Well, here's a pretty big update. Friday, instead of going "Black Friday" shopping like I usually would for crap I don't need, I decided to bleed the cooling system and take it for its first drive. I pulled it slightly out of the garage for this, because with the open headers, it was NASCAR loud (if you've ever been to a race).
Cooling system was bled properly, and fairly quickly. Took it to a local exhaust shop to have a custom Y-pipe made. I had already bought a MBRP "cat back" exhaust and a high flow cat (cant stand no cat "lawnmower smell"). They made the Y-pipe for $175! Also, threw the exhaust on for free. May not look the prettiest, but the guy was also a fellow Jeeper, so he knew how the clearances needed to be up front for the driveshaft, etc.
Now that it wasn't deafening loud, I took it to a local Arby's and got some food.
A few small issues to address, when I cut and modified the shifter, I didn't bend it back enough, so the shifter comes in contact with the console. Not a huge issue with just letting the console sit there with no bolts holding it down, but it looks like crap.
Other issues - the alignment is WAY off, and the tires are beyond needing replacing. I knew this going in, I just wanted something to roll on. I ordered a set of Falken Wildpeak AT3's over the weekend so when they get here, Ill have them thrown on and have it aligned. Then it should ride MUCH better. I did drive it to work thismorning, here it is sitting in the parking garage where I work.
In the last picture, you cant tell that yesterday I hit the entire thing with a claybar, followed by Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, then a nice paste wax. Actually brought the paint out quite a bit, and gave it some protection from the shitty (yet fun) winter weather we have here in Ohio. Stay tuned, a lot more updates to come for this thing!! Still need to paint and install the rear bumper (LOL) and paint the skid plate. Front driveshaft arrived on Saturday, just waiting for the Novak T-Case shift linkage to get here on Tuesday to install them together, etc.