Building an E-Ticket ride - 06 LJ

[E-Ticket]

Proof of life!!!

I got her on the road today for the first time in almost two years since purchase. I am thrilled with the initial results. I had to bed in the black magic brakes, so that limited my route.

I got up to 40mph between hard stops and put on maybe 10 miles during my cooldown phase out to get gas and back.

I was able to remove my hands from the wheel at 40mph and it stayed in the lane!

My steering wheel is a bit off center but that’s a quick fix.

No strange noises, no fluid leaks, no clunks or jerky movements. The exhaust sounds great, very quiet.

My coolant temp was right dead center of the gage, air conditioning nice and cold and it is a hot humid day here today.

A snag is that my now second transmission temp gage is not working. However, when I got home the cooler fan was on.

Another snag is my engine coolant overflow tanks was gurgling quite a bit, despite the engine temp being in the normal range. I had my kid do a coolant flush at work when I bought it, so I am a bit surprised about it.

One thing that wasn’t so great was the crap acceleration!! This thing is a dog on the low end. However, I will reserve judgement after I’ve been able to get up to highway speed tomorrow. Given this is basically a trail toy and I will tow it to the trails, I am hoping that I can live without more power.

All in all I give myself a silver medal for the day but I feel like a gold medalist!

Pics or it didn’t happen:

 

[E-Ticket]

Damn, the judges have revised my placement to a bronze and maybe just one foot on the podium. I was so excited about my drive in 2H that I didn’t cycle the TC into the other modes.

Having done that just now my TC is still very difficult to shift and my theory that the synchro mode sprocket needs a a bit of motion to engage is not playing out.

Tomorrow I will adjust the shifter yet again and see if that is the problem.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

…

Another snag is my engine coolant overflow tanks was gurgling quite a bit, despite the engine temp being in the normal range. I had my kid do a coolant flush at work when I bought it, so I am a bit surprised about it.

…

Check the radiator cap. May have gotten soft, or lost the seal over two years.

 

[E-Ticket]

Check the radiator cap. May have gotten soft, or lost the seal over two years.

Thanks for the advice, will do.

 

[E-Ticket]

Good call @NashvilleTJ , cap rubber was rotted. New cap in place.

 

[E-Ticket]

Test drive #2, no gurgling from the radiator cap.

Only got up to 50, still steady, no vibes or DW. Now brakes are bed in per the instructions.

My TC shifting is all of the sudden smooth as butter. I thought I busted the cable. Nope, still intact and the detents are very clear in the motion. Not sure what happened other than perhaps it did not want to fight me anymore!

I will take it!

 

[E-Ticket]

Got another loose end tied off. I had intended to put reverse light LED pods flush mounted in my bumper. However, with my minimalist bumper the hole required would take away too much of the cross section for my taste. I could not find an acceptable location in the corner armor due to the tailgate hinges. I didn’t want to cut into my torque box either.

So, I gave up on the flush mounting and used an 8 inch single row LED light bar mounted at the top of the license plate mount on the spare tire delete.

I didn’t want wires at the hinge but I’ve got a connector there in case I need to remove the tailgate or light. I had to fab the light bar bracket since the one it came with was designed for used on a JL spare tied delete and would not work on my LJ.

Now I am out of parts to install, for now…

 

[E-Ticket]

Not build related but spending some time this month in Colorado and California. Drove the JLR and getting in some light wheeling between other activities.

This was the Schubarth OHV trail outside Woodland Park above Colorado Springs where we have been for a few days. Easy trail but a few bumpy sections and some outstanding overlooks, one looking out over the Air Force Academy.

This guy greeted me on a footpath at one of the overlooks. Thankfully he gave me his audible warning as I otherwise likely would be in the hospital right now! Got about 10 feet from him before doing the quickest 180 I’ve done in years.

Saturday I will get in some trail time in Big Bear, California and later on the way back we have 4 days in Ouray. My challenge is what trails I can convince my wife to join me on there!

If only I had my LJ together sooner maybe I’d have pulled it on this trip but it is not trail ready yet. I plan to get it shook down in September.

