Joined the RedTJ club... Kinda

LBarr2002 · Apr 23, 2018

New battery in. Fired right up and purrs like a kitten. An old, asthmatic kitten, but purrs nonetheless.

I remember asking about stock tj battery hold downs. Back in 2012/13, I couldn't find them, but they're available now. This is what the generic rubber one looks like now

.

Can't get the factory one before Wednesday, so another rubber one for now.

matth_85 · Apr 24, 2018

I would like to do a factory one back in my TJ. Post the link when you can.

LBarr2002 · Apr 24, 2018

matth_85 said:

I just ordered a good looking used one from eBay. DaveysJeep was the seller. Morris4x4 has them but the bracket is $26.99 and the j hooks are $7.99 each.

https://www.morris4x4center.com/mopar-battery-bracket-55014361.html

https://www.morris4x4center.com/battery-hold-down-rod-j-bolt-55026434.html

matth_85 · Apr 24, 2018

Shoot, maybe I will stick with what I have a while longer. It's a universal one from the parts store but is similar to the OEM.

LBarr2002 · May 2, 2018

First trip with the trailer and I couldn't be happier. Thing handles like a sports car in the twistys. It reminds me of my old red drop spindle trailer, except this one isn't a home built piece of crap :smile:

Shilohsho · May 2, 2018

LBarr2002 said:

Better hide it until next April or prepare yourself for......

......."Hey, I need to borrow your trailer sometime......"

LBarr2002 · May 2, 2018

Shilohsho said:

They can borrow DJ or Dad's trailer until the new wears off :grin:

LBarr2002 · Sep 7, 2018

My old winch rope is going on the trailer. I got this rope a while back in a FB auction and finally picked up a thimble. Now I need to figure out why the brake doesn't work on the 9.5ti.

LBarr2002 · Dec 30, 2018

Since I postponed the motor swap, I figured I should change the oil and do the semi-annual inspection.

The UCF skids have been doing their job.

And the rear sway bar and link took a pretty hard hit at some point.

Harbor freight press to the rescue again.

DanStew · Dec 30, 2018

I am surprised you still have that thing connected

LBarr2002 · Dec 30, 2018

DanStew said:

It flexes just fine with it, enough to get the tires into fender plastic, and it drives great with it.

97TJGUZZY · Jan 2, 2019

LBarr2002 said:

Since I postponed the motor swap, I figured I should change the oil and do the semi-annual inspection.

The UCF skids have been doing their job.
View attachment 7995

And the rear sway bar and link took a pretty hard hit at some point.
View attachment 7996

Harbor freight press to the rescue again.
View attachment 7997

Is the link hitting something?

LBarr2002 · Jul 8, 2019

It has begun. Mileage was just shy of 155,000 when the motor was pulled.

https://www.offroadsc.com/threads/lm4-5-3l-and-4l60e-swap-into-2004-lj.5920/

LBarr2002 · Dec 31, 2019

Not directly related to engine swap, so back to your regularly scheduled build thread.

I have more go and need more whoa... I swapped out the brake master cylinder and booster today. The master cylinder was leaking out the piston and the booster was rusting badly. I don't know if there was actually anything wrong with the booster, but I had the parts and was to that point, so I changed it anyway. I've only driven it a little bit so I'll report back. It does feel a little better and more consistent in its stopping.

I also fixed my ARB leak.

Pre-Moab to do list.

LBarr2002 · Feb 16, 2020

Last week I got my 9.5ti brake assembly in from Clemson 4 Wheel. I pulled the bumper AGAIN and disassembled the winch. The brake assembly comes with a new drive shaft but I considered not changing it because that requires removing the gear housing. I could see some crusty grease in there so I went ahead and completely disassembled and glad I did.

Brooks came by seeking refuge from their cold and rainy camping trip so he helped me get it regreased and back together. This time, I decided to test it before putting it back in the bumper and on the jeep. I bolted to an old reciever insert mount I have laying around, put it in the truck, spooled it half way in and pulled against the jeep with it. Brake held!

While the bumper was off, I swapped the power steering line that got into the crank pulley. In that process we lost all the fluid from the reservoir and I don't have any more so that ended the progress for the day.

97TJGUZZY · Feb 18, 2020

LBarr2002 said:

Last week I got my 9.5ti brake assembly in from Clemson 4 Wheel. I pulled the bumper AGAIN and disassembled the winch. The brake assembly comes with a new drive shaft but I considered not changing it because that requires removing the gear housing. I could see some crusty grease in there so I went ahead and completely disassembled and glad I did.

Brooks came by seeking refuge from their cold and rainy camping trip so he helped me get it regreased and back together. This time, I decided to test it before putting it back in the bumper and on the jeep. I bolted to an old reciever insert mount I have laying around, put it in the truck, spooled it half way in and pulled against the jeep with it. Brake held!

While the bumper was off, I swapped the power steering line that got into the crank pulley. In that process we lost all the fluid from the reservoir and I don't have any more so that ended the progress for the day.

new amsoil on the way. The brake on that winch works like a champ now!

LBarr2002 · Feb 29, 2020

Winch is good, steering is done. Now waiting on cage...

LBarr2002 · Mar 6, 2020

Home. 15 hour day to pick up the cage from UCF in Dothan AL. Left at 4:00 AM.

LBarr2002 · Mar 7, 2020

I uncovered some ghosts of past owners pulling the stock cage. Someone had tapped in a couple speaker wires from the pods, by twisting and taping the connection, then put a short piece of wire in place of the cut and just twisting that too.

WTF Jeep?!

I twisted my security torx bit on this one. The other side came out with the twisted bit, but this one took vice grips.

All stripped down.

I got the new cage set in and some of the bolts started, but the windshield and the c pillars aren't lining up. I quit for the night before cutting anything.

matth_85 · Mar 7, 2020

Straps and or come-a-long needed any time you pull one out. I have a pipe stretcher if it gets too serious.