Rymanrph

Ok, so I worked a little more today and got the down bars chopped. I only took an inch out of those because the back of the cab slants toward the front ever so slightly. As you can see the mounting brackets need a little massaging, but they are in roughly the right spot. Here you can see just how slightly the bar sticks over the cab: Oh and I got the windows tinted yesterday: Now I just have to find a shop to weld this up for me.

I like that idea even if you didn't have dents. For a work truck, those would be great.

I got tired of the roll bar sitting in the garage and not in the truck. Plus, I really want to drill the mounting holes before I spray in the U-pol Raptor. Even though I've had the bar in the truck before, it was too wide (it was literally squeezed in) and too tall. So, since I can't weld I decided to try an idea that my brother suggested. I went to Lowes and picked up some 2" PVC, some couplings and 4" bolts. This is a cheap way for me to cut the bars, sleeve them and mock it all up for someone else to weld. Here is a picture of one of my sleeves: I had to take an inch out of the width and this left me with this: You can see its still too high, but now I have plenty of clearance on the side: Here's a shot from the front showing the height difference between the cab and the bar: I decided to take 1.5" out of the height. It won't make the bar flush, but I don't want the lights just glaring off the roof and not lighting in front of me. Here is the main hoop mocked up: Here it is in the truck: I'll get some better pictures tomorrow in the light. I still need to take the height out of the down bars too. Obviously, it still won't be done yet, but now I can take it some where and there isn't much thinking for them to do. Weld these bars together how they are now and fill a couple bolt holes. I just need to find a shop that can do that now.

I'm willing to let it slide this time since the paint probably hadn't cured 100% yet, but when these tires wear out, they're fixing it if anything happens.

Is it a Dakota tank and pump, or a Dakota tank with the XJ pump? Also, how many gallons and which years?

So I filled up the truck the other day. It sounded like it was filling up quite a bit (more than usual). And of course, I started collecting a nice gas puddle under the truck. I don't know if it was my old leak coming back to haunt me, or if it over filled and my roll over valves were leaking or what. I'm ready to find something else to make this gas situation work better. On a positive note, I got U-pol Raptor for Christmas from my brother. I'm trying to decide if I should do it before or after I drill all the holes for the roll bar. The problem is that the roll bar needs a LOT of work and I can't weld.

I'll get a shot for yah in the morning! Which morning? lol

I wish I could have bought mine pre-made. Nice truck.

Made a little progress. Yesterday I went to the pull a part and picked up a new hood catch, hood and a pair of black head light buckets (still need a black grill for the set). This hood is in much better shape, but its the wrong color. Its not hideous, but I'll want it painted. Since I have a new hood, I was able to put the cowl piece back on. I kept the one from the '88 MJ because this was all that was left of the one from the XJ: I also put on a new tie rod end on the drag link and replaced a messed up wheel stud which involved removing the unit bearing (ugh). I still need to address the banged up quarter panel. I know that JCR makes crusher corners. These: http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=XJRUPGRD97Lights&Category_Code=XJArmor The problem is that they're almost $400 with lights and I don't really need that for a daily driver. I'm hoping I can get the quarter fixed and painted and then also paint the new hood and repaint the beat up bumpers all at the same time. We'll have to see how much that costs.

I had the wheels mounted and it didn't go that smoothly. Apparently the paint hadn't cured enough yet. All the edges have nicks on them now, but the worst one they used a rubber suction cup thing to balance it and it messed up the face of the rim. Not very happy about that, but it is what it is. I still have to paint the center caps, but here's what they look like on the truck:

I was tempted to paint my needles amber, but I was afraid they wouldn't light up at night like they do now. Been wondering what kind of progress you've made Brett.

I had to take an exam on my 21st and then study for another the next day, so my 21st was very unremarkable. Then again, I don't really drink so no big deal. 21 seems kinda far off now.

I did the autopal housings and the upgraded harness. I'm not sure what makes the autopal housings crappy, but for the money and performance I am completely satisfied. They were extremely easy to install too.

I have keyless entry and the overhead console for the Comanche, but neither for the Cherokee. There is just an empty spot between the visors and no remote.

That looks to be the same roll bar that I have. How well does it fit between the bed rails? Mine is really tight. Can you snap a picture of your mounting plates because mine are all messed up from the previous owner and I'm going to have to make new ones.

Maintenance items I've already addressed: -New steering box. The old one leaked like crazy. -New rear brakes. -Just picked up a new tie rod end for the drag link (to be installed). -All new lug nuts. Fantastic! Thanks. I added the overhead console to my Comanche and its nice, but I use the keyless entry a whole lot more, so even if I could just have that, it would be great.

I picked up a set of '05 Wrangler Ravine rims for $100. I paid probably three times that much for the ones on my Comanche, but these aren't in as good of shape. Some curb rash here and there and the clear and paint had begun to peel on two of them. Here is one of the rims after I used some aircraft stripper on it: I knew the paint was bad by the valve and the other rim, but couldn't tell that it was beginning to bubble in the other places. I sanded down the rock rash where I could. Two of the wheels I stripped completely, the other two I just sanded down with some 320 grit (the two on the right I sanded). Here they are primed and ready for paint: I decided to try Duplicolor's graphite wheel paint. It seemed to lay down OK, but I almost got a blister for the old style nozzle, plus plenty of finger fatigue. I tried to use one of those snap on triggers, but it would catch the very outer portion of the spray, pool and then drip. The finish is far from perfect, but I wasn't going for an OEM quality finish either. This is my first time painting wheels and I'm happy with how they came out. I'm going to try and get them mounted tomorrow. One of my tires isn't holding air, so I have to take it to the tire shop anyway. My only question is the center caps. Since they are plastic, can they be primed and painted the same way, or will it chip off?

I've enjoyed reading JeepcoMJ's thread on his '99 2dr XJ, so I figured I'd start one for mine. I traded my '88 pioneer for this one. Its a sport model with 218k miles and about 10k miles on a recent engine rebuild. AW4, 231, power windows, locks and mirrors, cruise control, rear defrost and an Alpine stereo. Here's how I got it: The bad: Rear collision damage on the passenger side (you'll see in a picture if you scroll down) and the hood flew up and slammed against the windshield frame. No damage to the windshield or frame, but the hood and cowl are pretty banged up. The headliner is drooping all around and I have a couple little interior pieces that need addressing, but nothing major. I painted up all the gray plastic pieces: There you can see the damage. It looks as though someone try to "roughly" bang it back out. The only thing this truck doesn't have (other than fog lights) that I wish it had is keyless entry.

Well, I hit a big milestone today: I actually had 214k on the original motor, but this is the '97 motor.

Well, I hit a big milestone today: I actually had 214k on the original motor, but this is the '97 motor.

I like it, but where are you putting your plate?

After getting seriously tired of hearing the exhaust rattle on the crossmember, I finally replaced the transmission mount today. All is well.

There is one for sale near me that I've been eyeing, but I don't have enough time or money or room for it.

I just picked up a '99 2dr this past weekend that will be my DD. Your's looks to be in a little better shape. I'll have to start another thread on mine.

I want to see some more picture of that.