Nice Little Jeep

[Nice Little Jeep]

We bought the the Nice Little Jeep on May 31, 2015 in Bakersfield California, Ran the  Jeep stock for two years and in July of 2017 ended up putting 34 inch BFG all-terrain tires with a Rubicon express 3 1/2 Superflex suspension kit. From there with lockers I make up the difference in wheeling. I call it getting up on the wheel and driving it like you own it. now started in February 2022 I’m going to the endgame and upgrading the Jeep to 40s and everything that goes with that. Everything from the frame down has been replaced except for the sway bars. If I can actually get emergency brake and brake booster kit in stock I can actually finish the build this year 2022. 

[Nice Little Jeep]

I ran this build for seven years with little things upgraded but no major improvements to the axles or suspension the build at this time, 3 1/2 inch Rubicon Xpress super flex kit with fox reservoir shocks, Barnes 4x tie rod and drag link, upgraded the skid plates with the Rubicon Express skid plates, upgraded the transmission crossmember with the Evo transmission crossmember, upgraded the exhaust to a Borla cat back system, upgraded the power steering with the high-pressure line from PSC only, and replaced the upper and lower ball joints with Moog.

I completed a lot of trails with this set up. I finished some pretty impressive trails, Dusi  Ershim trail,  Rubicon trail twice that included old sluice, Rubicon Springs day trips a few times, Fordyce, Mirror Lake, Swamp Lake and Red Lake trails, Big Bear trails, Anza Borrego trails and I followed this group around cougar buttes.
Why did I take the Nice Little Jeep to the next level? because I guess I proved my point that I can 4x the trails with 33” tires and you just need talent behind the wheel. Well I’m done talking about the past and start talking about the future of the NLJ.

[Nice Little Jeep]

This build came to be a reality after the Sierra Trek Fordyce trip August 12 - 14th of 2021. I’ve been doing pretty much seven years of research of what I wanted and finally came to this build with the help of Jim and Jerry I pulled the trigger to put 40s under the Nice Little Jeep. I’ve always wanted a hood similar to the Rubicon Hard Rock hood because I wanted to buy the Rubicon Hard Rock version but I did not want the leather seats. That’s where the AEV heat reduction hood came in. I always loved the front and rear factory metal bumpers of the Rubicon Hard Rock, That’s why the AEV’s tire carrier was picked, it can hold up to a 40” tire. Gorilla corning windshield; I had a cracked windshield and I wanted the new gorilla corning windshield from Jeep that’s where the windshield came into the picture. The rims probably was the most difficult decision, so many different styles and looks out there I wanted to go with the newest style rim and with race-line. The reason I chose the race-line is because they have replaceable nut inserts for the bead lock rings. Coilover from EVO: EVO came out with this coilover package in December 2015, I absolutely loved the design and engineering behind this coilover package and I love the fact that Mel called it the weekend warrior kit. That’s what I am, I’m a weekend warrior 4X4 person. Give me a destination I will get there and get back in one piece. The long arm high clearance kit; I’ve always wanted a long arm kit on this Jeep from the get-go I knew I would be getting a good ride if I put a long arm system on this Jeep and EVO has a great system for the weekend warrior. The PSC steering system I was not going with the hydraulic ram I still don’t think the ram is needed but I went with the full package the full deal and it works phenomenally well, but PSC installation instructions absolutely sucks. UD60; I love Dana Spicer a great manufacturer for many many years in the United States. I’ve had Dana’s in almost every four-wheel-drive I’ve owned, other than my Toyotas so why would I pick anything else. Elocker; I went with Elocker because that’s why I spent the extra money on the Rubicon package if jeep went with air lockers and stayed with air lockers I probably would have an air locker in this vehicle. Jeep moved away from the air lockers and went with Elockers because of the reliability and consistency of a Elocker, that’s why I went with Elockers. Adams driveshafts that was what was recommended by Dana Spicer and it looks like the industry holds them very highly respected so I stayed with Adams driveshafts. The Nemesis package; i’ve always like the flat fender look on a Jeep I wanted fenders that were tough and can handle some impact I ran stock fenders for seven years looking for the right package and the nemesis package is not cheap, this package is a well-built product hands down. The onboard welder premier power welder; I won that at Sierra trek, I was not gonna put it on the Jeep I was gonna build it for a JK and sell it, until I found out who owns Premier power welder. Ace alternators out of Yucca Valley is the same company and they have put alternators on all my builds and everything that I can remember since I was 16 years old. Having this welder on the Jeep it’s like finding an old friend you have lost contact with and ran into at the park or grocery store. Greg at Premier power welder’s took care of me and now I have an onboard welder. So that’s the build now I will show how I put this thing together.