 

[E-Ticket]

Catching up with my thread after some mega miles in our JL. Over 3000 so far. Spend last week in California starting with a weekend in Big Bear. Got in some trail time with my buddy and his LR4 on trail 2N02 looping to 3N03 on the east side of Baldwin Lake. Found an off shoot called tip top mountain road that was a fun, steep, rocky ledge road with a great view of a valley below.

 

[E-Ticket]

Now we are in Ouray. This is a “working trip”, so calls in the mornings and half days to hit the trials. It is wet here as has been raining quite a bit and did again today. We ran Yankee Boy Basin trail to the top, most of the lower section in a light rain. The views are spectacular. Near the top there was one rocky and wet section that required a couple of tries and finally lockers to get by.

I think I have my wife talked into Imogene Pass for tomorrow, weather permitting…

 

[E-Ticket]

Words can’t properly describe how epic Imogene Pass is! Did it from Telluride to Ouray. Mind blown!

 

[deadbeat son]

Words can’t properly describe how epic Imogene Pass is! Did it from Telluride to Ouray. Mind blown!

I did it the same direction last Labor Day weekend and loved every minute of it.

 

[E-Ticket]

Weather was a bust today, lots of rain and even hail. We ran up to Clear Lake in the rain nearly the whole way up and down. Thankfully had some breaks in it for some nice views.

That’s a wrap for our trip to Ouray, heading back tomorrow a day early as we have been on the road for 3 weeks and want to get home. That’s an extra day for me to sort the LJ out to get ready for a local run.

 

[E-Ticket]

For the second time now on the last day of a long road trip in our JL, my wife agains tells me: “that was a great time but I’m never doing it again!”. Too uncomfortable doing thousands of highway miles in a Jeep and flying into the next lane when we hit a bump at 80 mph.

That was all I needed to hear to pull the trigger on a proper tow rig. I traded in my Silverado 1500 for a Ram 2500 Laramie gasser. For my driving habits and for the lighter load I will be towing I don’t feel compelled to go diesel. I know that is like denigrating a religion to many, so please don’t tell me what a mistake I’ve made. I am a big boy and can live with my decisions or fix the mistakes if I’ve made a bad choice. I love the interior and the color is a match to my LJ!


Anyway, here she is before I pimp her out a bit with some essential accessories.

Back to my LJ, today I got the TC shifter sorted. I had to extend the travel past the 4H position a bit (just like the directions say) so I am sure to be able to get into that position. I also got my transmission oil temperature gage working. I had to much heat shrink on the eyelet on the sender and it wasn’t getting contact with the adjacent nuts.

Now I need a good place to work the systems in some dirt. That’s a solid hour away from here so not sure yet if I will drive her or get my flat tow set up completed. With the new tow rig I may just bite the bullet and get a trailer to avoid the risks of flat towing a busted jeep.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

You have denigrated my religion, and you have made a big mistake.



OK, now that we have that out of the way…



Nice rig. Nothing wrong with getting something that meets your needs. That the whole point after all.

And the color match completes it!

 

[E-Ticket]

I plan to join the diesel religion but not just yet. Have my eyes on a big, loud, powerful diesel powered Super C RV for when I pull the pin on my working career, hopefully in about 2 years.

 

[E-Ticket]

Digging deep in the shop to close out the “to do” list for the LJ.

Mounted my half doors with new hinges and mirrors. Joining the unmatched color half door club since I didn’t get around to sending them out for paint. Maybe next year.

 

[Old Jeepin Cowboy]

A few more things I've been up to so far:

I wanted an OEM hard top, so searched high and low for months. Finally found a good one in Chicago, 6 hours away. The LJ can't get out there, so what to do? I measured my truck bed and it would fit but need some good support. This was the result after a 14 hour day to go out, load it and come back.

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The bumper my LJ came with seems decent enough except for the hitch receiver that was going to drag on everything. I cut it off and refinished the bumper with some rattle can bedliner. I am not sure if I will keep it or replace it, will decide once I get my corner armor on and see how it all goes together.

