.

 

[drewcnit]

Things to do or still to come -

1. Need to address Parking Brake lines, incredibly awkward positioning and the lines are literally zip tied to the lower control arms right now.
2. Need to address overall braking, they work, I just want more from them. At the ride on Saturday on an incline, I had to stand on the brake to keep from rolling backwards.
3. Need to go hydro assist, I woke up Sunday and felt like Saturday had been a really intense arm workout day.
4. Maybe Anti-Rock the rear, maybe delete rear sway altogether. Still up in the air on that one.
5. Beauty pieces. Yes I want my rock crawler/trail rig to look good too. I'm adding blue accents on certain pieces, front bumper has the first piece, fenders and molle panels for the rack will be next.
   

 

[drewcnit]

It all looks amazing!! I have a bent Adams 1350 rear drive shaft that they will retube for me. The catch is I have to send it to Vegas and I pay for the tube and shipping both directions. The labor is covered. I thought about just taking to a local drive shaft shop and having them do it but I don't know. I might be interested in the box if you still have it on the chance I send it back to Adams.

I'll check with the shop on the box, they may have tossed it already. They have a pallet of my take off parts, so there's a chance of it still being there.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Look who's famous lol

 

[drewcnit]

So I hadn't updated this in a hot minute because I got busy with the wheeling and travel season during the nice weather.
Things I've done to it or had done to it since February -

PSC Hydro Assist, felt needed after swapping to tons and 40s -

Then I went to 42s-

Added the Motobilt Half Doors for some summer fun -

Wheeled it a lot this year -

Windrock -

Hawk Pride -

SMORR -

Texas -

Making plans for the winter downtime and next year's schedule now. I bought the Motobilt Cage back at Jeep Invasion in August and that will get started January 12th, along with some PRP seats and harnesses. With a fast follow up into the V8 swap of my dreams and some other goodies.

Schedule for next year so far I've agreed to -
Daytona Jeep Beach - April
MOB Windrock - May
Wheeling for Freedom (Windrock) - July 4th
Rubicon / Fordyce - End of July
Jeep Invasion - August
Outlaw Offroad Trail Days - September

I plan on following the Great American Crawl around in between these events as much as possible.

 

[Hootbro]

The monster keeps growing. Pretty soon it is going to be wrecking the trails like Godzilla does to Tokyo.

 

[drewcnit]

The monster keeps growing. Pretty soon it is going to be wrecking the trails like Godzilla does to Tokyo.

I can't even explain yet how accurate that is...

 

[Shibbyjeep]

So I hadn't updated this in a hot minute because I got busy with the wheeling and travel season during the nice weather.
Things I've done to it or had done to it since February -

PSC Hydro Assist, felt needed after swapping to tons and 40s -

Then I went to 42s-

Added the Motobilt Half Doors for some summer fun -

Wheeled it a lot this year -

Windrock -

Hawk Pride -

SMORR -

Texas -

Making plans for the winter downtime and next year's schedule now. I bought the Motobilt Cage back at Jeep Invasion in August and that will get started January 12th, along with some PRP seats and harnesses. With a fast follow up into the V8 swap of my dreams and some other goodies.

Schedule for next year so far I've agreed to -
Daytona Jeep Beach - April
MOB Windrock - May
Wheeling for Freedom (Windrock) - July 4th
Rubicon / Fordyce - End of July
Jeep Invasion - August
Outlaw Offroad Trail Days - September

I plan on following the Great American Crawl around in between these events as much as possible.

My group ive been camping/wheeling with is looking at doing Hawks Pride for GAC. We did Windrock for the event this year. We might do both who knows. Im prob going to Daytona and def going to SMJI.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

That looks SICK!!!! Having said that, you remember the rails the Rokmen used to make for the rear on the LJ? That would look pretty cool on there too. They went right above the fender where you have the counter sunk bolts and attached with a few backing plates.

 

[drewcnit]

My group ive been camping/wheeling with is looking at doing Hawks Pride for GAC. We did Windrock for the event this year. We might do both who knows. Im prob going to Daytona and def going to SMJI.

Man I hope I get to run into at a few of those spots, Wheeling with Warn was busy and I didn't get to talk for long.

 

[drewcnit]

Parts List for Upcoming Build Phase (All to be done at Outlaw Offroad Nashville starting 01/12/2026)

• Motobilt Cage
• Motobilt B Pillar Chop
• PRP Endura Trek Seats for Driver / Passenger w/ 5.3 Harnesses
• 6.4L Hemi V8 conversion Tom's 426 Stage 5 package (~650HP)
• 8HP95 Transmission
• Rock Krawler's U4EA Long Arm for JT Gladiator w/ Coil Overs
• ADS Hydro Bumps
• Rear Anti-Rock
• Motobilt 25gal Fuel Cell for Bobbed Bed
• Misc. Small parts for the build...

I've got full run of the shop as the work is being done, so I will post up as many pictures as I can based on my work schedule.

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