Well I'm starting to build up my Jeep. Very slowly but surely. I've had it for like 8 years and the only thing I've done is the CD player. So here she is in pure stock form.

 

Alright so I'm starting my build by removing the black molding. It was fading a bit and was already starting to come off on the ends anyways so I thought I'd ditch it and then bedline the rockers.

So here are the things that I've used to remove the molding.

First off... a hair dryer...


...and to use that hair dryer you'll need power!


And a knife or small prying tool... maybe a screwdriver...


So once I got everything together I started using the hair dryer on the ends of the molding that were already coming up.

And basically just started pullin' on the molding. Pretty simply really. Once it starts going it goes pretty good. Once it slows down when you're pulling just apply heat with the blow dryer.

The little molding pieces on the front fenders between the wheel well and front doors were a pain because they weren't really loose already. That's where the knife came in to play. I was careful not to get too fresh with it and the paint. While I'm going to paint it I may not do it right away. So with some patience and just a little work you're left with this:





You can see close up that there will be a bunch of the double sided tape left over.


I used the blow dryer again and warmed it up. When its really thick you can roll it up with your thumbs/fingers. I also used a little goo gone to get rid of some of the smaller pieces that didn't want to come up.

This part sucks. So just suck it up. Once you do that you're good to go. I've still got some dirt that needs to be cleaned up but that'll work itself out when I paint it.

 

Xjs look so much better w/o the door molding. With a piece of fishing line you dont even need to heat it up. There is also a product out there call Karnack tar remover. I use it to remove scuff marks from customers siding after a roofing job. If I accidentally do so. Worked great on the rig too.

 

I'm gonna check out that Karnack! Thanks a ton! I'll try the fishing line on the other side I haven't finished yet.

 

I was thinking about taking off the molding too. I like the look of it

 

I just took the molding off of mine, looks way better. I used a heat gun and then rubbing alcohol to clean off the line it left and now you can't even tell it was ever there.

 

I just picked up some road grit and bug remover to help with it. If that doesn't help I'm going to use the alcohol like you said. Thanks for that.

Removing the molding looks awesome. I'm going to bedline the rockers here as I just bedlined the lower half of my rear tailgate due to some rust issues. I hear that it can fade but if it does I'll just spray paint it.

I'm thinking of getting smoked turn signals up front. I thought it would go well with the whole black and white thing going on.

 

Well I've got all of the pin striping off but I still haven't gotten rid of that dirt line the molding left behind. I need to grab a heat gun I think to do it.

I changed the brake pads today 'cause the banshee that screamed everytime I hit the brakes was driving me NUTS! The build might take a little longer to really get started than I was anticipating. A buddy of mine is going to sell his ZJ to me for 200 smackers. It needs some work but I think I can probably get 800-1000 for it once I do the work to it. That'll probably get me an extra 400. That'll be my lift and a few other goodies.

 

Alright got most of the dirt removed. I cannot talk good enough about Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover. Worked wonders on the dirt line left after I got the double sided tape off. I ended up washing the whole Jeep in it and made it look practically NEW! Here she is all washed up ready to be prepped and painted.



These are the products I used plus Frog Painters Tape and newspaper, and a sanding block and sandpaper. All available at Walmart. Spray on bedliner, rust and paint stripper is on the drill, and self etching primer.



All taped up and then added a crap ton of newspaper to protect the rest of the rig



And here's the final product





That one light spot up above is just sunlight not a missed spot incase you can't tell

I even did jambs so if I ever go doorless it'll look nice.




It still needs a little touch up on the lines but I'm happy overall. The back had some rust so I had to do it and decided that was the best line to run with. But that's the only rust I had so I'm happy. I still need to do the flares... which now REALLY need to be done. This build might slow a little as I'm getting ready to buy a ZJ to do some repairs and flip to finance this project.

Anybody want a 93 ZJ for $800?

 

things looking good man. it amazes me how much the little things make such a big difference.

 

Looks good. I definitely like the moldings off and bedliner on it. I had my 1997 for 9 years before I started modifing mine. So your starting way ahead of me.

 

Well not a whole lot has been done lately. I bought a grand Cherokee for two hundred and traded it for a lifted xj but its a 2wd. So next month I'm swapping the suspensions out.

 

I did change the rims out between the two. The white jeep's tires wouldn't pass inspection so I put my 31s on the red one and the black ones off the red onto he white one.

Thanks no rdplz for your tools and space!

 

After a small fender Bender I decided to remove my front bumpers. The bumper is all bent up bit oh well.

 

I had a similar situation man, if you take a look at the album in my profile, i've got pics. NO PARTS other than the passenger fender where replaced. The front bumper and bumper cap are the same as they were when my front end was all f'd up.

A word of advice on how to fix it: Find a big tree and link up some chains