The Silver Fox LJ Build

[JMT]

I bought the new brushless compressor as @hosejockey61 suggested, but not without trying to get the older brushed version to work. Replaced the brush cap. Still couldn’t get the motor to turn over. Spark, but no motor. They offered to send me a new motor free of charge. I requested a discount on a new compressor. They offered 20% so I went for it and now everything will be new. Good for piece () of mind.

Ready to get this thing installed and move ON!

 

[Wildman]

Jeremy,
Are you guys OK? Need anything? How close are the fires to you?

 

[JMT]

I found what was left of Blaine’s midarm in the ashes (brackets, trusses, perhaps some joint housings). I verified that if the tolerances check out or they are corrected then it can be used. I gave it away to someone on the forum. I don’t have time to deal with it. It needs to be checked and sandblasted. If it’s not cleaned up it will just rust and corrode and be useless. Rather it go to someone who can use it. Good luck.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I found what was left of Blaine’s midarm in the ashes (brackets, trusses, perhaps some joint housings). I verified that if the tolerances check out or they are corrected then it can be used. I gave it away to someone on the forum. I don’t have time to deal with it. It needs to be checked and sandblasted. If it’s not cleaned up it will just rust and corrode and be useless. Rather it go to someone who can use it. Good luck.

Dang, that's wild. Hopefully it will work for them and be like a phoenix story.

 

[JMT]

Guys,

I have some decisions to make with the Jeeps and I am having trouble making them with all the decisions we're having to make. The good news is we are in a home. The contract went through on Friday. Now for help. Some good advice that makes sense. I probably won't be able to return to working on Jeeps for awhile. I'm hoping this Winter I will realistically get back in the garage, but it could be a year or more. Right now I'm just trying to get everything I need for the garage. Currently I have some red stuff and it's just laying on the floor.

Jeep 1: My daughters 2004 Red TJ 100k 42rle 4" lift and 31's (missed leg day). I bought for $6200 before the fire, put new haltenberger style steering in, added a BT head unit, fixed her headlights, side markers, and turn signals, put new shocks front and rear. The frame has surface rust and most of that is still there since I didn't get to removing about 90% of it. 10% done and repainted.

Jeep 2: My 2005 Red TJ 125k 42rle forum recipe for 35's, locked, 4:1 tera low, short arm. I put a lot of money and time in this rig. Bought at Christmas 2016. It's a great rig. Problem is the hardtop burned in the fire. I have no top. A trektop is $1,000. I'm thinking of selling this rig or giving it to my daughter and selling her Jeep 1 (above). At least that way we get to keep this rig in the family. I doubt I would ever recoup anywhere near the amount of money I dumped into it. The other one I think I could sell for $7500.

Jeep 3: My 2004 Silver LJ 200k 42rle everything I can imagine on 37's locked 4:1 BBK, Hydro Assist Steering. Bought from Maximus. It's really the rig I definitely want to keep. My problem is the full doors and Trektop soft windows burned. I am having trouble finding full replacement doors. If I could find some I could at least buy the Trektop soft windows and be enclosed for the winter. They are like $2500 on EBay. Windows are only $399. Right now it just has custom half doors and they don't have any uppers that work with them. I made them.

All this is really expensive. If I could find some doors it would all cost about $4,000. I guess I'm just at a stalemate on what to do. I love my red TJ, but I'm thinking of letting it go. Probably need to buy some kind of soft top anyway. Maybe I just need to talk this out.

I guess maybe my question is should I sell my daughter's Jeep 1 above and just give her my Jeep 2 for now? IDK, she's not that skilled a driver and I'd be putting her in a really nice rig. Sorry @tworley for being wordy.

 

[Abendage]

I have a spare TJ soft top frame and door surrounds you could have if you wanted to just get a replace a top skin for the TJ. Not sure how well it would disassemble for shipping though. You’re welcome to it if we want to try.

