The Colonel

[casey]

2007 JK Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

We bought The Colonel in October 2007 after seeing the JK's on display at the Sydney Motor Show. We traded in my 2003 Subaru Impreza RS and Rebeccas 2006 Volkswagen Polo GTI within about two weeks of seeing the blinged up Unlimited at the motor show. The thing that attracted us was it has the practicality of a 4-door as well as the fun of the convertible - in a 4wd. There's nothing else like it on the market - we love it!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2117790468_6f95317d1a.jpg

Totally stock right now, but future mods include a

front bar
spotties
winch
and a Tuffy Security Drawer in the back so we can have the roof off and keep things secure.


Then after all that extra weight has been added,

35" tires
a lift (not sure exactly what height or brand lift kit yet)

[azasjeep]

go the "colonel", gotta ask were did the name come from is it an army reference or have you got another car named graham?

cant wait to see it lifted.

[homedg]

Been on a couple of runs with the Colonel :P, bearing in mind I'm in a stock 2 door JK ;D, but that thing just eats everything up for a stocker. An set of aggresive tyres and a small lift will make it only more unstoppable.
And then the rest..... Who knows what's possible.

[casey]

go the "colonel", gotta ask were did the name come from is it an army reference or have you got another car named graham?

cant wait to see it lifted.


hehe, you noticed the resemblance too? ;)

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=792&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=42865c8438c49365da2f663030dad87f

[casey]

The Colonel's first mod is now done!

Before the first incision...
http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=779&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=42865c8438c49365da2f663030dad87f

Halfway through the operation..
http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=783&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=42865c8438c49365da2f663030dad87f

Extreme Makeover complete!
http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=774&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=42865c8438c49365da2f663030dad87f

Big thanks to Rebecca for helping out when I needed a second pair of hands and also to Panda for overseeing the whole process (he's the ranga cat who managed to get himself into every photo :P )

[azasjeep]

good stuff casey, i have a feeling casey and bec are gonna get the bug bad and this will just be the beginning.

[Chook]

Looking good Casey...the it rocks ;D ;D

[sir_camel]

Very tough. I love how the bar opens those front wheel arches up like they should be!

[HYPE]

very noice!

will be looking into something similar for the TJ in due course

[casey]

Very tough. I love how the bar opens those front wheel arches up like they should be!


yeah, I think Jeep likes that look too - its pretty similar to the one they put on the JT concept ute:

http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep/whatsnew_2008/large/jt_front.jpg

http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep/whatsnew_2008/large/jt_trail1.jpg

[homedg]

just make sure you back into the RTA road stops!
LOL

I went for the ARB ADR compliant bar. Check out how many blinkers I have now.....

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=756&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=b3508c81374b3380302eb85e4bc2a6e0

When I turn left, any epileptics on the footpath go into convulsions. :o

When I put the hazzards on, I look like the greenest Christmas tree in the forest.

;D He he ;D

[casey]

I've got bolt-on end caps for the bar that make it a full width bar coming in the mail soon ;)

[homedg]

I reckon that these guards would look AWESOME on the Colonel, particularly with the stubby bar and with some BIG tyres/wheels.

http://ozadventure4x4.com.au/images/XENON%20Flares/PICT2079%20(Small).JPG

[casey]

Not really into those xenon flares :-\

There isnt much choice out there for JK flares.
xenon do make a set that look a lot like TJ flares that look alright:

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/rchstocsm/100_0001.jpg

[rebecca]

what mod do i (YES me.) need to conquer "the impossible" at camp coffs 2009?...

FORGET the bar... (we've got the bar... nice huh?)

FORGET the winch...

FORGET the lift... (you heard.)

FORGET the 35" tires...

well the answer is so simple. >>>>

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=857&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=a8112b8a7fd331c43fe2f9595d5ee221



[glow=red,2,300]with this baby nothing is impossible!

[casey]

what mod do i (YES me.) need to conquer "the impossible" at camp coffs 2009?...

FORGET the bar... (we've got the bar... nice huh?)

FORGET the winch...

FORGET the lift... (you heard.)

FORGET the 35" tires...

well the answer is so simple. >>>>

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=857&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=a8112b8a7fd331c43fe2f9595d5ee221



[glow=red,2,300]with this baby nothing is impossible!

Oh look - new end caps on the front bar too!

