The factory hood was replaced...
The factory hood was replaced with an American Expedition Vehicles heat reduction hood which allows fresh and cooler air to enter the engine compartment through the top and side vents. Fitting seamlessly into the hood is an AEV snorkel / pre-filter kit which scrubs the air prior to it entering the air box.
The upgraded suspension combined with the meaty tires and wheels had a domino effect on the drive train. The factory 4.10 gears did a great job of turning the factory-supplied 31-inch tires, but were no match for our 35-inch Toyo Open Country M/T's. The crew at Off-Road Evolution swapped the factory ring and pinion sets for a pair of 4.88 gears from Reider Racing. While performing the gear change, the front and rear axle shafts were also upgraded for a pair of Superior Axle & Gear's Evolution Series axle shafts. Fully compatible with the factory Dana 44 axles, Superior's cold-rolled axle shafts are installation ready and include new studs, bearings and seals. Knowing a system is only as strong as its weakest link, the stock front and rear driveshafts were replaced with units from J.E. Reel Driveshafts and compliment the Rock-Trac Rubicon transfer case with 4:1 low range. The 1350-Series drive shafts manufactured by J.E. Reel feature 1-3/8-inch diameter slip yokes versus the factory 1-1/4-inch units and have been lengthened an additional inch in the slip joint. To protect the entire drive train and underbody components, a pair of High Caliber Products/Magnum Off Road steel skid plates was installed, including one that protects the evaporation canister in its stock location.
The 3-inch Black Diamond suspension...
The 3-inch Black Diamond suspension is paired with Bilstein 5100 series shock absorbers and an Off Road Evolution Evo Air Bump System. This setup provides a plush ride and ample clearance for the 35-inch Toyo Open Country MT tires.
With the drive train poised for battle, beefing up the body armor was next. Starting at the front and working our way back, an American Expedition Vehicles front bumper was installed along with a stout Ramsey Patriot 9000 lb. winch with synthetic winch line and a pair of IPF HID off road lights. Easily one of the best looking front bumpers for the JK, the AEV unit is the only stamped steel front bumper on the market. Fabricated from 1/8-inch thick steel, the bumper is able to retain both the factory fog lights and the factory air bag crush canisters. The sides of our rig have been protected with a set of PUREJEEP formed rocker guards that feature a side step for additional protection. The durable steel plate and thick-walled tubing allow our vehicle to slide off of virtually any rock formation without so much as a scratch or dent to the bodywork. Each of the rear corners have been wrapped with American Expedition Vehicles steel corner guards. Following the same construction methodology, each corner has been fabricated from 1/8-inch plate steel and stamped for a truly factory fit and finish. Bringing up the rear, our friends at Rock Hard 4x4 were called upon to make the back end of the rig be as bulletproof as the front end. Starting with their 1/4-inch thick steel plate rear bumper with integrated Class 2 receiver hitch and tapered ends for increased departure angles, their swing out tire carrier was installed along with their mountain rack and jerry can holders that feature military-spec 5-gallon Spectre fuel cans secured with Steel Core locking tie down straps. An additional wheel and tire combination was installed on the rear tire carrier which swings on a 1-1/4-inch steel shaft and 2-3/4-inch hub with upper and lower sealed tapered roller bearings. A trick swing stop has also been incorporated into the package to help manage the spare when the rear gate is open. For added safety, a pair of Whelen LED strobe lights and an extreme Hi-Lift jack was added to the tire carrier's A-frame.
Being a two door Rubicon, cargo space is at a premium. To help add more real estate to our rig, a pair of Yakima roof racks was added to our factory three-piece hardtop. Installed using Yakima's track system, each piece of the three-piece hardtop has had a track installed, that way the targa configuration may still be used with the racks staying in place.