 

[bbaldwin237]

There's a set of silver full doors in Chehalis which isn't far from me. Unfortunately, they're $1300. It's not far, so if I can be of any assistance let me know. If you find something, I'm sure one of us over here can help get them and get them to you. Maybe daisy chain them across the state to you! Honestly, not that you want to play the pity card, but you may be able to get a little bit better of a deal if you talk to people about why you need them so bad?
https://www.facebook.com/share/199sURt9H4/

 

[tworley]

Sorry @tworley for being wordy.

Given the circumstances, I can make an exception.

 

[gasiorv]

From your post it sounds like you want to keep Jeep 2 and 3 and sell Jeep 1 so go with what you want to do. Tops and doors will work themselves out over time.

Not sure what the experience of the driver has to do with the conversation as it relates to a daily driver. But I do think as it relates to wheeling that everyone should start out with open diffs, under geared, and a 2.72:1 transfer case, it is the best teacher
Then when they upgrade they understand why and how to utilize the new tools.

Or you could put Jeep 1 and 2 both up for sale just as they are and then keep whichever one doesn't sell first for the daughter. Put it in fates hand.

 

[BDub]

This place looks like it has a set of silver doors a reasonable distance from you. I found it on car-part.com the pics show both doors and appear to be undamaged. Based on the listed cost of the single they have listed it would be less than $600 for the set.

 

[JMT]

From your post it sounds like you want to keep Jeep 2 and 3 and sell Jeep 1 so go with what you want to do. Tops and doors will work themselves out over time.

Not sure what the experience of the driver has to do with the conversation as it relates to a daily driver. But I do think as it relates to wheeling that everyone should start out with open diffs, under geared, and a 2.72:1 transfer case, it is the best teacher
Then when they upgrade they understand why and how to utilize the new tools.

Or you could put Jeep 1 and 2 both up for sale just as they are and then keep whichever one doesn't sell first for the daughter. Put it in fates hand.

My daughter would just drive jeep 1 on the road. She wanted a Jeep, but I learned as we went along she didn't really want to go off-road. LOL.

I asked because my decision fatigue. Literally what I really want is someone to just tell me what to do. I've never been in this situation before, but making a thousand decisions a day does something to you. Mostly make you incoherent. It's the only reason I posted any of this. What I want to do may be stupid. I'm willing to totally admit that and just default to what others say is smart.

I am concerned she is not experienced enough to take over a nice rig like my Jeep 2, so I thought maybe I could keep her in hers for about a year and then sell it and move her to mine. Even one year isn't much experience. I could do what you suggested and put both up for sale. Good idea.

 

[lBasket]

Heck why not just let em sit til you're less overwhelmed? They'll survive a year or two of sitting.

 

[rasband]

Heck why not just let em sit til you're less overwhelmed? They'll survive a year or two of sitting.

100% this, unless you need to offload one - current market it's not losing too much value if any at all.

 

[gasiorv]

Myself, Having kids living at home and driving age. I understand the insurance implications of having extra vehicles laying around. If you could set them to the side without driving and insuring them that is one thing (but who wants to just be storing a vehicle and not able to use it). To have an extra vehicle or vehicles parked and paying insurance on it can get expensive when you have driving age kids in the household. If she is not interested in offroading then who cares which jeep she ends up with . Figure out which one you can make the most money from and sell it.

I also lack all empathy and piss off most people with my input. So keep in mind that my 2 cents is usually good from a certain view (monetary, technical, etc...) but lacks that personal touch.

 

[Apparition]

Myself, Having kids living at home and driving age. I understand the insurance implications of having extra vehicles laying around. If you could set them to the side without driving and insuring them that is one thing (but who wants to just be storing a vehicle and not able to use it). To have an extra vehicle or vehicles parked and paying insurance on it can get expensive when you have driving age kids in the household. If she is not interested in offroading then who cares which jeep she ends up with . Figure out which one you can make the most money from and sell it.

I also lack all empathy and piss off most people with my input. So keep in mind that my 2 cents is usually good from a certain view (monetary, technical, etc...) but lacks that personal touch.

