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89 MJ 'THe Christmas Jeep"


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Wet sanded the clear down with 2500 grit today...it is slick as a baby's butt now...will buff it out tomorrow and then post pics.

 

Found some spray-can "Plastidip" (usually just comes in a dipping can) today as well and plan on using it to refinish the window trim.

 

Gotta drill out the two bolts that held the load leveling valve from the bed as they snapped off when I removed the bed...more fun.

 

You have to post pictures of that. I'm really curious as to how well it works.

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WHERE DID YOU GET THAT PAINT?!?!? That is the exact color that I am looking for to repaint my '90, which originally came in a dark gray metallic.

 

Thanks in advance! :bowdown:

Rob L.

 

Rob -

 

its the same color that Mdpfm used on his MJ, it is a 2003 Ford truck color (was also used on some Cobras). I purchased the paint at NAPA under the Martin Senor brand name. They have two "quality" levels, I got the lower level for the base coat and epoxy sealer, and used the upper quality level for the clear coat. All together it was relatively inexpensive for the paint and supplies, approximately $450.00.

 

Painting it in the open garage presented two problems: with that brand paint I was told the clear has a nasty habit of "falling back" on itself (where the atomized spray that remains in the air will settle on the applied clear and cause it to not shine), and dirt (bugs and crap just flying around) in the paint. I solved the "falling back" by borrowing several 24" fans and pulling more air out during the painting, but that aggravated the dirt problem...so we decided to wet sand it out before buffing.

 

PM me if you want to know the exact item numbers and names for the base and clear.

:cheers:

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You have to post pictures of that. I'm really curious as to how well it works.

 

Will do. I actually purchased it at Home Depot...it was in the paint department right next to the regular plastidip. They only had six cans - the stock person said "they couldn't keep the stuff on the shelf..."

 

Aout $5.50 a standard spray can.

 

I used it on the suspension arms below the engine compartment (after I had primed them with Rustoleum Rust Reformer) and was quite pleased with the result. It leaves a rubbery film that lays out with a very fine small texture (think very light orange peel) and could even be described as baby undercoat without the lumps/bubbles.

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Refinished the window trim today. I was being blinded by the small bits of chrome showing through and had to deal with it ( insert a LOL for Don here) See the tech section on refinishing the window trim with Plastidip. Several pictures here:

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

This weekend we will put the heart back in her:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We replaced :

Oil pump and pickup

Timing chain

Stator

Alternator

Water pump

Crank bearings

Rear main

Fuel injectors

Water pump

Harmonic Balancer

Trans filter and seals

UCA and LCA and bushings

Sway bar end links

Heavy duty coil springs

 

We repaired:

Neutral Safety Switch

 

 

Installed the entire interior (except for the new carpet - want to wait and see if the cab leaks!)

 

 

Also - a picture of the welds on the sixth cylinder pipe:

 

 

If everything goes and planned she'll be running tomorrow!

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that looks really good. i like the ford color on the motor haha. also, is that a newer front clip? i assume so with the xmas theme you there haha.

 

Not a Ford color on the motor...a AMC/Chrysler color DE1631.

 

Not a new front clip - the old style. It was just green on a red truck :clapping:

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How did you prep the block for paint? what paint did you use? whats going on with the exhaust manifold?

 

Took a chip brush and scrubbed the block with kerosene, then re-treated the heay buildup areas, then pressurewassed it with simple green, I used a 500 dregree paint that was matched to an old Cryco color for the 318 engines.

 

The exhaust manifold was welded by a friend of mine...I had started a poll to see if there was anyone who belived the cracking at the sixth cylinder pipe was due to the weight of the down pipe and collector on the manifold...but there was little intrerest in figuring out the problem. I simply posted the pic to show the welds.

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How much money do you think it took you to complete this project? Also beautiful truck.

 

The truck was 700.00 to start, and we have put about 900.00 in is for painting the truck and repairing the engine (and other new parts). We still need to purchase the carpet but are waiting to see if all the leaks have been solved first.

 

I can't even begin to value the man-hours...but its been a labor of love :D

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How much money do you think it took you to complete this project? Also beautiful truck.

 

The truck was 700.00 to start, and we have put about 900.00 in is for painting the truck and repairing the engine (and other new parts). We still need to purchase the carpet but are waiting to see if all the leaks have been solved first.

 

I can't even begin to value the man-hours...but its been a labor of love :D

 

I was guess that you had easily put a couple grand into this truck. It looks amazing, just all around great work. You have given me inspiration for my MJ haha. Once again, great job.

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Sorry about the lack of updates - its been...interesting around here...

 

On the day we put the engine back in I was moving it across the garage and it tipped over in the stand...I have no idea how I caught it but I was able to hold it until my son and brother-in-law got to me...massive bruise on the leg and the fan tried to remove my 'nads....just another thing that I will add to the list of things I really don't want to do again :shake:

 

We got the engine in and it would not start...stood around and scratched my head for awhile until I realized the crankshaft has to make TWO complete revolutions to put # 1 at TDC...I had the distributor in 180 degrees off... :rotf: once rotated SHE STARTS!

 

Once started the RPMS settle at 2000 :ack: I shut her down and start looking for vacuum leaks. Could not find any but found a whopper of a brake line leak.

 

Replaced the hard line from the front of the prop valve to the rear prop valve and bled the system.

 

Went back to look for other problems but could not find any. Purchased a new IAC and took the time to read the instruction page that came with it and it stated that after a period of no power the vehicle has to be driven for a few miles at 40MPH or better for the ECM to "reset" the IAC. I never heard of it before but figured what the heck...I took her out and after travelling at the stated speed for a mile slowly brought her down and put her in park...The idle was rock-steady at 900 :nuts:.

 

Will post pics soon.

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I would dive to save a good engine as well. I actually had a dream about that a few nights ago....weird coincidence. I would definately slide under it to cushion the fall so the oil pan didn't get ruined and the fan, as well as intake/exhaust manifolds....

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  • 1 month later...

Almost done - we have to re-make the visors (after doing the headliner they just didn't look as fresh!) and get the seats re-covered (even though the covers on them actually look pretty decent). My son gets quite a few comments on it as he is driving it every day now back and forth to school, and we had it in a block party (car show) last Friday.

 

 

 

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Used the roll-on bedliner. It turned out pretty good after three coats.

 

Refinished the interior to match the dash. The vinyl paint was suprisingly durable and easy to apply, (but I used an adhesion promoter anyway).

 

Also, used the ACC carpet (ordered on Ebay) that they sell specificlly for our trucks. It was a good fit with about 3-4 inches of trimming around the perimeter of the cab.

 

 

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Wow, great work. I spent 2k just getting mine painted, will have to wait to have the engine redone, hopefully as well as yours. Looks like it is all done, but do you have any more plans?

 

Thanks.

 

We haven't taken it on a long drive yet but I believe the cooling problems are solved (with the spring back in the bottom hose). We finished the visors yesterday and only have to put an onboard fire extinguisher (in the cab somewhere accessable) and a new radio/head unit (he's still checking them out to pick the one he wants).

 

He'd like to convert it to 4WD but that'll have to wait unitl I get some more $$$$.

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