What did you do to your TJ today?

[Doug-AK]

Must be exhaust manifold week. My exhaust manifold had been making noise for a couple years but wasn't too bad that it needed replacement yet. When Jade started squealing a bit, I thought it was an idler pulley and replaced both of them, since they were both worn. The squeal continued and was getting louder, so I had a friend help confirm that it was a faulty intake gasket. After a couple rounds of CRC Knock'er Loose, all the bolts easily came out. I also discovered that 2 of the bolts were missing and both of them were near the firewall on cylinder #1. When a shop had replaced the exhaust manifold and exhaust system (when my dad owned Jade), they broke the stud and just left it. Then they didn't replace the bolt on the other side for #1 exhaust. Just to make sure the exhaust system would fail sooner than later, they didn't install an exhaust manifold gasket. I'm surprised the exhaust wasn't noisier and that it took this long for the intake gasket to fail with no bolts attached the manifolds to cylinder #1. Since I had most of the top off, I am also replacing the leaky RTV on the valve cover with a Fel-Pro gasket.

I never have much luck using a bolt extractor and usually break the extractor, which is almost impossible to drill out. I tried using the Torx bit method by drilling the bolt and then pounding in a T-20 Torx bit. Having used a fair amount of CRC Knock'er Loose, it easily came out. It might require a little heat to remove the stud from the Torx bit, though.

With the intake and exhaust ports are a little gunked-up, I soaked paper towels in Sea-Foam and inserted them into the ports while cleaning around the valve cover. The intake will get a gentle cleaning, too. Anything else I should do while the intake and exhaust manifolds are off and I can easily get to the motor? Don't say to swap it out with the 4.0 in my driveway. As soon as I get this one back on the road, the 4.0 is going into my 2000 Sahara.

View attachment 559300View attachment 559301

Finally got Jade back together and running. Amazing how much more power the ol' 2.5L has after a fresh intake/exhaust gasket that seals and a complete set of manifold bolts. I push on the gas and it actually accelerates! My Jeep doesn't that "tin can" sound like something from an old war movie, either.

It would have been a one day job but I had to wait the weekend for the local parts store to get the "in stock" parts I bought online from the other locations in town. So while waiting, I bought a 3/8" power ratchet, since every job done at home deserves a new tool! It took a couple more days for the exhaust pipe flange bolts. And then I dropped a manifold bolt down the exhaust. The shop towel covering the exhaust had moved out of the zone, leaving it wide open for the bolt to slam-dunk it down the pipe. It was near the cat, so I couldn't fish it out by dropping a magnet down the pipe. How to remove a dropped bolt inside an exhaust pipe: I used a large magnet against the exterior of the exhaust pipe to "grab" the bolt. By giving the pipe an occasional shake, I knew the bolt was being magnetically gripped as it was dragged along the pipe. I was able to move the bolt to the first bend of the exhaust, where I could drop a magnet down the pipe and pulled it out. (Yes, I wrote this for the future "me" since I will undoubtedly do this again

I'm glad TJ's are easy to work on.

 

[D's Jeep Wrld]

As of today I gave it a quick wash,I'll do a detail on my chassis here in a bit

I like the camera glare on this one and the clouds

And as of yesterday i accidentally got me a really cheap pair of KMC beadlocks for 290 bucks at summit,I only went there to pick up a fuel pump rod for a sbc and came out with extra ......can't complain I actually wanted these for my rig too! Now I Just need the other pair and maybe some 35s that I'll only use on the trail

here's why she really needs a chassis clean,due to the old worn out U-joints slinging grease everywhere! Got to draw a smiley face and my initialls. Some new Non-greasable Spicer units have taken place and now she really rides nice and smooth going 90 Front u joints are next though! Cause the vibrations are intermittent. Unless I grease them,then no vibrations at all

Overall very easy job! Never done u-joints but some common sense does you good,It honestly took me longer to set the preload ?finding the Clips that hold the caps since they vary in Thickness so I have them setup to where some resistance is felt and not loose to the point that can move the joint side to side !

 

[Willys LJ]

Finally got Jade back together and running. Amazing how much more power the ol' 2.5L has after a fresh intake/exhaust gasket that seals and a complete set of manifold bolts. I push on the gas and it actually accelerates! My Jeep doesn't that "tin can" sound like something from an old war movie, either.

It would have been a one day job but I had to wait the weekend for the local parts store to get the "in stock" parts I bought online from the other locations in town. So while waiting, I bought a 3/8" power ratchet, since every job done at home deserves a new tool! It took a couple more days for the exhaust pipe flange bolts. And then I dropped a manifold bolt down the exhaust. The shop towel covering the exhaust had moved out of the zone, leaving it wide open for the bolt to slam-dunk it down the pipe. It was near the cat, so I couldn't fish it out by dropping a magnet down the pipe. How to remove a dropped bolt inside an exhaust pipe: I used a large magnet against the exterior of the exhaust pipe to "grab" the bolt. By giving the pipe an occasional shake, I knew the bolt was being magnetically gripped as it was dragged along the pipe. I was able to move the bolt to the first bend of the exhaust, where I could drop a magnet down the pipe and pulled it out. (Yes, I wrote this for the future "me" since I will undoubtedly do this again

I'm glad TJ's are easy to work on.

Seems to be an epidemic of dropping bolts into hard to reach places lately.

 

[MikeE024]

Installed my Flowmaster cats, less the third one. The only difference in the '03+ kit to the '00 it went on was the third cat hanger bracket; it didn't line up. Luckily I had already purchased a 5' stick of 2.5" stainless pipe. I had been debating not running the third cat.

