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Jeep Unlimited Rubicon

nvrenuf

nvrenuf

Holy crap, it's running!
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I figured I'd post my wife's daily driver, it's an '06 Jeep Unlimited (LJ) Rubicon. We bought it new, actually we special ordered it and had to wait almost 3 months for it. The special order part was pretty cool, the window sticker actually says "Built Special For Mary Sweet". I knew they could do this so it was a condition of sale on the buyers order when we did the paperwork. :D

The Jeep is an "Unlimited" model (it's an LJ, not a TJ) so it's longer than a typical Wrangler. The wheelbase is stretched 10" so it's 103" instead of the regular 94", on the body the extra length is in the rear cargo area which is 13" longer than a TJ.

Specs
4.0 6cyl
NSG 370, 6spd trans
NV241 Rock Trac 4:1 tcase
D44's with 4.10's and lockers
3" BDS lift
33" BFG KM2's


Brand new and bone stock with the hard top -

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Just a couple of assorted pics over time -

With the original soft top, 3" lift and Smittybilt bumpers

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A little birthday fun. :rotfl:

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Here's a pic of the window sticker. Lots of folks tell stories they special ordered cool cars etc but most are just close matches brought from other dealers, not many actually have their name on the sticker. I always thought it was pretty cool.

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Btw, that 15/19 mpg estimate is b/s. That thing doesn't get 15 sitting in the garage much less going down the road. It might get 12 on a good day.
 
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A couple of mods this year, first was a better tire carrier.

A few years ago I installed some Smittybilt SRC bumpers. They're nice looking but the tire carrier is a complete failure in design. The pivot is simply split tube over a solid post so you MUST keep it lubed really good or it doesn't want to swing open easily. The "latch" was just a spring loaded pin that drops in a pocket, this thing rattled HORRIBLY! If I shimmed it tight my wife couldn't release the latch when I loosened it to the point she could it rattled like bolts in a can CONSTANTLY. :angry1:

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A couple of months ago I removed the carrier and installed a Morryde tire carrier, it was expensive but really nice and best of all rattle free! The new carrier replaces the original tailgate hinges and adds a frame to the gate to support the larger tire weight. I didn't take a pic of it but there's a bracket on the inside that ties it the top hinge to the roll bar foot plate so the tire weight can't pull on the tub. Best of all, since it's attached to the gate there's only one single move to open it instead of swinging the tire carrier open and the opening the tailgate.

I still need to pull the bumper off and cut the old hinge post and latch pocket off.

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The original soft top was starting to show some cracking in the piping around the edges so it was time for a new top. This one is a "fastback" style frame less Besttop Trektop NX, super nice. It's way tighter than the stock top (maybe because it's new) so it's a PITA to put back on.

Gawd I hate that low hanging skip plate! :surepal:

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I grabbed a winch plate for cheap from a local guy and I have a Warn M8000 from an old truck so I'll be adding that at some point. The winch didn't work when I pulled it off the truck so I need to go through it first.

The tires are getting thin so this coming spring it'll get some wider 33's and 1.5" spacers to, hopefully, beef up the look a little.

I have to admit, cruising around with the top off in the Jeep is what convinced me to chop the top on the Blazer, it's just damn nice.
 
Thanks! I wish I could claim it as mine, but as you may have noticed by the tag, it's my wife's daily. I do get to drive it occasionally, like when it needs an oil change or other work done. :surepal:

We took it wheeling at a local-ish park back in the summer and it's just plain fun. It can fit or turn in places my Blazer couldn't begin to get in to. Honestly, the engine (while healthy) doesn't make any real amount of power but with the 4:1 you never notice it. I want to put bigger tires on it but it really seems to have the perfect set up where it drives great and is dependable (knocks on wood).
 
That is a fine looking Jeep!! I had a 2006LJ Rubicon, I still believe they are one of the best Jeeps ever built. There was no obstacle that Jeep could overcome except for its ability to suck massive amounts of money from my Bank account for add ons and modifications, I really enjoyed it but ending up selling it for another play-thing. I miss it!
 
Those LJ's are rare, and a manual Rubicon no less is the Holy Grail of TJ's. That's a cool rig.


If you ever need anything for it let me know, we do a ton of Jeep stuff at work.
 
Bigger tires = regearing as a necessity. Do that and the bigger tires are good. The 4.0 does a decent job but bigger tires sucks the power
 
Thanks @Greg Ducato

Thanks @swettysblazer I'll definitely holler at you because you know there's always more stuff to be bought. lol

You're right @blazinzuk' that's why I'm resisting going to 35's. It really works well as is so I just don't want to disturb the combo.
 
Very cool, the one year LWB 2006 prior to JK, I dig it...
 
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if you don't mind me jumping on your thread, I have an LJ although it is not a Rubicon. it is the silver one on the right side. The TJ is on the left and the JK is in the middle.
it has 4.56's, ARBs, G2 shafts and a 4:1 case running 37s. it is used to be on 33's with a 3" lift. I called it my sleeper Jeep. it is running a Rusty's long arm lift and back then it went where a lot of people didn't think it would go. my wife likes it too!!
 
I love the LJ's. We actually looked at one for my wife before we had the 3rd kid. I've been leaning towards one to replace the Xterra here in a few years when one kid gets old enough to driver herself.
 
onetonbb74 said:
Very cool, the one year LWB 2006 prior to JK, I dig it...
Click to expand...

Actually it was a 3 year run, 04-06. I'd love to get another so I could mod it like I really want to but I can't afford that many projects. lol

@fourwheelerjeff post up all you want, I'm all about cool stuff. :thumb:
 
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