Gjeep

California temps are back to near normal double digits, so it was a good time to rattle-can the interior panels with SEM Landau Black #15013 with either a Satin Gloss Clear # 13013 or Low Luster Clear #13023 (meaning if the panel was a ‘main’ panel it received the semi-gloss, and if it was a ‘recessed or secondary’ panel it got the low luster sheen for visual differentiation). For the lower dash panel, I’m deciding between the genuine 1987 MJ black interior panel or 1995 XJ style which deleted the duct that blows cold air to your nuts. I like the newer panel a bit better as it looks a lot cleaner. Will see. For the main overlay I’ve got NOS black and NOS ’92 Laredo (without the chrome trim) that I’ll be deciding between. The Laredo overlay may get the win for the install as I think it will compliment my charcoal Jeep logo’d denim vinyl perfectly. Again, will see.

31” BFG KO’s

I waited for what seemed like forever for Stockton Wheel to widen my Jeep steelies -- worth it though, as they look great/ bead blasted (photo below). Oddly enough Stockton doesn't offer a finishing service once they modify customers wheels. So I sprayed a light gray epoxy primer to keep the metal happy. Soon I'll paint the back and outside of the wheel satin black and the face of course rallye silver. Also took delivery of some NOS stainless steel trim rings for these. I did a bit of research online and found the best polish for getting the stainless to look near chrome was jewelry polish. The one that seemed to polish up best in looking at video reviews was a product called JNA Sparkle out of Las Vegas. I ordered some up and shined away 3-4x. Though I have absolutely nothing to compare it to product-wise, I can tell you the results were fantastic. Near mirror finish. Before: After: With the temperature well over 100+ past couple days, and to continue for the next several days, I think it best for me to focus on indoor or early morning MJ projects. My goal for the remainder of this week is to paint the steering column and interior panels.

Clean, but looks like fuel tank had fire?

Beautiful bird. Lots of work and funds to bring it back!

Rarely do I see a '97+ XJ with manual window regulators, but all 3 I saw yesterday (2 in Rancho; 1 in Stockton) had manual window regulators for those thinking about the full front window upgrade. None of the regulators were broken, all went up/down without issue. No idea the price, and unfortunately I'm not really near either of those yards. Was a day trip.

FiatSlug (Mike) and I had a chance to meet up with RedMistress (Dennis) when he and the family came out to CA over the past weekend. People and Jeep's got together for a great meet up. Mike's white 21-slot MJ is out front in the pic, with my XJs behind, and Dennis' new red '99 in the line-up (the one with the red grille and Rigid lights out front). Long live the MJs, XJs, and those that own 'em.

Not enough MJs (or XJs) came with Jeeps cordovan interior. Mikes white/ cordovan mix looks awesome in-person. And the updated replacement seats, panels, and now overhead console make it a really sharp one of a kind Comanche. Good work!

They still sell them. Go to their website.

Agreed — great recycler!

There were two of these harness kits. I have the other that came with the dash pod rocker bezel and factory switch. More or less the same, but a different style relay and connectors.

Wow -- Beautiful truck Looks like they took their time on the paint. It's even running Halibrand-ish rims. Seems to be worth the price.

#3 has my vote.

Element is who makes it. Found video.

There’s a jay leno you tube video on this you should check out. Impressive.

One under each seat in all Jeeps. These actually have more juice than standard extinguishers. https://www.griotsgarage.com/ultra-compact-fire-extinguisher/?sku=26679&code=PPCPLG&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpvn4wpS9-AIVICCtBh11GQxjEAQYASABEgI8NPD_BwE

Didn't realize the XJ/ MJ grille made it on to so many (horrible) clone Cherokee/ Comanche-ish pickup's over the years. Don't look at this on a full stomach... https://www.theautopian.com/wip-a-deep-dive-into-how-china-started-building-bizarre-jeep-cherokee-xj-clones/

I kept walking past the cab carpet board I had filled/ straightened…it was nagging at me. Decided to buy Masonite and carve out a new board. 13/64” holes were drilled to place the mounting tabs as the original board had. Difference this time around is I’ll mount those using Midwest Fastener 3/16” screw/posts. The screw will go in from the back side and the ‘post/ nut’ portion will be top side. I’ll use a rivet bit to thin the Masonite, so the hardware is flush and won’t show once the carpet is applied. Here's the difference between the original board and new (in front). After 30 years of that bottle jack being in place the cardboard panel was bent for good. The jack is under the hood now.

Started sanding the grille as plastic weld is dry. Lower backside area and newly styrene ‘boxed’ areas look good, flat, and fit the header panel well. Plenty more sanding and plastic fill to go… and then more sanding, filling, sanding, etc until wet sand of increasing grit to baby’s bottom smooth.

Second step in a long-ish process of getting this grille to look right after all the trimming. I used thin modeling Evergreen plastic strips (both 1/4” and 1/2” depending on location) bent to the proper 90 degree angle, then gorilla plastic glued them to serve as back-side ‘support’ for the plastic compound. All this won’t be touched for 24 hours. Once the glue is dry, I’ll compound fill and then contour/ sand. I predict this will take time…

Yep those door torx aren’t fun. Get a set of stubby torx sockets will make the job much easier.

Goodbye 15x6 sized steelies – dropping them off this morning at Stockton Wheel Service who will be widening them to 15x8 at 5.5” back spacing (versus the 5.25” these were from the factory). They'll be factory argent color with a highly polished trim ring, and XJ military style flat center cap. Below is a mock-up photo of the setup.

Next project up will be a fun one to get right. Bumpers, flares, and grille will all be black, but I think the front end of the truck needs some silver to break up the monotony of the black. Did a rough trim-out of all the grille slots and the plan is to fit the stainless mesh grille for some color pop. Tough part will be getting the plastic cuts of the main grille filed and filled smooth so it looks 100% right.

Classic ride! Congrats! Time to dig up some NOS..

Tore into my ‘90/ early ’91 XJ lighted visors to confirm the ‘90’s-‘00’s Crown Vic/ Marquis/ Town Car mirror units not only were the same dimensions, but actually have the same assembly functioning – Meaning they can be directly swapped into our MJ/ XJ’s – and they can. The main benefit of this for me (and probably only me) is I don’t have to paint the visor mirror assemblies I have. My goal to this project was to find a black molded plastic vanity mirror (to match my black interior conversion). Later XJ mirror assemblies are much wider. In photo's below Lincoln visor on top, XJ below.