Project Blue2
We got a call from John a couple of months ago, and he wanted an extreme update to his 2-door JK. After a consultation with him, we figured we had enough information to put together an awesome build that would allow the Jeep to handle anything from Oregon’s I-5 to California’s Johnson Valley.
A plan was set, and the Jeep was delivered. Bob, Ben, and Jason took over from there. The Jeep was gutted from the frame down, and the slow process of rebuilding began.
It might not seem like one of the biggest builds, but with such a unique suspension design, geometry and handling was very important. Several days were dedicated to the process of figuring the major suspension areas – including virtual reaction point, roll center, center of gravity, and up/down travel.
Bob’s fabrication skills were put to work with over 160 hours of detailed effort. The Jeep doesn’t look like it has that much into it, and that is precisely the point – it is a sleeper. The 37″ BFG tires, and the Walker Beadlock wheels are the only hint of the true machine that lies beneath the steel blue shell.
Once the 5.7L Hemi engine is fired up and the Jeep is put in gear, you know that this is not any ordinary 2 door. A quick blip of the throttle and you are set back in your seat, the Fox Coilovers soak up everything in your path, and the SpeedBump bumpstops and swaybars keep all four tires on the tarmac. Once off-road, the Jeep settles in to it’s real duties and starts looking for the biggest obstacles it can find. Truth be told, we didn’t have too much time behind the wheel before John took it off our hands to go thrash it on a 3-week Colorado trip. From all reports, this project was a huge success – and Bob can now catch up on some well needed sleep!
Check out the specs below to see everything that makes this a true sleeper.
FRONT SUSPENSION
• Custom coilover mount
• Fox 14″ Coilover w/remote reservoir
• 14″ limiting straps
• 4″ Travel SpeedBump Bumpstops
• Elite LCG Long Arm front suspension
• 4.5″ suspension up-travel (limited by Hemi)
REAR SUSPENSION
• Custom coilover mount & crossmember
• Fox 14″ Coilover w/remote reservoir
• Double triangluation 4 link rear suspension
• 16″ limiting straps
• 4″ travel SpeedBump Bumpstops
• Notched frame for coilover clearance
• Stretched rear wheelbase 2.5″ (98.5″ total)
• 6.75″ suspension up-travel
• Currie Antirock swaybar & custom mount
DRIVETRAIN
• 1350 CV Driveshafts
• Big Brake rotor kit
• 17″ Walker Evans Racing beadlock wheels
• 37″ BFG Goodrich Krawlers
• 5.7L Hemi Conversion (performed by Burnsville OffRoad)
• Atlas 3.8
• Tera CRD60 JK specific axles front & rear
• Detroit Lockers front & rear
• 5.38 ring & pinion gears
BODY PROTECTION & SKIDS
• Custom crossmember for rear triangulated arms
• custom belly skidplate
• GenRight relocated fuel tank
• High clearance Evap Canister relocation
• Twisted Tube roll cage
• Poison Spyder Crusher flares
Check out the photos, and see some of the build process, then take a look at the action shots that John has sent back in.
This thing works great, and they are obviously having a blast!
Keep it Rubber side down John!
