2006 Jeep Wrangler LJ Transformed from Parking Lot Rat to Trail Queen!

Several years ago Mike's dad purchased this 2006 LJ, and it's been sitting in our shop parking lot ever since. The Wrangler Unlimited (or "LJ" as many Jeep enthusiasts call them) has become an incredibly popular platform to build due to it's longer wheel base and roomier tub.
We had a great time building this into a capable trail rig for Jim to enjoy on regular rides at Rausch Creek and AOAA. Let us know what you think of this rad LJ resurrection!
See the full build showcase here: mountzionoffroad.com/portfoli...
#LJbuild #WranglerUnlimited #Jeepbuild

[@JEEP-N-DIRT]

I'm a YJ guy who recently added my JLUR (See my channel) to the mix, but the LJ is MY FAVORITE jeep of all time. Nice job. Simple build to get it back on the trails. I absolutely love it!!!!

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thanks! LJs are, and probably always will be the ultimate wheeler!

[@indridcold8433]

I just resurrected my comatose TJ after 13 months dormant. Anybody else would have retired her to a salvage yard where the parts would be used to keep other TJs living. But the many long years together have been so incredible. 27 years is not enough. I may have spent more than my TJ is worth to return her to life. But, a TJ is so much more than a vehicle to those that love them. They are our friends, our family, our freedom of spirit and soul. I love my beautiful Stargazer. I love her forever.

[@MountZionOffroad]

So glad you were able to resurrect yours. Here's to enjoying her for 27+ more years!

[@billcharlene1450]

That's cool, I'm putting a budget together for a Jeep. But know the love. I've got a 06 Harley I bought new, went through some hard times and only reason I kept my sanity was that bike...we will never part ways.

[@carlcocuzza9203]

I have a 2006 lj I’ve owned for around 14 years. I live in Vermont sot the winter are rough but I’ve done my best to keep it out of the salt but the rocker have started to bubble and the fenders too. It’ll be a long road but we’ll get there. I love the armored corners and rocker guards. They will be a must after the body work. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@TimsLJ]

Beautiful build!! Love to see another LJ resurrected!! Love mine!!

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thank you! A well built LJ is certainly hard to beat

[@rogerthat9092]

Wow awesome project, and great video, hats off to you all !!

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thank you very much!

[@GrandmaRob]

This build was awesome! Good video too with a lot of good info for people with similar projects.

[@MountZionOffroad]

Glad you liked it!

[@m13monroy]

is epic beautiful. I follow you and the way you explain builts and so glad it was your father.. i love TJ, LJ classic jeeps and like your video very inspiring and is iconic pleasure building back to life . keep more videos coming thanks ☺️ 😎..

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thank you!

[@herefordvalleyhomestead6125]

Damn that’s my favorite color in an LJ, super hard to find on the west coast

[@MountZionOffroad]

It's a good one!

[@jeffreybetts8014]

Nice rebuild, I like your choice of manufacturers.

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thank you!

[@chronbennett2922]

Great Rig I’m building my LJ now using Genright Highlines and armor 💪🏽

[@MountZionOffroad]

Very nice!

[@bmxland]

New drinking game: every time dude says "metal cloak."

[@MountZionOffroad]

LOL 🍻

[@user-tj5qy4jg5o]

Just purchase a Rubi LJ and I love the look of the Metal Cloak fenders. Are they 4" or 6"? Been debating on the flat versus the arched, and those on this jeep look amazing.

[@94trigz]

Love this build I have a tj I live in the Caribbean Parts are impossible to find

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thanks, and sorry to hear that!

[@janhigginbotham8444]

Man y'all hurt man y'all are awesome keep it up all about be blowing up you just don't know it or maybe you do keep up the good work and you'll need some visine for your eyes

[@MountZionOffroad]

Appreciate that

[@JeepTJWheelin]

