Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift
- Thread starter Wildman
- Start date
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
Stock the Skid Row skid has angle iron on it to help keep it from bending. But I'd bent it once before so I added a second layer of angle iron to it. I'll go back and find the pictures.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
The skid plates that have the edges that turned up weren't wide enough for the V-8. I'd bought a UCF skid plate and the turned up edges would have hit the oil pan.
Both @NashvilleTJ and myself run similar skids and both of us have bent them. And have added the additional angle iron to try to keep from bending them again.
Both @NashvilleTJ and myself run similar skids and both of us have bent them. And have added the additional angle iron to try to keep from bending them again.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
Nope not enough room unless I wanted the front of the skid plate a lot lower. And that wouldn't be any good. Plus what would be the benefit to add angle iron to the tops?
And you couldn't run it all the way because the skid has to mount to the belly skid.
The idea was to increase strength without compromising clearance. But if you don’t have roof, you don’t have room.
You wouldn’t need to run it all the way, since the added thickness of the bolted connection to the belly skid would increase strength on it’s own, I think.
Refrains from inappropriate date nite analogies.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
I guess I'll have to wait and see if it bends again. If it does then I might have to look at trying to add something about the plate.
The first time it bent it wasn't a lot and never bent more. It just had a little wow in it. I was able to use my 20 ton press and bend it back straight. Then I added the second layer of angle iron. It's welded along the sides and plug welded.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
Took it out for a quick spin to log what the transmission pressure was doing plus to test the AiRock for Steve.
Of course now that I'd told Steve that it wasn't going into Active mode it does. I'd been messing with some of the connections so it might have been a poor connection at one of the plugs. But the good news is it's working again.
So next on the list of things to get accomplished is the hydro assist steering cylinder mounted.
If things keep going the way they are we need to start looking at a date in the middle to later November for the shakedown run. I'll post up more info in the WA thread.
Of course now that I'd told Steve that it wasn't going into Active mode it does. I'd been messing with some of the connections so it might have been a poor connection at one of the plugs. But the good news is it's working again.
So next on the list of things to get accomplished is the hydro assist steering cylinder mounted.
If things keep going the way they are we need to start looking at a date in the middle to later November for the shakedown run. I'll post up more info in the WA thread.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
On another note,, my son is coming to visit from FL for a few days so I'll have a strong back to help put the front bumper & 8274 back in place. Plus I hope to enlist his help on a few thing I want to do to the motorhome.
Since I'll need to cycle the front suspension to do the hydro assist cylinder I'll enlist his strong back to remove the front tires also and then having that extra pair of hands while I try to decide where to mount the cylinder.
Since I'll need to cycle the front suspension to do the hydro assist cylinder I'll enlist his strong back to remove the front tires also and then having that extra pair of hands while I try to decide where to mount the cylinder.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
I need to check mine again just to make sure that it's OK.
I've got the TMR DIY alignment tool. https://www.tmrcustoms.com/collections/trending/products/diy-toe-alignment-tool
Just checking toe? Any checking of the axles squareness?
When I had a before/after on my 4" at the dealership (best option locally who does lifted Jeeps so they would understand the adjustable arms), unfortunately they didn't give a comparison printout... But it went from scary-to-drive, to bring a go kart on rails.
Seen the videos of you up in the speed, I'm amazed you're as dialed in on your setup.
I didn’t do anything to the angle on the under side of the skid
Man, that skid has been modified so many times it's tough to remember. I didn't do anything to the angle on the underside, it's still the 1" x .250 angle that came with it. That bent a few times, after which I added a 1.5" x .250 square tube on the top of the passenger side. There is no room to do the same on the driver's side. Despite my normal abuse, it has not bent yet.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
I guess I must be remembering someone else because I'd swore you'd put a second layer of angle iron on your skid. But then I don't remember reading about you adding the square tubing either. Glad to hear you haven't bent it again.
No I did or tried to do the checks that Dirt Lifestyle talks about using lazers. I'm not going to claim I did it great but it did help.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
I was showing off the Jeep to my son when I found this.... I'd thought I had the GMRS antenna cable secured off enough for this to not happen.
Then I took my son out for a road test in the Jeep.
Then when we came back since he is the audiophile he adjusted the stereo & amps for me.
Next we got the Kicker subwoofer mounted to the half storage box. And while we had the speaker out of the sub box as we were reassembling it installed the grille for the speaker to protect it.
Next was time to work on the front bumper. After some discussion decided that I'd mount the rock cam onto the bumper and use the Motobilt logo as the spot for the camera to poke thru. But the camera was too deep and would poke thru the bumper so needed a small standoff for it. So I took a small piece of flat stock and cut it down then drilled & tapped it for the camera mounting bracket.
Added a hole in the center of it and plug welded it along with welds on either side to secure it to the bumper.
This should work out pretty good but we'll see once I get it all hooked up.
Lastly I added some cable ties to the bumper for cable management.
So at this point the bumper is ready to get mounted back onto the Jeep.
Then I took my son out for a road test in the Jeep.
Then when we came back since he is the audiophile he adjusted the stereo & amps for me.
Next we got the Kicker subwoofer mounted to the half storage box. And while we had the speaker out of the sub box as we were reassembling it installed the grille for the speaker to protect it.
Next was time to work on the front bumper. After some discussion decided that I'd mount the rock cam onto the bumper and use the Motobilt logo as the spot for the camera to poke thru. But the camera was too deep and would poke thru the bumper so needed a small standoff for it. So I took a small piece of flat stock and cut it down then drilled & tapped it for the camera mounting bracket.
Added a hole in the center of it and plug welded it along with welds on either side to secure it to the bumper.
This should work out pretty good but we'll see once I get it all hooked up.
Lastly I added some cable ties to the bumper for cable management.
So at this point the bumper is ready to get mounted back onto the Jeep.
I don't know if you have a name for your jeep but Gizmo comes to mind.
Keep up the dedication and great work!
Keep up the dedication and great work!
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
I've never been into naming my rigs... POS or God Damn It is about as good as they get for a name.
Wildman
Over Analyzer Extraordinaire & Attention Whore
Original poster
Staff Member
Supporting Member
Got a late start on the Jeep because I was visiting with my son first thing this morning.
While I was working on the front bumper my son put the heat barrier shielding on the transmission tunnel and then trimmed the floor liners to fit around the stanchions for the cage.
Plan to take it out for a road test tomorrow and see what the heat is like now through the floor board.
I'll see how this works for me with driving.
Bumper is remounted and got the winch hooked back up and all the lights hooked up also.
Then adjusted the Rock camera
Then spent way too much time looking for the heim joint for the hydro assist steering cylinder. Did find the tie rod clamp & thought I'd put the heim with it but no such luck. So finally gave up and just ordered a new one from PSC. Now that I've ordered the new heim I will of course find the missing heim.
While I was working on the front bumper my son put the heat barrier shielding on the transmission tunnel and then trimmed the floor liners to fit around the stanchions for the cage.
Plan to take it out for a road test tomorrow and see what the heat is like now through the floor board.
I'll see how this works for me with driving.
Bumper is remounted and got the winch hooked back up and all the lights hooked up also.
Then adjusted the Rock camera
Then spent way too much time looking for the heim joint for the hydro assist steering cylinder. Did find the tie rod clamp & thought I'd put the heim with it but no such luck. So finally gave up and just ordered a new one from PSC. Now that I've ordered the new heim I will of course find the missing heim.