05 Wrangler penny pincher build

[mde8965]

This thread is some real eye candy. I have looked at all 3 pages probably 10 times.
I have a couple of questions:
What did you do with the hood clamps? I know you took them off and cleaned under them. But what did you actually clean the black plastic with? Did you paint them? If so with what?
What paint did you use on the door handles and flares? And what did you do to prep them for the paint?

 

[Jeepersteve71]

This thread is some real eye candy. I have looked at all 3 pages probably 10 times.
I have a couple of questions:
What did you do with the hood clamps? I know you took them off and cleaned under them. But what did you actually clean the black plastic with? Did you paint them? If so with what?
What paint did you use on the door handles and flares? And what did you do to prep them for the paint?

So I actually didn’t clean/paint the hood latches. I just cleaned up the paint behind them, soaked the latches them in water to get the grime off them and put them back on lol.

As for the fenders and bumpers I just cleaned them with soap and water really good and cleared them of any dust before and made sure they were good and dry I painted them. The paint I used is good with plastic, metal, and wood. I believe it’s rustoleum brand. I’ll try to get a photo of the can when I get home. If I remember right it’s a rust preventative, primer, and paint all in 1. It’s easier to paint everything if you take it all off first. I just laid some cardboard down in the garage and took my time. That’s what really made the difference.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

This thread is some real eye candy. I have looked at all 3 pages probably 10 times.
I have a couple of questions:
What did you do with the hood clamps? I know you took them off and cleaned under them. But what did you actually clean the black plastic with? Did you paint them? If so with what?
What paint did you use on the door handles and flares? And what did you do to prep them for the paint?

Here is the paint I have been using.

 

[glwood]

Wow, what a difference! Great job with the cleanup. I would put a set of those plastic sill guards, they make the door sills look a lot better.

Question - when you took off the windshield hinges, do the threaded parts that the bolts thread into stay in place inside the windshield frame?

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Wow, what a difference! Great job with the cleanup. I would put a set of those plastic sill guards, they make the door sills look a lot better.

Question - when you took off the windshield hinges, do the threaded parts that the bolts thread into stay in place inside the windshield frame?

Lol will be picking up a set this week. The driver side stayed in place and the passenger side didn’t. I had to use a magnet to pull it back up. Took a little bit but it wasn’t to bad.

 

[glwood]

Lol will be picking up a set this week. The driver side stayed in place and the passenger side didn’t. I had to use a magnet to pull it back up. Took a little bit but it wasn’t to bad.

I'm guessing, then, that if it falls inside, it can only go so far and not disappear into some black hole...

I ask because when I get my half doors painted, I want to have them paint the hinges also. They got sort of beat up from the OP putting on some cargo rack brackets.

 

[mde8965]

Here is the paint I have been using. View attachment 38352

Yup that's the stuff I have for when I paint my undercarriage and my door handles. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Got the door latches and windshield wipers painted yesterday. Not perfect but better than they faded and rustyness they used to be. Now I’m just patiently waiting for everything else to come in the mail! This Sunday I’ll be getting the shocks, new steering stabilizer, and the Rubicon springs put on the Jeep. I feel like it’s really going to make this thing right.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Went to the local Jeep club outing last night at Gas Monkey bar and grill. Good food, good drinks, good music, and some sweet jeeps. Enjoy the pics. Got the Tj cleaned up before I went.

A guy there had some really nice photography equipment and took a ton of photos of random jeeps at the event. Looks like I was one of the lucky ones that he chose and he took this awesome pic! I love how clean it looks with the dirt highlighting the tire tread.

AEV ram 2500 for @Chris and @Starrs. I love it because how the heck can you make 40 inch tires look stock??? I hate it because I don’t have one lol.

Not Jake haha.

Really clean TJ on Moab’s.

Spoke to the owner of this one while I was there.... he is $180,000 into it... is it cool? Yes. Worth $180,000 to me? Not a chance lol. Stretched front and rear. Started life as a 4 door. Sitting on 42’s.

 

[Chris]

Awesome photos, that's for sure! Looks like a great turn out.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Awesome photos, that's for sure! Looks like a great turn out.

I think they said over 250 Jeeps showed up.

 

[Starrs]

I love the prospectors!

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Got some parts in the mail! I forgot how exciting it is when you come home and there are Jeep parts at the door haha. I’m so used to buying stuff on Craigslist.

So this is what I received:
Touch up paint
Steering stabilizer
Rear bumper end caps
New OEM license plate bracket
Spider web shade
Door entry guards

Still waiting on:
windshield frame bolts
Chevy blazer fuel neck to fix the burping issue
Shorty antenna
Grab handles
Hard top retainer bar
Hard top shocks

My uncle will be buying the floor mats and spare tire cover. I’ve been trying to talk him into the mopar ones. They are only $82 on amazon. I just don’t think he cares to spend that much on floor mats is all. I can’t wait to get everything else on this weekend.

Got the bumper end caps, license plate bracket, door entry guards and spiderweb shade installed tonight! It’s crazy how the small stuff is what makes all the difference! I’m really digging these factory bumper end caps. Makes me question why Jeep ever put the milk jugs on the Jeep in the first place! More tire is a good thing lol

 

[Jeepersteve71]

I love the prospectors!

They are amazing in person! If I ever Buy a dodge the AEV front bumper is the first thing on the list!

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Got the springs and shocks on. Kinda crazy but went with the JK front springs and factory Tj springs in the rear with a 1 inch spacer. Put the red JK rubicon shocks on and it rides way better than it did! It lowered the Jeep an inch to an inch and a half on all 4 corners. Rides much better now. Happy to get rid of the 2-3 inch spacers and finally have some shocks on it.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Just waiting on the rubber trim on the hard top and I’ll be done! My uncle is picking up a spare tire cover and some floor mats.

I also received these neat tail light covers from my buddy and I have been hard at work on the receiver hitch cover my uncle gave me. I think it turned out alright. I may need to touch up the eye and make it not stand out so much.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

Going to miss seeing all these Jeeps in the driveway when I have to give this thing back!

 

[mde8965]

Golly... great work man. You’ve transformed that Jeep into a beaut. Your uncle is seriously lucky.

 

[Jeepersteve71]

The spare tire cover came in and my uncle picked up the Jeep on Saturday. I forgot to get photos of the new back glass plastic trim and rubber seal. I ordered the fair child brand from quadratec and I was pleasantly surprised with how simple the install was and how it all came together nice and smooth. This build is now “done” unless he calls and asks to do something else to it around Christmas time like brakes or speakers. That being said this thread has come to an end. Thanks all for checking it out!

 

[Flib]

I am amazed, I have honestly never seen an vehicle detailed to that extent. The difference however is night and day, the attention to detail is second to none.

I think you may have actually inspired me to clean mine up some