What did you do to your WJ today?

Replaced my leaking trans cooler lines. In the rust belt, they often rot and leak right at the first plastic clip and drip onto the passenger side cat. This is my 5th WJ, and 4 out of the 5 leaked here. However the previous WJ's got a soup can shield so it didn't drip and burn on the cat, and I just let them leak because they were mostly rotten pavement pounders not worthy of too much effort or $$$.

I cut the lines back to rust free metal, flared the ends a bit, and used qty2 15mm fuel line clamps on each line. The hose I used is a poly tube with a fiberglass sheath rated at 500psi. I had planned to use a salvaged 2.5" heat shield from the scrap heap to protect the poly line, but that did not work as planned. I ended up using some fabric heat wrap with a Velcro I had on hand. The wrap wasn't quite big enough for both hoses, so it is open on the back and I used stainless steel tie wraps to hold it in place. I also added a Hayden 403 cooler after the factory cooler, but took no pictures of that #becausewhiskey. Clamps, hose, Hayden cooler and heat wrap I got from Amazon. I used colored electrical tape just to keep track of the lines - it may or may not melt off over time. I admit it reeks of hack butchery, but until the HO on the stand gets rebuilt and/or the existing non-HO dies or pukes a valve seat, I am not too concerned of appearance. This WJ has the most solid and rot-free chassis I have owned thus far and will be rebuilt at some point. Until then, it is often a hackfest as I have several other projects in progress....

I installed some Air Lift load leveling bags. Air Lift 1000, Part No. 60754. In lieu of removing the springs, I used a scissor jack to spread the spring a bit. A hose clamp kept the jack from slipping out. It worked well, and there wasn't enough force on the clamp to make me feel unsafe, but removing the spring is obviously the safer way to go. Had to shape the included flat heat shield a bit, although I don't think I even needed it as the bag and lines on the exhaust side seemed plenty far enough away. It didn't hurt anything to install, so I put it on anyway. I also added a 2nd tee so I could mount a gauge. Installed the Schrader valve in behind the fuel door, and the gauge so it is viewable through the window right above the fuel door. In regards on how I routed the air lines to the Schrader and gauge, no comment - I am a hack. :grin2: I love the WJ, but it is still just a beater to me. I take much more time and care on my other project cars.

GmanWJ said:

Nicely done! Please keep us in the loop on how these bags perform. I am very interested, almost bought a set myself. I like the gauge and valve location, pretty slick.

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Stay tuned - I'll let you know. First time in the WJ, but I put a set in a WK that mostly hauled/towed the same gear. It definitely maintained ride height, eliminated occasional trailer pogoing, and really helped with sway. The sway control is a bonus for anyone who hasn't upgraded sway bars and runs without an anti-sway hitch....

As soon as the hunters are done on my land (usually mid - December), I'll be hauling some firewood up there for winter camping. This run won't include a trailer, just a stuffed cargo hold. Both a good and totally wrong test, as I will surely be loaded over capacity. Should be interesting.......

I can say it noticeably lifts the rear when I air them up (unloaded), although I did not measure. Has to be better than an inch. I'll post measurement pics soon.

Finally fixed what I thought was PS leak @ the hydraulic fan. Turned out it was trans fluid - The clamp on the trans cooler had come loose, and was just dangling. Surprised it didn't blow the line off. Was also surprised to find all of the fuel line clamps I used from the trans to the cooler were loose. Seems fuel line clamp don't have the same hold as a standard hose clamp. Disappointing as I prefer them to worm type clamps because they don't cut into your hoses. I put a spot of blue Loctite on each clamp nut. It's nice to once again have a 100% leak free Jeep (I get a drip out of the water pump weep hole on occasion, but it doesn't count because it never makes it to the ground :wink2: ). Especially nice, considering she is 17yrs old, has 180k, is my DD, and I beat the living snot out of her....

Basic maintenance last night. Preparing for the cold Wisconsin winter.

Oil change: AMSOIL 5w-30 Signature Series, Purolator PBL30001
Coolant check: -28f, pH 8.2
Cleaned/oiled air filter
Charging system load test
Rotated tires
Lubed chassis
New wiper blades: Bosch Snow Driver front and rear
Drained summer window washer fluid, replaced with winter fluid good to -35f
Stocked the winter hazard kit: Gloves, hats, snow pants, emergency blankets, collapsible shovel, road salt, protein bars, water, camp stove, single-walled stainless water bottle for melting frozen water/snow, Duraflame log, Hot Hands chemical hand/foot warmers. Anything not in the winter kit, is likely already in the big emergency kit I carry just about everywhere - parts, tools, fluids, etc....