Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Battery terminal contacted edge of tub, TJ exhibiting weird driving behavior afterwards

AndyG said:
Good deal I’m glad you’re OK.

You know the thing that this makes me think about is the basics.

Not admonishing Greg.

Mark Smith, legendary trail guy, has a top 5 trail
mistakes list....a loose battery was number 1.

Reminds me to check mine.

You know the top professionals always master the basics-

I needed a root canal one time and the endodontist would not start until the temporary medication wore off and he could test my teeth-

I was like sir what is the deal?!?

He said son I’ve got to get the right tooth- the basics.

I’ll give you another example- Motocross tracks.

No, I’m not a big motocross guy- always rode the woods, but you know what the first thing you do when you get on a motocross track is? Turn on the gas. One of the last times I was at a track a guy had a broken leg because the bike ran out of the fuel in the line on a jump face.

Trim carpenters- first thing they do when they pick up a gun is check the nail length.
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Thanks Andy, yeah I definitely learned a lesson with this situation, thankfully it seems like the stupid tax with this one was relatively minor, but I appreciate the fact it could've been much worse.

I've been learning from this forum so much in the 2 years I've had this TJ, the knowledge on here has been like drinking from a fire hose.

BTW what were Mark's other 4 tips so I can make sure I haven't f***ed any of those up as well? 😂
 
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GregBelleville said:
Thanks for everyone's input and recommendations. I got the edge trim as recommended as well as the tie down bracket. Replacing the battery terminal connector seems to have resolved the no start condition and she drove normally this morning.

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If you are ever in our area, stop in and we'll be glad to repair the cables with some very nice crimped on cable ends and I'll even throw in a set of military style battery terminals. The reason I'm glad to do that for free is you have managed to pick the very worst type out there and they will only lead to issues later. They are so terrible it should be against the law to sell them.
 
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AndyG said:
Trim carpenters- first thing they do when they pick up a gun is check the nail length.
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That and combined at the same time is to see which way the bevel on the ends of the nails/pins runs. With or across. That way when you need to not have the nail blow out the side of your nicely finished piece of cabinet trim, you can turn the gun 90 degrees and keep the nail inside the trim.
 
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GregBelleville said:
Thanks Andy, yeah I definitely learned a lesson with this situation, thankfully it seems like the stupid tax with this one was relatively minor, but I appreciate the fact it could've been much worse.

I've been learning from this forum so much in the 2 years I've had this TJ, the knowledge on here has been like drinking from a fire hose.

BTW what were Mark's other 4 tips so I can make sure I haven't f***ed any of those up as well? 😂
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I can’t remember all 5 but another one was never use a recovery strap with a metal hook- he saw one go through a back window, a passenger seat and then the front window. There is a video on YouTube with him covering these.
 
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I've still got the original cables with the factory ends in great condition. Is there any advantage to me cutting them off and going with military style ends? I already put slightly longer bolts through mine to fit accessory wires.
 
B1Toad said:
I've still got the original cables with the factory ends in great condition. Is there any advantage to me cutting them off and going with military style ends? I already put slightly longer bolts through mine to fit accessory wires.
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The main advantage is the ability to bolt up more connectors. The disadvantage there is most of them have 3/8" bolts so all the accessory terminals need to fit that.
 
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mrblaine said:
If you are ever in our area, stop in and we'll be glad to repair the cables with some very nice crimped on cable ends and I'll even throw in a set of military style battery terminals. The reason I'm glad to do that for free is you have managed to pick the very worst type out there and they will only lead to issues later. They are so terrible it should be against the law to sell them.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer Mr Blaine, would love the opportunity. I'm more than willing to tackle an upgrade like this unless there are specialized tools/techniques needed though.

Is there a particular connector you recommend? I've currently got a winch and a wire for lights that are also needing connection points.

Appreciate your willingness to help me unf*** this battery situation. This Jeep is going to be my sons first car and my weekend wheeler, so I want it to drive well and safe.
 
GregBelleville said:
Thanks for the offer Mr Blaine, would love the opportunity. I'm more than willing to tackle an upgrade like this unless there are specialized tools/techniques needed though.

Is there a particular connector you recommend? I've currently got a winch and a wire for lights that are also needing connection points.

Appreciate your willingness to help me unf*** this battery situation. This Jeep is going to be my sons first car and my weekend wheeler, so I want it to drive well and safe.
Click to expand...
The good crimper isn't cheap so that would be the first thing you'd need.
 
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mrblaine said:
That and combined at the same time is to see which way the bevel on the ends of the nails/pins runs. With or across. That way when you need to not have the nail blow out the side of your nicely finished piece of cabinet trim, you can turn the gun 90 degrees and keep the nail inside the trim.
Click to expand...

Dead right. For years I never new why the nails followed the radius grain- the bevel hits that and out they go.

Good stuff Blaine.

Guys notice Blaine’s attention to the smallest details. It is not like he always operates in some other realm - he simply pays great attention to every nuance that creates success. There is a lesson in this. I know it has helped me.
 
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AndyG said:
I needed a root canal one time and the endodontist would not start until the temporary medication wore off and he could test my teeth-

I was like sir what is the deal?!?

He said son I’ve got to get the right tooth- the basics.
Click to expand...
I was getting a root canal on a tooth that was in the process of getting a crown. They were pretty sure it was that tooth, but it could've been the one next to it. They removed the temporary crown and blew air on it (I think, anyway). That was legit the most intense pain I have ever experienced. Words simply cannot express how much it hurt.

Then she says "I'm really sorry, but I have to do that again on the other tooth to be sure."

Conversation at home was like this:

me: that was worse than childbirth

Mrs hbar*: there is zero chance it was worse than childbirth, you have no idea.

me: Would you have another child?

Mrs hbar: of course I would.

me: That's how I know this was worse, because I would never voluntarily go through this again.


But yeah, check that battery cable on the trail. Many an hour has been lost on the trail when all that needed to happen was to reseat the terminals.



* You might think her name should be Mrs hear, but she didn't suffer autocorrect when she was creating her username.
 
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AndyG said:
I’ll give you another example- Motocross tracks.

No, I’m not a big motocross guy- always rode the woods, but you know what the first thing you do when you get on a motocross track is? Turn on the gas. One of the last times I was at a track a guy had a broken leg because the bike ran out of the fuel in the line on a jump face.
Click to expand...

After reading this I almost went down to ask this guy if his fuel was on

IMG_1973.jpeg
 
hear said:
I was getting a root canal on a tooth that was in the process of getting a crown. They were pretty sure it was that tooth, but it could've been the one next to it. They removed the temporary crown and blew air on it (I think, anyway). That was legit the most intense pain I have ever experienced. Words simply cannot express how much it hurt.

Then she says "I'm really sorry, but I have to do that again on the other tooth to be sure."

Conversation at home was like this:

me: that was worse than childbirth

Mrs hbar*: there is zero chance it was worse than childbirth, you have no idea.

me: Would you have another child?

Mrs hbar: of course I would.

me: That's how I know this was worse, because I would never voluntarily go through this again.


But yeah, check that battery cable on the trail. Many an hour has been lost on the trail when all that needed to happen was to reseat the terminals.



* You might think her name should be Mrs hear, but she didn't suffer autocorrect when she was creating her username.
Click to expand...

They used ice on mine. I came unglued. I think I’m still traumatized.

“Childbirth is harder on men than women” - Bill Moncrief. Bill was divorced shortly after I heard him say that.
 
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Apparition said:
After reading this I almost went down to ask this guy if his fuel was on

View attachment 558244
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Freestyle is crazy. It amazed me when I saw the air it takes to execute a back flip.

As a kid we about went crazy with anxiety to watch Evel Knievel jump 12 buses on a Harley…..they would do that on a little 65 cc bike now days.
 
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AndyG said:
Freestyle is crazy. It amazed me when I saw the air it takes to execute a back flip.

As a kid we about went crazy with anxiety to watch Evel Knievel jump 12 buses on a Harley…..they would do that on a little 65 cc bike now days.
Click to expand...

Apparently that’s one of 5 people backflipping an ATV.
 
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