Project: Alexia's "Nice Jeep" - Page 9

Alexia · 05-12-2009, 01:03 PM

This is a bit of a journal entry to write down my brain storming ideas.

Advance Adapters NP231 shifter bracket - In the mail.

Vanco PBS - $750 - I may just need better pads and rotors for these 32" tires. Current ones are fairly new, but appear to be the cheapest available. It was not even possible to lock the brakes with the stock tires. I would prefer to get the full brake upgrade, but I want to buy a LJ soft top before they completely disappear from the market.

Rock Sliders - Trying to find one that I like, but does not have the company's logo cut into it. I really hate being a free rolling advertisement. Either give a discount and give it away free.

MOPAR LJ soft top - $1,500 - Have to buy this before they are out of stock every where. Apparently they are being discontinued due to hardware issues.

Gas tank skid - $300 - Looking at Rokmen and Savvy's new one. Leaning on Rokmen since I will need to paint both and it will end up cheaper for me.

SYE and drive shaft - $500 - I need these before I install my tummy tucker.

Emissions Leak - (No idea on the cost, probably horrible.) - Been thinking about having the dealership take care of it. I have not figured it out yet.

Jeepguy1977 · 05-12-2009, 06:54 PM

This is pretty cool. My next Jeep will be an LJ. Need something that will be suited to long drives before hitting trails instead of being towed.

Alexia · 05-15-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepguy1977

This is pretty cool. My next Jeep will be an LJ. Need something that will be suited to long drives before hitting trails instead of being towed.

It is a fairly comfortable ride. The turning radius for small streets is fairly huge though.

Kind of a journal entry! I raced to my parents after work to start working on the Jeep. They have a garage and it is supposed to start raining this week end. I finally received an Advance Adapters transfer case shifter bracket from Quadratec on Friday. I would have received it on Wednesday, but they managed to send me the wrong product and not even a complete product! It looks like some boxes were mislabeled in the ware house since I received a warranty replacement Teraflex coil spring spacer.

I pulled off the stock transmission skid plate and tossed it for the dogs to play with. Thankfully I had no issues removing any of the belly pan bolts, but I had better chances since some were MISSING! I had not fully looked at that area from when I bought the Jeep besides when I changed the transfer case fluid. That would have been bad having the transmission fall while driving.

The transfer case shifter bracket is almost installed with only one stud needing to be tightened. After that I install the AEV/Nth* transmission mount for the Tummy Tucker I had laying around.

Jeepguy1977 · 05-16-2009, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexia

It is a fairly comfortable ride. The turning radius for small streets is fairly huge though.

Kind of a journal entry! I raced to my parents after work to start working on the Jeep. They have a garage and it is supposed to start raining this week end. I finally received an Advance Adapters transfer case shifter bracket from Quadratec on Friday. I would have received it on Wednesday, but they managed to send me the wrong product and not even a complete product! It looks like some boxes were mislabeled in the ware house since I received a warranty replacement Teraflex coil spring spacer.

I pulled off the stock transmission skid plate and tossed it for the dogs to play with. Thankfully I had no issues removing any of the belly pan bolts, but I had better chances since some were MISSING! I had not fully looked at that area from when I bought the Jeep besides when I changed the transfer case fluid. That would have been bad having the transmission fall while driving.

The transfer case shifter bracket is almost installed with only one stud needing to be tightened. After that I install the AEV/Nth* transmission mount for the Tummy Tucker I had laying around.

Yeah, I've had some rather interesting experiences dealing with Qtec. I have decided I won't deal with them again. I mostly deal with Northridge and Central 4wd these days.

Alexia · 05-18-2009, 08:54 AM

Sunday: I woke up at 6AM and returned home at 8PM. I drove five hours back to the bottom of Virginia through rain to buy a used soft top. Then seven hours back through delays on I-95. Those seven hours I spent with the seats pulled all the way forward looking like a midget scrunched up to the steering wheel. The soft top had to be loaded side ways to transport it and the seats would not move far enough back to be comfortable.

I bought the top in a pretty much new condition for $500. All I need are the rear window clips and the door surrounds. My plan is to strip the hard top off, scratch up the tub, spray U-POL Raptor, and install the soft top.

