Wildman's TJ getting a face lift!!

War-Jeeper · Jun 2, 2006

Sweeet! Nice welds by the way

yjkrawlin · Jun 2, 2006

wow nice job , were you nervous when you were cutting the frame?
your going nuts with that thing , cant wait to see it done!

Wildman1 · Jun 2, 2006

yjkrawlin said:
wow nice job , were you nervous when you were cutting the frame?
your going nuts with that thing , cant wait to see it done!

Just a little nervous but I had talked with the shop who had done the instructions so I wasn't too worried.

yjkrawlin · Jun 2, 2006

did you make the rear towers or are they a kit?

Wildman1 · Jun 4, 2006

Well I took yesterday off and went on a real nice bike ride.
I sure enjoyed myself and needed a break from wrenching on the Jeep.
So I started working on the wiring and figuring out where everything was going under the hood.

The new ARB compressor is smaller but it still needs some room to work. And the driversside was already full.

Now since the ARB compressor was in the way I had to figure out something different for the Primier Power Welder. I look around at the Jeep and test fit in as many places. Well here is what I ended up doing with it.

I had to move the fuse panel also and this really worked out better than I had at first thought it would.

With all the Tuffy storage boxes I have I think that losing the glove box really won't be a big deal.
And here is the wiring coming thru firewall.

And then I started working on the dash so I have a place to mount all my switches.

cameron_garrison · Jun 5, 2006

interesting using airbags instead of the coils do those work good i have heard of people using them but havent really seen it

Wildman1 · Jun 5, 2006

cameron_garrison said:
interesting using airbags instead of the coils do those work good i have heard of people using them but havent really seen it

Check out a company by the name of Off-Road Only. They sell the AiRock kit and it is pretty impressive. I can't say yet how I am going to like it off-road but as soon as my Jeep is driveable I'll be reporting on what I think.

yjkrawlin · Jun 6, 2006

we just replaced both rear bags on a buddies rubicon last weekend, all i have to say is have a backup plan for when you puncture a bag or your control computer goes on the fritz,

Wildman1 · Jun 8, 2006

Well the Army screwed up a few days for me but I got back into working on the Jeep today. The good news is that I am done with the ARMY!!! My official Retirement date is 9 June 2006 which is 10 days shy of me having 28 years total federal service.

So I wanted to get more of the wiring done so when my driveshafts get here Monday I can take it to the muffler shop on Tuesday. So I was trying to figure out where to mount the Wrangler NW Power Products dual battery relay. So after fiddling with it I made a bracket that I welded to the Mean Green dual battery tray.

And because I didn't like how close the terminals were to the fender I put a piece of mud flap cut to size to protect against shorting out.

So then I got all the wires for the On-Board welder & dual battery system hooked up.

Then I moved onto the front brakes. And of course I ran into another SNAFU!! The ends of the lines are too small so I will have to get some new lines made again.

Tomorrow I am going to start getting all the wiring thru the firewall and get the dash ready. And start mounting my tires onto my beadlocks.

Wildman1 · Jun 9, 2006

Well I don't have a lot of pictures today and as I sit here I am trying to figure out what it is that I did today.
I drilled out the Banjo Bolt fittlngs to fit and got the front brakes hooked up. The rears are already done. Then a lady friend of mine decided she wanted to help out. So I got her setup and she did my Beadlocks for me.

I worked on the wiring and have everything now thru the firewall and ready to go for the dash. So tomorrow is the steering and final adjustment of the STaK's shifters. Then I can start putting the interior back together.

MarcW · Jun 10, 2006

i want a full review of the toyo's :flipoff: sweet progress.

Wildman1 · Jun 10, 2006

Marc,
I've had the Toyo's on since last Jan and can say I really like them. They work good in the snow, on the rocks & in mud. For an all around tire on a street rig I'll keep buying them.

Not Jobless · Jun 10, 2006

Dude...it's crazy how much equipment you've been able to get into that rig.

Have you seen/wheeled with any other rigs with the Nth Degree kits on them?

Wildman1 · Jun 11, 2006

Jobless said:
Dude...it's crazy how much equipment you've been able to get into that rig.