Nice LJ. I thought about a 3" lift w/ 33's but fortunately very early on getting into off roading Jeeps, many told me, their TJ became very sluggish going from just 32's to 33's in addition to a domino effect of needing additional expensive parts. And I'm glad I listened! Because I drove a TJ with this set up and it didn't have that low end torque and was very slow off the line. And most of them returned to 32's while some fell for the aftermarket bait, very expensive bait. I get many who want to know what is the perfect build. Which is not easy to answer because everyone does different things with their Jeep. But I would like to share mine since my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn drives and handles absolutely amazing on and off road. Keep in mind, I am NOT a rock crawler, I'm an adventurer who takes the family beach wheelin, beach camping, surf fishing, and we hit fun, moderate trails in the fall and winter getting to our favorite fishing holes and camp sites. Which is why the build is for what's near and for what we do, nothing was put on this TJ unnecessarily for show. I see too many "spotless Jeeps" with 33's - 38's. As long as you have good off road instincts and common sense, a modest, high quality build will allow you and your family to have a lot of fun! All in, I'm at $25k with my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. And I can honestly say build wise, I'm done!! I might Raptor line it since the TJ has a few rough paint spots and won't ever have to worry about off road pinstriping again. The best part is, this TJ not only keeps up, but outperforms a lot of these $40k - $75k JK's & JL' s. Due in part to people's inexperience and just "over building". The '05 TJ has a modest build, yet is extremely capable, durable and best of all, affordable. I encourage any Jeeper to search for a rust free TJ 4.0 I6, preferably stock, 3.73's w/ LSD and a Dana 44. And to use my build as a "guide". But I highly recommend this build for anyone who is an adventurer, not a rock crawler. Best of all, it will eliminate you from chasing your tail, the aftermarket will have one less just empty every pocket victim out there. It was a lot of trial and error but it has been well worth it. 2" Old Man Emu coils 32" KO2's or 32" BFG MT's Quadratec Baja alloy rims - perfect backspacing - no rub! Currectlync steering Freedom Off Road front adj track bar M.O.R.E steering box brace JKS quick disconnects Freedom Off Road front lower Adjustable control arms The rest are Fixed Detroit Axles Transfer case drop kit Fox 2.0 Shox Fox steering stabilizer Professional 4x4 shop to do the alignment Since doing this, I have had the best experience with any vehicle I've ever had. Staying with 32's allows us Jeepers to maintain that great low end torque, saves us a lot of money on unnecessary aftermarket parts and still be able to wheel most anywhere. It's the best of all worlds! One of my favorite mods was added a Banks cat back exhaust giving it a throaty growl, but not obnoxiously loud. Absolutely perfect for the 4.0 I6. Most importantly, be honest with yourself, build your TJ for what you will be using it for. And know YOU CAN do great trails and much more with just a 2" lift and 32" ko2's or MT's! DO NOT let the aftermarket pushers fool or shame you into thinking you "need" 33" - 40" tires and a 5" lift to wheel. That's 🦬💩! They know full well, once they get you at 33's, it's a freaking cash cow for them! Because you just embarked on their multi thousand dollar build conveyor belt. And it's 100% unnecessary for moderate wheelin'! Your axles, drive train, drive shafts, engine, gearing and a host of a lot of other stuff now "needs" to be upgraded. The aftermarket pushers feast on naive people. Don't be that guy! Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the misinformed. O|||||||O 🇺🇲 Only in a 2 Dr 🇺🇲 '41- '06

[@MountZionOffroad]

Very nice simple build!

[@metwono]

🤦‍♂️

[@GYMGUYFE]

What headlights are these? Amazing build!

[@MountZionOffroad]

They are Trucklite

[@kyletaylor9774]

Awesome video, great work!! I have a LJ same color, any chance the fenders your took off are still laying around and you would want to sell them?

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thanks! The fenders were sold

[@kyletaylor9774]

@@MountZionOffroad awesome thanks for the reply, figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.

[@shatesanborn-uo3ju]

What size are the wheels? Great build by the way!

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thanks! They are 17x9

[@thatmand4542]

so the rear dana 44 will hold up to 37's when upgraded right ? Thinking of doing the same thing and just swapping in a nice beefy front axle and later on swap out the original rear axle

[@MountZionOffroad]

The OE rear axle has been upgraded as much as possible by adding the 33 spline shafts & ARB. We believe it should hold together well!

[@captainkettel]

Just curious... How much money in upgrades do you have into this build? Retail of course. I realize you are a business company and your cost is much different... Thanks... very nice job. Glad I found this video...

[@MountZionOffroad]

To build your LJ like this one would probably be about $20,000 in parts

[@bullrunoverland7022]

Don't recall you saying what actual spring height you used from MC?

[@MountZionOffroad]

They are 4.5"

[@indridcold8433]

I have had none of the problems except noise on the freeway and storage. But mine has the 4.0 litre engine, the 5 speed manual NV3550, and 4.11 to 1 gears. I think the NV3550 has lower first, second, and third, gears. The stock catalytic converters on the exhaust manifold are junk. Just get rid of them. They rob power, make you use more fuel, and your engine runs hotter. Keep only the center catalytic converter. I do not know what good the small ones are on the exhaust manifold. The stock exhaust manifolds are also crack prone junk. Thus is, of course, for the 4.0 engine. It is recommended to get an aftermarket exhaust manifold.

[@areject17]

Just bought a tj with 7k miles on it. A bit obsessed

[@MountZionOffroad]

Wow, awesome!

[@PristineReviews]

Hey i recently bought a 99 tj and it has a bit of roll when making turns or switching lanes, it has adjustable sway bar end links. its lifted. the sway bar is sitting level 0degrees should i raise the sway bar end links to raise the sway bar to 10 degrees? will that fix the sway/roll.

[@MountZionOffroad]

The angle of the sway bar will not affect body roll. If your sway bar arms have multiple holes for adjustment, the hole closest to the bar connecting the arms will be the stiffest (least leverage). That is the only adjustment that would affect body roll and handling feel. Adding a rear sway bar, or stiffer sway bar to the front and/or rear would make a big difference.

[@overlandvoyager2780]

I have a '53 Willy's that I upgraded myself.I would not trade it foranything.

[@MountZionOffroad]

That's awesome. Wagon, truck, or CJ?

[@connorfrench7968]

Can you comment the link for the new steering wheel? Been looking for it but can’t seem to find. Thanks!

[@MountZionOffroad]

It was purchased on eBay, you’d have to search on there for one

[@manualtuning5222]

Are those the 4" metalcloak flares or 6?

[@MountZionOffroad]

These are the 6" flares

[@JarradShaw]

You re did or replaced all kinds of stuffed. But so so so much stuff that I can tell what you did and what happened I guess… this is a super cool(?) video of what can happen to an LJ(?). Such a well done video but weird descriptions.

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thanks for the feedback. What do you mean by weird descriptions? The narrations throughout about what's been or being done? Or something else?

[@notoriousTERROR]

What paint marker did you use to mark the bolts?

[@MountZionOffroad]

Revlock Race Supplies

[@notoriousTERROR]

@@MountZionOffroad awesome I'll check them out and pick some up

[@jeepdude82]

What size springs are you using?

[@MountZionOffroad]

They are 4.5" Metalcloak dual rate

[@jeepn0811]

Are those the 4” or 6” fenders?

[@MountZionOffroad]

6"

[@ryansremark6983]

Those gen right fenders look way better the MC

[@MountZionOffroad]

Everyone has their opinion and style!

[@lead3]

how much would a job of this magnitude cost roughly?

[@MountZionOffroad]

We were able to save a fair bit by using some things we had on hand, however to purchase everything we used new, re-using existing suspension components like we did and so forth, it's easily a $30k build. Thanks for watching!

[@zekeisme1]

What whels are thise i like them

[@MountZionOffroad]

Walker Evans Racing beadlocks

[@dustinnunley8802]

What brand tires are on it?

[@MountZionOffroad]

Fuel

[@TerryWhatyadoin]

Do you have a build sheet?

[@MountZionOffroad]

More specs & photos on it here: mountzionoffroad.com/portfolio/2006-jeep-wrangler-unlimited/

[@robertthrem3382]

You just put 15000 in a 20000 jeep😢 drum brakes lol didn't metal cloke sponsor that😂

[@MountZionOffroad]

If you want to build any vehicle for off road, you really can't look at it as "investing" like that. It's money spent on enjoyment of a hobby, and it likely will not significantly increase the value of what you're modifying. Metalcloak did not, and does not sponsor anything on this channel. We're a Metalcloak dealer, and as such can of course purchase their parts at dealer costs but that doesn't mean they gave them to us or paid us anything for this or any other video on the channel.

[@dman3308]

Isn’t a 2006 a TJ? Paddle doors, turn signal on fender flairs…

[@MountZionOffroad]

LJ is the longer WB version of the TJ that was produced 2004.5-2006

[@christianpowers2825]

That’s a TJ not an LJ

[@MountZionOffroad]

Not sure what you're trying to say. It's definitely a 2006 Wrangler Unlimited, aka "LJ"

[@christianpowers2825]

Sorry a TJu

[@MountZionOffroad]

Commonly known as LJ 😅

[@alec4699]

How are coil springs loose? lol Are you referring to during articulation? No such thing as a LJ, fyi.. Cant stand people making videos who know nothing. MC est 2013, doesnt belong on a TJU

[@MountZionOffroad]

Thank you

[@alec4699]

@@MountZionOffroad welcome?