There are tons of places around here to wheel. Lots of them not worth travelling that far just because they are small spots.

I need to go back to Windrock. The trails we did were not that challenging for me. I know there are better trails up there. I'll get to them soon enough.

After talking with my friend, I decided against doing that cage kit. What I'm wanting to do with mine, it's better that we go custom.
End of this month, I'll be pulling the interior out and taking the rig to my buddy. He said 1-2 weeks for the cage.

Last night I replaced the O-rings in the oil filter adapter. It was leaking a bit.

Another buddy at work welded in the bung for the transmission temp sensor last night.
FYI anyone welding on the transmission pan, it's galvanized. Also I want to choke the engineer that designed the 2 piece dipstick tube...

Anyway, I'll be putting the tranny pan back on this evening.

 

I've been to windrock 4 times in my Cherokee and 3 of those times I did 150 miles of trail in it and the last time it blew the headgasket first day and I rode along on easy trails the rest of the weekend. Last time I went was with my roommate and his dad in their buggies and we did rattle rock, devils elbow, and a few other hard trails I forgot.

 

When I still lived in Knoxville, Windrock was my jam! I never had a rig built enough for black trails, but 15 is one of the most infamous ones. Do that next time you're there.

 

Cool man. I may have to check it out.

Got the temp sensor in and everything buttoned up and drove it to the car wash to clean up the jeep a bit more after the previous weekend of wheeling. It was nasty.
Noticed that it got a bit hot coming up the mountain. Time for an external transmission cooler.

Thinking of buying the one specially built for the TJ and making it fit the XJ. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-20561/overview/
After buying a cooler with fan, hoses and fittings, I'll have more in a cooler than just buying that unit. PLUS it comes with mounting hardware and somewhat of a frame around it.
Going to get under the jeep sometime this week and see if I can make it work.

 

I just stuck the biggest cooler I could find on rock auto in front of the mechanical fan side of the radiator.

 

Do you have a trans temp gauge? Curious how it does while off-roading.

Thinking I want it away from all the heat and to have a fan on it to control it may give me better piece of mind.

 

I don't have a gauge. In front of the radiator is about as cool as anywhere can be on my Cherokee at least. All the hot air blows down underneath with the exhaust and all that creating heat underneath. Also, I'd be worried about hitting it since most of the bottom of my Cherokee has been introduced to a rock or two.

 

Maybe I'll just do like the Japanese cars and mount it outside the grill and have the hoses hanging about to catch on things....

I really don't want to introduce more heat in that area. Have talked to a few that have put it under and in front of the fuel tank with good results.
Gonna give it a go.

Appreciate the input. It made me think on it.

 

I was talking with a friend at work about installing the transmission cooler and he was like "I've got one I'll give you"
Even has a fan on it. Sweet.
Got it and placed an order with Summit racing for the lines and fittings.
Currently working on the install of it. It will go above the rear end. Clearance + up there.

Laid under the jeep for a while holding the cooler up there figuring where it would go, how to mount it, etc...

I'll include some pictures once I get it mounted.

ALSO I just scored an overhead console on Ebay for $100! It looks like the material is coming off of it, but I am planning on re-covering the headliner when I get the cage installed, so it'll work out fine.

 

Well I spent last night and most of the day getting the tranny cooler installed.
Still need to run wiring for the fan, but I'm beat.

Everything is mounted with Riv-nuts.

pics

 

Let us know how the trans temps do with that set up.

 

How's that work with mud? Not enough space behind the grill?

 

Yes sir!

I'm sure there was enough space behind the grill. I just didn't want to put yet another heat source up front with everything else.

I hate mud, but that should be a pretty safe spot away from slinging mud unless it's a really deep hole. I will do everything I can to go around mud. lol

 

The ebay overhead console arrived yesterday. Un-boxed it and it doesn't look too bad.
I'll have to do some digging and see what wires do what, find a temperature sensor and pick up some Alcantera to re-wrap it in.




Drove the jeep to work yesterday even though I haven't wired the fan. The transmission still got a good bit hot coming up the mountain, so I know the fan is needed.
Regular driving, it did fine. It's when it is coming up the mountain that it is being taxed.

 

Did you get a wiring harness and the bracket?
The temp sensor can be bought new.
Was used in a zillion Mopar vehicles.
Real easy boneyard find.
Did you get a short harness that would be used to attach what is on your Jeep and temp sensor?
Put a '99 overhead in my '00 so I have a little experience with this.