Have you seen/wheeled with any other rigs with the Nth Degree kits on them?

Jobless,
Yes it is amazing how much stuff I have been able to fit but it has been a brain drain sometimes.
No I have never seen anyone wheeling the Nth Degree but I spoke with Brad Kilby and he loves his. And I talked with other people who have the kit on other boards.

Wildman1 · Jun 11, 2006

Well Larry came over today and helped me out on the steering. We were going to try and use his Tera drop pitman arm but it was too long and hit the RE trackbar bracket. So we went back to the flat pitman arm and Larry made a bracket to move the trackber to the top of the spring pad.

So after we got the steering done we started working on the shifters for the STaK's box. Let me tell you it took a little time but once we got it figured out they box shifts great.

Then I got to play with AiRock system and got the air bags working. I had the speed sensor wire and the key on wires reversed but once I got that figured out the system worked great. I played with it a little and watched it go thru it's paces.

The above picture has the Jeep sitting at the entry & exit mode. And here are some other pictures of the steering sitting at the lowered height.

And the control arms in the lowered position.

While I was putting the tummy tucker back on I spaced the t-case up using some fender washers. I now have about 1/4" clearance between the t-case and the skid plate.

The last thing I did was work on the rear lower shock brackets. I have one side ground down and ready to be welded on. I'll grind the other tomorrow and then weld them on.

It is getting close to being done. If I get the driveshafts Monday and then take it into town for the exhaust I will be taking on a wheeling trip next weekend for a shakedown run.

War-Jeeper · Jun 11, 2006

Sweeeeeeet cant wait to hear how it performs once it is finished! you will have to take an emmense amount of pictures when you take it out for the first run!

Wildman1 · Jun 12, 2006

Well as always when you want or need something today you can't find it. I needed 2 shock bushing sleeves and not a parts store around had any.

So I started to take care of other things. I installed a PSC trail cage back in Feb but never got a chance to paint it.

So the idea here is that the added parts are black and the stock parts are still white.

And of course I ran out of paint before I could finish.

Then I started working on the dash switch panel. I tried using the stock ones and adding a second one but it didn't work out. Two of my switches were bigger than the ARB switches. So Larry had sugggested making one out of some thin gage sheet metal.
So here is the cardboard templete that I made.

My in cab winch switches. Came out of a Army LMTV.

Arb switches.

And the metal panel with the cut outs done. The 3 round holes at the bottom in the templet are going to be for power outlets. Figure one switched and two constant.

Also started working on the steering and hydro boost. And of course I need one fitting that I couldn't find today.

Wildman1 · Jun 13, 2006

Well I got the brake lines back and got them installed. Then I had to ream out my steering arms a little. So now the drag link, tie rods, and trackbar are in place. So I could mount my front tires finally.

So now it is sitting on all fours again since 5 May. I am getting close!!!

So I put the windshield back down and painted the roll cage again. And while I had the welder out I made the bracket for power steering reservoir. I got the other lower shock bracket modified to fit the axle tube.
I got one side welded on before my daughter woke up from her nap.

So it stopped raining long enough for me to take a few more pictures from the front.

Don't it look good with those front tires back on and it sitting on the ground.

More to follow tomorrow.

War-Jeeper · Jun 13, 2006

Yay!!!!! Getting really really close

Wildman1 · Jun 15, 2006

The rear shocks are now installed and looking good. I forgot to take a picture but will tomorrow.
Got the power steering all hooked up and bled. Had to fix a few leaks but they are taken care of. Worked on the transfer case and might have it all worked out.
Then put the MaterCraft seats together and they sure look nice. But I can't say the same for how easy they went together. Had some issues with the adapter brackets & their directions.

Also got the dash started after painting. I like how it turned out and should have it back together tomorrow.

My driveshafts are suppose to be here tomorrow. If things work out I'll be taking it into town on Friday and get the exhaust installed.
Was really way to busy to take pictures today. I was suppose to be headed up for a wheeling trip tomorrow but I ain't going to make it. Still hoping for Friday so we will see.