What did you do to your TJ today?

Dear Santa Claus:

All I want for Christmas this year is to turn the clock back to summer of 2019, before the wheels fell off this ride I'm on. Times were so much better then.

Thank you,
sab
I told Santa to pay you a visit and fix everything. 🤫 I sure hope you weren't naughty.
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So.. got everything torqued down and had to drop the front drive line... because I haven't installed the new rebuilt front axle w/ 4.88's and a LSD. Took it for a shakedown and I have to say 4.88's feel VERY different than the stock axles, which are 3.07's. Ended up starting in 2nd gear because 1st is now a granny gear and it's VERY short.
You didn’t tell us the diameter of your tires. My Jeep had (& still does) 33” tires & the original 3.07 gears when I bought it & it was terrible. I have the 6 speed manual transmission. I went with 4.56 gears ‘ it’s great. 1st gear isn’t quite a granny gear now, but if I “fake a full stop” I can get away with just using 2nd. If I used 2nd gear from a full stop I’m afraid it wouldn’t be good for the clutch.
 
Took the jeep out. Things got a little tricky.

Happy we made it home considering I leaned my jeep against a wall while both front wheels were off the ground (was able to reverse out without destroying my jeep. The worst part is that three dudes told me to take that line when my brain knew the right side of the rock was the better line. I should not have listened to them. After I backed off they said "yea man I've only seen four jeeps make it on the left and three were 4 doors and the other was a modified setup"...thanks for telling me afterward (lesson learned).

Later in the evening, I realized (to my surprise) that my new Mopar ATF+4 transmission fluid was boiling while I checked codes and inspected things after the transmission went into limp mode. The engine and engine coolant were good to go. But my transmission got so hot that it charred my dipstick (never seen anything like that before).

Thankfully, we made it back to the pavement and the jeep drove just fine on the road (air-cooled). Need to purchase a remanufactured transmission asap (likely from Bullripper) and get the better external cooler installed when I visit Blaine.

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Took the jeep out. Things got a little tricky.

Happy we made it home considering I leaned my jeep against a wall while both front wheels were off the ground (was able to reverse out without destroying my jeep. The worst part is that three dudes told me to take that line when my brain knew the right side of the rock was the better line. I should not have listened to them. After I backed off they said "yea man I've only seen four jeeps make it on the left and three were 4 doors and the other was a modified setup"...thanks for telling me afterward (lesson learned).

Later in the evening, I realized (to my surprise) that my new Mopar ATF+4 transmission fluid was boiling while I checked codes and inspected things after the transmission went into limp mode. The engine and engine coolant were good to go. But my transmission got so hot that it charred my dipstick (never seen anything like that before).

Thankfully, we made it back to the pavement and the jeep drove just fine on the road (air-cooled). Need to purchase a remanufactured transmission asap (likely from Bullripper) and get the better external cooler installed when I visit Blaine.

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WTF?!!
 
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Took the jeep out. Things got a little tricky.

Happy we made it home considering I leaned my jeep against a wall while both front wheels were off the ground (was able to reverse out without destroying my jeep. The worst part is that three dudes told me to take that line when my brain knew the right side of the rock was the better line. I should not have listened to them. After I backed off they said "yea man I've only seen four jeeps make it on the left and three were 4 doors and the other was a modified setup"...thanks for telling me afterward (lesson learned).

Later in the evening, I realized (to my surprise) that my new Mopar ATF+4 transmission fluid was boiling while I checked codes and inspected things after the transmission went into limp mode. The engine and engine coolant were good to go. But my transmission got so hot that it charred my dipstick (never seen anything like that before).

Thankfully, we made it back to the pavement and the jeep drove just fine on the road (air-cooled). Need to purchase a remanufactured transmission asap (likely from Bullripper) and get the better external cooler installed when I visit Blaine.

View attachment 330933



View attachment 330934


View attachment 330935
Dang!

Had a guy "Spotting" for me in a rocky creek bottom that I'd been in before without a spotter. He steered me into a rock on one slider (no big deal) that I didn't touch when choosing my own line. I stopped when I got up to him and said, "Hey Randy, if I need a spotter I'll let you know". I don't think he was pleased. Maybe Rubicon or Moab but on the trails we run I don't see the need. Watching his hand signals just kept me from seeing the line and doing what I know how to do.

Glad it isn't more major for you.
 
Painted my UCF aluminum engine skid. Cast Iron Block color I had laying around with Duplicolor etching primer underneath. I like it. Figure some protection from corrosion was in order.
 

Yea man that's pretty much how I felt. :cautious:

Edit: Those same dudes told me to hit the throttle (to keep trying to climb) when both tires were in the air and the top of the jeep was against the wall...I did not listen to them (that would have been doom).

Dang!

Had a guy "Spotting" for me in a rocky creek bottom that I'd been in before without a spotter. He steered me into a rock on one slider (no big deal) that I didn't touch when choosing my own line. I stopped when I got up to him and said, "Hey Randy, if I need a spotter I'll let you know". I don't think he was pleased. Maybe Rubicon or Moab but on the trails we run I don't see the need. Watching his hand signals just kept me from seeing the line and doing what I know how to do.

Glad it isn't more major for you.

Glad you were all good too. Things could have been much worse so I'm thankful we got out of there ok.
 
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Painted my UCF aluminum engine skid. Cast Iron Block color I had laying around with Duplicolor etching primer underneath. I like it. Figure some protection from corrosion was in order.
I'd be interested in seeing a photo of this if you have the time to share.
 
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I'd be interested in seeing a photo of this if you have the time to share.
The primer on the plate is a green hue, all they had locally in self-etching.
Primer on the bracket is grey from NAPA.
3 shots of primer and 3-4 of color.
I bought clear but have never used it. Could be overkill?

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I put the bikini top on yesterday and found a way to Mount some spare mirrors to the hinges since the doors are off. I thought I’d have better news for today and say “I got my caster angle fixed and my Jeep’s steering is better!” And be able to leave it at that. Well I did that but while taking the Jeep for a spin afterwards it died and I can’t get anything out of it now (https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/another-jeep-was-running-then-wasnt-running-thread.62236/). Had to have it towed back. I was too annoyed with it to try to tackle anything this evening.

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Got a box in the mail...four pin lights to fix up the trim and turn signals on these fenders.

And since I was paying $15 in shipping I bought a couple of pod lights and bolted them to the rear upper seat belt holes... nothing permanent yet...just playing around with getting more work lights in the back...do a lot of volunteer trail work.

Eventually going to put in a box with a switch, usb and a 12v socket. Maybe.

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