2003 Jeep RUBICON

 

MODIFICATIONS

The primary goal in modifying the Rubicon for trail use was to keep it looking as close to stock as possible without going overboard on the build-up. I have had other off-road vehicles and have set them up for the toughest 4++ trails and made it too easy to conquer such trails as Sledgehammer, Jackhammer, Dusy and others because of equipment - driver skill helps also :^) but 35" tires and lockers do much to discount that.

Goodyear 285/75R/16 (33 x 11.2 x 16) Wrangler MTRs on stock 16X8 Moab rims
Currie Anti-Rock Swaybar
Currie 4" HD front and rear springs
Currie Rock Ribz Side Rocker Protection
Nth Degree 4.5 Long Arm Suspension
Rubicon Express Adjustable Track Arm
Coil Spring Retainer and Retainer Bolt
Rancho 9000X Shocks
Rancho 5000 Steering Stabilizer
Midland 79-290 USB CB
Teraflex CBM CB Antenna Mount
4' Wilson antenna and stainless steel mount
Tinted Front Windows
1" Daystar Black Body Lift K04508BKJ
1" Goferit Motor Mount Spacer
Nth Degree Belly Up Pan and rear Stinger
Tom Woods Custom 1330 Double Carden Joint Driveshaft
4.88 gears from Randy's Ring and Pinion
Warn 9.5ti Thermometric Winch
Hanson and Ward front and rear bumpers
Premier Power Welder On-board Welding System
On-board air system
R&M Specialty Products Hot Water Shower with remote hook-ups
Kwan TWC (Throttle - Winch Controller)
2001 Hard top (No ventilation in the 2003 with the add-a-trunk)
Locker control in 4 HI
Hi-Lift jack
Staun Automatic Tyre Deflators
Delorme Earthmate GPS with custom mapping
Alpine SEC-150R Radar Alarm with Power Door Locks
Factory RB1 Navigation system with Premium 7 speaker system

2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ Changes

· New Exterior Colors:
o Bright Silver Metallic
o Light Khaki Metallic
o Inca Gold Pearl Coat - Discontinued as of March 27 2003
o Intense Blue Pearl Coat
o Solar Yellow - Re-introduced as of April
· Discontinued Exterior Colors:
o Silverstone Metallic
o Solar Yellow
o Steel Blue Pearl Coat
o Amber Fire Pearl Coat
· Exterior Labeling:
o On Sports, the word "Sport" now appears at the top of the fender where the word "Wrangler" used to appear.
o On Saharas there's a brand new Sahara logo (much more discrete) that appears about where the "4.0L" used to o appear on early TJs, roughly where the "Sport" label appears on 2002s
o Rubicon has RUBICON label on hood.
· New Interior Colors:
o Dark Slate replaces Agate
o Khaki replaces Camel
o Khaki color for Saharas instead of green trail cloth
· Soft Top Colors:
o Dark Khaki replaces Tan
· Seat Changes:
o Additional 20 millimeters of rearward travel
o Taller seat backs
o Softer seats
o Seats are lower sitting (more like a car)
o Lever on the side of the front passenger seat for easier access to the rear.
o Rear seats are equipped with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and upper Tethers for Children)
o New fold-and-tumble rear seat -- release now on the top center of the rear seat and a new spring mechanism helps it fold and tumble easier than ever before
· New 3-ply Soft Top that is as quiet as the previous 4-ply
· Plastic windshield trim (Interior Upper Head Impact Protection to meet 2003 federal standard?)
· Trim on back of hardtop and vents removed (vents added to tailgate)
· New interior electrochromic rearview mirror with map lights, temperature and compass display standard on Sahara, optional on SE and Sports
· A new exterior mirror design reduces vibration, while increasing stability and durability. Shorter, fatter, and all plastic Now "ratchet" out from the body rather than swing out in a smooth motion.
· Doors - the key cylinder is now chrome instead of black
· Dashboard redesigned, openings for the radio and HVAC controls are now oval rather than rectangular
· New 4-spoke vinyl steering wheel for SE and X models
· New 4-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel for Sport, Sahara and Rubicon models
· Smoker’s Package optional on all models
· On-Board Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR)
· Additional power outlet on the dash
· New flush-mounted AM/FM cassette radio with CD changer control
· New flush-mounted AM/FM compact disc radio with CD changer control
· Replacing the optional sound bar, new standard corner pods located just behind the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle house interior lamps, providing theater lighting and optional speakers
· Energy-absorbing foam is added to the sport bar
· 4-wheel disc brakes optional on Sport and Sahara
· 42RLE 4-speed automatic option
o 2.84:1 first
o 1.57:1 second
o 1.00:1 third
o 0.69:1 overdrive
o 2.21:1 reverse
· New transfer case skid to work with new 4-spd auto (lower ground clearance)
· Jeep Wrangler SE Changes:
o NV1500 five-speed heavy-duty transmission. Also used on Jeep Liberty, this transmission gives Wrangler a synchronized reverse gear and improved shift quality in cold weather.

