Rob Fox's Jeep LJ Build

Fabrication

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Turn Key

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On The Trail

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550 Horsepower. Family-Friendly. Zero Weak Points. 

Rob Fox came to Wide Open Design with a specific mission: build a rig that could tackle the most vertical climbs at Adventure Off Road Park on Saturday, but still be comfortable enough for a family trail ride on Sunday. The result is a masterclass in balance—a clean, white-and-black Jeep LJ that hides a race-bred heart beneath its factory-style silhouette.

The Muscle & The Management
At the center of this build is a naturally aspirated 402ci LT engine pushing a crisp 550 HP. We focused on immediate throttle response for technical crawling, backed by a TH400 and an Atlas 4-speed transfer case. To keep that LT happy during slow-speed high-load climbs, we integrated our WOD 31" DPL Radiator Combo and Sanderson LT block-hugger headers.

The "Crane-Equipped" Foundation
You don't run 5.13 gears and 40-spline lockers unless you intend to beat on it. We outfitted the Fox LJ with Crane 14-Bolt axles front and rear.

• Front: Magnum Knuckles, Big Bell RCVs, and '05+ unit bearings.
• Rear: 4340 Crane shafts and 450 unit bearings.
  This setup ensures that the weak point is never the drivetrain—it's usually the driver's nerve.

The WOD Ride Quality
To handle the weight of a full-bodied LJ while maintaining complete comfort, we paired Radflo 2.0 Coilovers with 2.5 Three-Tube Bypass shocks. This dual-shock setup, connected by 7075 Aluminum link bars, allows Rob to tune the ride for high-speed desert sections or slower rocky terrain.

Our Take: This build proves you don't have to cut your Jeep into a buggy to get buggy-level performance. It’s clean, it’s capable, and it’s exactly what an LJ should be.