James & The Sahara Build Thread

What amazes me is that this is James' DD...at least if I "F" something up in a project i can drive 4 other cars to work if i needed too.

Haha, no kidding! This is why I never feel bad if my TJ is down for a while, cause I have another vehicle to drive. But I guess when you're young and live right by campus, it's no big deal. I was there once, so I totally understand.
 
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Boom! Cage should be pulled on monday and prep starts!

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Another update, tons of rain in the forecast. I’m running out of time so I will have to prep tomorrow and possibly even paint. Here is what I did today :)

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And here is what’s under the cage supports:

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And she’s set for the storms ahead:

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My goal for tomorrow is to get the prep/paint work done, properly secure a very large tarp over the tub and let it cure for several days.
 
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Wow! 6 hours of prep and paint! Here are the goods:

Started by grinding all the rust down to bare metal:

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No holes here :)

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Passenger side

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No holes here:

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Random pinhole here, glad I got it before it got anymore severe:

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50 earplugs is about what it takes for all exposed threaded holes:

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Before bedlining, this can of primer is required for all bare metal. It was an expensive can & worked very well:

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Started seriously taping & masking everything off, even my room mates car:

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Bedliner going on:

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Immediately post bedlining I used an expoxy reducer to remove any overspray and clean the gun. Also removed all ear plugs & taped, the ear plugs worked exceptionally well:

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Can you see where my shirt touched the paint? Arg oh well it shouldn’t stick out TOO bad :)

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As per instruction I used all 8 cans and sprayed that stuff on THICK:

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It all came out really well and very happy with knowing my tub isn’t rusting anymore:

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Cure time is 72 hours and heavy rain is forecasted so I purchased a large heavy duty tarp and secured it down. Should be game to put it all back together friday:

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All in all, I am super happy with the end result. I’ll update you on friday to show how it looks cured. Can’t emphasize how happy I am to be rid of the tub rust :D.
 
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I think James has found his true calling!!! I had to laugh when I saw the car parked next to your rig was also masked-off with plastic sheeting. Good call!!! I had a 4Runner fall victim to someone's overspray while painting their building. Their insurance had to pay to buff out my rig, as a result. Prevention would've been a lot cheaper, I'm sure. Looks great, James! :thumbsup:
 
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I am your fan, keep posting through the end please?
For sure!
I think James has found his true calling!!! I had to laugh when I saw the car parked next to your rig was also masked-off with plastic sheeting. Good call!!! I had a 4Runner fall victim to someone's overspray while painting their building. Their insurance had to pay to buff out my rig, as a result. Prevention would've been a lot cheaper, I'm sure. Looks great, James! :thumbsup:
Dang! Yeah my room mate would kill me if I got paint on his GTI :D.
 
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Get underneath that thing James. ..if you have a pin hole in the floor, it's probably bigger underneath. I would hate for you to go through what I am right now. I found a hole in my floors tonight. It's small, but it's there. ..
 
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Get underneath that thing James. ..if you have a pin hole in the floor, it's probably bigger underneath. I would hate for you to go through what I am right now. I found a hole in my floors tonight. It's small, but it's there. ..
I'll have to check but a couple months ago when I was doing the axle swap I looked over the frame and tub really good. The pin in the hole was over the section that has the 1" gap and then another panel of body. So if it was rusting it would be from a panel I couldn't get to if I wanted to. I truly think its from the top, but I will see what I can find looking underneath it at the end of the week.
 
Your productivity is amazing! I was reading your thread to dave like it was a novel on our way up north. I can’t wait to share the next chapter with him. I also love how your jeep looks stripped down,and I also like the metal look with the white! I hope the storm steers clear of your hard work.
 
Your productivity is amazing! I was reading your thread to dave like it was a novel on our way up north. I can’t wait to share the next chapter with him. I also love how your jeep looks stripped down,and I also like the metal look with the white! I hope the storm steers clear of your hard work.
I really appreciate that! I kinda wish I hadn't left the hardtop at home because it would have still installed with the roll cage removed! At least I went and got a new tarp so I should be a-ok! Its nice and tied down so I don't expect it to pool & leak, just run off :).
 
Get underneath that thing James. ..if you have a pin hole in the floor, it's probably bigger underneath. I would hate for you to go through what I am right now. I found a hole in my floors tonight. It's small, but it's there. ..
I had to go searching for a floor in my holes!
Much sadness...
 
I really appreciate that! I kinda wish I hadn't left the hardtop at home because it would have still installed with the roll cage removed! At least I went and got a new tarp so I should be a-ok! Its nice and tied down so I don't expect it to pool & leak, just run off :).

You wouldn't want to of done that anyway. That stuff needs to gas out. Putting the hard top and doors on wouldn't allow enough air flow for it to cure properly. Get that tarp off as soon as you can.
 
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