· Introduction of Rubicon Model:
o Tru-lok built by Tochigi Fuji Sangyo selectable pneumatic lockers, activate in 4-lo and under 10mph, engaged until out of 4-lo or deselected
o Limited slip in rear when not locked
o NV241 Rock-Trac 4:1 transfer case -- fixed yoke
o Heavy-duty driveshafts with 1330 universal joints
o Dana 44 Front (Dana 30 outers)
o 4.10 gears
o Goodyear Wrangler MT/R LT245/75R16 (31") Tires
o 16-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels
o Diamond plate rock rails
o Rubicon Lettering on Hood
o 4-wheel Disc Brakes

Jeep Wrangler is built at the Chrysler Group's Toledo (Ohio) Wrangler assembly plant.

Things of note:

Any lift with an automatic will have front driveshaft clearance problems with the transmission skid plate. You will need to remove it or heavily modify the skid plate.

Before considering changing to that set of 35" tires and a 4" lift you might want to consider the fact that Jeep in it's infinite wisdom has installed a 3.73 carrier in the differentials, which means that you have a custom made 4.10 gear and there is no availabilitly of any other gear ratio except 4.56 (Dana) and 4.88 (Randy's Ring and Pinion).

The convertible top is inter-changeable with other years but there are differences in the 2003. It has extended roll bar mounting brackets and a different windshield header.

2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Specifications [measurements in inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted]

Engine 4.0-liter PowerTech(TM) I-6
Transmission Automatic or Manual
Transfer Case NV241OR with 4.0:1 Low Range
Axle Dana M44 4.10 ratio
Driver selectable electric\pneumatic locking axles front and rear
Wheelbase 93.4 (2373)
Overall Length (including spare tire) 156.1 (3966.3)
Overall Width 68.2 (1734.6)
Height 70.8 (1800.3) hard top
72.0 (1831.6) soft top
Track (front/rear) 57.6 (1463) / 57.8 (1470)
Running Ground Clearance 10.2 (259.0)
Approach Angle 45.1 degrees
Ramp Breakover Angle 25.8 degrees
Departure Angle 34.4 degrees
Headroom (front/rear) 41.3 (1050.4) / 39.5 (1004) hard top
42.5 (1080.1) / 39.7 (1008.6) soft top
Legroom (front/rear) 40.9 (1040.3) / 35.3 (896.1)
Cargo Volume: Rear seat up 11.6 cu. ft. hard top
12.0 cu. ft. soft top
Rear seat folded 46.1 cu. ft. hard top
47.7 cu. ft. soft top
Rear seat removed 42.4 cu. ft. hard top
42.4 cu. ft. soft top
Total Volume: Rear seat up 105.8 cu. ft. soft top / 104.0 cu. ft. hard top
Rear seat folded 94.6 cu. ft. soft top / 91.6 cu. ft. hard top
Curb Weight 3745 lbs. (1699kg)
Assembly Plant Toledo (Ohio) Wrangler

If you have any other information or corrections to the above data please e-mail me at:
llmats1@netzero.net

Number of visits: