JefCooks Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Hi everyone. I just bought my first MJ 2 days ago and I’m pumped. I live in Austin TX and wanted a cool, fun project to take off-roading, camping, haul the canoe, etc. I had been looking for a few months but everything around me was a short bed and I wanted a lwb. Tangent: I couldn’t find anything locally so I looked abroad. Found someone selling a wildernest in Spokane and a lwb 4x4 in Missoula. I figured I could fly into Missoula, buy the Jeep, drive to Spokane, stay with my family, buy the wildernest and then drive home. The MJ wasn’t perfect, but it was what I wanted and I REALLY wanted the wildernest. But I got distracted and took one last look locally. That’s when I saw it.... Continue story: I got on CL and finally found my unicorn in south TX. 1992 Pioneer lwb 4.0 4x4 auto (my wife refuses to drive standard). I wouldn’t have to deal with renix, there’s 0 rust in south Texas, body was pristine; I must have it. So we took a trip to the beach and, on the way home, would detour inland to check it out. It was beautiful! Original paint is well worn but there, no dents, no dings, no rust, great interior, AC, cruise control, 155k original miles, turbine wheels, it was more than I could have hoped for. I looked underneath and it kept getting better. OME lift, MT springs, no leaks and again, ZERO rust. I had to have it but I wanted to get a good deal so I played ignorant, like I didn’t know what this guy had. I started low, knowing he would say no. He stayed strong but I eventually got him down below what I was expecting to pay. I was elated. We signed all the paperwork and I was on my way. Quick stop to fill up, back on the hwy, cruise set to 70 and off we went for the 6 hour trip home. Now is time for the fun to start. Its in great shape but needs a few things, so I’m gonna start cheap and work my way up. AC needs a recharge because summer is coming quick in TX. Might also get the windows tinted. Soon though will hopefully be some new tires, bumpers and a paint job. I really dig the eggplant color it has but I’m also interested in bed lining the whole thing for durability (open to suggestions). Photos to come later. Thanks for any feedback. TL:DR bought my first MJ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveW155 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Nice! Well hurry up with those pics!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I would not recommend doing a bed liner for a paint job-if something happens to it, it is hard to touch up. Also it is heavy and you need to make sure you tape everything off perfectly-I have heard stories of people who got bed liner over their locks and now cannot lock their vehicle. Just my opinion, it is your truck. Welcome to the club, the people here are extremely helpful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Thanks for the heads up 89, a bedliner is not my first choice because of cost. I’ve also been thinking of “industrial” paint for tractors and such, just don’t know where to get that done and am never painting my own rig again. Anyways, here’s some pics. Nothing special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 what about just using regular paint? rattle can paint jobs are easy to do (prep is everything), can look good, and easy to touch up. whatever you do, do NOT accidentally plug and of the body drain holes (the rockers and door drains are super easy to overlook). I found that out the hard way when I paid a company to spray my rockers way back when. also, welcome to the addiction! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 So I’ve been doing a few things to the Jeep, with a few more planned ahead. I pulled the interior out, cleaned the carpet, doors and panels, laid down some Noico sound dampener and installed 6.5” speakers front and rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 I also ordered a hitch from Krusty and installed it. Looks great and is more heavy duty than I expected. I put it on by myself but having an extra set of hands would have been nice. I found an HO cluster from an XJ in the tool box along with a bunch of spare parts so I swapped it over. Having a ‘92 does have its perks; no speedo cable! I swapped over 2 pigtails and it worked great (aside from replacing the temp & oil sensors). I gained 50k and lost my gear indicator though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 Finally, I ordered a Smittybilt front bumper and winch from Quadratec. It was a pretty decent deal when bought as a package, bumper, bull bar & winch all together. Sure it’s not a Warn, but it was cheap. And finally got the windows tinted (a necessity in TX). The Jeep has OME shocks from the P.O., but suspension wise it’s ZJ coils with 2” spacers and ZJ lca’s, uca’s and sway bar. My next plan is to get some RE 3.5” coils and install some 1” shackles in the rear to level it out. I found some Jk wheels on CL I want to get as well with the factory 255/75r17 mud terrains. So in the near future I’ll hopefully get some proper springs and level out the lift, get some adapters & install the wheels and, if I need to, trim a little around the fenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted May 25, 2019 Author Share Posted May 25, 2019 Oh man, I almost forgot! I finally found a Wildernest! I drove from Austin to Denver to pick it up. It’s in good shape, but I want to do a solid update to it before I put it on the Jeep. While that’s going on I’ll spray in a bedliner and swap my tailgate out with a spare I have. I’m trying to upload some pics. It I’m sized out. I’m on my phone and can’t shrink the photos so it’ll have to wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 On 5/25/2019 at 11:54 AM, JefCooks said: Oh man, I almost forgot! I finally found a Wildernest! I drove from Austin to Denver to pick it up. It’s in good shape, but I want to do a solid update to it before I put it on the Jeep. While that’s going on I’ll spray in a bedliner and swap my tailgate out with a spare I have. I’m trying to upload some pics. It I’m sized out. I’m on my phone and can’t shrink the photos so it’ll have to wait. try again. I think we've fixed the size issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted June 14, 2019 Author Share Posted June 14, 2019 Cool, thanks Pete. First is the camper when I picked it up in Denver. Second is when I got it home and started cleaning it. And last is me airing it out. I’m waiting to roll on some Raptor Liner in the bed before I put the camper on. I’ll update once I do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 how bad is the smell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCooks Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 You can smell it from a ways off. I left it open to air out for days and it didn’t help much with the smell. I need to open it back up, clean it with some soap and water and let it air out again. It’s supposed to be mighty hot and dry this week so maybe I’ll do it sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 after all the cleaning, soak it down with Fabreeze and let dry. that stuff can be a miracle worker for smells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now