Well, about time to start Clementine's build thread. I think the story started about 4/11/22. I had been on and off shopping for a Jeep since November. Eventually in February, narrowed it down to an LJ. Looked at lots - mostly with a bunch of rust. Saw Clementine on a couple websites - she was about 800 miles away. I planned the trip, got it inspected - made the drive and she came home with me. Should have taken more pictures...
Clementine waiting to get on the trailer
Clementine at her new home
Shortly after purchasing her, I started on her build, But getting a bit ahead of the story.
The real story started probably about 25 years earlier. My car was dying a hard and cruel death, and I got a 4x4 truck. Shortly afterwards, I got into kayaking. I started modifying it into a kayaking vehicle. That was not much really – camper cap and kayak rack. As a kayaking truck it was great – I sleep many, many nights in that truck. But ultimately it became way too undependable. Sadly, I loosing it ultimately losing it virtually ended my kayaking career.
In 2017, I thought getting my wife a Jeep would solve the problem. But she would not share. Absolutely would not let me put a roof rack on it. I thought when she wanted to retire it, I could get it. Nope, she sold it to someone else. Jeep she replaced it with still had the same no roof rack policy. So, my Jeep quest began – and we were eventually back to 4/11.
First step was to remove a few annoyances. The seat position was raised – OMG that made driving much more enjoyable. The hood was vibrating pretty bad, so I changed out the worn out stock latches with pins.
Then the next step was to make it flat towable. I replace the front bumper with a Hard Rock 4x4 bumper that was tow rated. While I was at it, I also replaced the rear bumper with a tire carrier bumper – I really did not want to hurt my rear door. The front bumper had a spot for a winch, so added that as well.
Clementine came with a 4” lift. Did not really want that, but oh well. Also came with 35” tires on 17” rims. 33” tires were a better fit for the lift (no body lift), so I changed them to narrower 33” tires on 15” rims.
After a few trips to the ranch with the Labs, also decided to put a Dirty Dog Barrier in.
Meanwhile, realized that she had stock gearing – so went to work on getting that changed. Since she was going to the shop and going to have the diff opened up, perfect time for lockers. She did not handle well on the gravel road to my ranch, so decided to put a Sway-Loc on her. Oh well, might as well add onboard air and make those air lockers. Shop put in a SwitchPro to control it all. Almost done – right, nope.
Did Clementines second road trip. Navigating with a cell phone left a lot to be desired – so decided to put in an Alpine IC-507. Well it can handle front and rear cameras – so put them on as well.
Realized the existing lift was not the greatest and was wearing out – so tried to get a Savvy lift on with Currect Link. The shop did not have the time to install those – and next appointment was 3 months out. So I had them installed by a local shop – which did not do the best of jobs. Went to a different local shop to correct the mess and get her aligned. While I was at that, attempted to get the shocks replaced.
A major thing I wanted was a roof rack. Ultimately, I decided to replace my hardtop with a Bulldawg highlander with a Pioneer platform. Had a few issues with that, but they only took time. After sitting in the driveway for over a month (working out the issues), the new hard top was on. While I was doing that, mounted an Arizona Rocky Road radio mount. The GMRS is still in the box – working on an antenna mount.
Since things were going quicker, got the rest of the front bumper install finished – my fog lights are not back. Also mounted an Arizona Rocky Road Radio mount.
Things have been happening a bit quicker now. Shop only replaced 2 of the shocks. But got a 3rd road trip in. This trip was to get my shark rack ordered – and got an engine code – misfiring on cylinder 3. She went back to the shop today. While she is there, they are going to work on fixing the lift install a little more, clean up my camera install, and put the rear shocks on. Meanwhile, will be calling the fab shop for the shark rack fitting. Also planning on putting a cargo basked above my spare tire, mostly to build a ladder into it’s frame to get onto the roof easier. Plus it will give me a great place to put the GMRS antenna.
Meanwhile, have been building a rear sleeping/cargo platform. It will be essentially a Gray Mouser build. It's cut and glued up now (screwed, glued, and pegged), will post some pictures in the next installment as I do the finish work. I am going to try poor man's fiberglass - hopefully I can get enough strength with this method to forgo the reinforcements in the Gray Mouser plan. Will say the post Covid plywood is the worst stuff I have ever worked with. So many voids - I took 2 hrs glueing in stock just to seal up the edge voids.
