The JK Build Begins!

Ok, I have some pictures of the tires!!!  Sooo, sweet!

Here is a quote from a friend that was helping me out today...he posted this up on another board with some pictures of the progress.  Thought everyone would like to see the progress.

" Well....things got under way at Marine's house this afternoon after I got off of work.

When I got to his garage, he had some work done as a start -- ABS sensors off on the rear, and the rotors drilled for the new lug pattern for the 60's.
Here is what we started with:

Then we got started.  First, we pulled off the driver's side ABS sensor with no problems, and disconnected the sway bar, and other steering components.  Then we went to the passenger side, and we had some trouble getting the front ABS sensor out.  In fact, it got tweaked just a bit too much, and it broke off.......oops.  Jason will have to run a new sensor now in addition to all the other work he has to do.

Driveshaft coming off wasn't fun either -- air ratchet wouldn't even budge the bolts. There was enough lock-tite on those bolts for about 7 other Jeeps....but we got them with a little fancy leg torque.

Next we started in on the control arms...again they were on SUPER tight from the factory, but we managed.  That is, until -- we got to the frame side upper control arm.  The bolt holding it in was TOO LONG to come out.  It kept hitting the muffler, and no way to get it out. 
What great engineering....maybe I'm missing something, but this didn't seem right. 

A quick introduction with the sawzall, and that bolt was gone.

Front axle finally out --

I'm surprised on how much beefier some areas of the HP D44 on the JK is compared to the TJ D44. 

Anyways, poor Marine has a LONG way to go yet, but he'll get there."

Well, I spend about 3 - 3.5 hours at Aberle's shop today with my jeep and powerplant winch.  They are an AWESOME bunch of folks and have a fantastic product.  They made a few small updates to the bumper design and are working on the "new" generation of bumpers and I will be the first to own it!!!!  They went ahead and lent me the current bumper to drive on for a week while they get the new design cast and painted/powedercoated....

I have sevearl pictures on my phone, i need to get them off my phone and onto my computer so I can post them up for everyone to see.  I will tell you this front bumper has me very impressed!

Their new rear bumper is truely a GREAT design as you only have to open the tailgate to get the whole thing opened.  You don't have to undo a tire carrier and then open the tailgate.  It is the highest clearance bumper I have seen to date.  It also has the pin for the tire carier cast into the bumper instead of welded on so it is VERY strong!!  I even got to watch them pour the metal into the castings for the bumper (VERY cool if you have never seen liquid metal at 1400 degrees).

I also drove over to Front Range Driveline and my front driveshaft was made today.  Those guys seem to be really stand up guys as well...

The Jeep drives like a dream on the interstate.  I do need to balance the tires at about 70 - 75 MPH it has a slight bounce in the tires but it is barely noticable.  With the 5.38 gears the JK actually accellorated up C470 west towards I70 up the incline in 6th gear!  Stock on 32's and 4.10 gears I had to down shift to 5th to hold speed....Although at 70MPH I am turing 3K RPM now so the motor is wound up a little tighter.

So does anyone know where I can get a synthetic winch line cheap??

*Edit:  Here are my cell phone pictures of the "mock up"

I know they took tons of pictures are are planning to post them up on JKOwners tonight.