View attachment 559742
View attachment 559743
View attachment 559744
View attachment 559745


Started installing the Rough Country long arm conversation kit. And before I get hate for using RC, I have seen this kit best on and still runs great. I like their kit.

View attachment 559746


Unloaded and checked out the new axles. These East Coast Gear Dana 489's are nice. They have 4.88's and ARB's. The rear has upgraded SET20 bearings and disc brakes.

Can't wait until next weekend to get these babies installed. I don't have help this weekend and I'm out of town with work all week .

View attachment 559747
View attachment 559748

How close are the heat shields on the pre-cats to the oil pan?

Any shots from underneath looking up at the shields and edge of the pan would be greatly appreciated if you have them.

For example, are they more like photo #1 or #2?

I cut my exhaust after the pre-cat's join so I don't have the stock piping to help me align things...just want to do it correct before it gets welded to the turbo piping. Thanks, again.

 

[ksdaoski]

Power steering flush

 

[suicideking]

I have two TJ's: My rock crawler LJ and a DD Sahara. I was using the Sahara as a DD for a bit, but now have a Ram 1500 as my DD. Speakers sounded like garbage in the LJ and unknown age or specs. I had put new JL 5.25" in the Sahara about a year ago, so figured I'd swap the front ones in my LJ since the Sahara will be going to my kids soon (15 yo about to get his learners permit).

The LJ apparently had 4" Polk. Moved the 5.25" JL to the LJ with no problem. Upon testing the 4" Polk in the Sahara, discovered the passenger side doesn't even work. So now wondering if that's why it sounded like crap. Unlike the simple Metra adapters on the JL, the Polk that came out of the LJ look like the have a capacitor built in to the adapter. So hoping something went bad with that odd contraption. Ordered the Metra adapters on Amazon for $10 and will cross my fingers connecting it when they arrive. Otherwise, I'll need a new set of speakers for the front, and don't really want to spend any more money on it.

Pics just because. Also because I had a laugh seeing what the PO did to trim the grilles.

View attachment 558747

View attachment 558748

View attachment 558749

Got the Metra adapters on Amazon and luckily that fixed this speaker. Removed the hacked up grille and happy I don't need to buy a new set of speakers. These are only 4", but sound good enough for a TJ I'm giving to my kids.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Picked up a hitchhiker... making a nasty comment about the empty duck pond.
View attachment 559960

I miss my passenger during the Covid years. I had it in my TJ and XJ, then tinted the windows and people couldn't see it.

 

[suicideking]

I miss my passenger during the Covid years. I had it in my TJ and XJ, then tinted the windows and people couldn't see it.
View attachment 560084

Looks like you're ready for the car pool lane.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Got the Metra adapters on Amazon and luckily that fixed this speaker. Removed the hacked up grille and happy I don't need to buy a new set of speakers. These are only 4", but sound good enough for a TJ I'm giving to my kids.


View attachment 560083

They'll put an amp and 12" subs in the back when they get it.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Looks like you're ready for the car pool lane.

I tried that going to D.C. and got pulled and ticketed. Cops had no sense of humor.

 

[suicideking]

They'll put an amp and 12" subs in the back when they get it.

Shit, I'd help with the install if they wanted to do that. I'd much rather help lift it 4" and put 35's on it so they can go wheeling with me.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Shit, I'd help with the install if they wanted to do that. I'd much rather help lift it 4" and put 35's on it so they can go wheeling with me.

Damn good dad!

 

[John Cooper]

Shit, I'd help with the install if they wanted to do that. I'd much rather help lift it 4" and put 35's on it so they can go wheeling with me.

Damn good dad!

Thinking of starting a go fund me page for my oldest granddaughter.

She is 9 and wants a TJ like mine.

Figure if I start it now, by the time she is 16, there might be enough to buy her one

 

[John Cooper]

@AndyG will be too old to drive his by then. Lowball him. Just saying.

And by then he should have it up and running like a champ!!!!!

Replacing all the axles, new engine, transmission, tires and what not!!!!

 

[mjonesjr84]

How close are the heat shields on the pre-cats to the oil pan?

Any shots from underneath looking up at the shields and edge of the pan would be greatly appreciated if you have them.

For example, are they more like photo #1 or #2?

View attachment 560063

View attachment 560064

I cut my exhaust after the pre-cat's join so I don't have the stock piping to help me align things...just want to do it correct before it gets welded to the turbo piping. Thanks, again.

When I get home from church and get back to the shop, I'll snap a picture for you.

 

[cmoore]

I finished my CJ grille mod on my LJ-R
https://wranglertjforum.com/posts/1616308/

 

[mjonesjr84]

How close are the heat shields on the pre-cats to the oil pan?

Any shots from underneath looking up at the shields and edge of the pan would be greatly appreciated if you have them.

For example, are they more like photo #1 or #2?

View attachment 560063

View attachment 560064

I cut my exhaust after the pre-cat's join so I don't have the stock piping to help me align things...just want to do it correct before it gets welded to the turbo piping. Thanks, again.

 

[MikeE024]

View attachment 560186

View attachment 560187

Ok, so pretty darn close. No issues with them sealing so far I assume?

Thanks man!

 

[mjonesjr84]

Ok, so pretty darn close. No issues with them sealing so far I assume?

Thanks man!

I only started it once for about 10 minutes in didn't hear no miss

 

[MikeE024]

I only started it once for about 10 minutes in didn't hear no miss

It won’t sound like a tractor unless it’s way off (causing a significant leak), but you’d get a B1/2 sensor 2 code for a slight leak (had a P0431 after I bent the flange).

Your setup is easily adjustable, so no need to sweat it.

Thanks again for the reference!