The Guardian is alive again :)

To me, this just screams, red and white cane & dark shades. Just to see the look on other drivers faces.
Blasting Johnny Cash too.
 
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Hey man, glad to hear you are ok and the Jeep is making a return. It sounds like you might be done, but if you ever do need a hand with a wrench send me a PM. I live in Lake Balboa.
 
For those who like the calico/carnival style Jeep?! you guys are absolutely nuts :) Like meeeeee, but....

Continuing with the story :)

I called up a bunch of places getting quotes from 3k to as high as 4.5k for a complete paint job. Wow! Are they crazy? Well, how much to paint the outside only? 2k! Decide to paint the inside myself and leave the outside to the pros.

Let me tell you about painting and prep work. I HATE IT!

Sanding...
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More sanding...
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more prep work...

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Freaking 4 full days of sanding, cleaning, prepping and getting ready for primer! OMG

Finally the first coat of epoxy primer!
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Sweating the whole day in a respirator and a body suit is not fun at all...

To be continued... gotta work.
 
Ready for a coat of paint?
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I wasn't going to paint the outside at all actually, only the inside, but I had bought so much paint (1 gallon, stupid me, 1.5 qt was enough for the inside) decided to paint the outside as well. if it came out well enough, maybe I could skip the pros, if not, oh well. :)

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Painfully, slowly, one part out of time...

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OK, so even after watching a dozen or so videos on how to setup the paint, how to setup the gun and how to paint, I couldn't manage a paint of quality good enough for the outside :(. I kinda knew that from the start, but had hopes (what if... yeah right, lol). Surprisingly, though, the inside and the outside of the tub came out rather well. The other parts did not. I later realized, that I painted the tub on a different day, when there was no wind and no sun and rather mild temperatures. The other parts, got painted on the table you can see in the last picture. There was some wind, and the sun was out around noon already, so several problems came out became apparent. Wind caused the paint to pop (chemicals evaporating too fast because of the wind). Setting the gun to spray more paint, in order to battle the fast evaporation because of the wind, caused orange peel instead. I felt sad that I couldn't manage a decent paint job, but in my defense, this is no easy task and takes time and practice. You can't possibly get it perfect the first time... well some people probably can ;).

Enough of my cries! No Problem, that is what the plan was anyway: paint the inside and leave the outside to the pros. Next step was assemble everything together and install sound deadening material while there was no dashboard or seats, etc...

Boom :) Siberian Husky approved (Kilmat: 50mil, 50 sq. ft for $60).
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Came to visit a friend at a truck stop, but he is busy, so let me continue.

Heater core and the wiring under the dash, check!
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Steering column... check! Not sure why I installed it before the dashboard. Would be easier after, but it worked out anyway.
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Dashboard... check :)
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Wow... a few more more wires, hoses and I can install the battery and try to start it up.

If you are wondering about the paint on the outside, I lightly sanded it again, after painting. This was strategic... otherwise it would be impossible to convince the wife to agree to the new paint job ;)
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More tomorrow , cheers.
 
Continuing...

More parts ordered:
  • Rear Wiper switch (Mopar)
  • Neoprene Insulation tape 1/8*1"
  • Top of Windshield seal
  • Rear wiper blade
  • Aluminum Fuel filler door
  • CB Antenna Mount
  • Hard top quick removal fasteners
  • Rear window struts
  • Sun Visors (Rugged Ridge)
  • Borgeson 000872 Steering Shaft
  • Clear adhesive vinyl
  • Round Off-road LED floodlights
  • Door Ajar switch (Mopar)
  • Side marker pigtail/socket (Mopar)
  • Windshield washer nozzle (Mopar)
  • Wiper arms(2)
  • Side marker lights
  • Push type 8mm clips
  • Push mount cable zip ties
  • Door panel clips
  • Left and Right door seals (Mopar)
  • Tail gate torx screws
  • Fender Flares (OMIX)
  • New Mirrors (2006 version) (Mopar)
  • Rear Bumper (Mopar)
  • Doorman 64014 Clutch pedal bushing
  • Gates 19039 and 19038 heater hoses
  • Transmission mount (Mopar)
  • Moog ES3096L Tie rod ends
  • Moog ES2079S Adjusting sleeves
  • Other ZJ steering upgrade components
  • Wrangler vinyl stickers (blue and silver)
I am even done with the list, lol.

Anyway!
After many, many hors of assembly, cracked skin on my paws all over, it started right up!!! I was super happy :) Called my dad to tell him that it started and it drives (he didn't believe I could pull it off, never done anything like it).
Wohoo :)

It was time for the new paint job. I put the soft top on (hard top got destroyed in the accident of course) and drove it to the shop for painting. I asked them to send me regular updates in pictures and they did :)

Sanding stages
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Masking Stages
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And Finally :))))))))
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Meanwhile, back in Mordor...

Do you know how difficult it is to find an EOM hardtop in SoCal nowadays? First of all, there is only one listing for it per week, second it is either bad, too expensive or simply the wrong color!! I had started my search months, months in advance, hoping to get it before the Jeep was completed, but no luck there. One day, just driving down the road, I noticed a Jeep shop that I had stopped by to pick up a part once, long time ago. You know what? They had a Wrangler parked amongst other cars with THE hardtop!
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It wasn't listed for sale or anything, but I decided to go and ask. They told me the Jeep was going to be disassembled, but that was not 100% decided and then, maybe then, they would list the Hardtop for sale. How much? $1100! Then I made them an offer they "couldn't" refuse. I came back 30 minutes later with $1300 and they took that thing right off the Jeep and put it on the back of my pickup :)
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YEAH!!!!
 
The hardtop came back home, where I immediately build a carrier for it. then I glued sound deading material (not boom mat, ask me and I will tell you the secret of the alternative).
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This was on a Friday, a week later, after turning in the Jeep to the shop for painting. Then, a text message came in: "Your Jeep will be ready for pickup tomorrow late afternoon!" I am glad I was alone in the garage, when the text came through. I wouldn't want anyone to see my happy dance, lol.

Saturday... late afternoon...
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Now, that is a paint job!!!
Assemble, assemble, assemble and finally, after another week of making these forum posts, everything came together. Wait for it..... ;)