Just a Bunch of Randoms

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 11:33 AM

Hey guys,

I just got back from my 6 month stay in Aspen, CO (and the 1,700 mile drive back) and boy, do I have a bunch of stuff to fix. I just wanted to run through my list with you guys to get a little feedback, maybe some tips and/or product suggestions.

- Rear main seal leak: how much for a mechanic to fix? I know it's a common problem among us.

- Leaky plastic crimp on radiator: RadiatorBarn.com 2-row all-metal

- Obliterated rubber transmission shifter boot: I want to replace it with a leather one ... anybody know have a write-up on a retrofit from the later models? Or even an aftermarket option? I already ordered a new plastic retaining ring for the bottom (old one is in 4 pieces) from JeepsAreUs.com.

- Bed-Line interior: all I could find in my area is a generic "Truck Bed Liner" from Wal-Fart. No Line-X. There's Rhino Liner dealer/installer up the road whom I going to visit to see if I can buy some product off of them, but I have a feeling it'll be expensive from them. Plus, I don't really want a lot of texture ... I want some but I don't want it to be like sand paper. Kind of running out of options. Would order on-line but shipping would kill it ... going up to Advance Auto Parts to see what they got.

I may be back with more, LOL, but thanks for anyone who can contribute.

~J

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 11:57 AM

- Oh yeah ... brake rotors and pads in the front, and drums and pads in the rear all need to be replaced. Any directional support here? I know just solid rotors are best ... no cross-drilling or vents.

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 12:36 PM

Already guys no more chatter, enough getting off topic. Seriously. Joking.

I found a Dupli-Color truck bed liner kit at Advance Auto for $60 that comes with a gallon of liner, a scuff pad (yeah, like I'm gonna' use that little thing), a brush and a roller with pad ... so it looks like it's legit. I'm just not sure of the actual liner ... anybody use it yet?

**Border Dave** · 04-20-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepinTJ99

Leaky plastic crimp on radiator: RadiatorBarn.com 2-row all-metal

Oh yeah ... brake rotors and pads in the front, and drums and pads in the rear all need to be replaced. Any directional support here? I know just solid rotors are best ... no cross-drilling or vents.

So your stock radiator has lasted since 1999 and you want to replace it with an inferior radiator that has had reliability issues and doesn't cool as well? Is it really that horrible to have to replace your factory radiator every 9 years? The factory design cools better than any non-aluminum aftermarket ones.

As far as the brakes go, since you have to replace pads and rotors in front, have you thought about the Vanco Raptor kit?

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Border Dave

So your stock radiator has lasted since 1999 and you want to replace it with an inferior radiator that has had reliability issues and doesn't cool as well? Is it really that horrible to have to replace your factory radiator every 9 years? The factory design cools better than any non-aluminum aftermarket ones.

As far as the brakes go, since you have to replace pads and rotors in front, have you thought about the Vanco Raptor kit?

No, it's not that bad. In fact, I was impressed with how long the plastic crimps lasted considering how many people said it wouldn't last that long. I didn't really know how bad the RadiatorBarn.com radiators were, which is entirely the point of this thread--to get feedback from other forum-goers. I just read so many threads about them that I thought that's where everyone went with. Plus, I'm losing about half the res. bottle a week ... so yeah, I'd say it's leaking pretty bad on my driveway. Haven't priced a Mopar replacement ... since I worked at my local Jeep dealership for a couple months, I think I may be able to get one for cheap from my parts guy.

Yeah the Vanco kit is sweet ... I'd love to have it ... it's just out of my price range by about $500. With only 33's, I find the stock stopping distance acceptable ... it's just time to replace since the rotors are stock and the pads are about 9,000 miles dated.

Thanks for the help,
~J

**Border Dave** · 04-20-2008, 03:31 PM

The stock radiator is $159.85 plus shipping from Mopar Parts America. (Manual tranny) They want $230 for the auto trans version.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...?siteid=214583

There is also an all aluminum radiator being sold on ebay for cheap. I have no idea of the quality. I searched the web and found the shop's address and phone. Oscar's Radiators 10045 N 12th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Phone: (602) 575-4507. Phone number listed on ebay: (602) 788-9469.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-98-99-00-01-02-03-JEEP-WRANGLER-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713Q2em153Q2e l1262QQcategoryZ33602QQihZ016QQitemZ260231681831

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 04:52 PM

Awesome Dave thanks for the feedback. I'm definitely going to take a look at both. Those prices are perfect.

Has anybody had any experience with the Dupli-Color truck bed liner?

CDNjeepgrl · 04-20-2008, 05:16 PM

here's a write up for the shifter boot instal:
http://www.dailydriventj.com/newshifter.shtml

87warrior · 04-20-2008, 05:47 PM

I have seen the dupli-color spray liner on the fender flares and rockers of a rubicon. Looks very sharp IMHO. Here is a picture of the texture:

Note: This is not the Jeep I have seen personally or my own. But the job looks exactly the same.

6 months in Aspen... I assume it was for the ski season? It is hard to get out and do Jeep repairs when there is snow always falling

C2U5H · 04-20-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDNjeepgrl

here's a write up for the shifter boot instal:
http://www.dailydriventj.com/newshifter.shtml

Awesome, thank you so much. I actually stumbled upon that write-up a long time ago not thinking I'd need it, the couldn't find it again! So thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87warrior

I have seen the dupli-color spray liner on the fender flares and rockers of a rubicon. Looks very sharp IMHO. Here is a picture of the texture:

Note: This is not the Jeep I have seen personally or my own. But the job looks exactly the same.

6 months in Aspen... I assume it was for the ski season? It is hard to get out and do Jeep repairs when there is snow always falling

Thanks for the pic bud, that looks exactly like the texture I'm looking for. I think that's what I'm gonna' go with.

As for Aspen, yeah--it's hard to work on it when you get the kind of epic snow we got this year. And yes it was for the season--a buddy and I just graduated college and decided to go do something extraordinary ... working on the lifts at Buttermilk (during the X-Games, too

) and getting 79 days of skiing in one season seemed just about right.

~J

**maddiver** · 04-20-2008, 06:30 PM

Border Dave - what performance/quality issues have you had with the 2 row from Radiator Barn? Not trying to be sarcastic or anything - just genuinely wondering.
I was running the 3 row from them and had no problems until I put a T-max winch on the front. That blocked just enough air flow that I switched to the 2 row from Radiator Barn this last summer to get better air flow. That did the trick and I've had no performance or quality issues since.

As for Brakes - new rotors and some Bendix Ceramic pads. The warranty that came with them were awesome, including the certificate that came with them that gets you a new set when the first set is worn out. There is none of the nasty brake dust mess clogging up your wheels either.

panathinaikos55 · 04-20-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeepinTJ99

Thanks for the pic bud, that looks exactly like the texture I'm looking for. I think that's what I'm gonna' go with.

Here's another pic of the Dupli-Color Spray on bedliner. I just finished spraying my front bumper last weekend. I was really pleased with it. I went a little thicker, I put about 4-5 coats on...

hecubus · 04-20-2008, 07:28 PM

that looks like a great idea; how does it hold up as far as fading go?

although I suppose you could just hit it with spray paint later on if needed...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87warrior

I have seen the dupli-color spray liner on the fender flares and rockers of a rubicon. Looks very sharp IMHO. Here is a picture of the texture:

Note: This is not the Jeep I have seen personally or my own. But the job looks exactly the same.

6 months in Aspen... I assume it was for the ski season? It is hard to get out and do Jeep repairs when there is snow always falling

**Border Dave** · 04-21-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddiver

Border Dave - what performance/quality issues have you had with the 2 row from Radiator Barn? Not trying to be sarcastic or anything - just genuinely wondering.

I know from several people who've posted that they don't cool as well as the factory aluminum core radiator. Many people have posted about quality issues with them also.

C2U5H · 04-21-2008, 11:14 AM

Well, went to Advance Auto and got the Dupli-Color truck bed liner kit in black and will be starting the prep tomorrow night. I'll post a thread with my results! At Just over $60 w/tax, I think it'll work out just fine ... it comes with a gallon of liner in a sturdy "paint thinner" type can, a corner brush, a roller w/roller pad, and a scotch pad to scuff up and prep the paint for the liner (but I'll be using 220 grit sandpaper instead).

Went to the dealership and got priced out for a stock aluminum-core radiator ($122 - it pays to know the parts guys

) ... so I'll be doing that soon.

Got a new blower motor resistor for $30 ... but it didn't solve the problem, which is mainly why I brought this thread back. My fan (no matter what mode or temperature it's in) only works on the lowest setting. The 2nd, 3rd, and highest fan settings render the fan completely off. If a new blower motor resistor doesn't solve the problem, is there anything else I can check before buying a completely new blower motor switch (the 4-position, rotary switch on the dash)?

Thanks for the help,
~J