MoparNJeep

Couple pics from Naches up at the moon rocks

MoparNJeep

Painted my headlight surrounds and grill trim black. Looks much better. Also removed my bumper end caps as they just didn't fit right.

Scored a factory CD/cassette deck out of a limited XJ for $25 to replace my stolen deck. Nice to have tunes again.

MoparNJeep

Still trying to find a header panel in good shape that's chilli pepper red. No luck there. All the parting out xjs I find are wrecked in the front. haha

Which has me thinking about doing a liberty rear sick swap. Maybe after I get my winch bumper ordered.

Just about finished up on my other 97 XJ I've been building. Will be up for sale here soon.

MoparNJeep

Well I finished the 97 and it sold in less than 2 hours on the market. Then i went and bought another a Desert Tan 99 Classic

MoparNJeep

Well the Jeep Jeep's flexplate has gotten real bad so I got one coming. While the trans is out I'll be doing a transgo shift kit 340HD and a rebuild on the transmission .

I also ordered iron rock offroad tcase clocking jig. Next week I'll be finally putting on a SYE with another front xj shaft. While all that is out I'm also adding the 2wd low to the tcase.

Been shopping for long arms and still not liking anyone kit. I like the synergy long arms but want a 3 link not a 4. I like tnts kit how the arms mount high but don't like how low the crossmember hangs down and I don't want a radius arm. I really want to to a flat belly skid.

Not sure on that one but long arms are next month anyways.

MoparNJeep

Got my Alloy USA SYE as well as Synergy Long arm brackets and Synergy lower control als. I'll be making the upper 3rd link.

Last pic is installed on another rig just for reference to show the high clearance arms

MoparNJeep

http://offroadwarehouse.com/i-116441...t-bolt-on.html

I just bought the brackets and lowers.
Brackets where $300 shipped
Lower arms where $460 shipped
So $760 and I just have to build the upper.
Upper in parts came out to around $100-140 depending on which side I choose to put it on.

Synergry only sell there uppers in pairs for $360. There uppers are meant to be ran as 4 link. The are 1-3/8" with .188 wall.

Most 3 links run a 1.5" upper so that's what I'll be making. This way seems like the best bang for my bucket. I get my high clearance arms and brackets and I'm not paying $860+ for something that's gonna get hung up obstacles.

MoparNJeep

Tcase is out and being cleaned for the install of the SYE.
After that I will be drilling the holes for clocking the Tcase.

Also ordered Dirtbound offroad DIY Front Mojave Bumper. Which this is a non winch bumper that will be modified to hold my 12.5K winch that has been collecting dust

Dirty Offio

I have a set of Grand Caravan buckets I had picked up for a pickup I am working on. The got a bad case of mold and a bit of algae on them from sitting around. I was pissed (at myself), but wanted to see if I could salvage them. I sprayed them each with about 1/2 a spray bottle of Awesome from Dollar Tree. Then fired up my little, electric pressure washer and went over them, making sure to not miss any part of them. The mold and algae flowed right off, as well as any old grime that was on the fabric. I set them to dry in the sun for a couple days, and they do not smell at all and still look awesome.

I did this in....August, or maybe July, when it was hot and sunny anyway. I live in Bellingham, so I have the same weather as you. The seats still look brand new, and then have been sitting inside the cab of the pickup, where I put them a few days after washing them. (Long term project, not driving currently.)

Just thought I would toss this out there for you, and any others who might be curious about cleaning mold and other uck off of seats and interior bits. According to a buddy of mine who makes his living detailing cars, if you don't have a pressure washer, take them to the car wash. Works just fine, you just need something to haul them in! (pickup or trailer!)

I dig your XJ by the way! Just starting my build, I will get a thread going here soon.

Cheers!

Offio

MoparNJeep

Thanks for the info, I wasn't sure even if I could get it off if. The mold would come back. So that's good to hear. I wish they still had that moldy set as I would go back and pick them up for another build.

Thanks for the complement, it's coming along. I'm hoping to clean up the build and get everything looking better in the next month. My new Dirtbound Offroad bumper just showed up yesterday, I'm excited to get started on that.

I look forward to seeing your build.

MoparNJeep

Got started on my bumper.
Pretty strait forward stuff, Mount the uni-body tie in's and then bumper brackets.

Bent the center platelet to match the bumper brackets then couple tack welds

MoparNJeep

Bent up the driverside end peice to match the angle of the center plate.

MoparNJeep

Few more shots. Halfway there. Gotta bend the ends in and tack those .
Then I'll be cutting out a section from the middle plate and adding some more plate and gussets for the winch.

MoparNJeep

Made some more progress on my bumper. Got the center cut and flipped for my winch. Still need some more plate to finish it off. Sprayed it in some primer to keep the rust at bay.

MoparNJeep

Also been messing with some wet sanding and buffing to bring back the shine in my paint. Jeep started looking burgundy color.

Wash then ran clay bar over paint.
Wet sanded with 1500 grit
Then wet sand with 2000 grit
Then buff with compound
Then finish buffing with polish.

Man what a difference. Paint has that red almost burnt orange look again.