Baystate Jeepers

Picked up an 06 Rubicon with 34K miles a few months ago. Been busy making it trail worthy.

Here is the build so far:

Rubicon Express short arm kit and shocks - 4.5" lift
35" Mastercraft Courser MXT's on 15" Fuels
Smittybuilt XRC bumper front
Smittybuilt XRC rear system
Quadratech Q9000 winch.
ARB Safari snorkel.
Light bar/LED Headlights/fogs
Poison Spider hood louver
Bushwacker fender flares
Bestop softtop/doors
Corbeau Moab seats
Pioneer sound system
Midland MXT275 2 way radio
Masterflow 1050 on board air compressor

I'm looking for a local shop who is honest and knows Jeeps. My next project is to install gearing/axles, a big brake kit and beefed up steering/drag link.

Anyone have some recommendations? I'm located 10 miles south of Worcester

All these shops support the sport and the NEA. Support those that support us.


Ricky@ Barrette Fabrication in Warwick RI
Eric@ Offroad Elements in Abington MA. (I think)
Keith@ Ratchets Offroad in Auburn NH

Elias 4WD Up near Leominster I believe

>> Edit >>
Just checked, They are in Townsend MA
https://elias4wdcenter.com

Elias is ok but does not support the sport. Or at least not the NEA.

MDSRACING398 wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2020 12:25 pm Elias is ok but does not support the sport. Or at least not the NEA.

Not true according to the front page of the NEA website....

Right what would I know about the NEA or who supports it.

I have ratchets do all my work, I can't recommend them enough. They are running a deal on revolution gearing right now fyi

beaker wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2020 3:41 pm

MDSRACING398 wrote: ↑Mon May 18, 2020 12:25 pm Elias is ok but does not support the sport. Or at least not the NEA.

Not true according to the front page of the NEA website....

Unfortunately when the NEA website was re-done they didn't edit the sponsors list. They just cut-n-paste the old list.
As Treasurer of the NEA for some 5 years now Elias has not supported the NEA since at least 2015, possibly longer.

Thanks guys. I have contacted several of the shops and now waiting for some quotes. I look forward to "wheelin" with the Baystate crew in the near future.

Your the first one with a Rubicon Ive heard of that wants a gear change from the stock 4.10s with only 35s. What are you thinking of going to ? You listed all the other stuff but not the important stuff . Stick or auto ????? 4.5" on a short arm must be fun on the road. Who did all this other work . See ya ona trail ! FjR68

Protect that oil pan if your planning on wheeling it

The motor/trans is bone stock 4.0L with 4 sp automatic. The motor lugs at 55-60 mph. Tach reads around 17-1800 rpm. Looking for a regear to raise the revs a bit

I have no history on what the previous owner did to the Rubi since he passed away before I bought it.

If you are looking for a regear Elias will be one of the costliest as they book by the hour instead of the job. I stopped using them a while ago as they wanted 300 to rotate and balance tires. I think when Mike White left Elias they stopped supporting the NEA. The work is really good but you pay a premium and then some.

Also, DO NOT use Mitchells Differential in Shrewsbury. They do not stand behind their work at all, tossed my lube lockers in the trash as they did not know what it was and a few other club members had issues with their work.

I've had good luck with Offroad Elements and Barrett Fab, but as with any shop, your mileage may vary. If you get axles regeared make sure to follow the proper break-in procedures and check for contamination of the fluid shortly after the work is done.

Thanks for the heads up Jeff. Any idea what a reasonable regear typically costs?

$500 and axle plus parts