Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest banner

2005 Jeep Unlimited (LJ) "Slow Roast" build

56K views 276 replies 63 participants last post by  buttercr125 
#1 · (Edited)
At age 34 (I'm almost 40 now), I bought my first and only new vehicle ever - a 2005 LJ - as a spring/summer/fall daily-driver. I have always stored it in the winters, and driven a cheap "winter bomb" to keep the LJ out of the salt. I love the thing, and have pretty much babied it, to say the least (until more recently...read on).

Here's a stock shot of my LJ. Looking back, it looked pretty "wussy" on those stock-sized tires (not that it's huge now, but...). I also bought some OEM Rubicon rocker guards back in 2005, but have been too much of a puss to drill holes through the body to mount them. :teehee: Actually, I just haven't had the need for them up to this point, and installing them hasn't been a priority.




A couple years ago, when the Wrangler GS-As were starting to get a little slippery (plenty of tread left, but the compound got kind of hard/slippery), I sprung for some 31" BFG KM2s and a budget boost. It's a great set-up. The handling is still great, and the tires aren't horribly loud for being a mud-terrain design.




Enter a Fall 2010 visit to Rocks and Valleys with my daughters (met up there with Crawler and his wife). One word...ADDICTED! So were my daughters. Mira was begging me to get a locker so we could do the Black Diamond trails. :thumb:



Notice the custom "striping" on my door? It's a scratch that goes the full length of the driver door and into the quarter panel. I'll have to see if it'll buff out. It's the only real "carnage" (used very loosely) from the day. My girls were worried. They were like, "Dad, are you going to be OK?". It was all good.



So there it is. Upgrades will be simple weekend projects - nothing to pull too much of my time away from my family/girlfriend, nor working on Mira's XJ with her. For the haters, no I won't be selling it, and no, I won't be parting it out. :finger: :sonicjay: :sonicjay:

More updates to come.


Craig



Current Plans/Status (updated 4/2/2012):

I want to give a H-U-G-E thanks to RockSolid Performance for all of the guidance, custom work, and great service. Thanks guys!



Full-Traction long-arm install under way...
 

Attachments

See less See more
8
#226 ·
Back from paint. It looks good in this light, but will need to go back to the body shop after Jeep Blessing this weekend, as they didn't blend the color into the sides of the Jeep as I was told they would. In certain light, it stands out like a sore thumb. It'll get fixed, though.

I had to leave the shop early tonight, though, as everythaing I touched seemed to turn into a giant, steaming pile. I hate days like this. I'll try again tomorrow.



 
#231 ·
Looks good. Unfortunately, apparently silver is a pita to blend.

yes, but he didnt even try to blend. he stopped paint at seam.


Ha Haha hahahaha I can say with 100% certainty that is a false statement after seeing you drive one time!
that guy is nuts

We are takin 131, should be round your area 730-8am
we will be towing his LJ up for the jeep blessing. we havent had enough road time ( actually only has been driven on and off trailer to go to paint and exhaust) to drive it up.

Back from paint. It looks good in this light, but will need to go back to the body shop after Jeep Blessing this weekend, as they didn't blend the color into the sides of the Jeep as I was told they would. In certain light, it stands out like a sore thumb. It'll get fixed, though.

I had to leave the shop early tonight, though, as everythaing I touched seemed to turn into a giant, steaming pile. I hate days like this. I'll try again tomorrow.



rough night for all, better tomorrow
 
#232 ·
Cleaned up, and ready for the Jeep Blessing. I also got to drive my LJ for the first time today in over a year...felt GREAT!!!


Rocker guards & corner guards are now installed, just in time for the Jeep Blessing.


B-I-G Warn 8274 winch installed.


I'm very happy with the way the painted aluminum corner guards turned out. Subtle, with a silent "b". The stock rear bumper went back until the Rokmen rear bumper arrives.
 
#238 ·
Cleaned up, and ready for the Jeep Blessing. I also got to drive my LJ for the first time today in over a year...felt GREAT!!!


Rocker guards & corner guards are now installed, just in time for the Jeep Blessing.
I love the build and how clean it is, since it is going to the body shop and you being so meticulous (not a bad thing at all) I think filling in the seam between the doors and fenders (where it used to meet the top of the fenders) would really clean it up. It just looks so out of place with the highline kit.

Just something that jumped out at me, having said that I hate you for having such a beautiful work of art
 
#239 ·
Another big thanks to RockSolid Performance for getting my Jeep drivable for the 2012 Jeep Blessing. Here are a few shots from the day yesterday.


On the Intermediate course with my buddy Joel.


Clearly, I'm not overly excited about driving my Jeep after a year of jack-stand wheeling.


Sand pit of death...or maybe I'm just being melodramatic.


Exiting the concrete tunnel.


...and these were the rocks I wasn't quite (mentally) prepared to tackle (in my vehicle) yet. Gordon from RockSolid was nice enough to run me through the "Chadsville" section of the course a couple times in his green Jeep. VERY fun! Here's Patti driving the RockSolid buggy through part of Chadsville.
 
#244 ·
Thanks! :thumb:


Pride cometh before the flop.
:sonicjay: :sonicjay: :sonicjay:



I took my daughters out for some test wheeling yesterday (Mira was on camera duty...nice work, Mira!).


Tackling the tires.


We climbed the wall successfully a few times. Not too bad, especially given how wet/muddy the tires were. Quote of the night (from Mira): "You're not going to die, Maeve. And if you do, like Amy (my fiancee) always says, it's less mouths to feed." LOL


Poser tire shot.
 
#248 ·
Thanks Deuce.

That is a fully thought out and cleaning looking built... A little to mild for my taste but Definately a solid looking vehicle
Thanks!

:poke: what does it need more autozone lights and stupid stickers?
:sonicjay: :sonicjay: :sonicjay:



BTW, here's a shot of my LJ flex, compliments of Mike at RockSolid Peformance. :thumb:

 
#261 ·
Thanks for stopping by, John. Rock & Valleys SOON!

How does it do on the open road? I'm looking at the same psc set-up.......
Sorry for missing your question, Aaron. Yes, it drives very nicely down surface streets and the highway.

Craig



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#268 ·
Due to changing life priorities, I'll be listing my LJ for sale this week for $21,500.

KBB (stock) is $17,238. Do the math on all the upgrades alone, and they easily surpass this.

This Jeep is very well-built, and hasn't been wheeled since being completed, with the exception of the Jeep Blessing Moderate trail (suitable for stock rigs), and the test course at RockSolid Performance.

I'm the original owner, it's stored every winter, and it's been babied (less than 54K miles).

More details to come...
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top