With all my vehicles I put them in storage with the insurance when I’m not using them. I’ll turn it on for a weekend here and there and turn it back off on Monday.

Still covered if something happens (when not driving) and it makes it like $50 for 6 months.

 

[gasiorv]

With all my vehicles I put them in storage with the insurance when I’m not using them. I’ll turn it on for a weekend here and there and turn it back off on Monday.

Still covered if something happens (when not driving) and it makes it like $50 for 6 months.

You insure them in storage? Is it just comprehensive and then when you drive it you add liability and possibly collision for the weekend?

 

[Apparition]

You insure them in storage? Is it just comprehensive and then when you drive it you add liability and possibly collision for the weekend?

Correct because storage is not always at my house I want them somewhat covered. Yes on the liability turning on.

If homeowners would cover them in a garage then could drop it completely but it probably depends on policy and provider.

 

[Rickyd]

Guys,

I have some decisions to make with the Jeeps and I am having trouble making them with all the decisions we're having to make. The good news is we are in a home. The contract went through on Friday. Now for help. Some good advice that makes sense. I probably won't be able to return to working on Jeeps for awhile. I'm hoping this Winter I will realistically get back in the garage, but it could be a year or more. Right now I'm just trying to get everything I need for the garage. Currently I have some red stuff and it's just laying on the floor.

Jeep 1: My daughters 2004 Red TJ 100k 42rle 4" lift and 31's (missed leg day). I bought for $6200 before the fire, put new haltenberger style steering in, added a BT head unit, fixed her headlights, side markers, and turn signals, put new shocks front and rear. The frame has surface rust and most of that is still there since I didn't get to removing about 90% of it. 10% done and repainted.

Jeep 2: My 2005 Red TJ 125k 42rle forum recipe for 35's, locked, 4:1 tera low, short arm. I put a lot of money and time in this rig. Bought at Christmas 2016. It's a great rig. Problem is the hardtop burned in the fire. I have no top. A trektop is $1,000. I'm thinking of selling this rig or giving it to my daughter and selling her Jeep 1 (above). At least that way we get to keep this rig in the family. I doubt I would ever recoup anywhere near the amount of money I dumped into it. The other one I think I could sell for $7500.

Jeep 3: My 2004 Silver LJ 200k 42rle everything I can imagine on 37's locked 4:1 BBK, Hydro Assist Steering. Bought from Maximus. It's really the rig I definitely want to keep. My problem is the full doors and Trektop soft windows burned. I am having trouble finding full replacement doors. If I could find some I could at least buy the Trektop soft windows and be enclosed for the winter. They are like $2500 on EBay. Windows are only $399. Right now it just has custom half doors and they don't have any uppers that work with them. I made them.

All this is really expensive. If I could find some doors it would all cost about $4,000. I guess I'm just at a stalemate on what to do. I love my red TJ, but I'm thinking of letting it go. Probably need to buy some kind of soft top anyway. Maybe I just need to talk this out.

I guess maybe my question is should I sell my daughter's Jeep 1 above and just give her my Jeep 2 for now? IDK, she's not that skilled a driver and I'd be putting her in a really nice rig. Sorry @tworley for being wordy.

I suggest treating this like a death in the family with an estate involved.

Put it all on ice for a year while you deal with the whirlwind. Slow and steady choices wins the race. Put rigs on non-op if you need to. You have much more important things to focus on than jeeps right now. Stow them on the shelf so you don't ditch them to make room for things that really matter. You'll be glad you have these problems to play with when life lets you

 

[JMT]

This is all good advice and help. Gives me a way of looking at it from the outside. Thank you.

 

[Mike_H]

I like the idea of putting both red ones for sale and seeing which one moved first. List them as is and at a price you can stomach.

Re: the LJ...I'll look for a set of doors. Shipping can be brutal, but there are full doors out here (because they ALL come with full doors). They aren't too badly priced (500-800 bucks a pair). Hell, I have a spare driver full door you can have (has some rust on the bottom seam and won't have an interior panel) but it would get you through the winter.