Bender's 1:1 JK Build - Project Getaway

[The Doc]

Originally Posted by BENDER

It's a 2012 auto with stock 3:73 gears.

What gears are you going to?

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by The Doc

What gears are you going to?

Not sure yet, really depends on a number of things that still have to be sorted.

[The Doc]

Originally Posted by BENDER

Not sure yet, really depends on a number of things that still have to be sorted.

Just wondering, 4.56 are very good all around gear with 35''

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by The Doc

Just wondering, 4.56 are very good all around gear with 35''

Yeah, I bet that would be a good combo. We are still on the fence about putting too much money in our Dana 30.

Decisions!

[The Doc]

If you just just gusset up the c"s and tube it, it will hold up pretty decent. Or if you have the money do a dynatrac and not have any problems. Don't get the rubicon 44 because it's not all 44, the housing is still weak!! It all depends on how much your going to hammer it.

[Sh0rtBus]

Originally Posted by BENDER

We are working on the lift. We are looking at the 2.5 Flex System from Rock Krawler. It's going to be more of an overland build than full on rock crawler. So, we may make a few upgrades to the axles but nothing over the top. This is our DD too.

You'll like that lift. I run the 2.5" Stock Mod with Bilstein 5100s on my 2011 JKUR and it netted me just a hair over 3" of lift. So yeah, RK advertises their lifts conservatively. Gonna' look sick with those PB's on there!

Originally Posted by The Doc

Just wondering, 4.56 are very good all around gear with 35''

I'd say 4.56s, too. 4.88's seem to the happy place on the 2012+ auto with 37s, so 4.56 shold put you just right. Some people are happy with 4.10s and even 3.73s, but I think you'll see much better performance with a regear. One of the best things I did to my very anemic 2011 3.8L for sure. I went to 5.13s, though.

Originally Posted by The Doc

If you just just gusset up the c"s and tube it, it will hold up pretty decent. Or if you have the money do a dynatrac and not have any problems. Don't get the rubicon 44 because it's not all 44, the housing is still weak!! It all depends on how much your going to hammer it.

If you don't want to sleeve it, you could always go for the Artec truss kit, too. Great addition to the front axle and really beefs it up quite a bit. Plus, if you've tweaked the tubes at all, it'll be an easier install. And it of course looks cool as shit! Definitely on my short list......along with everything else. I've run a stock D44 with just upper c-gussets for over two years and been fine so far.

[cboggs]

Despite what everyone thinks the tubes on the 30 and 44 do not bend that easy. If you are into high speed runs through wash board in the desert then yes you will more than likely bend them. Sleeves are overkill and a waste of money to put into a stock jk axle. Gussets are recommended for the C's though. If you need anything more than that, the stock axles are not for you and you should start saving for a prorock 44 or 60.

[Ty@Tekin]

Looks good Bender! I'm just getting ready to lift my '08 2" tomorrow, but still staying on the 33's for now. I might go 35's and 4.56s later on, but it will be awhile since we just bought the Commander and had to put wheels/tires on it immediately.

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by The Doc

If you just just gusset up the c"s and tube it, it will hold up pretty decent. Or if you have the money do a dynatrac and not have any problems. Don't get the rubicon 44 because it's not all 44, the housing is still weak!! It all depends on how much your going to hammer it.

Gussets is probably all we will do. Maybe a gear change from the 3:73's to 4:56's, but pretty sure I will need to change the carrier as well to make that jump. At that point the whole "add lockers while you are in there" debate comes into play.

We will see how it does after the tires and wheels are installed.

Originally Posted by Sh0rtBus

You'll like that lift. I run the 2.5" Stock Mod with Bilstein 5100s on my 2011 JKUR and it netted me just a hair over 3" of lift. So yeah, RK advertises their lifts conservatively. Gonna' look sick with those PB's on there!

I'd say 4.56s, too. 4.88's seem to the happy place on the 2012+ auto with 37s, so 4.56 shold put you just right. Some people are happy with 4.10s and even 3.73s, but I think you'll see much better performance with a regear. One of the best things I did to my very anemic 2011 3.8L for sure. I went to 5.13s, though.

If you don't want to sleeve it, you could always go for the Artec truss kit, too. Great addition to the front axle and really beefs it up quite a bit. Plus, if you've tweaked the tubes at all, it'll be an easier install. And it of course looks cool as shit! Definitely on my short list......along with everything else. I've run a stock D44 with just upper c-gussets for over two years and been fine so far.

Thanks. We are actually looking at the 2.5 Max Travel kit now. Decisions, decisions!

We would like to do gears as I mentioned before, but we will see how performance is with the stock set-up.

Originally Posted by cboggs

Despite what everyone thinks the tubes on the 30 and 44 do not bend that easy. If you are into high speed runs through wash board in the desert then yes you will more than likely bend them. Sleeves are overkill and a waste of money to put into a stock jk axle. Gussets are recommended for the C's though. If you need anything more than that, the stock axles are not for you and you should start saving for a prorock 44 or 60.

Exactly. The tubes and C's on the Dana 30 and Dana 44 are the same. The biggest difference in strength between the two is the ring and pinion. We are not locked, or into high speed running, so gussets for the C's should be sufficient. And I only say that because of the weight of the tires.

Originally Posted by Ty@Tekin

Looks good Bender! I'm just getting ready to lift my '08 2" tomorrow, but still staying on the 33's for now. I might go 35's and 4.56s later on, but it will be awhile since we just bought the Commander and had to put wheels/tires on it immediately.

Thanks Ty. Post some pics after you lift it. We are getting excited to get our build underway, just need to finish gathering parts!

[cboggs]

I think you'll be surprised how livable the 3.73's are with 35's, I ran those gears for a year in my '12 Rubicon auto with 37" Toyos just fine. Rigs gonna look good!

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by cboggs

I think you'll be surprised how livable the 3.73's are with 35's, I ran those gears for a year in my '12 Rubicon auto with 37" Toyos just fine. Rigs gonna look good!

Good to hear. I drove my old 4.0 TJ with 3:73 gears and 33's for almost 10 years, it wasn't ideal but it worked. I have a feeling with the new motor, 3:73 gears and 35's this 2012 will be a lot better than that.

[BENDER]

Well we pulled the trigger on the Rock Krawler Suspension 2.5 Max Travel lift kit, with their 2.0 RRD Emulsion Shocks. I am very impressed with the quality of all the components, as I am still rifling through the boxes! The shocks themselves are works of art! The aluminum bodies are fluted for better cooling, and the overall weight of each shock is surprisingly low.

A couple cellphone teaser shots......

[Ty@Tekin]

Boxes of awesome. Love those shocks, they look nice!

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by Ty@Tekin

Boxes of awesome. Love those shocks, they look nice!

Lots of awesome!

A few better photos of the RK lift kit components.

[Sh0rtBus]

Yup.....I remember that sight. Word of advice...even though I haven't done it myself....but get that rear track bar bracket burned onto the axle housing. And be careful drilling the hole for it. I damn near took off a toe with a 1/2" drill doing it.

I promise, though, you'll be plenty happy with that kit. Don't need any more than 2.5" of lift, either. I have yet to need any more. I would eventually like to get the control arms, though, to make mine the Max Travel kit. Just haven't yet found justification.

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by Sh0rtBus

Yup.....I remember that sight. Word of advice...even though I haven't done it myself....but get that rear track bar bracket burned onto the axle housing. And be careful drilling the hole for it. I damn near took off a toe with a 1/2" drill doing it.

I promise, though, you'll be plenty happy with that kit. Don't need any more than 2.5" of lift, either. I have yet to need any more. I would eventually like to get the control arms, though, to make mine the Max Travel kit. Just haven't yet found justification.

Thanks for the heads up. We are going to weld the bracket.

Glad to hear you are happy with yours.

[eric113]

So when does the goodies go on ?

[BENDER]

Originally Posted by eric113

So when does the goodies go on ?

Soon hopefully! I still need a ProCal to re-program the computer for the change in tire size, since it is an automatic. And we still need wheels. So, little by little we are getting there.

[Sh0rtBus]

Originally Posted by BENDER

Soon hopefully! I still need a ProCal to re-program the computer for the change in tire size, since it is an automatic. And we still need wheels. So, little by little we are getting there.

Spend the extra coin and get a tuner. I only picked up a ProCal because there weren't any tuners available for the '11 due to the reconfig'd security coding in the ECM. There are a couple now, but I've got other priorities.

[chino63]

How excelent, looks to be some really nice stuff. I hope you will be doing a step by step on these mods? Don't know why but I enjoy reading step by step builds.