Clementine waiting to get on the trailer
Clementine at her new home
Shortly after purchasing her, I started on her build, But getting a bit ahead of the story.
The real story started probably about 25 years earlier. My car was dying a hard and cruel death, and I got a 4x4 truck. Shortly afterwards, I got into kayaking. I started modifying it into a kayaking vehicle. That was not much really – camper cap and kayak rack. As a kayaking truck it was great – I sleep many, many nights in that truck. But ultimately it became way too undependable. Sadly, I loosing it ultimately losing it virtually ended my kayaking career.
In 2017, I thought getting my wife a Jeep would solve the problem. But she would not share. Absolutely would not let me put a roof rack on it. I thought when she wanted to retire it, I could get it. Nope, she sold it to someone else. Jeep she replaced it with still had the same no roof rack policy. So, my Jeep quest began – and we were eventually back to 4/11.
First step was to remove a few annoyances. The seat position was raised – OMG that made driving much more enjoyable. The hood was vibrating pretty bad, so I changed out the worn out stock latches with pins.
Then the next step was to make it flat towable. I replace the front bumper with a Hard Rock 4x4 bumper that was tow rated. While I was at it, I also replaced the rear bumper with a tire carrier bumper – I really did not want to hurt my rear door. The front bumper had a spot for a winch, so added that as well.
Clementine came with a 4” lift. Did not really want that, but oh well. Also came with 35” tires on 17” rims. 33” tires were a better fit for the lift (no body lift), so I changed them to narrower 33” tires on 15” rims.
After a few trips to the ranch with the Labs, also decided to put a Dirty Dog Barrier in.
Meanwhile, realized that she had stock gearing – so went to work on getting that changed. Since she was going to the shop and going to have the diff opened up, perfect time for lockers. She did not handle well on the gravel road to my ranch, so decided to put a Sway-Loc on her. Oh well, might as well add onboard air and make those air lockers. Shop put in a SwitchPro to control it all. Almost done – right, nope.
Did Clementines second road trip. Navigating with a cell phone left a lot to be desired – so decided to put in an Alpine IC-507. Well it can handle front and rear cameras – so put them on as well.
Realized the existing lift was not the greatest and was wearing out – so tried to get a Savvy lift on with Currect Link. The shop did not have the time to install those – and next appointment was 3 months out. So I had them installed by a local shop – which did not do the best of jobs. Went to a different local shop to correct the mess and get her aligned. While I was at that, attempted to get the shocks replaced.
A major thing I wanted was a roof rack. Ultimately, I decided to replace my hardtop with a Bulldawg highlander with a Pioneer platform. Had a few issues with that, but they only took time. After sitting in the driveway for over a month (working out the issues), the new hard top was on. While I was doing that, mounted an Arizona Rocky Road radio mount. The GMRS is still in the box – working on an antenna mount.
Since things were going quicker, got the rest of the front bumper install finished – my fog lights are not back. Also mounted an Arizona Rocky Road Radio mount.
Things have been happening a bit quicker now. Shop only replaced 2 of the shocks. But got a 3rd road trip in. This trip was to get my shark rack ordered – and got an engine code – misfiring on cylinder 3. She went back to the shop today. While she is there, they are going to work on fixing the lift install a little more, clean up my camera install, and put the rear shocks on. Meanwhile, will be calling the fab shop for the shark rack fitting. Also planning on putting a cargo basked above my spare tire, mostly to build a ladder into it’s frame to get onto the roof easier. Plus it will give me a great place to put the GMRS antenna.
Meanwhile, have been building a rear sleeping/cargo platform. It will be essentially a Gray Mouser build. It's cut and glued up now (screwed, glued, and pegged), will post some pictures in the next installment as I do the finish work. I am going to try poor man's fiberglass - hopefully I can get enough strength with this method to forgo the reinforcements in the Gray Mouser plan. Will say the post Covid plywood is the worst stuff I have ever worked with. So many voids - I took 2 hrs glueing in stock just to seal up the edge voids.
