shelbyluvv

I just ordered a few cans. Can't wait to have a blue, column shifted 97 converted truck.

I am almost positive I'm going with blue interior in my truck. That looks great!

Today I finally found 3 more pieces of the puzzle. I can finally get to finishing the interior now that I have them. I found a junkyard on www.car-part.com That had a rear fixed rear window for $75. I made the trip today to get the glass and it wasn't cut out of the truck yet. I told the owner I would go get it because I had just driven 3 hours to pick it up. He was mad because the kid he hired never did it and told me to go ahead and pull it and take anything else I needed. I ended up with a perfect gasket, fixed glass and a headliner for $75! If anyone in middle Georgia needs any other parts the truck is there. Tailgate is trash and taillights are gone. Yard is called Mitch's Automotive in Barnesville GA.

Tired of paying the "Comanche tax" for MJ specific drip rail molding I decided to try and modify some XJ moldings. A little work with a cutoff wheel, heat and some bending I had new moldings.

I'm wiring them into the OHC wiring as it has the 12v constant, door trigger and ground. I will post the pics so you can have them though.

Nothing spectacular that hasn't been done before. I got my Euramtec dome lights fitted to the B pillars.

Thank you! Pete, it could work on a older dash if you're creative enough. Thank you Rich, I appreciate it. Thank you, I am very pleased with how they turned out.

I have been out of town traveling for a bit. When I got home I set out on a mission. The entire reason for the column shift was to get everything off of the trans tunnel and clean up my floor. This lead to removing the center console that had my cup holders. Not wanting anything on the seat or the floor I had to get creative. I discovered VW hidden cup holders. A lot of cutting and filing to the 97 dash I had them installed. They work perfectly and look stock in the dash. Yeah I lost my cigarette lighter and 12v outlet. I can easily add a outlet to the dash or hide it and a couple USB ports in the dash. My radio has a USB port that will charge my phone so I'm not concerned at this point. Here's a video of them in action https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=7mib8xrbrFw

I got the dash put back into the truck just in time to check my handy work. What's the glow between the radio and column? Ah, that's right. It's the gear indicator.

Thank you kindly

Thanks Ben, I appreciate you saying that. Your builds are amazing as well.

You're welcome anytime Pete

I messed with the dash a little more tonight. Because I have a column shift there is no longer a gear position indicator. I decided to fix it. I modified a Durango PRND21 indicator and my dash to accept it. I am going clean up the widow a little and mold some clear acrylic in it be flush with the dash. The final step will be to get a light mounted to light it up at night. I plan to use the old floor shift bulb to get that done. This column install has been one of the most satisfying things I have done to this truck.

I had the great idea to put a 1999 Durango column shift column in my truck. Getting the actual column in the truck was the easiest part. Then came the process of getting all the wiring for the the horn, ignition, wipers, turn signals, four ways and so on working. I was even able to get the key "bling ring" working. A function check revealed that the delay for the wipers did not work. This lead me back to doing more research. The 97 XJ delay is controlled by the actual switch. The 99 Durango delay is controlled by the BCM. Then I remembered the 84-96 XJ used a separate delay module. I went to the local junkyard and stumbled on a RHD 96 XJ. As of it was destined to be the connector was exactly the same as the 99 Durango! A little more re-pinning and splicing of wires and my mission was accomplished. The final step is to get the column connected to the intermediate steering shaft and it will be complete.

Let's just say Nick is excited about this also...