While on bumpers, mounted the front bumper and winch. I like the look of a bull bar and that fact that the LOD bumper has hard points for flat towing. I will add a few lights but not too crazy. I was able to do some night wheeling in AZ and loved it, good to have something just in case.

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Added some engine bay cooling and some bling factor:

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Out with the NP231 rear yoke and in with the flange yoke after speaking with Tom Wood's driveshafts:

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I was unhappy with my puck lift so decided to install Genright lifted mount brackets across the area where the sliders will go to get that extra clearance and get back to the OEM bushings. I have the modified smaller diameter lower mount parts and flush bolts ready to go once I get the rest of the mounts done. I have a 1" lift and these brackets are 1.25" lifted despite being called 1" lifted on Genright's website. I cut them down to be 1" but I am on the fence now about leaving them or getting another set and going to 1.25 all around as of course all 11 points have to match.

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For the center brackets I added a gusset. This picture also shows how I had to butcher the Savvy outer C to get it on after installing the Genright mount. I've since seen how Blaine welds a bracket inside the frame and flips the ends of the Savvy mount to solve this problem. I am considering that as this looks like crap even though I believe once the aluminum skid is installed it will clamp up the whole thing such that it will not move in operation. The crossmember is very solid right now but that is with no torque on the drivetrain and now really a good indication of what will happen on the trail.

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I've gutted the interior in preparation for a roll cage. Thankfully I had very little surface corrosion here and just cleaned that up and primed all four cage contact patches while I wait for the cage work to begin a bit later on.

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The hard top is just sitting there for storage until I can move thing around and get it up on my hard top hoist on the other side of the shop and out of the way. It is literally night and day how much more light and open feeling you get with the white interior hard top versus the black soft top. I love the look of the hard top and also the added security it provides when towing with a bunch of gear in the back. I don't have the wiring for the wiper so will likely remove it to save a bit of weight. As this is not a daily driver I can get away without it.

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I cut the OEM fenders In preparation for my MCE fenders. Those will have to wait for the sliders to go on first as they mount over them.

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That about sums up where I am as of January 3. As a priority I've got to finish up the body mount and get moving onto the sliders and corner armor. The roll cage is the elephant in the room. I have to get much better at my welding before I can build it. I have scrap tubes and plan to practice a bunch before I get into that. If I can't get to where I can fully weld the to my satisfaction then I will just tack it all together and take it somewhere for finish welding.

Thanks for looking and comments / advice welcome.

WOW! Especially impressed with the way you did your mounting brackets. I did that on my '03 TJ R not long after I got it in '02. Big difference.

IN addition, I installed raised motor mounts and did a 2 in body lift. But by raising the motor mounts I was able to run my Tom Woods DS straight to the Dynatrac HiPinion axle and keep my OEM length, front and rear.

When I ordered my Dynatrac ProRock 60s Hi Pinion set up I specified 1310 U joint as the pinion. I know a lot are going to go berserk over this but I use them as a FUSE. As an engineer in IT (my second career) I built Mission-critical Systems and always performed a POFA (Point of Failure Analysis) and I treat my drive line the same way. Using 1310s would allow me to change out Ujoints right there on the trail. It becane a 15 min job. That said I never had a failure in almost 100k miles and 9 years of wheeling full-time. My playpen was on 7++-rated trails.

One other thing Idid was do a CAI. Jeep Invented the CAI and you can find it on some of the Straight 6 CJs. First time I saw it on anThe f OEM CJ I said got to do it. It does require removing your headlight rings. I cut a round hole in the front of the air box. Using OEM tubes I inserted it into the air box and straight out to to the backside of the headlight opening. Does it work? BET ON IT. Overall increase in mpg by about 1-1.5 mpg (highwy speeds) and noticeable seat of the pants feel at low speeds.

You have done a LOT of things I did to my TJ. I did do the Currie AntiRock and I was at the Offroad show in Pomona, Ca and met one of the Currie Boys. He had the antirock laying on the table. I aksed what it was and he told me, WOW! Then I looked at him but its going to fail. HOW?? You put windows in the arms and the arms are made out of Aluminum. So I told him I would order a set but if it fails, will you replace it. He says this is the first one we won't start shipping for a few more weeks at least. But I will sell this one! OK? OK but you replace it if it fails? SURE!

