Started on the rear today. Removed old shocks, u-bolts, clips and center pins on leafs, and started to install the AAL's.

 

jacked her up as high as I could get her and power washed the underside in preparation for a heavy dose of undercoating.

 

Spent a little quality time with #2 yesterday. Replaced burned out indicator bulbs for the rear wiper and heater controls. Also replaced the burned out dome light bulb with an LED that I had bought for my 99, but it just didn't work out in that one. Works great in this one.

Cleaned up the power distribution center under the hood. The starter is going bad and the PO thought it was a relay issue, so he sprayed the whole PDC with WD40. Cleaned up all the fuses and relays, and made sure the right ones were in the right places. Left out the fuel pump relay so I can turn on power without running the pump, since the head is coming off in the near future.

Removed the studded tires from the back of it and put the regular tires back on.

Ordered an A/C Bypass Pulley, since after I have the system discharged, I have no intent of having it charted back up. That way I can just get rid of any AC parts that get in my way.

 

drove the upper rear shock nuts out replaced them with bolts for my bpes

 

Started the morning by greasing nipples. Then went outside and worked on the XJ.
Lubed 17 points front to rear. Didn't pull the front driveshaft for the works treatment. Wicked chill wind today so I wanted to get the service done within a couple of hours.
Pulled the front trans cover and tightened four bolts on the Flexplate to Tconverter connection. All had backed out about 1/16". Rattle Rattle, no more! Why such large bolts (2 of 4) for a little cover?
While under there patched a hole in the exhaust pipe with some stainless foil and hose clamps, will hold till spring and warmer weather, oh yeah, it is spring, well it can dang well hold till warmer weather!
Wiped the melting salt water, oil, and grime from my eyes and cranked her over. Wow! Never to be quiet but the roar is at half volume and the rattle is gone. Took the pooch for a test drive dump run, (she gets a doggie biscuit at the scale house).
Running pretty well for an old ..., a good grease job will give you that feeling.
Pondering why the flywheel bolts are tight even when loose; (cant turn them by hand but easy enough with wrench) could they be going into clinch nuts on the Tconverter?

 

LOL...your nipples, or some lucky lady? (or guy)

 

Lol, left myself open on that one.

 

Installed rear bumper (from Nates 4X4) and a gas tank skid plate (from JY and reconditioned by me).
Why would a guy with no lift spend money on a rear bumper instead of equipment to increase his tire clearance? Glad you asked~! I needed a rear recovery point and in researching, searching (JY's), and the web for a suitable hitch I ran across this rear bumper on Amazon. The hitches I was finding in JY's were real rusty or of the 2 I found that looked like they might survive a tug or two, the fasteners that held them in place were stripped and I was unable to pick them. The hitches on the web were going to cost at least $125 so when I found this bumper for less than twice that I looked into it and decided to pull the trigger on it. For those who care and may in the future search for Nates 4x4 I have this for you.
FED EX Shipping was slow (10 days when the guys shop is like 4 hrs from me) But shipping was free
AND Nates got it to fed ex fast
I ordered on 3/14 the bumper shipped on 3/18 and when I got home from work on 3/28 there it was on my porch.
It was not packaged at all. hardware was plastic wrapped to it.
As usual with this kind of thing it was unfinished.
No rust
no dents or scratches
2" receiver and D rings are welded through the tube steel
Welds look good
1/4" plate used for the mounting surfaces.
Looking forward to giving this thing a workout.

 

Almost forgot. Went to Jy and was able to pick up a tranny cooler and a full size rim and spare tire. Tire has some life left in it but most importantly it is the same size as my other tires. Also drained and filled the tranny. It was a good day.

 

 

I couldn't resist, LMAO

 

Today I ran the XJ for a few minutes to make sure the battery still worked and engine hadn't seized. First time in two weeks. First time in months it's started in above-freezing weather lol. Turned over very fast and ran well!

The following is a PSA for those of you in the salt belt:

Underside rust proofing with the sticky car undercoating is simply not enough. While it is effective in keeping crap off of the outside, it cannot get inside key areas like a frame and rocker.

This is why oil-based rust proofing - at least partially - is a good idea:



That's rotted out from the inside. Going to be fun.

 

Put this on

 

Salad gets to flex his fab muscles...LOL

 

Wanna buy me a welder? lol