Jeff H
Adventurer
Hopefully I can make it down! My work schedule is random as of late but I should know by the beginning of next week if I can make it.
My new expo ride..
- Thread starter Jeff H
- Start date
Hopefully I can make it down! My work schedule is random as of late but I should know by the beginning of next week if I can make it.
Jeff H
Adventurer
So I decided to brave the elements today (30-65 mph winds) and do the first mod to my Jeep..
My immediate plans include:
Electrical
- 12 Position Blue Sea fuse block
- Hard-wired 400w Inverter (outlet panel mounted in rear cargo area)
- USA Spec iPod interface for factory deck
- Cobra 75 CB
Armor
I plan on fabbing up:
- 3x2x3/16" rock rails
Suspension/Tires
- Iron Rock Offroad 3" Lift
- Bilstein 5100 shocks
- IRO adj. trackbar
- 260/70r17 Tires
I will be sure to update with pics as I add to it!
My immediate plans include:
Electrical
- 12 Position Blue Sea fuse block
- Hard-wired 400w Inverter (outlet panel mounted in rear cargo area)
- USA Spec iPod interface for factory deck
- Cobra 75 CB
Armor
I plan on fabbing up:
- 3x2x3/16" rock rails
Suspension/Tires
- Iron Rock Offroad 3" Lift
- Bilstein 5100 shocks
- IRO adj. trackbar
- 260/70r17 Tires
I will be sure to update with pics as I add to it!
Last edited:
Jeff H
Adventurer
So I've been doing some small stuff while waiting for my lift to arrive. I modified and mounted my inverter in the rear cargo area.
I unscrewed the outlet plate from the inverter and unsoldered the connections
Uninstalling the rear cargo area trim
Found a suitable mounting place that fit under the trim
Template to cut out the hole
Finished product
I used some connectors that I had left over from my RC car days on the wires running to the outlet so I could disconnect it if I needed to take the trim panel out. I still need to go pick up some 4ga wire for the power and ground and then it should be all finished up.
I unscrewed the outlet plate from the inverter and unsoldered the connections
Uninstalling the rear cargo area trim
Found a suitable mounting place that fit under the trim
Template to cut out the hole
Finished product
I used some connectors that I had left over from my RC car days on the wires running to the outlet so I could disconnect it if I needed to take the trim panel out. I still need to go pick up some 4ga wire for the power and ground and then it should be all finished up.
Jeff H
Adventurer
Also, my Limited didn't have any skid plate protection for the transfer case. I didn't want to attempt taking it off road without something underneath so I purchased the factory Up-Country transfer case skid plate kit. It came complete with the skid plate, nutserts to install into the uni-body, nutsert install tool, and bolts.
Unprotected transfer case
Factory skid
Installed
Since rocks are few and far between around here I figured it would hold up for now. If I need something beefier then I'll upgrade it when the time comes.
Unprotected transfer case
Factory skid
Installed
Since rocks are few and far between around here I figured it would hold up for now. If I need something beefier then I'll upgrade it when the time comes.
Jeff H
Adventurer
Another thing I was able to accomplish was installing removable pins in place of the factory pins in the rear lower seat brackets. This allows me to take out the lower seats for more cargo room.
How it is from the factory
I used a drill press to drill out the head of the factory pins and then hammered them out with a punch.
Close-up of the pin
Pins installed
Now with the pull of a pin (or two) I can get a little more cargo room.
My lift should be here in about 3-6 weeks so as soon as that comes I will be installing it and hopefully by then I will have enough cash for tires. :smiley_drive:
How it is from the factory
I used a drill press to drill out the head of the factory pins and then hammered them out with a punch.
Close-up of the pin
Pins installed
Now with the pull of a pin (or two) I can get a little more cargo room.
My lift should be here in about 3-6 weeks so as soon as that comes I will be installing it and hopefully by then I will have enough cash for tires. :smiley_drive:
The Swiss
Expedition Leader
The factory skid is all I ever had; it did very well, a lot sturdier than what it appears.Factory skid
Installed
Since rocks are few and far between around here I figured it would hold up for now. If I need something beefier then I'll upgrade it when the time comes.
Jeff H
Adventurer
That's reassuring. I figured that some protection was better than nothing.
Jeff H
Adventurer
Another thing that was bothering me was the factory Avila's had some pretty bad corrosion from the winters up here. So I decided to paint them black.
First I stripped off the clear using Easy-Off oven cleaner. Then I scuffed up the aluminum underneath and sprayed primer on the wheels. I used 500 Deg engine enamel topcoated with satin clear coat.
Finished product
First I stripped off the clear using Easy-Off oven cleaner. Then I scuffed up the aluminum underneath and sprayed primer on the wheels. I used 500 Deg engine enamel topcoated with satin clear coat.
Finished product
WhereTheHellIsJames?
Explorer
Looking great... keep those pics coming!
getlost4x4
Expedition Leader
looking good. i'm going to use that pin idea on my waggy for the rear seats.
i think you should have painted those wheels white. that would have been pimp.:Wow1:
looking good.
i think you should have painted those wheels white. that would have been pimp.:Wow1:
looking good.
Jeff H
Adventurer
I had a few others mention that. Im actually going to have to repaint them as the paint ended up not being as durable as I anticipated. I wonder how it would look.
winkosmosis
Explorer
White WJs are the only ones I like, even better when the cladding is black or dark grey. Have you thought about doing that to match your black wheels?
Jeff H
Adventurer
I'm eventually going to be building front and rear bumpers which will be black. Not sure if I will paint the side cladding black.. If it looks out of place I may.
