'98 Sahara build: "Staying the Course"

Received my Bestop Spice soft uppers for my half doors today (thanks to @Ranger_b0b for the deal!). If these are at all representative of what Bestop products are like, I can see why people purchase their products. I like what I'm seeing. Also, my Jeep Commando tail light assemblies are in the mail from Sandy, Oregon. Are scheduled to be here by Saturday, at the latest. New lenses included. I'll either flush-mount them, or have my buddy in the machine shop mill out some casings/bezels for them, similar to what the Savvy tail lights have (though the depth of the buckets offer their own challenges for that). Also, I found a '49 -'56 Studebaker pick-up front bumper in Vancouver, Washington, of all places. Basically right where I was to buy my welder and half doors two weeks ago. I've requested pictures of it, so we'll see if the seller provides them. I'll be heading back down there to visit my boy for his 26th birthday in a couple of weeks, anyways, so I could pick up the bumper then. I'd really like to see what that curved bumper would look like when bobbed and set-up with a winch mount. In my head, it works, but you just never now about these things... :rolleyes:
 
Got my Jeep Commando tail lights in the mail today. Might be a bit more of a challenge to make them work than I thought, but who doesn't like a challenge? Talked with the seller of the Studebaker pick-up bumper. Says it's very straight and ready to use. Being that he's a Studebaker purist, I didn't have the heart to tell him of my plans for it. Some things are just better left unsaid. Will pick it up when I head down to see my boy in a couple weeks. Parts everywhere, and the weather is getting warmer. Time to plan my "TJ vacation"!
 
Ordered a ZJ tie rod conversion (Moog parts). With 204,000 miles on it, I'd be replacing these parts anyways, just as maintenance. Figured I'd upgrade while I was at it. Going to try and get Teej into the garage this weekend, but my grand daughter is due to be born any day now, so the "automobile shuffle" may or may not happen...
 
Ordered a ZJ tie rod conversion (Moog parts). With 204,000 miles on it, I'd be replacing these parts anyways, just as maintenance. Figured I'd upgrade while I was at it. Going to try and get Teej into the garage this weekend, but my grand daughter is due to be born any day now, so the "automobile shuffle" may or may not happen...
Great! You probably know you have to paint the parts. Great mod though,I love mine. Good morning squatch
 
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Ordered a ZJ tie rod conversion (Moog parts). With 204,000 miles on it, I'd be replacing these parts anyways, just as maintenance. Figured I'd upgrade while I was at it. Going to try and get Teej into the garage this weekend, but my grand daughter is due to be born any day now, so the "automobile shuffle" may or may not happen...

I’m in the same boat. I got the Moog ZJ tie rod and new boots. New drag link and stabilizer. My steering has gotten way bad.
 
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Ordered a ZJ tie rod conversion (Moog parts). With 204,000 miles on it, I'd be replacing these parts anyways, just as maintenance. Figured I'd upgrade while I was at it. Going to try and get Teej into the garage this weekend, but my grand daughter is due to be born any day now, so the "automobile shuffle" may or may not happen...
Teej, love it . Positive thoughts coming your way for your grand daughters entry into the world!
 
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Teej, love it . Positive thoughts coming your way for your grand daughters entry into the world!
Thanks, Kathy. My daughter is just a little gal...only 119 lbs at this late stage in the pregnancy. Her husband makes me look like one of the seven dwarves. She's gonna need all the support she can get!
 
Ordered a ZJ tie rod conversion (Moog parts). With 204,000 miles on it, I'd be replacing these parts anyways, just as maintenance. Figured I'd upgrade while I was at it. Going to try and get Teej into the garage this weekend, but my grand daughter is due to be born any day now, so the "automobile shuffle" may or may not happen...

*These parts arrived today. The pile of parts is starting to annoy my wife. Guess I should take 'em out of my (soon to arrive) grand daughter's bedroom, huh? :rolleyes:
 
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Well, the granddaughter arrived at 3:12 pm today (Yes! A Swing Shift girl!). I waited in the other room with my son-in-law's folks while darling daughter went through three and a half hours of labor with no (as-in, zero!) medication/pain pills of any kind! Bear in mind that this is a gal who is roughly 5' tall, and weighed 123 lbs the day before giving birth. I heard screaming from four rooms down that made my hair stand on end. There was pleading, cursing, and something that I can only think must have been speaking in tongues! I was terrified to even poke my head in the door to see if everything was okay. Turns out that it was her husband doing all that...she was fine! :D LOL Seriously, she was in agony, but she was committed to doing this naturally. I stand in awe of mothers everywhere for what they go through during delivery. My hat's off to them!
So, Cambrynne (Cammie) was 7 lbs 12 ozs. All are fine and healthy. Mom is exhausted, Gramma is beaming, and Grampa Squatch had to get in to work.

Here she is...
Cammie's birthday!.jpg
 
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