kh202

Thanks man! I forgot you had aftermarket 17's so you would probably not need spacers. What are the backspacing on those rockstars? 4.5" backspacing or less is recommended. 2.5" lift and 35's is perfect combo in my eyes. THe decals in the 3rd pic are stock decals

MrJamesKlein

The Jeep emblem on the front of the grill. The one that is chrome on stock Jeeps, did you spray it or just buy the black one. And I'm not sure about my back spacing, Where can I find it? I've been riding around in my Grandmother's '13 Rubicon for the past 2 months, my 07 (the one ill be doing the work to) is getting a new engine. Not sure if you heard of the turbo diesel engines, I was going to try and convince them to help me out a little bit seeing they cost 8K, but she's going to have a brand new engine in her. Back on topic, if its just a stock back spacing would I be ok? and how do the retreads run, they wont fly off like the ones on the big 18 wheelers right?

kh202

oh yeah I just bedlined over it with the grill. Looks like the rockstars are 4.5" backspacing (quick search), so you should not need spacers. Have fun with that engine swap! Doing the work yourself?

MrJamesKlein

No I wish. I'm only 17 and don't have room go park in the garage. I'm getting into it though, my dad did his own work on his Rubi, then he screwed up on a lift and had to get rid of it! I do most of my own interior and minor exterior work though. How about yourself?

kh202

I mean the engine swap. Cuz if you're not, definitely gonna be more than $8000 But yeah, I did the lift and transfercase swap with the help of some fellow Jeepers with tools and a garage. Highly recommend you try to do the same with the lift. Nothing to it really. Surely someone on here is closeby you and would help you out for a cold case of beer purchased and delivered by a legal adult

MrJamesKlein

Hahaha, yeah I'd love too do that. Just a matter of convincing my Grandfather (who I live with) on letting me lift it. He was an engineer and thinks it ruins the car. yeah maybe if youre taking hairpin turns at 60 miles an hour lol. But Jeeping runs in my family (dad and uncle and grandmother, shes on her second, no wheeling though haha) now my dad has moved onto Harley's and uncle onto classics. I'm staying put with the Jeeps. Just hard to find good wheeling spots in Mass. Everything is illegal even ATVs. I see you're from Tennessee. I'm hoping to go to school down there, Been once and I love it. I cant wait to move down south, the north sucks, especially for me seeing i love guns which theyre trying to outlaw, jeeps, which theres no where good to ride them, and the southern states! Also on the bedliner, where'd you buy it? I'm going to do a search and see what kind. You said Rustoleom right?

kh202

Yeah I'm from PA, then moved to MD last year for work, and this work assignment has me in TN since February of this year. I like it, nice change of pace. As for a lift, with the 7"" wider stance (1"" per side with the tires and wheels that stick out 2.5"" further than stock), i don't think my Jeep is just as stable now with lift and mud terrains as it was stock.

You can pick up the Rustoluem bedliner spray at lowes for like $8 a can. I'd get 2-3 just to make sure you have enough, tho 2 is probably good. I used a 3M stripping pad (looks like an abrillo pad) to scuff up the paint for better adhesion. I also recommend you practice a coat or two on a piece of scrap metal or wood first. It sprays a lot different than spray paint, but once you get how far to hold the can, it's pretty forgiving vs paint.

MrJamesKlein

I will that sounds great. Did you do it for the hinges too? I was looking into doing it as well. How many coats did you give the grill? And if I lift it when I get the 35s, do you think ill need any spacers to widen it?

kh202

I think I did about 3-4 coats. And no, with 4.5" of backspacing you wouldn't need spacers.

MrJamesKlein

Awesome. You recommend the bed liner over the matte automotive paint though right?