[azasjeep]

very cool should have been in abc sportscoat green though :)

[casey]

http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=890&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=4149569e4c0f321ccc46acce30407f63 (http://www.sydneyjeepclub.com/index.php?action=gallery&g2_itemId=888)

We can't wait to try this one out ;D

[sir_camel]

i don't even know what to say... :)

[azasjeep]

Case and bec, What does the number plate mean?

Gonna have to go and deliberately get stuck now to test out the new winch :)

[casey]

hehe, hell yeah ;) why do you think I'm so keen to go to watagans! its the only place we've ever had to get winched out! ;P

explanation of pwn3d is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwn

[HYPE]

hahahahahahaha @ Plate!

a mate has OWN3D on his bike....

The Big.C is looking noice... bar & winch looks clean fitted

[casey]

Thanks to the classified section on AJOR, I just picked up some LT315/75R16 (35/12.50R16LT) Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radials
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/40838/40838-lg.jpg

on black 16x8 series 51 pro-comp steel rims
http://procompwheels.com/images/rock-crawlers/series-51-trans.png

and a Warn Rockcrawler Rear Bar and Tyre Carrier
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/75510/75510-add1-lg.jpg

Bring on Camp Coffs! :D

(next step - sort out a lift to fit them!)

[azasjeep]

dont lift it, cut it :)

[casey]

something tells me i wont last long on the roads around here with that mod

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x164/SeminoleMike/Jeep%20Pictures/Flat%20Fenders/SANY1159.jpg

[AJ]

Now sort out some lift ASAP and we can start practicing for Willowglen early this year :evil:

[casey]

New skid plate installed, far better protection for the swaybar motor than the original bar gave.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3332485500_e81d6eb426_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3332485342_07dc7250f6_b.jpg

[casey]

heh, just noticed that the JK in the shot above has the same skid plate :P

[Steve F]

I thought I was going to see the 35's ;)

Cheers
Steve

[Cpage66]

X2

[casey]

I measured this about 10 times before I started... awesome what you can do with just a dremel.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3348797612_eeae50fcfd.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3347962891_3135d2a792.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3348798168_dfbf5a88f3.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3348798472_27957195ea.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3348798664_fe498ee7b8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3347964169_813082c134.jpg

[sir_camel]

AEV?

[casey]

yep. got it through JeepKonnection.
It took about 5 hours to do, I wasn't in a rush and I sure didn't want to mess it up!

[jeepthing]

nice work. very brave. got any pics of the engine bay?

[casey]

no pics on me right now, but heres a CAD rendering of the snorkel.
it replaces the original mini snorkel that was on the airbox (same on the petrol and diesel).
the OEM mini snorkel just pulls out and you put the AEV one in its place and silicone the joint as well as fill in the drain holes in the airbox.

http://forum.aev-conversions.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151&thumb=1&d=1204748343

[Bruce Kerney]

Nice work Casey, even with my shed and tools I hate scratching cutting a vehicle,brave confident gentleman. The new skid plate really looks good and could do a good job underneath, is it from Wooders or internetO/S. Pity the Rubicon stickers couldn't be transferred onto the snorkel. Beware now that you have done it and are confident you may have other members knocking on your shed door, I have an idea Bear is looking at getting one soon.............

[casey]

the air intake sound is very audible when you have the window open and give it some stick. sounds kinda cool :)

[PureCaboose]

hey Casey,

where did you get the sticker done for the front window? I want the get one done up for mine with

The hammer


Greg

[casey]

I did all the designs for the stickers myself and sent the artwork off to http://www.stickerart.com.au/ to get printed.

[rebecca]

Casey and Vinnie are in the garage installing the lift and i'm inside doing my homework and eating peanut m+ms... =)

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs031.snc1/2658_143411925323_760625323_6158549_1370432_n.jpg

[Steve F]

Done yet, it's only an hour job at the most (well maybe if you've done it a dozen times like it feels like I have ;) )

Cheers
Steve

[casey]

being my first, its still not far from what you see in this pic - fronts done, just have to do the rear now :-/

having only one car, it sucks when you realise you're missing a tool and have to catch the train and then walk 15 minutes to the hardware store..and then back again :P

it was great to have vinnie there today lending a hand, wouldn't have gotten as much done if he wasn't there - like a quick 20 min round trip to the hardware store in the TJ :)

I think i'll have to get a part fabbed up - that hole i had to drill in the knuckle for the draglink - i dont think it went totally according to plan, there's a bit of play in the sleeve when its in the hole.
but a thicker sleeve will fix that.
Would overkill engineering in hornsby be a good place to go for that?

also have to go to the local tyre place to get them to punch out/grind the cam bolt tabs in the lower control arms when they do the wheel alignment, i dont have the tools to do that job properly.

