Jeep Doctor takes on Rubicon

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/04/2013 (4573 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When we think of Jeep, we usually recall the general-purpose, four-wheel-drive vehicle developed for the military in the 1940s.

But over the decades we’ve seen the Jeep evolve and, thanks to modern brakes, steering and powertrains, it’s now quite civilized. The new JK model, introduced in 2007, expanded on this trend.

With a healthy aftermarket industry dedicated to supplying custom and modified parts, the Jeep CJ, TJ and YK models could be personalized for everything from a sharp driver to an all-out, off-road contender.

Glenn Owen has been building custom Jeeps for customers for more than two decades from his Jeep Doctor shop on Manahan Avenue in Winnipeg. Modifications can run from mild to wild, depending on customer preferences.

In 2010, Owen took a 2008 Jeep JK Rubicon four-door model and ran it through the shop, giving it the full treatment.

Starting with a completely clean and rust-free body, it was sandblasted and painted with Porsche Red epoxy box liner. Body components were painted separately and assembled to ensure complete paint coverage of all surfaces. To further aid in corrosion protection, all hinges and fasteners used in its assembly are made of stainless steel.

Beyond finishing the regular doors, Owen wanted to create more of an off-road feel. So he opened up the roof and installed Body Armor tube doors and Dirty Dog netting and straps. Up front, there’s a Ramsey 8,500-lb. electric winch for emergency pullouts along with IPF Sport SS 900 and 968XS road lights.

After a one-inch body lift, the wheel wells were reworked and Xenon flat-style fender flares installed to accommodate 37-inch Mickey Thompson MTZ tires turning on 17-inch Black Rock Viper wheels. Body Armor rock rails and bumpers protect the lower body line and ends.

The passenger compartment retains the original grey cloth seating, but underfoot there’s no carpet to worry about. Finished in Rock Guard, the floor is as durable as the rest of the Jeep. Get it dirty, and it can simply be washed out with a garden hose.

Then frame also received the Porsche Red paint treatment and the drive components are finished in black epoxy. The frame mounts 4.11:1 ratio lockers in the factory Dana 44 axles at each end, but the front one has been sleeved and gusseted for added strength. Even with the modifications, the factory traction control still functions as it should.

For power, Owen removed the factory 3.8-litre V-6 and, using the BOR conversion kit, installed a 5.7-litre Hemi V-8. Burnsville Off-Road in Minneapolis, Minn., supplied a custom-built aluminum radiator, while fresh air is fed to the engine with a BOR cold-air intake kit. It’s backed by an automatic overdrive transmission with 545 RFE upgrade, and the whole powertrain maintains its original factory settings and diagnostics port.

The Hemi-conversion JK took just over a year to build, and Owen originally envisioned it would be an interesting driver for his wife, Karen. While the Jeep proved to be a bit intimidating for Karen, it’s been a hit with everyone else who lays eyes on it.

“We wanted to do a Hemi four-door conversion to keep things interesting,” Owen said. “With 95 per cent of your customers coming from referrals, we want to prove that we do what we say we can do.”

To some, Owen’s small shop can at times look like a madhouse, with several projects going at the same time, Yet, the finished product speaks volumes.

The Doctor is in, and he has the cure for your Jeep.