Joined the RedTJ club... Kinda

Much better.
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I cut everything that sticks up from the factory cross bars so that it was relatively flat (the tabs for cables and the tabs that stick up on the back). Then I redrilled the seat hole pattern directly on the cross bars. One of the front bolts is directly above the slider handle so I had to unbolt the cross piece and put the bolt in first. Then I welded a piece of angle and drilled and tapped it for the seat belt bolt. Everything worked out great.

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My small project from the workday Saturday.
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In 04-06 jeeps you have to drill a hole in the windshield trim plastic (that doesn't exist on earlier models). The measurements in the instructions suck because they don't give you an accurate reference point. I did the passenger side first so that if I screwed it up I wouldnt be staring at it all the time. Passenger side is perfect. Drivers side... missed a little with the hole and was barely able to get the trim back on.... oh well.
 
Since there's not going to be an *** in my passenger seat at OSCAR, I decided to get some cheap covers to keep the mud off. I picked up two of these. They fit and look slightly better than a trash bag and are less effective, but they were only $9 bucks each....
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6/4/17
Finally got around to cleaning the jeep up a little after Harlan, and get a better look at the damage.







Corners would have been nice earlier, so now plan is to straighten them as much as possible and cover with armor. Guess I need to start looking at my options.

I think my exogate is slightly tweaked too...

Rail bed. Right corner got hung up on a rock. Left corner picked up some hitchhikers.
 
7/1/17
I wouldn't last long at MAACO, but the fender is straight....er, the flare fits, and all the bare metal is covered with red paint. That'll do until I bend it again or I get corners.



7/6/17
The pictures were kind to it, it doesn't look that good in person. I started with a bottle jack on the inside of the crease and a 4lb sledge on the front. Then I moved to a smaller hammer and dolley. The flare took some heat to form back to its original shape.

I'm short one fender bolt and plastic nut. Anybody have those laying around?

7/21/17
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Took a little trip up to the NC/VA border today.

LM4 5.3 and 4l60e out of '04 Buick Rainier. This is the aluminum block version of the LM7 truck motor.

No planned timeline for install. I just felt that this was a good deal to have sitting around for the future.

I'll start another thread in the general section to document the process. I intend to document everything including costs and part numbers.
 
I bent the drag link at Windrock. I ordered a WFO concepts drag link gusset and picked up a new drag link, but the gusset hasn't come in. I'd much rather weld the gusset on with it on the bench, so I didn't want to put the new one on. But I needed to straighten it enough to do the toys for tots ride tomorrow.

The truck lending a tow hook.
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This and a sledge moved it some, but it sprang back. I was able to get my ball joint c clamp in there and move it pretty good. I'm close enough to drive it tomorrow.
 
Got my WFO concepts drag link gusset welded on a new drag link and all aligned again.

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Also did my first 5 tire rotation ever.
 
Also replaced my rear arb locker switch for the second time. It flew off on trail 15. Is this common? And why would you design a switch that is unusable without the cover?
 
Looks great man, Most all jeeps with the factory drag link could probably use this brace. I had one on mine when I had stock steering.
 
So I joked last week about my OSCAR prep being checking the oil and charging the battery. I actually did have one little issue from Daniel Boone to fix. Because we were on the road so much, I left the sway bar connected. Either going into the cave or coming out, i flexed too much and the sway bar invented. It bound up, lost the pin, bent the link, and egged the upper bushing.

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A few minutes with the press and it's serviceable again.

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Then I went to move the jeep out of the corner and it barely turned over. I ordered and advance battery for in store pickup because it was the quickest option. Go up there and they don't actually have one. So, tomorrow night it will get a new battery.
 
But, the most important part of OSCAR prep

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is ensuring I don't actually have to drive my jeep there again.

Last weekend I took a little road trip and bought my forever trailer. I spent some time yesterday and this morning getting it set up with shelving and loading my spare parts.

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