I love you guys.

Yay! A couple of updates:

I picked up the FSJ from Sun Transmission today. They did a full rebuild (so clutches, bands, bushing kit, lip seals, sealing rings, 0-rings, metal clad seals, gasket set, and filter), flushed the lines, and filled her up with fluid. New torque converter was also installed as well as a new fly wheel. Evidently the fly wheel was all chunked up pretty bad.

Also, all of my lift kit parts from BJ's arrived while I was out of town. 4" lift leaf springs, drop pitman arm, extended brake lines, sway bar relocation bracket, etc... Can't wait to get that installed. Don't have a date yet, but I'll keep everyone posted.

I think I have a set of 33x12.5x15 BFG's lined up. Should know more this weekend for sure.

Up next is a carb rebuilt at the place Bob went to, install the lift and new tires, plus clean up and recondition the rims and the center caps. I have some interior stuff I'm in the middle of (re-stretching and re-backing the door panels, some clean up work, etc...) that needs to be buttoned up that I'll knock out this weekend.

I was able to get tags, title, and registration today, so we're good to go there.

Geoff will be come by soon for the quote on repainting her. I've got new wood panels and new wood trim lined up (half it is already here). After paint I'll try to sweet talk Mike into helping me with the new vinyl and trim).

That's all for now. I'll update later this weekend after I drive it more, but so far so good!

I had a little free time this weekend, so I worked on some cosmetic stuff on the Fool Size.

All of the rims are original rims, but they are nicked, worn, and well.... 30 years old.





So, I decided to repaint and recondition them (including the tarnished and worn center caps). In addition to being warn, they were also pretty dirty.





They cleaned up pretty nice, but still weren't at the level I wanted to take the Jeep overall.





After cleaning them really well, I hit them with Winter Grey rattle can.





After drying, I taped up the front of the rim so I could paint the insets. Taping was kind of a pain in the ass, so for the other 4 rims, I'll make a template to cover the entire rim and leave the insets open for painting. This rim was a "proof of concept" project.





I hit the insets with a dark grey Hammered finish for some texture as well as the color difference.









After removing the tape, I am happy with the contrast in both color and texture.

Next up were the center caps. As typical a 30+ year old vehicle, they were weather worn and kinda beat.





Step 1 was a good chrome polish and general cleaning.





After cleaning, my awesome daughter tackled the job of hand painting them with enamel model paint.









This is one coat. After checking it out the next day, we'll need to do two coats before hitting the final product with a clear coat.





The before and after shot.





Here is the cleaned up center cap with the repainted rims. Very happy with the output. Wrap these in 33's and I'm good to go!









Compared to the center cap I haven't done yet, it's night and day. This will compliment the new paint, wood, and trim nicely.




Up for today is more mundane stuff like a fuel pump, some more interior work, and continuing to replace damn vacuum hoses. The lift kit has arrived and I've gotten my 33x12.5x15's, so in the next few weeks we will lift her and get her ready for final paint and new wood / wood trim.

Looks great! I'm amazed those caps cleaned up that well. With fresh paint, they look new.

Avis wrote:Looks great! I'm amazed those caps cleaned up that well. With fresh paint, they look new.

At 15 yards they look great. Up close you can tell it's an amateur job, but you know... a little Johnson Valley dust, some tires around it and all... and I think it will look fantastic.

I was able to pick up 5 BFG AT's last night, so I'm highly motivated to find time to knock out the lift soon. haha. Stupid work travel...

alanzona wrote:At 15 yards they look great. Up close you can tell it's an amateur job, but you know... a little Johnson Valley dust, some tires around it and all... and I think it will look fantastic.

I was able to pick up 5 BFG AT's last night, so I'm highly motivated to find time to knock out the lift soon. haha. Stupid work travel...

Old school ATs or the new style?

Old school, of course.

Ok. Looks like the lift is one for this Friday night at the LROR shop and then some wrap up and other odds and ends Saturday morning.

alanzona wrote:Ok. Looks like the lift is one for this Friday night at the LROR shop and then some wrap up and other odds and ends Saturday morning.

What time are you starting?

I was going to head over there with the Waggy (I almost typed "buggy", by the way...) about 3:30 or 4. We were going to get started around 5 or 5:30 and work into the evening until maybe 8:30 or 9.

Alright, probably won't be able to make that happen then.

Would it help if I said it was a Pant-less Friday at the shop?

alanzona wrote:Would it help if I said it was a Pant-less Friday at the shop?

lol Unfortunately, no.

Family is in town and getting together at my rents house... but normally you guys work till midnight so I figured I could catch the last half of the project. But for once in the history of this club you're starting something at a normal hour of the day :)

Avis wrote:lol Unfortunately, no.

Family is in town and getting together at my rents house... but normally you guys work till midnight so I figured I could catch the last half of the project. But for once in the history of this club you're starting something at a normal hour of the day :)

Actually, if history repeats itself, we could be starting it at 11 PM.... three months from now. :-/

alanzona wrote:Actually, if history repeats itself, we could be starting it at 11 PM.... three months from now. :-/

lol true true... lets NOT do that.

Avis wrote:lol true true... lets NOT do that.

So. IF Friday night at the shop doesn't work out, then I'm just going to do it at home. It will take longer, but maybe not when you consider the drive times... haha. If that's the case (doing it at my house), then Saturday morning is On like Donkey Kong for sho.

ahh yeah 5pm on friday wont fly - could do like 10pm till 1 or somethin

maybe on sat morn if its early, been gone all week and need to spend time with famiy

I'll update Friday night if there is going to be a Saturday morning. IDEALLY, I could knock out the lift and tires on Friday night and have not have to go back Saturday morning... that being said, I'm planning on both. ;-)

We got the 4" BJ's Offroad lift installed this weekend as well as the BFG 33x12.5x15's. No trimming needed. It's too early to give a full verdict, but my early impressions are that this lift kit is killer. High quality product, fairly easy to install, and it rides smooth. I still need to add new shocks, so I've not pushed it.

We also knocked out a drop pitman arm as well as some other service items (such as new brake pads and rotors up front). Super big thanks to Andrew McLaughlin, Jason Hurst, Shawn Smith, Bob McNeeley, Ty Ude, Matt Hinitt, Mike Bradley, Tim Demery, and Antonio Grijalva for pitching in periodically this weekend and helping! What a fun time.


Before photo - side view at stock height and stock tires.





After photo - side view with 4" lift and 33x12.5 tires:





Before photo - corner view at stick height and stock tires





After photo - corner view with 4" lift and 33x12.5 tires:





Here are a couple of more angles after the lift for different perspectives: