Hey guys- I just bought a LJ, and I don't know anything about wheeling. I keep seeing pictures of guys with full droop and the wheels all up in the fenders and it intimidates the hell out this car guy. I've never worried about my springs falling out of the seat. That's crazy talk. So, I've been lurking the forums for the past few weeks trying to learn as much as I can and all the best info seems to come from you guys.
I'm not mechanically ignorant, just off road ignorant, so feel free to criticize. I need all the help I can get haha.
First things first: rust removal.
The Jeep came from FL, so It had some rust underneath. I wasn't excited about that, but it all looked like surface rust. Once I took the skid plate/transfer case support (I figured out the support part on the job) I did see some light pitting. I was glad I got under there to get that crap off. I went ahead and repainted the bumpers and some of the plastics too to freshen it up a bit.
I used rust remover, then sealer, then undercoat. I know it's no body off frame-done it right job, but for a long Saturday with a creeper and a rattle can I think it turned out good, and I feel a lot better about it. I'm definitely interested in doing the inside of the frame like I've read about here, so that might be a few more weekends down the road..
Now for fun stuff. I'm not big fan of the JK wheels on an older Jeep. I prefer the small wheels with big tires look, so I took the back seats out to pick up a set I found on craigslist (the extra space is so nice) and picked up a set of stocker's with 331050's to see how they looked.
I think I want 33x12.50's. Will I need a body lift to clear them correctly? I was messing around out back and realized these tires barely clear. I did order some Walker Evans that will use the JK adapters (they'll give me an inch+), but they got back ordered until the end of June. We'll see how that goes- and any input on tire size is welcome. I'd rather not tear anything up than run the bigger size.
I put in a steering shock and antirock sway bar today (death wobble is hell guys- track bar is also back ordered, that will be next weekend), I also took off the chrome grill, and then said a few choice words after seeing the painted grill underneath. Hopefully this rattle can 1k clear will blend decently. If not, plastidip it is. I'm working on it now.
FYI don't leave your beer out when you're spraying clear coat.
More to come.
I'm not mechanically ignorant, just off road ignorant, so feel free to criticize. I need all the help I can get haha.
First things first: rust removal.
The Jeep came from FL, so It had some rust underneath. I wasn't excited about that, but it all looked like surface rust. Once I took the skid plate/transfer case support (I figured out the support part on the job) I did see some light pitting. I was glad I got under there to get that crap off. I went ahead and repainted the bumpers and some of the plastics too to freshen it up a bit.
I used rust remover, then sealer, then undercoat. I know it's no body off frame-done it right job, but for a long Saturday with a creeper and a rattle can I think it turned out good, and I feel a lot better about it. I'm definitely interested in doing the inside of the frame like I've read about here, so that might be a few more weekends down the road..
Now for fun stuff. I'm not big fan of the JK wheels on an older Jeep. I prefer the small wheels with big tires look, so I took the back seats out to pick up a set I found on craigslist (the extra space is so nice) and picked up a set of stocker's with 331050's to see how they looked.
I think I want 33x12.50's. Will I need a body lift to clear them correctly? I was messing around out back and realized these tires barely clear. I did order some Walker Evans that will use the JK adapters (they'll give me an inch+), but they got back ordered until the end of June. We'll see how that goes- and any input on tire size is welcome. I'd rather not tear anything up than run the bigger size.
I put in a steering shock and antirock sway bar today (death wobble is hell guys- track bar is also back ordered, that will be next weekend), I also took off the chrome grill, and then said a few choice words after seeing the painted grill underneath. Hopefully this rattle can 1k clear will blend decently. If not, plastidip it is. I'm working on it now.
FYI don't leave your beer out when you're spraying clear coat.
More to come.