I headed out to Moab the following week and it FAILED! So I called and told him it failed, sent him pics. So he says well we are making the new out of steel. OK, send me the arms...NOPE you have to buy them. WHAT?

SO I posted on about a half dozen forums and they went crazy and posted we honor our products and I will send you new arms...They NEVER did! I ended up buying a whole new AntiRock.

I still recommend Currie products but the boys are jerks.


You can see where the failure would beging. Alum, 3 windows and even having the inside corner rounded it failed on the center window IIRC.

 

[E-Ticket]

WOW! Especially impressed with the way you did your mounting brackets. I did that on my '03 TJ R not long after I got it in '02. Big difference.

IN addition, I installed raised motor mounts and did a 2 in body lift. But by raising the motor mounts I was able to run my Tom Woods DS straight to the Dynatrac HiPinion axle and keep my OEM length, front and rear.

When I ordered my Dynatrac ProRock 60s Hi Pinion set up I specified 1310 U joint as the pinion. I know a lot are going to go berserk over this but I use them as a FUSE. As an engineer in IT (my second career) I built Mission-critical Systems and always performed a POFA (Point of Failure Analysis) and I treat my drive line the same way. Using 1310s would allow me to change out Ujoints right there on the trail. It becane a 15 min job. That said I never had a failure in almost 100k miles and 9 years of wheeling full-time. My playpen was on 7++-rated trails.

One other thing Idid was do a CAI. Jeep Invented the CAI and you can find it on some of the Straight 6 CJs. First time I saw it on anThe f OEM CJ I said got to do it. It does require removing your headlight rings. I cut a round hole in the front of the air box. Using OEM tubes I inserted it into the air box and straight out to to the backside of the headlight opening. Does it work? BET ON IT. Overall increase in mpg by about 1-1.5 mpg (highwy speeds) and noticeable seat of the pants feel at low speeds.

You have done a LOT of things I did to my TJ. I did do the Currie AntiRock and I was at the Offroad show in Pomona, Ca and met one of the Currie Boys. He had the antirock laying on the table. I aksed what it was and he told me, WOW! Then I looked at him but its going to fail. HOW?? You put windows in the arms and the arms are made out of Aluminum. So I told him I would order a set but if it fails, will you replace it. He says this is the first one we won't start shipping for a few more weeks at least. But I will sell this one! OK? OK but you replace it if it fails? SURE!

I headed out to Moab the following week and it FAILED! So I called and told him it failed, sent him pics. So he says well we are making the new out of steel. OK, send me the arms...NOPE you have to buy them. WHAT?

SO I posted on about a half dozen forums and they went crazy and posted we honor our products and I will send you new arms...They NEVER did! I ended up buying a whole new AntiRock.

I still recommend Currie products but the boys are jerks.


You can see where the failure would beging. Alum, 3 windows and even having the inside corner rounded it failed on the center window IIRC.

View attachment 554923

Thanks for the kind words on my build. You have a beast of a TJR, very nice! I am at the 1 yard line with this thing and hoping to get into the wheeling end zone any day now. Hopefully everything works well together as I've done it all at once rather than trying new things one at a time. However, everything I've added has been out in use for a while so hopefully no new product teething issues such as you experienced with the aluminum anti-rock. So far it runs great around town and no DW or vibes up to 60mph, but looking forward to the true test on a hairy trail section to get the suspension stuffed and cycle the lockers, Rubicrawler and TC modes.

 

[E-Ticket]

Thanks to @Just.Thorne71 for the grinder idea to get my rear wiper motor removed. A couple of pounds off the rig, now to find 1,000 more to offset all the steel I’ve added during this build .

The right tool makes for quick work!

Now if I had just protected my glass from the hot grinding dust, I’d still have smooth glass. Sometimes I’ve got to slow down and think a bit more.