Saturday I installed the AEV/Nth* Tummy Tucker and the Advance Adapters transfer case shifter bracket. The installation went smoothly, but I need to drop it all to grind some metal off the bracket for clearance.

**norville** · 05-18-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexia

Sunday: I woke up at 6AM and returned home at 8PM. I drove five hours back to the bottom of Virginia through rain to buy a used soft top. Then seven hours back through delays on I-95. Those seven hours I spent with the seats pulled all the way forward looking like a midget scrunched up to the steering wheel. The soft top had to be loaded side ways to transport it and the seats would not move far enough back to be comfortable.

I bought the top in a pretty much new condition for $500. All I need are the rear window clips and the door surrounds. My plan is to strip the hard top off, scratch up the tub, spray U-POL Raptor, and install the soft top.

Saturday I installed the AEV/Nth* Tummy Tucker and the Advance Adapters transfer case shifter bracket. The installation went smoothly, but I need to drop it all to grind some metal off the bracket for clearance.

I just passed on a new complete top in your neck of the woods on craigslist they won't budge on $900. So good deal to you.

bob

Alexia · 05-18-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norville

I just passed on a new complete top in your neck of the woods on craigslist they won't budge on $900. So good deal to you.

bob

Jeepwave found it for me after reading this.

I owe him a pack of soda/beer/beverage if I see him around here.

TimBrown · 05-18-2009, 09:53 AM

Looks great, now you just need to get those chrome side steps off

Alexia · 05-18-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBrown

Looks great, now you just need to get those chrome side steps off

They are great for working under the Jeep! Grab the step with both hands to swing in and out. I would prefer to have them powder coated black.

Alexia · 05-18-2009, 12:08 PM

I did the calculation for the miles per gallon I was getting with 3.73 gears and 32" tires on this trip.
585 Miles driven
58.373 Gallons consumed
10.02 Miles Per Gallon

I would have saved $40 if I was getting at least 15MPG!

I plan on posting the photographs up later today.

**norville** · 05-18-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexia

I did the calculation for the miles per gallon I was getting with 3.73 gears and 32" tires on this trip.
585 Miles driven
58.373 Gallons consumed
10.02 Miles Per Gallon

I would have saved $40 if I was getting at least 15MPG!

I plan on posting the photographs up later today.

yikes!, did you compensate for the larger tires. I just took a 200 mile trip with a #200 tractor plow and I averaged 20mpg... 70% highway 30% city

That's with measured 30" bfg's, 4:11's, 6spd and I have a hard top. I hovered around 70mph @ 2600rpms....

bob

silvanus · 05-18-2009, 02:13 PM

Did you replace the speedo-pinion gear in the transfer case to match your new tire size?
because if you didn't,you're probably are off on your mileage.

Alexia · 05-18-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norville

yikes!, did you compensate for the larger tires. I just took a 200 mile trip with a #200 tractor plow and I averaged 20mpg... 70% highway 30% city

That's with measured 30" bfg's, 4:11's, 6spd and I have a hard top. I hovered around 70mph @ 2600rpms....

bob

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvanus

Did you replace the speedo-pinion gear in the transfer case to match your new tire size?
because if you didn't,you're probably are off on your mileage.

I compensated for the speedometer gear being incorrect and actually did the uncompensated calculation as well. The difference was 0.2MPG.

Ohiodish · 05-22-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexia

Rock Sliders - Trying to find one that I like, but does not have the company's logo cut into it. I really hate being a free rolling advertisement. Either give a discount and give it away free.

I use to think the same way, but after answering "what kind of bumper is that?" questions all the time I would not mind their logo on there. My sliders are Poison Spyder and they have the spider logo cut in, but they are black on a black jeep so not bad. I really like the sliders; not sure if they are available anymore.

Mediarocker · 05-22-2009, 10:06 PM

Hey Alex, IIRC, they have a Trektop for the LJ's

IMO, Totally smexy, I'd get one for my TJ but they dont have em.

My friend has the Mopar style hardware and it breaks to easily. Also, my Windshield attachment point is broken on the driver side and cracking on the passengers side.. i'm looking at making one out of metal.

Also, Rocker guards..IIRC, Currie, A to Z, ARB, and Olympic 4x4 dont put their names on their products.