CrazyWJ242

there's a few things that stand out about it, using the 3/4" covers up the holes, but it doesn't cover those rubber plugs (2 on each door, maybe for the window rails..) and there's an even gap between the top lip and the bottom... if i were to go to 2" it wouldn't fit into the gap without having to bend in all the little holes... which would just be a P.I.T.A...

i've seen people go all the way to the bottom of the doors while replacing the entire cladding... i would do that but yea it would get expensive pretty quick...

im just sick of the never ending fading... i can deal with scratches i cant deal with the fade lol

04WJGuy

Have you tried painting it? Most people use the Krylon Satin and then let it set up for 6-7 days before re-installing the bumpers. Lasts for 2-3 years before you have to redo it. I know a few guys that have used the dupli-colour black and it seems to last about the same amount of time.
Wash/scrub it really good, scuff it with some 220 wet/dry, give it a quick wash with thinner to remove any grease and spray.

CrazyWJ242

i've painted it, but im not happy with it, just seems like there's too much black on the side of my jeep now... (since my jeep is graphite)

im finishing up my underbody coating today, my light burnt out in my work lamp, so i called it a night... im debating on putting in my LD transfercase or not... my stepfather gave me the number for a jeep guy who apparently has a TON of jeep parts, i wonder if he'll even swap a -80,000 Mile LD for a higher mile HD... and give me a deal on the high pinion since i have to swap EVERYTHING out...

04WJGuy

I called my buddy at the Chrysler parts department and the price of a new 242HD for a 2003 is only 250 more than the junk yard and it will have the full factory warranty. With the employee discount 2 new yokes, T/C, and driveshafts it'll be a complete bolt up for 1600.00

CrazyWJ242

Thats really not bad considering the warranty... the transfercase is the least likely to fail on you, you'd probably tear up your axles before you'd ever harm the transfercase... so long as you shift into gear properly and dont grind it in she'll live a very long life... i've already had to rebuild a 242HD, so i know what id be getting myself into if i had to do it again... nothing i couldn't handle... and would almost do that before putting it into my WJ...

as darkness falls, i've got my underbody half sprayed, since i took my fenders off so i could get those stubborn spots prone for rust...

04WJGuy

I've rebuilt my 247 and thats a real treat. The nice thing was the yokes and shafts included so takes any searching the junkyards for proper ones away.
Seems to be my week for deals, got a call from the guy's at iceland offroad, going to give me a break on the price of the winching bumper so delivered will be 1100.00 can't wait to get it and the winch mounted up, just in time for winter. Back to pulling hummers out of the ditches.
Have to get the heep off the ground and redo the undercoating but I'm going to wait till spring, couple of spots starting on the back end under the bumper and probably in the front wells to. My gas tank skid is also completely filled with gravel so have to get that out of there.
The only other thing that would make me happier is if Bryant at KOR has my rad support ready to go then Dan will be a really, really, happy camper.

CrazyWJ242

yeah how is that going to mount to the jeep? i know you had mentioned it before, but yea i had bent my lower rad support aswell as the axle, is it cutting it out and welding the new one in... im game either way...

I really like the Iceland bumper, but i think i could actually fab up something similar myself if i had the material... which would be much more cost effective... so i might go for it, or buy one if i just never get around to it... I really want to get steel front and back, and a heavy duty gas tank skid... and transfercase skid. which KOR is supposed to be fabbing up aswell as their new tranny support...

other thing i've got on the plans is some reinforcements for the roof rack, putting some back plate on it to distribute the load much better, you've taken it off when you ran your power, those flimsy welded in nuts are all that keeps it in, im sure the bar helps keep it stiff, but still i worry as i'm not against pushing up a downed tree up the pillars to get down a trail lol... id hate to tear off the rack when the tire and light bar is up there... i'll have that done by the weekend me thinks...

i've got all the hardware in the world, just no raw material to fabricate with... it sucks...

04WJGuy

You cut out the factory support and bolt the new one in between the frame rails.
I started mocking up a steel bumper but when Emil decided he was going to try and do the fiberglass for the WJ's I held off. Biggest thing is just the weight, 65lbs compared to an average of 120lbs + 85lbs for the winch. Being as this is my DD I figured I'd try and keep the weight down as much as possible. The stroker is still at least a year away so the 4slow has to survive until then.
I'm going to see if I can talk to Bryant tomorrow about the tranny brace- T/C skid plate. Talked about making a cross between his and IRO's T/C skid a couple weeks ago so I'll see if he's had time to look at it. Would raise everything up 3/4 - 1".

CrazyWJ242

Awesome, cause im in the market for both haha... im sure i could fabricate everything, but same song and dance...

they make much more professional looking products lol... i just hate paying for something i could possibly do lol (wonder if they could send me all the cut pieces and let me weld it up lol)

weight has been something thats on my mind aswell, im not so concerned about it since i plan on putting it into weekend warrior status, right now, i know i can get out of alot with my comealong and ****** blocks... but a winch would just be ohh so handy... and its just cool points... but i dont want to go thru 2 bumpers at top dollar when i decide to finally put a winch up front ya know...

i was thinking of replacing the foam under my bumpers with steel for the occasional tree knock down, or fender bender haha...

04WJGuy

I hear ya on the fab work. Up until about 2 months ago my shop was loaded up so I could fab up anything after work, now their slowly stripping down the shop for the new one in Edmonton. I've lost all my welders, compressor, paint booth, and cutting gear. Have a huge shop to work in and nothing but my own hand tools now.
Was thinking of the beefing up the structure in the "bumper" to, will have to see how the new one sits. I know the frame arms and winch plate are 1/4" but will have to see how it sits across the gap.
If I can get a welding machine back I'm going to fab up a rear bumper with a storage space for axles, u-joints, etc in it. One of the guy's on JF fabbed up one for his ZJ and it looked/ worked well.