[Steve F]

Sounds like more than just a lift. Measure the hole with some calipers and take the sleeve to a machine shop with the correct outside dimension, probably cheaper than Overkill and quicker. Yep that one car thing sucks, I only get to work on the Jeep when Bec is out now so know the hassle of missing a tool etc, went and bought one of those big trolley tool boxes yesterday so all my tools stay on the one spot, also took 200kg of crap to the tip today in an effort to get the garage back to a workshop, another 200kg at least to go :)

So when do you think it'll be done?

Cheers
Steve

[casey]

yeah, its a little more than just springs and shocks, has a "high steer" kit as part of it.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/nthdegree_jk/tech_specs.php

[casey]

The Colonel 2.0 (beta)

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2622/45/95/522096253/n522096253_2077789_2828612.jpg

[Cpage66]

You know you're addicted to Facebook when you search for the "LIKE" button at the bottom of the pic!!!

[casey]

You know you're addicted to Facebook when you search for the "LIKE" button at the bottom of the pic!!!


hehe, here you go...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2077789&l=54ecff1ab7&id=522096253

[Steve F]

Looking good :) It's changed a lot in the last 12 months.

Cheers
Steve

[casey]

Mechanic checked it out this morning, and helped me with a few things I didnt have tools for (oh for a workbench and a vice!). He reckons the draglink connection is fine. The sleeve is designed to expand to fill the hole.

Unfortunately Lubemobile policy stops him from doing any mods to a vehicle so he wan't able to help me with the last drill hole I was hoping he could do to save me buying more drill bit$.

Fortunately he didn't charge me anything :)

Booked in for a wheel alignment and inspection at ARB Artarmon tomorrow morning - so gotta get the rest of this done today :)

[casey]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3406563546_49da85c0d1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3406565190_0b4c1e44a4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3405755297_6db054e869_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3447/3405756889_10487cd894_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/3406569706_6c31656901_b.jpg

HUGE thanks goes out to Vinnie for giving me a hand with the install on the weekend and to his dad Frank for lending me a floor jack and jackstands for the week. Also cheers to Kenta for lending me a drill, Steve F for giving me a few tips along the way and Dutchie for giving me a lift to Bunnings TWICE yesterday to get one last spanner and socket :)

And also a big thank you to Rebecca and Panda for putting up with all the mess of my ghetto garage all week :P

[wlublink]

No problem Casey, The Colonel looks awesome !!!

Dutchie

[sir_camel]

Looks great Casey!

[AJ]

Good work Dood!!!! Looks Good ;D

[not4us]

And here I thought that my stock standard JK looked tough...
Great job on the Rubi Casey!

[azasjeep]

you have done an awesome job casey, looks great and im sure it goes like a weapon now.

Hopefully i get the tj going and go out for one last trip before we part ways :(

[casey]

Haven't posted on here in a while, or been out on the trails (been working A LOT).. but theses are the current mods in (slow) progress..

Tuffy Glovebox (needed to get it slightly modded to fit the RHD)
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/94355/94355-md.jpg

Tuffy Full Centre Security Console (shipped without the mounting bolts which i didnt notice until after i removed the stock one - its hefty enough to not move around when driving on the road, but i'm not taking the jeep off road until its properly secured)
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/102912/102912-md.jpg

Teraflex 2Low kit: I have wanted to get this for a while now & I hope I can get this installed when I take the jeep in for its transfer case servicing.
It will give me a new shift pattern: 2H > 4H > N > 2L > 4L
http://www.teraflex.biz/products/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/f/i/file_23_2.jpg
http://www.teraflex.biz/products/jk-wrangler-241-or-2low-kit.html

Canvas and and mesh Bikini tops in time for summer with windjammer and duster cover for the rear cargo area.

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/79853/79853-md.jpg

[azasjeep]

Someone got the bug real bad :)

oh how i remember our first trip up rope road when she was a stocker and its just been getting better and better since

[casey]

The first two are repairs to the damage that was done early this year when it got broken in to.

The last two things were something i picked up at the recent 20% off 4wd.com sale :)

Sure has come a long way - can't imagine what it would be like driving it stock now!