bbuschs' stealth Rubicon build by bbusch

9 minute(s) of a 78 minute read

Teaser, only picture I have so far...

5-5-2015

Slight update:

The rig is due to be completed over the next few days and the final touches are starting to begin. With that said I got a bad phone call today in regard to the Hutchinson Beadlock wheels. Apparently these things are extremely heavy and require a ridiculous amount of weight to balance out and to make matters worse one of the wheels had something inside it and All J had to disassemble the wheel. Once the wheel was disassembled they found a copper piece inside the tire and I recall that piece being in the inner rubber beadlock. The piece is a mount for the TPMS device that is optional however I did not install the TPMS in my setup. The copper piece fell out of one when they began to spin the tire to get the weight measurement during the balancing process. I have placed a call to Hutchinson this evening and left Mike a message so hopefully I hear back from him tomorrow regarding the issue. My concern is there are four other tires/wheels and this could be a potential issue with the additional four. The issue with this one tire/wheel is likely going to cost me or Hutchinson $200 to $250 so if the issue carries over to the other four this could be a nightmare at over a $1,000 to $1,250 issue. I am pretty disappointed right now and further worried. If Hutchinson is not willing to step up this could put me in a very bad position given I don't have an extra grand to fix the issue and don't know how I will be able to get my rig home given I plan to drive her. I feel this is a defect because the copper mounts were installed/pressed by Hutchinson and when I removed them from the sealed boxes the mounts had been preinstalled. I would have never installed them myself and it's my understanding that sometimes they don't come installed on all of the inner beadlocks so I am wondering why they were preinstalled on mine? I look for Hutchinson to step up here and cover the labor surrounding the issue however I am concerned they will not. Even getting this one tire/wheel covered still leaves me vulnerable on the other four and I am seriously concerned. This is bad news guys and I must say if they don't step up I am going to be extremely pissed! Hope to know more tomorrow when Mike calls me back. We are down to the final days now and I am getting that rig on Monday.. I have been waiting far too long to pick up my ride for this **** to happen (and be what sets me back another several weeks from picking her up). I am frustrated with All J as well because the tires/wheels should have been balanced weeks ago and this issue could have been resolved already but they have waited last minute to get the rig completed and this could end up costing me big time both financially and with my time. If I cannot pick her up this weekend I will not be able to pick her up until June due to I have doctor visits scheduled throughout the rest of May and cannot move the dates/push them. This is why I wish people would listen and do what I say however things NEVER go like you expect/want/explain them to (the rig was supposed to be completed weeks ago). I am not quite livid yet but tomorrow evening when I update here depending on what Hutchinson is or is not willing to do for me you may see a different Brian. On a final note I went back through the entire mounting instructions again and nowhere in there does it say you need to remove the copper mounts if you don't plan to install the TPMS devices.

I'll post an update tomorrow and let you know where things stand.

5-12-2015

Picked her up over the weekend..














And I was able to snap a few shots in the garage earlier..














The transmission is very loud (synchros) and while the tranny has always been loud it is so bad I am going to change out the fluid (Royal Purple) in hope that solves the issue. Last thing I need is the transmission going out on me right now.

5-14-2015

Stock flares trimmed down some. Trying to keep the look stock..


Snapped a few pics before bed. I will hopefully have a little time on Sunday to take a look at the flares.. would like to get the front ones on by Sunday. Still not sure what I want to do for the rear ones.







Thanks for the comments guys. Hopefully I find some time this weekend to update how things went/are going.

5-26-2015

I also ran a RE short arm lift on a previous TJ I owned, the Nth lift is hands down the winner. I like the coil over ride so far but the Nth Coils were always nice, no complaints with the Nth coils.

Pics enjoy!

Still have to trim the lower ends of the front fenders

Here is a link to the rear GenRight flares I plan to use in the rear.

http://www.genright.com/ProductInfo....ductid=TFR3130


As for Hutchinson they sent me an email today stating they were sending me a check out in the mail and some other goodies for my trouble. For that I am glad to have done business with them and look forward to posting up what they send my way.

6-6-2015

Measured out the rig's wheelbase last week and it's right at 100". So many little things to tie up and I'm already looking for tires and wheels so I can actually wheel her. The rig is driving well so far but power is to be desired so I am already starting to look at accumulating parts to complete the engine/transmission swap. I want to take her down to Yosemite but the way she struggles in the mountains/hills with the heavy 37's, 5.13 gearing and 4.0 POS I am having second thoughts and may just take the Honda (40 mpg vs. 8 mpg).

4-11-2016

Well a few updates are going down in the future and thought I would share. I recently acquired a modified (for an LS engine) AEV non highline Heat Reduction Hood and took delivery on it today. Given the modification and the additional Hood Vents the hood truly is one of a kind. Also for my bday my GF got me an ARB freezer fridge so I'm working on how I plan to mount that as well. The big news is I plan on doing an LS 376/480 swap so the hood will assist with cooling that plant and I also have had a Premier Power Welder sitting for quite some time waiting for the LS swap.  

I'm leaning toward Gun Metal Black for the paint and I'm hoping to do the LS swap this winter. The Rock Jocks have been giving me issues with leaks and the GenRight suspension has grown noisy. Also my PSC hydro steering line has developed a leak, I'm not really sure how that happened but it's going to be another thing I have to fix. Overall I'm not that stoked with my suspension build and the RJ axles but hopefully I'll get the issues worked out and be more happy with everything in the future. Looking forward to the continuation of my build and can't wait to have some power behind the pedal. I'll keep this thread updated as things move along.