[spyder6]

yeah i like that.

i need to get a rock hard cage.

are you going to be using Bolt lights in your fenders?

[Idaho-Jeep]

Originally Posted by RnEmOvr

looks sweet, great job, although i dont understand painting armor same as jeep

I got a great deal on the painting and I will get a couple cans of body color I can touch up with from the painter. No different than touching up with black rattle can.

Originally Posted by homeboy1991

looks awesome cant wait to see it finished. Your doing an awesome job.

Thanks! I would really like to be done and take it out for a drive - but I am several weeks away from that unfortunately.

Originally Posted by thedirt

What GPS do you have?

It is a Garmin nuvi 5000 - large touch screen, and simple to use.

Originally Posted by spyder6

are you going to be using Bolt lights in your fenders?

Yea, I believe they are a 10 mm bolt light in amber. I have them all, just need to install them.

[Idaho-Jeep]

Today I fixed my earlier mistake and installed the new radiator. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be - there is really nothing to it. I followed this write up on Stu Olson's web site: http://www.stu-offroad.com/engine/radiator/radiator-1.htm What a great website - the best!

I purchased this Silla all aluminum radiator Was more than a new stock one but not by much and does not have the plastic top and bottom which have failed a few guys I know of. Out of the box.


Drained out what had not already leaked from the old one and using an air wrench had the bad radiator out in about 5 minutes. Here they are side by side.


The new radiator had two additional lines at the bottom (see photo above) that my stock one did not... It confused me at first but then determined that these are lines used for cooling automatic transmission fluid. I have a manual so I have no use for them. I installed the new one and adjusted the fan shroud so the fan would not touch it. I did not have any distilled water on hand so I will need to buy some before filling the new radiator - glad thats done.



As mentioned in an earlier post, I cleaned the interior and wanted to put on my hard top to keep it that way during the rest of the build. It is always a joy to put the top on with my wife - she hates doing it but I hate to call a budy to come by just for that. The first time she helped me, she scratched the passenger door at the top. Well we got it on without a problem.



After the top was on, I went to close the back window and "uh-oh"... The cover over the rear wiper hits the rear cross bar (not the pad) as I try to close the window. I took off the cover and it closes just fine but looks terrible.


Anyone else run into this problem? I guess I will have to cut into the cover and see if it will clear - maybe moving the bar slightly will help it?

[BoatCop]

This is an amazing build. I just killed about 3 hours reading through it all. (Bet you wish the job only took that long, huh?)

Great work! Can't wait to see it finsihed and out wheeling.

[Jonman03]

Love the work you've done with painting the frame and rust proofing. Getting there, can't wait to see the finished project!

[swis217]

This is great. You are doing a wonderful job and everything your are doing is top notch. My Jeep needs an owner with your attention to detail!





I wish I had your motivation......

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by Idaho-Jeep

After the top was on, I went to close the back window and "uh-oh"... The cover over the rear wiper hits the rear cross bar (not the pad) as I try to close the window. I took off the cover and it closes just fine but looks terrible.


Anyone else run into this problem? I guess I will have to cut into the cover and see if it will clear - maybe moving the bar slightly will help it?

I would say move it up. Here is a shot from Rock Hard's webpage:

[Bob416]

Originally Posted by Idaho-Jeep

After the top was on, I went to close the back window and "uh-oh"... The cover over the rear wiper hits the rear cross bar (not the pad) as I try to close the window. I took off the cover and it closes just fine but looks terrible.


Anyone else run into this problem? I guess I will have to cut into the cover and see if it will clear - maybe moving the bar slightly will help it?

i cut the main loop off an old CJ roll cage and welded it across the rear in mine and its almost identacle to wat u have only urs is bolted mines welded. anyway that same thing happened with mine and the cover hitting. i didnt have time to fix it that day so i went inside and gently pulled the plastic cover forward while my brother slowly shut the rear window and we just slid it past till it shut. a couple days later i opened it (forgetting about the problem) and shut it again then realized i didnt hear anything break, i opened it again and realized that the plastic had slightly curved itself aroud the bar so the glass opens and closes perfectly find now and u cant really notice the curve unless your specifically looking for it and even then, it doesnt look all that bad. if u want pics ill try to take some for u to show u the "bend" but send me a pm or somethn to remind me

