So instead of trying to put this on my greetings post, I figured I would just do my entire build threat on here. So, here we go!
First, as I have posted before, I got a 2.5" Skyjacker Lift with Nitro shocks mounted on 265/75/R16 BFG AT T/A KO2's. The tires were mounted onto my original stock wheels because I liked the look of them. I hadn't yet pounded on my pinch weld but I was gaining resources and knowledge on how to get that done. So this was a later project at this point.
A few days later I had my Aries Black side steps come in and had those bolted to my Jeep. I loved how they looked but didn't like how the step curved inside the front wheel well which could potentially cause additional rubbing that I was still waiting fix when I had the pinch weld fixed. Also, I found out I had a pretty bad hit to a pipe for the exhaust so I set out to have a new piece of pipe re welded in place. While there, the guy said he could put on a new muffler which would give me a small increase in performance and make her sound a little better. So I ended up with a new muffler and new pipe being welded on!
Less than a week after having everything installed, I started getting annoyed by the horrible rubbing sounds so I took a look under my jeep to see what was all rubbing. I found out that the tires were rubbing on the front sway bar, pretty bad on the pinch weld, and on the front part of the fender behind the fog light.
After I found this out, I set out to check places to pound out my pinch weld an gather supplies. While doing this, I heard that the 1.25" spacers will put the Liberty back to an offset of 0 so I saved up to do this as well.
So earlier this week after work I went and found someone to pound the pinch weld with a minor cut in the plastic for a 6 pack of beer and a pack of smokes. He used an air hammer which made it go pretty quick. When I got home I used a heat gun to melt the plastic the best I could, even though I am a noob, and sealed the plastic off the best I could.
While on the driver side, I cleaned off the studs and mounted my 1.25" spacer on the drivers side and torque to 90 pounds with red loctite on the threads. Moving to the passenger side, I used what I learned on the driver side and quickly knocked the plastic melting part and put on the other spacer. After the front side was done, I turned the Jeep around and did the back side spacers which both sides took less than 30 minutes.
The next day when I drove to work and school, I could hear rubbing on the left side and right side still so while I was waiting for class, I took another look inside the front to see what was still rubbing. I found out that I didn't push the front part of the fender far enough back and on the driver side it was still rubbing on the plastic part by the pinch weld. Also I noticed some good rubbing on the side step.
With this information, I had part of the step rails cut more towards the front bracket point which made me happier for two reasons. A) It doesn't rub anymore and B) I think it looks better since it's not curved and looks like a straight pipe for the step rail. After that was done I took it back home and remelted the plastic on both sides of the front and pushed everything back. while I was underneath I thought of how to get rid of the ugly front air dam. I ran inside real quick to check the forums and a question I had already asked and thought it would be a simply job. So I took both of the bolts off that were in place and started to pull to try and break it free from the plastic rivets. Low and behold, on the far left and right side there is a metal rivet with a 3 point metal piece keeping the rivets in place and one that was dead center of the air dam. After fighting for a few minutes I came to my senses and grabbed a drill and just drilled the rivets out. After that, the air dam just slid right out with no problem.
So here are all the pics I have of all the work I have had or have done myself to make my Jeep, well my Jeep. I think Lady Liberty is looking mighty beautiful now and there are only a very few things I actually want to do with other things I keep in mind.
First, as I have posted before, I got a 2.5" Skyjacker Lift with Nitro shocks mounted on 265/75/R16 BFG AT T/A KO2's. The tires were mounted onto my original stock wheels because I liked the look of them. I hadn't yet pounded on my pinch weld but I was gaining resources and knowledge on how to get that done. So this was a later project at this point.
A few days later I had my Aries Black side steps come in and had those bolted to my Jeep. I loved how they looked but didn't like how the step curved inside the front wheel well which could potentially cause additional rubbing that I was still waiting fix when I had the pinch weld fixed. Also, I found out I had a pretty bad hit to a pipe for the exhaust so I set out to have a new piece of pipe re welded in place. While there, the guy said he could put on a new muffler which would give me a small increase in performance and make her sound a little better. So I ended up with a new muffler and new pipe being welded on!
Less than a week after having everything installed, I started getting annoyed by the horrible rubbing sounds so I took a look under my jeep to see what was all rubbing. I found out that the tires were rubbing on the front sway bar, pretty bad on the pinch weld, and on the front part of the fender behind the fog light.
After I found this out, I set out to check places to pound out my pinch weld an gather supplies. While doing this, I heard that the 1.25" spacers will put the Liberty back to an offset of 0 so I saved up to do this as well.
So earlier this week after work I went and found someone to pound the pinch weld with a minor cut in the plastic for a 6 pack of beer and a pack of smokes. He used an air hammer which made it go pretty quick. When I got home I used a heat gun to melt the plastic the best I could, even though I am a noob, and sealed the plastic off the best I could.
While on the driver side, I cleaned off the studs and mounted my 1.25" spacer on the drivers side and torque to 90 pounds with red loctite on the threads. Moving to the passenger side, I used what I learned on the driver side and quickly knocked the plastic melting part and put on the other spacer. After the front side was done, I turned the Jeep around and did the back side spacers which both sides took less than 30 minutes.
The next day when I drove to work and school, I could hear rubbing on the left side and right side still so while I was waiting for class, I took another look inside the front to see what was still rubbing. I found out that I didn't push the front part of the fender far enough back and on the driver side it was still rubbing on the plastic part by the pinch weld. Also I noticed some good rubbing on the side step.
With this information, I had part of the step rails cut more towards the front bracket point which made me happier for two reasons. A) It doesn't rub anymore and B) I think it looks better since it's not curved and looks like a straight pipe for the step rail. After that was done I took it back home and remelted the plastic on both sides of the front and pushed everything back. while I was underneath I thought of how to get rid of the ugly front air dam. I ran inside real quick to check the forums and a question I had already asked and thought it would be a simply job. So I took both of the bolts off that were in place and started to pull to try and break it free from the plastic rivets. Low and behold, on the far left and right side there is a metal rivet with a 3 point metal piece keeping the rivets in place and one that was dead center of the air dam. After fighting for a few minutes I came to my senses and grabbed a drill and just drilled the rivets out. After that, the air dam just slid right out with no problem.
So here are all the pics I have of all the work I have had or have done myself to make my Jeep, well my Jeep. I think Lady Liberty is looking mighty beautiful now and there are only a very few things I actually want to do with other things I keep in mind.
Attachments
Last edited:
