Midnight LJR Build

[JDS123]

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Never had half doors or soft uppers before.

The weather stripping seems extra long on the best top soft uppers. Am I supposed to trim it. Or is there a certain way it should be routed?

I’ve seen several people mention that over the years. I believe trimming is the correct answer but I don’t 100% remember. My soft doors don’t have that, but I’m not sure if they are OEM or aftermarket (bestop) since they came with my used half doors.

 

[DrDmoney]

@mrblaine you really need an emblem made to put on your builds, a tiny little wizard on the lower right tub corner.

 

[Midnight LJR]

I’ve seen several people mention that over the years. I believe trimming is the correct answer but I don’t 100% remember. My soft doors don’t have that, but I’m not sure if they are OEM or aftermarket (bestop) since they came with my used half doors.

Found an old post by Bestop. Looks like are supposed to be trimmed after adjusting them.

 

[mrblaine]

My tolerance for that isn’t too high unfortunately

Is that really unfortunate?

 

[JDS123]

Found an old post by Bestop. Looks like are supposed to be trimmed after adjusting them.
View attachment 153725

I've never been sure why Bestop leaves the extra on there, but I think they do that with all new half doors. Good to know that you are supposed to trim it off. My used uppers are pretty scratched up, so I'm probably replacing them soon anyways.

Is that really unfortunate?

Depending on how you look at it, yes. Look at it the other way, no. If the check I write isn't good enough for someone to work on my Jeep, I don't need them working on my Jeep.

 

[mrblaine]

Depending on how you look at it, yes. Look at it the other way, no. If the check I write isn't good enough for someone to work on my Jeep, I don't need them working on my Jeep.

What I do has exactly zero to do with money. It simply doesn't motivate me. Other things motivate me very highly, money isn't on that list.

If you look at Mike's happiness and enlightenment he has displayed after the ride home, that is my motivation, pure and simple. I like to teach, I like to show people what can be done and how their expectations can be met. My sole desire is for him to be thrilled and then arrive at a contented pleasure each and every time he drives and uses his rig. You can't buy that.

 

[Midnight LJR]

What I do has exactly zero to do with money. It simply doesn't motivate me. Other things motivate me very highly, money isn't on that list.

If you look at Mike's happiness and enlightenment he has displayed after the ride home, that is my motivation, pure and simple. I like to teach, I like to show people what can be done and how their expectations can be met. My sole desire is for him to be thrilled and then arrive at a contented pleasure each and every time he drives and uses his rig. You can't buy that.

I have been smiling like a little kid at Christmas all day. I took it for a little drive around the block just a minute ago, just because.

 

[mrblaine]

I have been smiling like a little kid at Christmas all day. I took it for a little drive around the block just a minute ago, just because.

And that is precisely why I do what I do. I want you to take it and throw it into a turn and watch your passengers white knuckle the grab and door handles and smile the whole time watching them not die.

 

[tomtaylz]

If you think I'm an asshole on here, you ought to talk to me on the phone where I can really be a curmudgeon. Or put another way, we'd have to have several phone chats before I'd consider helping you realize a dream. I have to be able to browbeat, berate, and abuse you mercilessly on the phone and in person before I even consider putting a single tool to your vehicle. If you can tolerate all the crap I dish out, then I make everything your responsibility to take care of. You have to keep bothering me to see if I still recall who you are and what you want done and I'm not even nice about it. I will literally get off the phone with you and go "hmmm, wonder what that asshole wanted".

I talked to you on the phone a while ago and you were very nice

 

[JDS123]

What I do has exactly zero to do with money. It simply doesn't motivate me. Other things motivate me very highly, money isn't on that list.

If you look at Mike's happiness and enlightenment he has displayed after the ride home, that is my motivation, pure and simple. I like to teach, I like to show people what can be done and how their expectations can be met. My sole desire is for him to be thrilled and then arrive at a contented pleasure each and every time he drives and uses his rig. You can't buy that.

I don't want to clog up Mike's build thread too much, so I'll rephrase and bow out. If my check and happiness when I pick it up aren't good enough for someone to work on my Jeep, then I don't want to hand the keys over. I don't want to be berated on the phone for asking someone to outboard my shocks and throw on a mid-arm. I think that is understandable.

Anyways, this is a great build thread. My Savvy bumper and hardcore kit arrives tomorrow. Judging by the way it looks on Mike's Jeep, I'm excited.

 

[mrblaine]

I don't want to clog up Mike's build thread too much, so I'll rephrase and bow out. If my check and happiness when I pick it up aren't good enough for someone to work on my Jeep, then I don't want to hand the keys over. I don't want to be berated on the phone for asking someone to outboard my shocks and throw on a mid-arm. I think that is understandable.

Well, that's the price of admission.

 

[mrblaine]

I talked to you on the phone a while ago and you were very nice

Probably because I didn't know who you were.

 

[Nickgsjeep]

I talked to you on the phone a while ago and you were very nice

Shhhh Don’t tell everyone! You’ll spoil the secret!

 

[Midnight LJR]

I talked to you on the phone a while ago and you were very nice

Yup, Blaine has been great the whole time I worked with him. You just can’t be too sensitive when he tells you, your horrible painting is horrible.

 

[mrblaine]

Yup, Blaine has been great the whole time I worked with him. You just can’t be too sensitive when he tells you, your horrible painting is horrible.

Well, I did show you my shitty paint on that steering wheel so there is that.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Well, I did show you my shitty paint on that steering wheel so there is that.

Yeah guys just so know. If your steering well is looking worn out. You can send it to Blaine and he will apply a “shitty paint job” making it look awesome and brand new.

 

[mrblaine]

Yeah guys just so know. If your steering well is looking worn out. You can send it to Blaine and he will apply a “shitty paint job” making it look awesome and brand new.

Yeah, not so much. It is something I do as a hobby when I need an hour or so of mindless nothing. I only do it when I feel like it and I only do it for certain folks. That one you saw is for a friend who is picking it up tomorrow. I really am not open to the public.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Yeah, not so much. It is something I do as a hobby when I need an hour or so of mindless nothing. I only do it when I feel like it and I only do it for certain folks. That one you saw is for a friend who is picking it up tomorrow. I really am not open to the public.

Roger that.

 

[zebra12]

Here are shots of the rear suspension. Out boarded shocks, 4 link mid-arm, with Currie anti-rock.

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Wow, that is awesome looking great work.

 

[Mike_H]

@Midnight LJR... Awesome Jeep, brother. It looks so nice. Looks Stock, but you know it's not, which is always the goal in my mind.

Another great build @mrblaine. Your attention to detail is truly a cut above. Please keep posting your builds. They are an inspiration to me, and I'm sure others. You can berate me all you want, because that's how we all learn.