CWLONGSHOT

I would think there is other underling problems as well... I mean the glass will provide some rigidity, but if there is a squeak, something is moving. If its moving enough for a squeak and you mount the glass more solidly, its gonna crack..... I don't really now what else to say.. Is it leaking? maybe turn up the radio. Messing with this one can only get worse in my mind... CW

I remember sometime back someone posting up something negative about these optima batteries. I just wanna put up my gripe here as well about them. I bought this one is Optima red top in 2001, June of 2001 to be exact. Its lived in my TJ until spring of 2005 when The TJ got a winch and a new yellow top optima to go along with it. I moved the optima to the "shelf" for a while. Spring of 2006, I bought a 1988 2DR 4.0 Cherokee and built it up mildly for my Pop. That optima went in it. Its been fine until last week. Pop bought himself a 2002 WJ a couple months back and the XJ has been sitting neglected. Last week we got some new tires for it and I pulled the battery for a charge. Yesterday I dropped the battery back in and started the XJ up... no dice. The optima has given its last crank. I jumped the XJ and finished the tire swap and oil change and put it back out behind the house. Today we go for a new battery for our ol'friend. SO, eight and a half years, from one battery. I would have thought it had 10 in it..... :doh: :doh: Will I buy another one? You can bank on it!! over. :D ;) CW

Its not local to you for sure, but my very good friend Lou Kiklas is my go to guy for all 4x4 aftermerket parts. http://www.elias4wdcenter.com CW

There is a bunch of great covers out there!! I decided on a Blue Torch Fab cover for my 8.8 in my TJ. CW

EXACTLY!! :ack: BUT that's only on days ending in "Y" and as long as the mass of the @$$ remains constant. :rotf: :rotf: :ack: Like I said in the first post, wiring explanations are on most relay packages. There are 4 or 5 posts on a 30 or 40 amp relay. #30 is for fused power into the relay. #85 is for the relays ground. #86 is the trigger wire, run a small like 18/20Ga wire here as no big power/amperage is needed. This wire only "fires" the relay itself. #87 (&87A) go out to the item you need to power. The "A" works nice if your wiring lights as you use one wire for each lite. CW

I like to swap in the XJ under dash lights and swap OUT the hokey cab lites in the B pillars to modern style like has been out lined a couple times here. Loose the rear prop valve and swap in the 96+XJ booster and MC. Also do the headlight wire loom upgrade along with some good H4 lenses and bulbs. HUGE improvement!!! CW

Kids.. :shake: All this sounds like a mountain of headaches... ;) ;) Why not just wire new stuff with a switch in the cab, (Maybe even use a factory switch) along with a relay on the firewall and your own wires as I mentioned earlier? Get some plastic wire loom and it will even look stock!! There are many trick options, you could loose the switch entirely and wire the trigger wire to the hi-beam factory wire and the lites will only go on with the high beams by them selves!!! Send the ground wire into the cab for a switch and not need to look for power source in there. Run the trigger wire into the cab, then out to the hi-beam factory wire and be able to switch on the lites, but only have them work with hi-beams. PEACE OF MIND, No worries about IF you have the factory wiring, IF its going to be adequate, IF you have it wired right. Or even IF 20 something year old wires will even still work!! :yes: :clapping: :brows: I have probably wired in 20-30 sets of lights for my self and for friends just like I am describing. Once you get your head around how it works, its very straight forward, not very expensive and very reliable. WAY better then factory as you can tailor the wire size to your electrical requirements. If in doubt, just go up a size or two in wire. Remember DC electric is like a water pipe, bigger means more flow, more flow is LESS heat. Heat in electric is resistance and that's what kills. CW

Thanks CW, I've got a couple of questions about some rear shocks, you mind a PM? Not at all.. I'm waiting for it!! CW

Tonight I stopped @ Radio Shack and got my wire and once home, installed the grounding strap. Once everything was attached I tried it out. Got a responce right away from a guy about 5-6 miles out as the crow flies. MUCH better then it was before!!! CW

"Oh well then, THAT changes things! Mr. Fox, here is the keys to the hen house!!" CW

Tonight I stopped @ Radio Shack and got my wire and once home, installed the grounding strap. Once everything was attached I tried it out. Got a responce right away from a guy about 5-6 miles out as the crow flies. MUCH better then it was before!!! Now this is a 102" mast so no SWR adjustments. BUT I had a nice meter and I cannot find it! :fs1: :headpop: :fs1: Gotta couple more places to check, but I sure hope its not lost!! CW

I agree with Pete, I have never had a problem with popping a bead with my hi-lift. I have done them up to 37" murders, I like the rocker rails right under the door best. Place the foot right next to the rim and jack away!! Sometimes you have to adjust a couple times, but it will go. (Be sure to pull the stem completely out first.) Removing them form the rims is by far more difficult than mounting, but its entirely "doable". :thumbsup: :thumbsup: CW

Good thougt Pat. :bowdown: I haven't done that. I have a couple so its a easy addition. Whowey, That is how I have always mounted them too!! But like you said, its a magnet for the trees!! I fear it wouldn't last the first trip to the woods!! LOL :doh: Thanks for the ideas guys!! Time will tell if this was a good idea. Tonight I'll get a longer cable attached and add that grounding strap too!! CW

YUP, This is a handy item to have in your arsenal!!! I am going to build myself one over the winter!!! CW

Here is the results of a quick google search: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... st+hangers I have used ROCK AUTO, car parts warehouse and autoparts warehouse with good results. CW

You will need a relay, There are usually wiring instructions on the package. But basically there will be 4 or 5 prongs on the relay. one for the ground, one for power, one for a "trigger wire" and lastly one or two for the lite(s). You can put your switch in a couple places, on the ground works nice because you only need one wire running into the cab, BUT its a bigger wire. DON'T put it on the power wire as that too is a big wire. The trigger wire is another good place for the switch. You attach the trigger wire to what ever you want the new lights to come on with. IE the high beams. CW

A pretty little girl named Suzy was standing on the sidewalk in front of her home. Next to her was a basket containing a number tiny creatures; in her hand was a sign announcing FREE KITTENS. Suddenly a line of big black cars pulled up beside her. Out of the lead car stepped a tall, grinning man. "Hi there, little girl, I'm President Obama. What do you have in the basket?" he asked. "Kittens," little Suzy said. "How old are they?" asked Obama. Suzy replied, "They're so young, their eyes aren't even open yet." "And what kind of kittens are they?" "Democrats," answered Suzy with a smile. Obama was delighted. As soon as he returned to his car, he called his PR chief and told him about the little girl and the kittens. Recognizing the perfect photo op, the two men agreed that the president should return the next day, and, in front of the assembled media, have the girl talk about her discerning kittens. So the next day, Suzy was again standing on the sidewalk with her basket of "FREE KITTENS" when another motorcade pulled up, this time followed by vans from ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN. Cameras and audio equipment were quickly set up, then Obama got out of his limo and walked over to little Suzy. "Hello, again," he said, "I'd love it if you would tell all my friends out there what kind of kittens you're giving away." "Yes sir," Suzy said. "They're Republicans." Taken by surprise, the president stammered, "But... but... yesterday, you told me they were DEMOCRATS." Little Suzy smiled and said, "I know. But today, they have their eyes open."

With luck, it will be taken as it was meant and progress will be made... but I'm not holding my breath. ;) CW

Looks GREAT!! Thats one stout looking shock mount!! WELL DONE!! CW

THANKS MAN!!! I got a couple things done on the MJ in the past couple days... I moved the antenna from the roll bar to the center of the swing-out. Then I mounted the harbor Freight ahooga horn up under the radiator, behind the bumper. Gonna wire it up on a relay, with at least 12GA wire. I found that with smaller wire it kinda whined instead of ahooga-ed. :D When I attached it directly to the batt, it sounded MUCH healthier!!! Lastly, I screwed my claw to the dash board... I stopped @ Radio Shack and got my wire and once home, installed the grounding strap. Once everything was attached I tried it out. Got a responce right away from a guy about 5-6 miles out as the crow flies. MUCH better then it was before!!! Now this is a 102" mast so no SWR adjustments. BUT I had a nice meter and I cannot find it! :fs1: :headpop: :fs1: Gotta couple more places to check, but I sure hope its not lost!! CW

The other day I got the new obnoxious horn mounted up... I attached it to the inside of the front most frame cross-member. Right behind the bumper, below the radiator. Should be good place for the sound to flow forward... Tonight I moved the CB Antenna mount to the center of the swing out tire carrier. CW

Same with mine. here is what I have now: It worked really good. But being as high as the truck is and the location of the mounts. You have to jump up in the bed to remove or move the antennas. A PITA!! :yes: What I meant was if I where to mount it to the bed, centered up front. the whip would contact the roll bar. I quickly welded in a mount to try the 102" whip centered on the swing-out. I can easily swap to a 3 or 4" fire stick for the trails. I used a 5" piece of 2" "C" Channel. Drilled a 1/2" hole for the mount and bolted everything in. At first I used a spring, but found that it was OK for the fire-stick, but too flexible for the whip. I want to use the whip for the street, so I removed the spring. Like I say, its a trial location... CW

OK guys, I am getting sick and tired of my CB antenna getting caught up in the garage and cover-it I have... I would LOVE to run a 102" whip but as many of you know, they are not a good idea for a wheeler as they "whip" around and could get someone hurt. BUT, I'm thinking of moving my mount to a ball mount and running a 102 on the road and switching over to the fire stick when off road... I always liked the side of the bed, drivers side all the way in the back. Obviously this won't work as I'll for sure clean it right off first trip thru the trees. I would mount it at the rear of the cab/front of the bed, but contact with the roll bar is too likely... maybe centered on my swing out Help me out, where is yours mounted?? CW

Sunday afternoon, I mounted up four 265/75R15 tires on factory Jeep 10spoke rims. It took Pop and I about 30-35 minutes start to finish. this included a quick clean of the rims beads as they sat outside for a while. Tomorrow the go to the balance and on the XJ tomorrow evening. This weekend, I have a set of 35 BFG MT's to get mounted on Eagle 589's for the TJ... These won't need a balance as I said my TJ has the centramatics. CW

Thanks man, Standing next to the 31" AT's they are almost a full inch taller and everybit as wide. the Coopers are also mounted to a 15x7 rim and the 31" BFG's are on a AR 589 alum 15x8 rim!!! They get balanced Tuesday and we will see Tuesday night... CW