What did you do to your TJ today?

[B1Toad]

Your finished panel looks pretty good. I'd be keen to see how these hold up over time. My full door panels are in decent shape (passenger side has a crack like your driver side does), but I've got some early TJ (lighter gray) half door panels that could use a little love. Getting them dyed seemed like a good idea but I can't find anyone who does it locally.

A lot of it is in the prep. clean, clean and clean. You have to clean before scuffing or you risk getting contaminants into the surface when you scuff. Then clean some more. Then the proper adhesion promotor for the type of plastic you have with the proper timing between applications and then multiple mist coats of color 10 minutes apart. Finally cure indoors overnight then bake out in the sun for a couple days.

4 years ago I did the dash and door panel on my motorhome, they were in terrible shape from 9 years in the sun. Now they look like new and holding up extremely well, the finish is tough. Hoping for the same on these.

 

[chili_pepper]

A lot of it is in the prep. clean, clean and clean. You have to clean before scuffing or you risk getting contaminants into the surface when you scuff. Then clean some more.

Any successful refinishing project is 99% prep, for sure. I was a paint/body tech in a former life.

4 years ago I did the dash and door panel on my motorhome, they were in terrible shape from 9 years in the sun. Now they look like new and holding up extremely well, the finish is tough. Hoping for the same on these.

My biggest concern, particularly with the door cards, would be with finish scratching.

Is the Color Bond material actually designed to be a match for the factory slate (?) color or did you just get lucky and find something close? I say that as it looks mighty close in your photos...

 

[MattTJRubicon82]

What beadlocks are those?

Kmc Grenades 17x9 if I recall.

 

[hear]

finished replacing the ingnition tumbler & trim pieces in my 97, but for the time being my ignition is keyed differently from my doors, which are hanging in the garage.

Somebody mentioned having the dealer cut you a new key based on your vin...is that really a thing?

 

[jwilkinson01]

finished replacing the ingnition tumbler & trim pieces in my 97, but for the time being my ignition is keyed differently from my doors, which are hanging in the garage.

Somebody mentioned having the dealer cut you a new key based on your vin...is that really a thing?

I had a new ignition key cut at the dealership based on my VIN. My other key had worn down so much from 25 years of being carried in my pocket that copying it would not have worked

Edit: I thought I needed a new ignition, but it turned out that the tip of the key was just so worn down that it was inserting too far into the ignition for the tumblers to line up right. Here’s a picture of the new one versus the old one:

 

[Rickyd]

finished replacing the ingnition tumbler & trim pieces in my 97, but for the time being my ignition is keyed differently from my doors, which are hanging in the garage.

Somebody mentioned having the dealer cut you a new key based on your vin...is that really a thing?

If I remember right there are only 4 different heights of tumbler. If the dealer can't pull it up I'm sure a locksmith or site somewhere can cut you one if you know the positions of tumblers 1-4

 

[Dr. Internet]

I fixed my blower motor resistor connector and wires. This is what it looked like for the last year. finally fixed it properly by soldering in a new connector and replacing the resistor.

View attachment 554033

Did you replace the blower motor, too? If not, consider replacing the motor, too. The resistors don't just fail. They fail due to excessive current, which is almost always caused by a failing fan motor.

 

[B1Toad]

Is the Color Bond material actually designed to be a match for the factory slate (?) color or did you just get lucky and find something close? I say that as it looks mighty close in your photos...

The Color Bond #163 is Chrysler Agate and is identical to my original color, can't tell them apart. I found that out on a search some time back, it's used on Dodge trucks as well. (Actually on my build sheet my interior is listed as Agate, not Slate so I doubt it would match Slate and I haven't seen anyone being able to match Slate in my searches.)

As far as scratching, after 36 hours I can't scratch it with a fingernail so I'm optimistic.

 

[chili_pepper]

The Color Bond #163 is Chrysler Agate and is identical to my original color, can't tell them apart. I found that out on a search some time back, it's used on Dodge trucks as well. (Actually on my build sheet my interior is listed as Agate, not Slate so I doubt it would match Slate and I haven't seen anyone being able to match Slate in my searches.)

As far as scratching, after 36 hours I can't scratch it with a fingernail so I'm optimistic.

I'm not sure where I got Slate, but I'd say that's as good a match as I've seen to the color of my interior plastics (2005 LJ). I might just have a go with this product on the half door cards, which are the lighter gray from the early TJ's.

 

[B1Toad]

I'm not sure where I got Slate, but I'd say that's as good a match as I've seen to the color of my interior plastics (2005 LJ). I might just have a go with this product on the half door cards, which are the lighter gray from the early TJ's.

I much prefer SEM products for their larger lineup of prep products and their fantastic support and help videos, but they don't have a color to match mine. Colorbond has a poor selection of adhesion promotors, really just one that I could find. I emailed SEM with my plastic type (>HCPP<) and they responded the next morning with the correct SEM part number to use.

 

[chili_pepper]

I'm not sure where I got Slate, but I'd say that's as good a match as I've seen to the color of my interior plastics (2005 LJ). I might just have a go with this product on the half door cards, which are the lighter gray from the early TJ's.

Looks like there actually was a color change for my year, but when I look at them on the Colorbond site, I can't tell the difference...nice that they have both...

 

[hear]

If I remember right there are only 4 different heights of tumbler. If the dealer can't pull it up I'm sure a locksmith or site somewhere can cut you one if you know the positions of tumblers 1-4

I haven't done anything to the cylinder other than remove it from the steering column, so yeah, I bet a locksmith is going to be the easiset route. Thanks.

 

[Rickyd]

I haven't done anything to the cylinder other than remove it from the steering column, so yeah, I bet a locksmith is going to be the easiset route. Thanks.

You can buy new tumblers to put in your new cylinder so it's all new?

When I got my tj it had locks from 4 different tjs so I got a crash course in rekeying everything. The details are hazy now but if i remember right tumbler kits for chrysler ignition,door and trunk let me do the jeep

 

[97JadeTJ]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… Cherish the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

 

[Apparition]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… enjoy the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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So sorry for your loss.

 

[jwilkinson01]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… enjoy the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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So sorry to hear, brother.

 

[lBasket]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… enjoy the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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Damn dude I'm sorry.

 

[mjonesjr84]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… enjoy the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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Man that sucks. At least you had one last ride before hand. Sorry for your loss.

Stay active on the forums, it could help keep your head level.

 

[Rickyd]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… Cherish the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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Damn,sorry man. I hope your family can be close.

 

[John Cooper]

Went on a ride with my wife/best friend/navigator Friday the 23rd… Didn’t have any idea it would be our last… She passed early Saturday morning from a heart attack… Please keep our family in your prayers… Cherish the time you have with your loved ones because more time is not guaranteed!

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So sorry for your loss, will be praying for you and yours!!