l3it3r
05-21-2008, 16:51
Update: click here to see it fully painted (http://www.militaryjeepers.com/community/showpost.php?p=22241&postcount=18)
Figured I should stop posting in the intro Thread.
This my 1995 YJ I've dubbed ARMYJP.
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/latest.jpg
I got the Jeep late summer last year from my parents who were about to donate it (for a $1200 write off). I drove up there and rescued it. On my way home I lost a head light, my driver's window opened, but was so thread rotten that it wouldn't close, and the brakes were... iffy.
Got the rig home and it looked like this:
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep2.jpg
Original 1995 tires! The Jeep had about 19,800 miles on it when I took this photo.
First thing I did was take it around the block.
Coming up on a stop sign (with no traffic coming) I decided to 'emergency stop test' the Jeep. The brake lines failed immediately. I can't believe it drove the 95 miles from my parent's place in Harford County MD.
So starts the fun.
First thing I did was toss in the Pioneer head unit I've had in 3 other cars (Neon SXT, SRT-4, Volvo V70 GLT) so I could listen to music while I worked!
Since I was down a head light, I decided to get replacement bulbs and some other small parts when I purchased the new brake lines.
It took about 3 hours to install and bleed the new brake lines. (and about $75 in parts, fluid, etc)
Once I did that, I put the new headlights in - still nothing! I decided to check all fuses, relays and finally wiring before I realized that the switch was bad. (only figured that out when my running lights stopped working)
Then My windows were REALLY getting the best of me. Everytime I raised or lowered the top, the stiching came undone more and more. So I ordered a new 'cab top' for the Jeep.
All of this was done on a temp registration which gave me 30 days to get it inspected. In between this 30 day start and finish, I went on vacation to Las Vegas for the 2007 SEMA show (check out photos here: www.l3it3r.com (http://www.l3it3r.com) )
When I got back to VA from Vegas, the only thing I needed to replace to pass inspection were the dry rotted tires.
Craigslist to the rescue! I scored a complete set of 2007 JK wheels with 'brand new' Wrangler ST tires for $250. I ordered a set of 5x4.5 to 5x5 w/1.25" spacing adapter/spacers and mounted the new wheels up.
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/jeepside.jpg
So now I was in it for a cab top, wheels, Headlights, Brake lines, fluids, fittings, and various small parts, a headlight switch and a couple SMALL things that I can't even remember. (like the doors off mirrors - 2 hour install due to stripped PAINTED 'torx' bolts.. why do they paint the inside of OEM bolts?!)
This worked great and got me past inspection! AND THEN... the Jeep wouldn't start.
My wife and I took the Jeep to a weekend getaway at Massanutten and the PCM completely crapped out. It took about 45 minutes for the relays to click over to run the fuel system... NOT COOL! Finally, on our way home, it just died. In the Middle of Nowhere, VA.
My buddy from Ft. Meade got off work @ 0300 at the Coast Guard yard in Bmore, drove to my house in Lorton, picked up my Durango and drove to Massanutten. He crashed for about 5 hours while my wife and I arranged for the UHaul trailer and got the durango retrofitted with a tow package (didn't come with it??). All in all, we ended up spending only $150 to get it back home, and that's even paying for the gas that my buddy spent. Some crazy uhaul special that week or something.
SO Anyway, replaced the PCM with a 92 (about a 5-6lbs difference in weight too!!) and the Jeep started right up.
THEN.. I noticed something 'weird'. My rear driver side wheel was 'knocking'... I mean.. it was rattling like hell. The damned adapter plate lugs weren't on tight enough (at 85lbs?!) and the wheel was FALLING OFF! I'm glad the PCM had crapped out! Thankfully I was about 1 mile from the house. I tightened them with the stock tire iron thingy and limped home. That's when I decided to order my Cragar wheels. $49.99 / pop? Sure!
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/latest.jpg
Since the 2007s only had about 1200 miles on them, I was able to sell them, without the tires, for $200. I mounted the tires I already had on the new Cragars, and then sent the 2007 wheels to the new owner.
The adapters now collect dust in my garage.
I decided that the rust on the undercarriage was ugly. So I scraped off what I could and then sprayed underbody anti-rust flat black under the Jeep and on the front and rear bumpers.
My Cab Top doesn't do the greatest job of keeping water out when we have especially bad storms, so I decided that I will use bedliner spray to coat the tub. I have completed stage one of the bedliner which is the back of the Jeep:
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk1.jpg
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk2.jpg
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk3.jpg
And as you can see in that photo, I've begun the repaint for my rig. OD Green :D
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/jeeptailgate1.jpg
Next on the list? Doors and Hood will be painted this weekend, followed by the rest of the bed liner spray. Hope to get the rest of the Jeep sanded and painted by the end of next weekend.
After the 'looks' are complete, I plan on the usual stuff - bumpers, foglights, 4.5" lift, etc. But my ultimate goals are:
LS1 or 4.7l V8 (wife wants a HEMI in her durango - will 'give' me her 4.7)
4L80E if LS1, dunno yet on the 4.7
New front and rear Hub to Hub axles
Lockers
Skid plates
and whatever else will complete the rig for that [day | week | month]
Phew.. updates to come of course. :cool:
-Chris
Figured I should stop posting in the intro Thread.
