Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Brandon's Arles Blue TJ

No, I tried to talk myself into it, and @lBasket 's thread was motivating, but I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and have a shop do it. Not 100% sure where yet. Probably Auburn

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That was who I'd recommend in the area. The best that I've heard of.
Yea I kind of vaguely know John through a friend. We've met a couple times. I got a rough quote from him and it would certainly be cheaper to do it myself, even with buying everything I'd need. But, there's something the be said for having a competent shop do it right. Rather than me spending weeks doing it in short increments, taking up the garage, and still maybe not get it right!

I think if I had a set of axles I was swapping in and wouldn't have to either pull the axle or work under it on the floor, I would try it. Maybe at a later date if I ever find myself doing it again. Like when my son gets his own Jeep down the road (he's 3!).
 
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Yea I kind of vaguely know John through a friend. We've met a couple times. I got a rough quote from him and it would certainly be cheaper to do it myself, even with buying everything I'd need. But, there's something the be said for having a competent shop do it right. Rather than me spending weeks doing it in short increments, taking up the garage, and still maybe not get it right!

I think if I had a set of axles I was swapping in and wouldn't have to either pull the axle or work under it on the floor, I would try it. Maybe at a later date if I ever find myself doing it again. Like when my son gets his own Jeep down the road (he's 3!).

That warranty if something goes wrong is nice too... Says the guy who's blown up 3 Dana 60 R&P's....
 
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Yea I kind of vaguely know John through a friend. We've met a couple times. I got a rough quote from him and it would certainly be cheaper to do it myself, even with buying everything I'd need. But, there's something the be said for having a competent shop do it right. Rather than me spending weeks doing it in short increments, taking up the garage, and still maybe not get it right!

I think if I had a set of axles I was swapping in and wouldn't have to either pull the axle or work under it on the floor, I would try it. Maybe at a later date if I ever find myself doing it again. Like when my son gets his own Jeep down the road (he's 3!).

Don't compare the time to me, lots of the weeks I spent was dealing with the Yukon junk

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🙂
 
That warranty if something goes wrong is nice too... Says the guy who's blown up 3 Dana 60 R&P's....

Oooof!

Don't compare the time to me, lots of the weeks I spent was dealing with the Yukon junk

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🙂

My wife would lose her patience with me after the Jeep sat in her garage spot for a couple weeks. Although we do park it in there all summer when the windows are off. I just feel like it's a little beyond my reach right now. I think that's the only thing that I'll have a shop do. Well, besides mount and balance tires.
 
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If I break it again I'm swapping in a different axle... Then might get it retubed and made into a front axle.

My wife would lose her patience with me after the Jeep sat in her garage spot for a couple weeks. Although we do park it in there all summer when the windows are off. I just feel like it's a little beyond my reach right now. I think that's the only thing that I'll have a shop do. Well, besides mount and balance tires.

You need to put your foot down and explain who's spot that is...

Get a cover for the Jeep & you can park it outside... I got the RainGear cover but there are other brands now.
 
If I break it again I'm swapping in a different axle... Then might get it retubed and made into a front axle.



You need to put your foot down and explain who's spot that is...

Get a cover for the Jeep & you can park it outside... I got the RainGear cover but there are other brands now.

She was on board with buying the Jeep and isn't complaining too much about the money I'm now spending on it! I'll choose my battles! lol

Also, I'll get a cover eventually. We typically drive it enough in the summer that it's easier to just park it in the garage.
 
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Started working on installing my control arms and the second bolt wouldn't fit. Looked closer at the hardware and two of the lower bolts have a flare instead of a taper at the base of the threads that is too thick to fit into the JJ. Emailed Savvy and had a shipping email about an hour later. Got one arm installed then had to stop when the kid woke up from nap.
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Don't compare the time to me, lots of the weeks I spent was dealing with the Yukon junk

View attachment 600856

🙂

At least yours is under the Jeep! I spent more than two weeks on regearing a HP30 that's still sitting in the garage. Just when I finished it, a buddy found me a 44 front. I went, checked it out, and came home with it for a ridiculously low price.
 
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Fronts are in. I'm using factory bushings on the axle mounts for the uppers and decided I didn't want to drill out the bushings to fit the new hardware. Seemed like a good chance of spinning the sleeve and not actually drilling. The factory bolt couldn't be reused due to the flange to catch and hold wouldn't reach the edge of the Savvy arms and if cut off or flattened there was nothing to hold the head of the bolt. Made a quick run to the store for some grade 8 hardware and got them done. Still need to do the rears, hopefully make some progress today. Then just double check some measurements to be sure the axle is square and tighten down jam nuts.

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3 of the 4 rears are in, just waiting on the replacement bolts for the other arm. If I would've known I was going to have to make a trip to the hardware store anyway I would've picked them up, but they were already shipped by the time I had to go to the store. It's been a slow process this week anyway with a toddler that's deciding not to nap and robbing my wrenching time 😂

Looks like my SYE isn't happening this week. May try to pull it with the Jeep outside and bring the t-case in the garage. At least that way my wife can have her parking space back.
 
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Finally got a chance to make sure everything was square, tighten everything, and get it out of the garage. Just a small drive around the house but no more pops and clunks from the factory arms. Hopefully get up in the woods tomorrow to actually drive it.

Pulled the disconnects and jacked it up checking for binding. Everything seems good so far.
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Still need time to get to everything else!
 
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Few more parts have come in lately, Spicer diff covers, twin ARB mount, Auxbeam 8-gang switch panel, and waiting on a 3D printed bezel to replace the factory switches and ash tray with the switch panel and some USB outlets.

Disappointed that their isn't a compressor decal included on the sheet that comes with the Auxbeam. But at least it has "Windshied", "Frider", and "Break Light" 🤦🏻‍♂️

@jscherb might want to make sure they're not sniffing the adhesive over there!

Also waiting on word back, but hopefully the Jeep will be going in early next month for regear, lockers, shafts, and on-board air.

SYE and body lift still sitting in boxes waiting to be installed. Probably going to have to wait until the wife gets off work for the summer.
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Deposit made and scheduled to drop off on the 2nd for axle build out. This one's going to hurt, but once this is behind me everything else won't feel too expensive! I've got to get it done so I can stop thinking about it.

It's further up into the thread, but it will be 4.56's, ARB's front and rear, chromoly shafts front and rear, and ARB twin with onboard air. After some deliberation I chose the Dana Spicer nodular diff covers. For some reason I really like the way they look, they have a drain, and they were priced better than some of my other choices.
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator