I've done everything on mine except get the LCA brackets welded and a full alignment after my lift.
Do you do your own work on your Jeep or pay someone?
- Thread starter astjp2
- Start date
I do pretty much everything on mine. I think the only things I won't do, but hubby will, is setting timing or points or anything that requires "fine tuning" per say. I can pull a motor, take it apart, clean it up and put it back together. So yah, I change plugs and caps, water pumps, and so on. In fact, that is why I wanted the TJ. The motor is a lot less complicated then my 04 Liberty I had. 
Randy C
New Member
Here is a new category - I pay someone to to keep me from working on mine and messing it up .
Sometimes that’s a good idea.
Most mechanics would pay me to work on mine also, so they could in turn fix what I did .
I like to do some mods and all my maintenance, it’s a great way to decompress.
My main goal has been to get it where it needs as little work as possible...Of course that’s been a lot of work.
Sometimes that’s a good idea.
Most mechanics would pay me to work on mine also, so they could in turn fix what I did .
I like to do some mods and all my maintenance, it’s a great way to decompress.
My main goal has been to get it where it needs as little work as possible...Of course that’s been a lot of work.
I used to go to the dealer for everything before I joined this forum and started researching how to do stuff myself. It may take me a while to fix some stuff (like my horn that I finally figured out with the help of my father in law), but I haven't had to take me Jeep in for anything since joining this community.
I do my own, for the most part. I’m lucky in that anything I can’t do, we have a pretty intense group of mechanics/fab guys/wheelers in the club that can do anything. One is actually in the business and has his own shop, and another has his own shop he routinely has club shop days at.
I'm lucky in that I have a shop I use frequently run by 4 or 5 brothers; I always lose count. They are all excellent mechanics as was their father, are honest and reasonable. Sometimes not the fastest but definitely worth the wait. I have another shop I use with excellent mechanics but they run a little higher. We also have an exhaust shop in our town that does everything from fabbing custom exhausts on down. One of the benefits of living in a rural small town is that bad businesses don't last.
Pro Tip: This becomes an excellent opportunity to justify getting MORE tools when questioned by your wife! It worked for my father. It works for me!
I've found if I do my own wrenching, I get to monitor the gradual wear and deterioration of the vehicle and it's parts. I'm not master mechanic, but over the years, I've been able to stop what would have been a catastrophic failure of all sorts of Jeeps, motorcycles, and cars simply because I was eyeball-level with the grimy stuff.
Granted, vehicles are incredibly resilient today, so I rarely find things any more. Also, I'm making enough money not to have to rely on worn out gear.
Granted, vehicles are incredibly resilient today, so I rarely find things any more. Also, I'm making enough money not to have to rely on worn out gear.
Both.
For some things like replacing the heater core and radiator, I was very happy to pay someone to deal with the mess. I've done that on a previous vehicle and it was worthwhile, but I didn't feel like doing it again.
But I do have a good mechanic who I trust, and sometimes I like him to work on things just so I get a second opinion on what needs to be done and how to do it. So I asked him to change the oil in the diffs, which I could have easily done myself, just because I knew he would inspect everything around the axles and would spot any potential problems I might have missed.
Then there are some things that I wouldn't let anyone else do. Suspension set-up, for example. I want to know exactly what's going on, and I don't want someone else making decisions for me or doing something I wouldn't like.
And then there are the easy, fun jobs I would do any day. Like swapping in a new bumper. Nothing complicated, but really satisfying.
For some things like replacing the heater core and radiator, I was very happy to pay someone to deal with the mess. I've done that on a previous vehicle and it was worthwhile, but I didn't feel like doing it again.
But I do have a good mechanic who I trust, and sometimes I like him to work on things just so I get a second opinion on what needs to be done and how to do it. So I asked him to change the oil in the diffs, which I could have easily done myself, just because I knew he would inspect everything around the axles and would spot any potential problems I might have missed.
Then there are some things that I wouldn't let anyone else do. Suspension set-up, for example. I want to know exactly what's going on, and I don't want someone else making decisions for me or doing something I wouldn't like.
And then there are the easy, fun jobs I would do any day. Like swapping in a new bumper. Nothing complicated, but really satisfying.
That is sensible.
I think a lot of this enjoy these things just because they give us a project to work on that we're proud of.
I own a construction company and I work with my hands... And I've always been pretty handy with a set of tools...but even in my own company there are some things I let the other people do.
So tell me sir, what all have you done to modify your rig? Oh, just the LCA brackets welded on and a full alignment. Other than that, it's just how I bought it.
You've seen it in person! I bought it all stock and pretty much metalcloak'd it out....I know peoples thought on MC but I liked them. But for me was the 3.5 in lift front 4.5 rear....as you know front fenders, sliders,rear fenders, front,rear bumper, wired in some lights all fluids changed new diff covers, curry steering, monster exhaust, added the degan 38 MTs, and of course a new set of brakes to stop on a dimeSo tell me sir, what all have you done to modify your rig? Oh, just the LCA brackets welded on and a full alignment. Other than that, it's just how I bought it.
. I'm sure theres a few other little things but I got lucky with this jeep have not had any problems yet. It was a 1 owner Rubi only had 80k miles. Took 5 days of leave to build, it was a learning as I go with the install sheets. Also built that hard top holder in the pictures.
I tend to work on my own stuff. I like learning new things and increasing the tool collection. I also like helping other people tackle projects and find it’s always returned. My father and uncles were this way so it’s something I’ve always enjoyed and done with my buddies.
Right now I’m knee deep in coil relocation brackets and body nutsert replacment and a neighbor is welding it in for me since I got rid of my welder when I moved cross country
Im making him a camping platform like I did in my truck
I’m also replacing the head gasket of a 2002 Jetta for another neighbor. It’s what we do in my neighborhood lol
Example of wanting to pay someone to do work.
Replacing the head gasket on a neighbors 2002 Jetta. Man it sucks.
I’m glad I drive jeeps and chevys and my day job is a classroom with elementary kids.
Right now I’m knee deep in coil relocation brackets and body nutsert replacment and a neighbor is welding it in for me since I got rid of my welder when I moved cross country
Im making him a camping platform like I did in my truck
I’m also replacing the head gasket of a 2002 Jetta for another neighbor. It’s what we do in my neighborhood lol
Example of wanting to pay someone to do work.
Replacing the head gasket on a neighbors 2002 Jetta. Man it sucks.
I’m glad I drive jeeps and chevys and my day job is a classroom with elementary kids.
Yes I have which is how I knew I could sling some crap your way and you'd be good with it.
That rear box it bitchin'. I'm planning on doing something similar. The pad eyes on all four corners is a nice touch. It looks like if it was too heavy when loaded, you could use a cherry picker or hard top lift to lift it out.