neohic

Finally tailored the rain top today. It was intended for a YJ so it still doesn’t fit awesome around the windshield, but I think I can live with it. The rear half was a mess and would let rain in when it was windy. I picked up the top used and it had about a 3” tear. This turned into an 8” tear so that’s what prompted cleaning things up. The new rear shape needed some extra material to fit over the tub too. Fits way better!

No more gross moss on the new bikini top. Washed a bunch of color out of it too. The rest of the Jeep got washed too. It probably looks worse now than it did before.

This thing is way easier to move 16’ lumber than my pickup any day!

Quick little detail job on the new top today. With the jack put back where it was I didn’t like how it sat with the canvas. I’d rather not figure a new mount so a reinforcement patch was added. I think a different latch situation for the tailgate/tire carrier is somewhere next in order. The latch has been fine, but everything rattles. While the tin top is off, the ratchet strap can stay but this definitely isn’t a long term fix.

Rad! I like the idea of swapping modern engines into anything to make it a better driver or to achieve anything more than what our near dinosaur engineered engines where intended for. Our stock option engines are great!... they definitely have their limitations though. Curious what your reasoning is behind a swap like this. There are swap kits out there for putting multiple diesel engines in front of our transmissions but this is definitely a new one to pop up here. I see no reason why one couldn't accomplish this regardless of what country an engine may have been engineered or manufactured in. There's tons of good stuff that would've been developed off shore from us! As Pete stated, our engine bays are a bit goofy when it comes to fitting anything else that isn't relatively narrow. Good luck!

Cheap house brand from any parts store. Duralast… CarQuest Premium… doesn’t matter.

It came from visiting Pete’s place a long time ago.

The new top is awesome! It was finally a rain free beautiful day so why not go out on the trails? We didn’t explore anywhere new. Rather we grabbed a trash bag and retraced out steps from last month. We’re trying to get more comfortable in our local trails and also trying to figure when we can find time to go out for a quick camping weekend. Mostly filled the bag with bottles, cans, and tons of other such garbage. Picked up a bunch of plastic parts from bumpers and fenders too. PICK UP AFTER YOURSELVES, PEOPLE!!! Fun time was over today and the cover went back on. Had a look at the cowl and… yup… the bondo is cracking more but also lifting. Eek! Focus on the positive… focus…

I do the same. YJ front hoses.

I do. It’s sitting next to the shop until winter comes back around.

I should be working on trim in the house… but this little project sounded better today. Granted, the weather hasn’t agreed with driving this thing for weeks now being we’ve got rain nearly everyday, but we really shouldn’t be complaining about that. Ever since I’ve gotten used to having the windshield down I’ve wanted to rework the old bikini top or make up something else. The old top looked a little rough so I dug out an old canvas tarp. Didn’t take any progress pictures, so bear with me. I had some marine vinyl so after the general shape was figured I added a nice trim around the perimeter. The front edges rolls over themselves and then get fastened with 2” Velcro. There’s a bunch of double sided Velcro strips around the outside along with one in the center to keep the middle in check. Then I added a couple cinch straps at the front to keep the whole works taught. Now it doesn’t matter if the windshield it up or down! The rain cover still fits over everything too. Then the extra strap on the outside is for rolling the whole works up nicely for when it goes topless. I love it! Gross old moss and all!

STILL fighting with insurance on the roof. In the mean time, the little shed finally got some attention today. We kept the old picture windows from the living room (PS, we got new windows) that’ll go in the south facing wall eventually. Made up some hooks and a little cabinet with shelves. The plan is to make up planter boxes after the windows go in. Making for a nice little garden shed/greenhouse. Been picking up on the trim inside the house lately too which is usually the kiss of death for each house I’ve had before the for sale sign goes back in the yard.

Flywheel/flex plate too.

Rad!

My shop has multiple spaces with different feels to them. Up in the loft has some decor but is more subdued. On the ground floor is all business. Under the loft has this cozy, small shop feel. There’s vintage VW ads and kinda vintage (late ‘80s) Comanche ads. Around the ceiling is badges from all kinds of cars… mostly Jeeps though. Lastly, the main area in the shop currently has one large bare wall. Stuff will go there… probably. Otherwise there’s two big windows that don’t allow for much else, and the carriage doors are a work in progress. I’ll admit that it’s kind of an eye-spy. It’s kinda fun seeing people reactions when they come in my shop.

Very sharp looking MJ!

I absolutely love seeing updates on this truck. The dust and dirt is all a part of having a vehicle sitting for a while and I can completely relate. Thanks for getting back on the wagon!

Back in the shop today. The air cleaner “solution” after the brake booster upgrade has never been right. The plastic spacers cracked almost immediately after I threw them in there, and the weight of the actual air cleaner housing is always wobbly perched up 1.5” from where it would’ve lived. Here’s the solution. I made up a steel ring to replace the crack/taped/terrible parts store spacers. Everything got welded together to have absolutely zero slop. After a quick coat of paint where it needed it and some fresh foam under the lid?… … Perfect! Can’t even tell I was in there. Next on my list was the rear pinion angle. These leaf springs had a… ugh… CAST ALUMINUM spacer in with the pack. Here I thought the whole time that these were steel! Can you guess how many pieces they came out in? Once again, folks… friends don’t let friends have cast aluminum angle shims anywhere near their leaf springs! With the shims out, I made up a spacer for the center pin to locate the u-bolt plate better and then put it all back together. Much happier pinion and I got rid of another little vibration. The angles of the transfer case output and the pinion yoke are dead on to each other. This got me thinking about long term spring options and then what to do with my front axle. Right now I’ve got .5° of caster and I thought about (proper) shims to correct it. I don’t like what they’d do to the front pinion angle so I think an inner C cut/turn is in order… eventually. Another piece of the puzzle are my crazy short front shackles. They measure 2.625” from hole to hole and I put them on there originally to get my caster at least in the proper direction. Now that I’m thinking about potential spring options, I’d like to get around a 3.5-4” shackle and adjust from there with the inner C’s. For reference, here’s where my springs measure out to at ride height… Now I’m wondering if I should look into a BDS kit that would bolt in or if YJ or rear XJ leafs might be a better (cheaper) way to go after getting spring hangers and all the accoutrements that’d go with it. I highly doubt there’ll be any decisions made this year.

Heck yeah! Obviously not much for pictures but the CJ got rad in a few spots!

Trail day! Just went up into the hills close to town but it was the first time out with the wife and I. It’s been a long time since she was out in a bouncy Jeep. It was short but we had a wonderful time this morning!

YES!! I love this build already!

Very cool article about the birth of the Eagle. https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/how-the-amc-eagle-blazed-a-trail-through-a-giant-government-loophole/

I love everything about this except for the 2.5/auto with AC. Throw on a set of turbines and cruise! https://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/early-1986-jeep-comanche-xls-4x4-truck/7620715863.html

Big fan of Threadwrights.