Update on Wildman's Build

[Wildman1]

Well it has been 2 months since the Jeep rolled out of the garage and I started wheeling it. In that time I have had some small issues & some not so small issues to deal with.

I had a bad computer to start with and that was not letting the tranny shift right. Got a computer burned with the Jeeps VIN# by a place down in Texas. It is stock program but just cool to have the Jeeps VIN.

Found out the dist cap had been cracked which explained the fouled plugs.

The PSC steering system was overheating to the point it melted the little yellow plastic pieces on the fittings. Then the steering gear box blew the shaft seal. I got a rebuild kit and fix the seal & added a B&M tranny cooler which seems to have solved the overheating.

Been having issues with the Jeep not holding it's speed on hills. Well I went to adjust the TV cable and broke the end off. So I took it to the local Jeep dealer and they installed a new cable for me but still no change. I am going to adjust the cable a little tighter because I have found that I can change the 4th to 3rd shift point by doing this. (Spent about 2 hours talking to a Jeep tech this weekend who was wheeling with my group)

Got a real bad ticking noise coming from the rear driveline or t-case. Hope to find that noise soon.

The STaK's t-case is popping out of gear when in low range. Just got done talking to Kenn from STaK's and they are going to have it shipped back to them, take it apart, fix the gear issue and also look to see if it is the t-case that is making the noise. So MAJOR KUDO's to STaK's for their customer service.

Next was the AiRock manifold was not letting air get to the left front air bag. Well I sent the manifold back to Steve and he rebuilt it and ran it for a weekend on his rig to make sure it was good before he sent it back to me. Next was the Walker Evans shocks I am running. The bump stops get hammered and were going bad. So he sent me new ones to install. Well the first one I did I nicked the shaft on the shock. ORO is sending me a replacement shock no CHARGE!!!

So yes I have had a few issues to try and fix in my Jeep but the vendors I am dealing with have been more than helpful and their customer service is AWESOME!!!

So once everything is back together I'll post some more info on the build as I am going to try and get some other stuff done while it is down.

 

[Roccrawler]

Wow, sounds like all quality parts.. thank goodness for there high quality customer service...

 

[Wildman1]

Wow, sounds like all quality parts.. thank goodness for there high quality customer service...

Well I'd be really mad if they weren't taking care of the issues.

 

[Wildman1]

Well since the Jeep is back in the garage while I wait for my STaK's box to get back I figured it was a good time to get some other stuff done to it.
So first I got my spare tire/swingout carrier mounted even though I don't have a spare tire yet. (Toyo's are still back ordered)

Well then it was time to take the BesTop flares off so I could put the PSC Crusher corners on.

So now I'll install my LED lights and that will be done. Next I need to replace the rear trackbar with a JKS adjustable one. Then I'll install the SwayLoc swaybar I just got. And then I'll start working on the dash and get that all done. And hopefully my t-case will be back by the end of next week.

 

[Wildman1]

Well I went back out and got some more done this afternoon.

Okay so I got the lights wired.

Installed.

And working.

Now in this picture I have the left turn signal on.

The LED's are from Mesa 4X4 & are the 61 LED design.

I also made a little spinner nut for my high lift jack while I was playing this afternoon.

Tomorrow I want to drop the fuel tank, swap it for a 20 gal one. I also have to run into town for a 1" hole saw to make the hole for the two lower bolts on the corners. While the tank is out I'll replace the trackbar and check everything out back there.

 

[Wildman1]

Well worked on the Jeep some more yesterday.
Got the SwayLoc I had picked up installed.

And thanks Stu for your writeup on how to install the upgraded parts. I got all the updated parts while I was at it.

Control valve

Now I have never been happy with the way I had the pressure regulators/filters mounted. So I pulled them off the firewall and made a bracket.

It is all painted and ready for me to install tomorrow.

 

[Wildman1]

Well I would like to think today was a productive day? :wavzing:
Finished up the bracket for the regulator/filters.

Then I took the dash out and started working on how I am going to mount the air pressure gauges. The one on the left will be for the AiRock, the one in the middle will be for the main pressure & the one on the right will be for the ARB's. I know I might now need to know all this info but I want to.

Here you can see the new gauge panel on the left and the old one on the right.

Gauges

The panel being painted.

And since I can't wheel my big Jeep I decided to play with this one for a while in the driveway.

 

[pokey]

jeeze and all I got done was to change the water pump put on a new redtop steering box and bled the clutch.

Looks good Rick.

 

[Not Jobless]

You were in the Army so I think you understand the KISS method.

Did you now feel the need to overcomplicate your life & get back at the DoD for all those years?

That rig would be great if you owned a shop and wanted to advertise all your parts & vendors but it looks like alot of extra stuff to go wrong on the trail....but that's just my opinion based on 12+ years of wheelin (excluding HMMWV seat time) :beer:

 

[Brian H]

You were in the Army so I think you understand the KISS method.

Did you now feel the need to overcomplicate your life & get back at the DoD for all those years?

That rig would be great if you owned a shop and wanted to advertise all your parts & vendors but it looks like alot of extra stuff to go wrong on the trail....but that's just my opinion based on 12+ years of wheelin (excluding HMMWV seat time) :beer:

Well your opinion always stinks Brad!!!!!!:kissmyass: :haha: :haha:

Kinda cool set up but i do agree with Brad , thats alot of stuff to go wrong in there.

 

[lilyota]

How do those toyo's do offroad?

 

[Wildman1]

You were in the Army so I think you understand the KISS method.

Did you now feel the need to overcomplicate your life & get back at the DoD for all those years?

That rig would be great if you owned a shop and wanted to advertise all your parts & vendors but it looks like alot of extra stuff to go wrong on the trail....but that's just my opinion based on 12+ years of wheelin (excluding HMMWV seat time) :beer:

Well I'll start this off with saying it's my Jeep so I can build it anyway I want.

Now I am not sure how I am over complicating things?
Having air gauges on the dash? Hell every semi running down the road has them.
Onboard welder? Well it went with the 175 amp alt that I was putting in.
Nth Degree longarm? No different than a Rubicon Express.
PSC steering? Okay had to go with someones.
ORO AiRock? Okay that is BLING but once you ride in the Jeep you'll understand.

So what is the lot of stuff to go wrong?
And while I will listen to your opinion I have about 30 years of wheelin time.

 

[Wildman1]

How do those toyo's do offroad?

So far I like them alot. Now if Toyo would just get them off back order they would be selling like crazy. IMHO I feel they are about the best all around tire offered now.

 

[Not Jobless]

Well I'll start this off with saying it's my Jeep so I can build it anyway I want.

Now I am not sure how I am over complicating things?
Having air gauges on the dash? Hell every semi running down the road has them.
Onboard welder? Well it went with the 175 amp alt that I was putting in.
Nth Degree longarm? No different than a Rubicon Express.
PSC steering? Okay had to go with someones.
ORO AiRock? Okay that is BLING but once you ride in the Jeep you'll understand.

So what is the lot of stuff to go wrong?
And while I will listen to your opinion I have about 30 years of wheelin time.

I'm not saying you can't build it your way, it's your Jeep & money so have it :beer:

...but take your sway-bar for instance...what is all that stuff on the outside of the arm?

 

[Wildman1]

I'm not saying you can't build it your way, it's your Jeep & money so have it :beer:

...but take your sway-bar for instance...what is all that stuff on the outside of the arm?

Well that is called a dual rate swaybar. It uses two bars for street driving and and then unlocks the outer bar for off-road for about the same rate as a anti-rock. If I break a airline big deal it can still be wheeled. I still am not sure what the problem is.

 

[Not Jobless]

Well that is called a dual rate swaybar. It uses two bars for street driving and and then unlocks the outer bar for off-road for about the same rate as a anti-rock. If I break a airline big deal it can still be wheeled. I still am not sure what the problem is.

There is no problem...no need to be defensive.

I haven't been buying stuff for a Jeep that is also street legal for a number of years so I have not been keeping up on new suspensions, sway-bars, etc...

 

[Wildman1]

There is no problem...no need to be defensive.

I haven't been buying stuff for a Jeep that is also street legal for a number of years so I have not been keeping up on new suspensions, sway-bars, etc...

Well mine is more trail than street but for the times I do drive it on the street it'll be nice. You just have had questions about the how & why I have been building my TJ since I started. Maybe it isn't the way you'd do it but I researched all the stuff I am putting on and feel that it should work great. Only time will tell if it is dependable or not.:beer: :beer:

 

[Not Jobless]

Only time will tell if it is dependable or not.:beer: :beer:

Lots of maintenance :redneck:

 

[lilyota]

your jeep is sweet I think all the new ideas they're coming out with are great :clappy:

 

[Wildman1]

your jeep is sweet I think all the new ideas they're coming out with are great :clappy:

Thanks man,
I worked on the dash a little today but need to pickup a few parts before I start putting it all back together.

Talked with STaK's today and my t-case should be headed back to me tomorrow. Hopefully it won't take 2 weeks to get back like it did to get there.
They said a bearing failed and pretty much took out the whole back half of the box to include gears, shaft and everything. So they have rebuilt my box and it should be better than new now.