This my 1995 YJ I've dubbed ARMYJP.
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/latest.jpg
I got the Jeep late summer last year from my parents who were about to donate it (for a $1200 write off). I drove up there and rescued it. On my way home I lost a head light, my driver's window opened, but was so thread rotten that it wouldn't close, and the brakes were... iffy.
Got the rig home and it looked like this:
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep2.jpg
Original 1995 tires! The Jeep had about 19,800 miles on it when I took this photo.
First thing I did was take it around the block.
Coming up on a stop sign (with no traffic coming) I decided to 'emergency stop test' the Jeep. The brake lines failed immediately. I can't believe it drove the 95 miles from my parent's place in Harford County MD.
So starts the fun.
First thing I did was toss in the Pioneer head unit I've had in 3 other cars (Neon SXT, SRT-4, Volvo V70 GLT) so I could listen to music while I worked!
Since I was down a head light, I decided to get replacement bulbs and some other small parts when I purchased the new brake lines.
It took about 3 hours to install and bleed the new brake lines. (and about $75 in parts, fluid, etc)
Once I did that, I put the new headlights in - still nothing! I decided to check all fuses, relays and finally wiring before I realized that the switch was bad. (only figured that out when my running lights stopped working)
Then My windows were REALLY getting the best of me. Everytime I raised or lowered the top, the stiching came undone more and more. So I ordered a new 'cab top' for the Jeep.
All of this was done on a temp registration which gave me 30 days to get it inspected. In between this 30 day start and finish, I went on vacation to Las Vegas for the 2007 SEMA show (check out photos here: www.l3it3r.com (http://www.l3it3r.com) )
When I got back to VA from Vegas, the only thing I needed to replace to pass inspection were the dry rotted tires.
Craigslist to the rescue! I scored a complete set of 2007 JK wheels with 'brand new' Wrangler ST tires for $250. I ordered a set of 5x4.5 to 5x5 w/1.25" spacing adapter/spacers and mounted the new wheels up.
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/jeepside.jpg
So now I was in it for a cab top, wheels, Headlights, Brake lines, fluids, fittings, and various small parts, a headlight switch and a couple SMALL things that I can't even remember. (like the doors off mirrors - 2 hour install due to stripped PAINTED 'torx' bolts.. why do they paint the inside of OEM bolts?!)
This worked great and got me past inspection! AND THEN... the Jeep wouldn't start.
My wife and I took the Jeep to a weekend getaway at Massanutten and the PCM completely crapped out. It took about 45 minutes for the relays to click over to run the fuel system... NOT COOL! Finally, on our way home, it just died. In the Middle of Nowhere, VA.
My buddy from Ft. Meade got off work @ 0300 at the Coast Guard yard in Bmore, drove to my house in Lorton, picked up my Durango and drove to Massanutten. He crashed for about 5 hours while my wife and I arranged for the UHaul trailer and got the durango retrofitted with a tow package (didn't come with it??). All in all, we ended up spending only $150 to get it back home, and that's even paying for the gas that my buddy spent. Some crazy uhaul special that week or something.
SO Anyway, replaced the PCM with a 92 (about a 5-6lbs difference in weight too!!) and the Jeep started right up.
THEN.. I noticed something 'weird'. My rear driver side wheel was 'knocking'... I mean.. it was rattling like hell. The damned adapter plate lugs weren't on tight enough (at 85lbs?!) and the wheel was FALLING OFF! I'm glad the PCM had crapped out! Thankfully I was about 1 mile from the house. I tightened them with the stock tire iron thingy and limped home. That's when I decided to order my Cragar wheels. $49.99 / pop? Sure!
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/latest.jpg
Since the 2007s only had about 1200 miles on them, I was able to sell them, without the tires, for $200. I mounted the tires I already had on the new Cragars, and then sent the 2007 wheels to the new owner.
The adapters now collect dust in my garage.
I decided that the rust on the undercarriage was ugly. So I scraped off what I could and then sprayed underbody anti-rust flat black under the Jeep and on the front and rear bumpers.
My Cab Top doesn't do the greatest job of keeping water out when we have especially bad storms, so I decided that I will use bedliner spray to coat the tub. I have completed stage one of the bedliner which is the back of the Jeep:
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk1.jpg
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk2.jpg
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/Trunk3.jpg
And as you can see in that photo, I've begun the repaint for my rig. OD Green :D
http://l3it3r.com/Jeep/Edits/jeeptailgate1.jpg
Next on the list? Doors and Hood will be painted this weekend, followed by the rest of the bed liner spray. Hope to get the rest of the Jeep sanded and painted by the end of next weekend.
After the 'looks' are complete, I plan on the usual stuff - bumpers, foglights, 4.5" lift, etc. But my ultimate goals are:
LS1 or 4.7l V8 (wife wants a HEMI in her durango - will 'give' me her 4.7)
4L80E if LS1, dunno yet on the 4.7
New front and rear Hub to Hub axles
Lockers
Skid plates
and whatever else will complete the rig for that [day | week | month]
Phew.. updates to come of course. :cool:
-Chris