"I heartily recommend a permanent mod of cutting an access panel in the back floor of the jeep."
functional for sure....but it just makes me cringe....
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Cringe, well yes, I understand your thinking... that full flow of hot metal sparks at the gasket area to the fuel tank while cutting - I understand the cringe factor you're thinking of. Fire extinguisher at the ready and all is good.
or, wait, you're not thinking of a permanent mod to an old-er vehicle, no?
Steven and I are in a ?slightly? different era (and yet are 27+ years old). I am in the function over form world (though I'm nowhere near the "Grampa's Jeep" world)...
EDIT: It wouldn't be me if I didn't have pictures. I just put them up:
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2013-09--tech--jeep-fuel-pump-access/
.
I don't love permanent mods to my tacoma sheet metal either....I am struggling with how many mods I am making to the 58 willys. If it didn't already have the sbc swap, I certainly wouldn't be doing what I am trying to do....and the project has certainly help me realize that I prefer a bit more classic 'original' vs modded. On newer stuff maybe its a bit different, but as they say, its only original once. Besides, if I want to access my fuel pump, its bolted on the engine and if I need to access the tank and sending unit, all I need to do is look under my seat in the cab.....of course, when i installed the rear tank, I had to guess a bit on 'calibrating' the fuel gauge float. Turns out it reads about 1/4 tank low and I have never found the energy to drop the skid, bumper and tank to access the sending unit and float to adjust.....
___________
James Orofino
1970 CJ5
1958 Willys Wagon
I hear ya. Mine was properly modified when I purchased it so I have no worries as to additional mods.
Steven might double-take on making mods - his Jeep seems to be stock. So Steven, any mods that can't be easily reversed on your jeep?
Now, if one wishes to watch this video, I can HEARTILY AGREE with the don't change it / don't touch it mentality:
"It's only original once, right?"
The Black Ghost: Street Racing Legend - 1970 Dodge Challenger 426 Hemi Documentary | Historic Vehicle Association
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd0io1zktqI
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Trent 3D printed this radio holder for me. The hole for the radio clip is made for Baofeng radios, so the clip on my Motorola T600 was a little wide and didn't fit. I bought a Baofeng clip on Amazon for $5 and attached it to the back on my T600. Seems decently sturdy, we will see how it holds up while wheelin', thanks again to Trent!
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Been doing a few projects on the truck when the weather is nice. Treated the surface rust spots on the back part of the frame near the rear wheels (both sides). Wire brush, coarse sand paper, grease and wax remover, then hit it with Eastwood Rust Encapsulator. Nice product because you don't have to completely remove all the rust before spraying -- just get the loose stuff.
Before:
And after:
Was it necessary? Probably not, but I like it.
PART 2
With all the winter wheeling I needed some tow hooks for the front. Bought Smittybuilt tow hooks (#7605). The rear hole that lives under the plastic "Jeep" cover was pretty rusty and needed to be tapped. Stacked 3 washers on top of that hole (underneath the plastic cover) and 1 washer on top of the front hole in the bumper to even out the height. Was able to torque down the bolts without cracking the plastic Quite happy with the look...
As I continue to procrastinate the rock slider install, and the sway bar quick disconnects are lost in the ether of our mail system, the next project will be installing a hand throttle. Time to gather parts...
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Steve-O (February 1st, 2021)
If you didn't clean up that frame before painting, it will most likely continue to rust from underneath paint.
___________
We do not remember days, we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese
Looks good!
Steve-O (February 7th, 2021)
My friend in high school (early 80s) had a 71 Road Runner 440 6pak 4 speed - his Uncle helped add a nitrous kit (not easy with the three carbs). Fastest thing around until he used the nitrous and it was running too lean... Probably lucky we all lived with the stupid stuff we did in our cars back then (my folks let me drive our rusted out POS '73 Olds Omega with a 455 - if they only knew how much I raced that thing!). But the "baddest" car in town (that never raced) was a '70 GTX with a hemi. The '72 Olds 442 that my Step-Dad and I restored, for my HS graduation, was no slouch but it wasn't near as quick as a lot of other muscle cars around our little town of Wahpeton ND.
Thanks for the video!
lol did I miss something with these last two posts? Different thread perhaps? (although they are interesting!)
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
They are referring to the somewhat related concept of how much to permanently modify your older, mostly stock, vehicle.
James, I think, made a post or two. I made at least one... post #25 talking about an old totally stock rare car;
https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums...364#post340364
Steve-O (February 3rd, 2021)
Yup, don't mind me...just a little slow this morning haha
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Sway bar quick disconnects finally arrived just in time for this nice weekend! Getting the OEM sway bar links off was a challenge (I thought getting my old shocks off was hard, that was nothing compared to this) The nuts came off easy as I had soaked the whole thing in PB blaster for a couple days, but the tapered bolt at the top of the link was a bear. So after spending almost as much on tools as I did on the discos, and wailing on a big pickle fork with a 3 lb sledge countless times after applying heat, they finally popped out.
The rest of the assembly was easy. They are Zone Offroad J5021 discos and seem to be nice quality. The top part is a heim joint that allows you to swing them up once disconnected. I like that they came with a bracket to tuck them up under the fender when disconnected. We will see how easy they are to get back on when they're covered in mud haha.
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon
Tom (February 7th, 2021)
THose ought to work
___________
Tom
-.- . ----- .-- - -.-.
Steve-O (February 7th, 2021)
And another item gets checked off of the list!
Steve-O (February 7th, 2021)
Currently overhauling the rear drum brakes. New shoes, hardware, drums, wheel cylinders, and park brake cables. Got the driver side all pretty, passenger side has a problem. No matter what I adjust, fiddle with, I CANNOT get the self adjuster lever to sit in contact with the star wheel It sits maybe an 1/8 in low, it also seems easy to wiggle in and out compared to the drivers side one. After googling, I made sure the self adjuster cable guide is flush with the trailing shoe, and tried rotating it both ways with no luck. I don't suspect it's a parts issue, as the drivers side is perfect and star wheel clicks strongly, but I think I need to order a new hardware kit to rule that out. Has anybody else encountered this/know any tricks? Overall, doing drum brakes for the first time has gone well, just very slow.
___________
Steven
2004 Wrangler Rubicon