[fiend]

Have you tried the welder?

[AJK]

Nice info Dennis. You did a great job getting her together. 

[Nice Little Jeep]

Premier power welder installation, the welder upgrades the alternator to 270 amp, so to hook this up the welder is now part of the Jeeps charging system. 
This portion of the system talks to the computer and it tells the computer that the system is charging. Turns off the battery idiot light on the dash cluster.

the first installation I bought the metalcloak ARB air compressor bracket for under the hood. Looked great worked great as well.

upgrading the Jeep to the bigger axles UD60’s the Jeep brake booster needs to be bigger so the metalcloak air compressor bracket wouldn’t work anymore. So I had to find a new bracket that will work. With a little research I found and changed the bracket to the metalcloak SPod bracket.at the same time premier power welder sent me there better regulator that was not available in November of 2021.
The welder is one of the upgrades I started in October 2021 and had to modify again at the end of the build in May of 2022. The big break booster created this modification change.

[Nice Little Jeep]

On 6/27/2022 at 11:15 AM, fiend said:

Have you tried the welder?

No, I have not, I was before going to Tahoe but I have ran out of time. So once I get back. 

[Nice Little Jeep]

Upgraded the windshield with a Corning gorilla glass from mopar.  Then up graded the hood to a heat reduction hood from AEV. The NLJ went to the body shop to get repairs on the body from the Rubicon,Fordyce trail, cougar buttes and a berry from mirror lake The body shop put the NICE LITTLE JEEP sicker on the Jeep. Now the Jeep is ready for assembly. This was November, I wanted the Jeep together for Thanksgiving weekend. 

[KevinG]

I love that hood.  Really looks like it belongs on there.

  

[Nice Little Jeep]

Upgraded the Nice Little Jeep with the PSC steering system for a UD60 axle swap. I didn’t have a problem with the power steering system in the NLJ until Dusy Ersham trail, if I knew the problem on the trail I could’ve fixed it and still had to replace the power steering pump but I would at least had some sort of power steering through the 33 mile trail. I started losing respect from this moment for the four-wheel-drive shops I was going to because this was a known problem on the Jeeps Wranglers from 12 to 18. What failed was the high-pressure line that Jeep put in to make the power steering quieter a piece of Teflon liner and what that Teflon liner would do when the power steering fluid gets hot, the Teflon would melt and clog up the high-pressure line at the steering box. 

PSC had a total write up on this problem, and they had a fix for $68. The fix was a new high pressure power steering line with out the Teflon. once I replaced that high pressure power steering line and put in a new power steering pump because I fried my original one.So if you have a Jeep with 35s or 37s and you don’t really want to spend a ton of money on a complete system just replace the stock high pressure line with a PSC high-pressure power steering line for $68. (It might be a little bit more now with Biden inflation)
Let’s get back to the upgrade to the PSC system. The first two pictures are all the parts and components that come with the kit and the other is the installation instructions they suck. Everything I put on this Jeep there is videos or pictures and forums talking about the upgrades talking about the dues and don’ts. Not this system there is no videos with the pressure relief system (anti-splash steering vent) and where does it go? what does ASSV actually do?  you just have to figure all of THIS out yourself. where does the cooler go? How does the ram hook up? This kit is specifically designed and laid out to install in a JK with a UD60 swap.  No instructions where the hoses run, how to prime the system? how to do anything!!! troubleshoot was not even part of these instructions.
 

PSC basically said we designed it, you figure out how to put it on your vehicle!!!

 

I fumbled through the instruction I used words, like “well I think this is the intent” or I  took pictures and send it to the Jeep forum. There response “Your getting it Dennis before you know it it’ll be done”.
 

I found out you need to get the heat gun out and deform your air cleaner around the reservoir for your power steering system. No where does it tell you to do that??!? just figure it out!!  because your air cleaner won’t go back in the vehicle. why am I saying all this because I was complementing PSC for the simple fix of the high-pressure line in the beginning and then I go down this path of total confusion frustration and I really didn’t even want the system in the first place!!! I was told you’re gonna wanna hydraulic ram if you’re going 40s………fine!!!!

[Dave]

I hadn't heard about the Teflon in the high pressure hose before .  I have wondered if the PSC steering pump is all that, or just a standard pump with a bigger pully though.

[Nice Little Jeep]

1 hour ago, Dave said:

I hadn't heard about the Teflon in the high pressure hose before .  I have wondered if the PSC steering pump is all that, or just a standard pump with a bigger pully though.

Yeah!! once I replaced the high-pressure line and pump, my steering was phenomenal. I spent the money on the PSC system and I have it now and I am happy yes, I am happy.  I just keep saying that to myself and things will get better.

[fiend]

Dude you have PSCTSD.

[Nice Little Jeep]

Nice Little Jeep build is complete, now the real fun begins

[Dave]

Hey Dennis where'd you get that diagram you posted above?  I just received pretty much the same kit but absolutely no printed instructions or diagrams.  I've downloaded some pdf from PSC- didn't see your diagram.  Can you confirm that the hose connection to the cylinder in your diagram are correct.  Are the hoses to the cylinder long enough?  They look kind of short to me.

[Nice Little Jeep]

On 9/15/2022 at 5:36 AM, Dave said:

Hey Dennis where'd you get that diagram you posted above?  I just received pretty much the same kit but absolutely no printed instructions or diagrams.  I've downloaded some pdf from PSC- didn't see your diagram.  Can you confirm that the hose connection to the cylinder in your diagram are correct.  Are the hoses to the cylinder long enough?  They look kind of short to me.

sorry for late response, a great article on installing the PSC system in a JK.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1710-jeep-wrangler-jk-psc-hydro-assist-steering-upgrade/

[Nice Little Jeep]

https://fb.watch/hpR--IiVII/?mibextid=v7YzmG
 

for some of you that have facebook, the NLJ build video 

[Nice Little Jeep]

taking NLJ to the next level of 4xing, to see how it holds up!! 

[Nice Little Jeep]

After pumpkin eater, I took the Jeep on the Adopt a trail program to open the trails in Kings Canyon national Park, Hume Lake area. testing the suspension to see how everything is working. Everything is working great and NLJ is ready for the Lake Tahoe vacation trip.

[AJK]

On 6/17/2023 at 7:00 PM, Nice Little Jeep said:

taking NLJ to the next level of 4xing, to see how it holds up!! 

HAHA Jerry got a lot of camera time. Good to see!

[Jdofmemi]

6 hours ago, AJK said:

HAHA Jerry got a lot of camera time. Good to see!

Wish you could have been there 

[Nice Little Jeep]

Jeep sitting at this spot. I got here without the lockers on, and since it sat here it needed, momentum or turn the lockers on.
 I hit the elocker button, lifted my foot off the break pedal and just let the Jeep idle. In idle the Lockers engaged and rolled right off of this obstacle.

I usually climb or go down this hill without lockers. but that’s with momentum. with no momentum and stopping, I had to use the elockers. I’ve been driving this trail for eight years.

[KevinG]

Glad you are having good luck with them.

[Nice Little Jeep]

On 6/17/2023 at 7:00 PM, Nice Little Jeep said:

taking NLJ to the next level of 4xing, to see how it holds up!! 

Well, after taking a beating at pumpkin eater, my muffler, skid plate took a beating!!

[AJK]

Ouch. Did it do its job and protect the exhaust? What your plan now?