bbuschs' stealth Rubicon build by bbusch

7 minute(s) of a 78 minute read

37's for now, once I do the V8 transplant she'll run 40's. After this transformation I'll still have the paint job to complete which will be custom, a V8 transplant (want a GM plant but leaning 6.4L Hemi for simplicity), tranny and tcase.  

Leaning Audi Teak Brown metallic at the moment...

Right now the rig is in Big Bear at All J Products. By end of February I will hopefully get a chance to run all the parts down to Quinn in my truck and begin the process. It's tough coordinating everything given I don't want to leave the rig immobile by removing parts so I'm hoping everything kinda just falls into place with selling vs. being financially able to get the work started. I figure if I pay for everything now then the removal of my axles, lift and other misc. parts will pay for the labor and other odd and end parts. We'll see.. if anyone is interested I still have an Nth Lift available, Front and Rear 44 axles among other random parts that need to go, basically enough parts to build another TJ.

12-7-2014

And finally I've had a chance to see them in the daylight for the first time...

Now to just get them out of the truck, suckers are heavy!

2-3-2015

Well a bit of an update...


I had another shipment arrive via freight with a total of 16 more packages and I have five more packages arriving some time soon. They started breaking down my TJ today at All J and she's about to be placed on blocks for the next three weeks before they can get to her. I will be heading down just as soon as my wheels arrive and I certainly look forward to getting the project started. My Nth Degree lift was removed today along with the axles among other parts and it looks like I may have just sold the rear axle tonight so things seem to be falling into place like I envisioned.  

I opened a few key parts to take a look so thought I would share...  











I'll keep things posted!

2-24-2015

The Nth lift sold last fall but I do have a few random parts left for sale. I liked the Nth setup fairly well but there were a few things I didn't like about it (rear stinger setup and a pop noise I could never diagnose).  

As for the update...


Well I took a trip down to Big Bear over the weekend and thought I would share an update. The rig has been waiting on all the parts so now we can get started on the build. The over all discussion with Quinn yielded a few realities and I have decided that I will not be going any larger in size (so no 40's). Which means I will no longer be able to run Creepy Crawlers unless Maxxis decides to make a 37" tire that will fit on a 17" wheel. I guess I will have to settle on the Trepador stickies instead for off road tires with a set of OMF wheels. Have a few ideas if OMF can make them happen that will yield some pretty sick beadlock wheels that no one else out there will have. As for my build it looks like the process will hopefully be completed by the end of next month. Still waiting on some parts that GenRight doesn't have in stock and once those arrive (hopefully in two weeks) I'll have all the parts together to complete this stage of the build. Paint work I am still deciding on given my budget but I will need to get some sort of protective layer on all the new steel. Took some photos when I got to the shop and then took photos along the route home. Driving down it was snowing so the mountains were covered in clouds which made for a bad photo op. then I forgot to take a photo of the truck loaded down with parts.. it was maxed out.








All J Motorsports Big Bear, CA



And the rig ready to go under the knife...










I mounted the tires on the wheels myself in the garage with simple hand tools and my feet. It was an overall painful experience I do not wish to ever experience again.







And on the way back I got some better shots of the Sierra Mountains. Mt Whitney is the middle photo I believe, the clouds were covering the mountain's peaks.










395 is a fun journey. Takes about 8 hours to get to Big Bear from Incline without any traffic delays. I look forward to exploring the Sierra's more this summer in the Rig once she returns home.