[Idaho-Jeep]

Originally Posted by Bob416

i cut the main loop off an old CJ roll cage and welded it across the rear in mine and its almost identacle to wat u have only urs is bolted mines welded. anyway that same thing happened with mine and the cover hitting. i didnt have time to fix it that day so i went inside and gently pulled the plastic cover forward while my brother slowly shut the rear window and we just slid it past till it shut. a couple days later i opened it (forgetting about the problem) and shut it again then realized i didnt hear anything break, i opened it again and realized that the plastic had slightly curved itself aroud the bar so the glass opens and closes perfectly find now and u cant really notice the curve unless your specifically looking for it and even then, it doesnt look all that bad. if u want pics ill try to take some for u to show u the "bend" but send me a pm or somethn to remind me

Thanks for the thought - I think I will try to move it up first to see if that works. Just wish I would have done it before getting the hard top installed and bolted down.

[4x4Mudmonster]

Dude, That Jeep is the purtiest TJ that i have seen in a while!

If you don't mind me asking, How much did that 3.5" longarm lift cost you?

[Idaho-Jeep]

My Vanco Kit is on the way - I went with the yellow stuff pads. Mrblaine reamed the knuckles, pitman arm and one tie Rod end. I can't wait to see it and get it installed. I should see it on Monday (I hope!) I need to get that and a few other things done so I can load it up and take to a shop to have the outboard shock kit and new sway bar links installed. I will be out of the country for about 10 days and want all of that to be done when I get back.

I did end up jacking up the rear axle so I could put the tires on it. I am amazed how high the thing sits - granted there is next to no weight on it (no hard top, no gas, no spare, no people etc...) but it looks high. TnT says it will settle quite a bit right after everything is done. Looks good though.

[jackbauersmom]

if you are gone for 10 days, i won't have anything to read while at work.

[Idaho-Jeep]

Originally Posted by BoatCop

This is an amazing build. I just killed about 3 hours reading through it all. (Bet you wish the job only took that long, huh?)

Great work! Can't wait to see it finsihed and out wheeling.

Thanks! Actually I have really enjoyed working on the Jeep - I just want to be done and drive it. In hindsight I think I should have broken the build up into a couple phases rather than everything at once. There are pros and cons I guess.

Originally Posted by Jonman03

Love the work you've done with painting the frame and rust proofing. Getting there, can't wait to see the finished project!

Thanks, I really like the way the frame came out with the textured paint.

Originally Posted by swis217

This is great. You are doing a wonderful job and everything your are doing is top notch. My Jeep needs an owner with your attention to detail!

I wish I had your motivation......

Thanks! That is a very nice compliment. It is much easier to do a good job when you have the budget, place and time. If this was my daily driver there would be no way I could have ever done it. I am also amazed at those guys who do this kind of work in their drive ways or parking lots because they don't have a garage. I have tried to stick to the "do it right the first time" saying but I am sure some would argue that a few of my decisions were not top notch. (neoprene seat covers and putting money into the D30 comes to mind)

Originally Posted by 4x4Mudmonster

Dude, That Jeep is the purtiest TJ that i have seen in a while!

If you don't mind me asking, How much did that 3.5" longarm lift cost you?

Thanks! Part of my goal was to come out of this with a nice looking TJ. Hoping it performs well too!
The TnT kit is pricey but was what I was looking for. With both trusses and the outboard shock kit it was close to $4000. The kit is very complete - I did not need to go out and buy any other parts such as bump stops, MML, BL, extended brake lines etc... It also came with mono tube shocks which I plan on selling and upgrading to something like a FOX or King.

The kit = http://tntcustoms.com/page.asp?pageid=102
The long arm upgrade = http://tntcustoms.com/page.asp?pageid=81

[MXCarson92]

Thoroughly impressed. I can't wait to see it finished!

[YJ_eep1189]

Im so upset that TNT doesnt make YJ suspension lifts now that I see all the great stuff your doing to your TJ.