The Brute Rebuild / Refurb / Rehab Thread
- Thread starter Yetters
- Start date
Mitch502
Explorer
Luckily in KY we don't have emissions testing at all anymore.
Mako
No good story, was there when i bought it.
Its the last thing on the list to be fixed, the paint and body work. I have the TDI engine on the way and can assume that it will get
a few more scrapes and dings before thats over. So when I do the rehab on the interior and dash, its body work and a white paint
job with black trim to match the bumpers and rack.
Yetters
No good story, was there when i bought it.
Its the last thing on the list to be fixed, the paint and body work. I have the TDI engine on the way and can assume that it will get
a few more scrapes and dings before thats over. So when I do the rehab on the interior and dash, its body work and a white paint
job with black trim to match the bumpers and rack.
Yetters
White will look amazing. Looking forward to following the TDI swap. I'd like to do the same to my LJ.
Cheers
Good News!!
Well, a few.
First, if you EVER consider buying something off the internet, sight unseen, think twice cause you have NO IDEA what you are going to get when it arrives.
Now then, on with the show!
The engine is in and 99% done, but not without its trials and tribulations. The company I purchased the build kit from has been at the very least a real PITA to
deal with. Incorrect parts, missing parts, lack of ANY manual or directions, less than stellar customer service, phone calls not returned, etc, etc, etc. It has been
a real task for the techs here at 4 Wheelers in Phoenix to decipher and make decisions, so the project is way behind schedule but looks like we will start it up Friday
or Saturday for the first time.
Will follow up more later, but for right now thats all i can report.
Yetters
Well, a few.
First, if you EVER consider buying something off the internet, sight unseen, think twice cause you have NO IDEA what you are going to get when it arrives.
Now then, on with the show!
The engine is in and 99% done, but not without its trials and tribulations. The company I purchased the build kit from has been at the very least a real PITA to
deal with. Incorrect parts, missing parts, lack of ANY manual or directions, less than stellar customer service, phone calls not returned, etc, etc, etc. It has been
a real task for the techs here at 4 Wheelers in Phoenix to decipher and make decisions, so the project is way behind schedule but looks like we will start it up Friday
or Saturday for the first time.
Will follow up more later, but for right now thats all i can report.
Yetters
I can only imagine all the frustrations. Glad you're still pressing on. Sooner or later it'll all be done and you'll be cruising it!
I'm an engineer and I deal with vendors all the time. Some are good, others so-so, and others are terrible. There is little more frustrating than dealing with poor customer service! I can't tell you the times I've bought something and had to rework it. It was easier than sending it back or dealing with the hassle.
The one positive after the economic turn-down of '08 was companies were scrambling for work, and as a result, had great customer service. They had to in order to generate business. Now that things have leveled off, so did the customer service...
Anyway, I'm glad you're working through the issues and the project isn't dead!
I'm an engineer and I deal with vendors all the time. Some are good, others so-so, and others are terrible. There is little more frustrating than dealing with poor customer service! I can't tell you the times I've bought something and had to rework it. It was easier than sending it back or dealing with the hassle.
The one positive after the economic turn-down of '08 was companies were scrambling for work, and as a result, had great customer service. They had to in order to generate business. Now that things have leveled off, so did the customer service...
Anyway, I'm glad you're working through the issues and the project isn't dead!
This is Coty Built? I had talked to them briefly about doing this. When I was considering it I looked at it as having them do it (exchange rate inhibited this) and buying everything to do it myself. Didn't seem like they had the support to assist do it yourselfers...
And cost was quite prohibitive. You do it because you want a diesel. The swap payed itself back after like 175k miles (at a year and a half ago's instal price and diesel/gas price). For that I determined I could get a better return on my money with other financial investments. The only factor I liked was both the lower weight of the engine and the lower weight of fuel to travel the same distance as the petrol... Today with better exchange rate and diesel being cheaper than gas; payback may be closer to 125k miles. Still tough economics if you consider you could get 5% interest on the same money by other means. So still for the fact someone wants a diesel and those weight savings.
That seems to be the same argument over and over against a diesel swap. To be honest, for most including me, it's about fuel mileage and has nothing to do with fuel costs! What I mean is I can go farther on a tank of fuel. My bronco with a 302 gets 10 to 15 mpg, but with a 4bt, closer to 25 give or take. That's nearly twice the distance. For me, it never had anything to do with the financial aspect and everything to do with distance per tank. I will say I'll have roughly $20k in my rebuild which is a complete frame off incl new wiring and plumbing. Good luck finding a fully capable offroad vehicle that gets near 25 mpg and is new for $20k. Not to mention a vehicle that can be fully worked on without electronic diagnostic equipment. Just a different perspective is all.
I didn't mean to digress Yetters, carry on! I look forward to pics and ur review of ur swap!
- Andy
I didn't mean to digress Yetters, carry on! I look forward to pics and ur review of ur swap!
- Andy
I am not saying it is bad. Just saying you don't do it for cost savings. I seriously considered the VW option; problem I had with other diesels was that you couldn't have them in emissions regulated regions. So only other option was the heavy Mercedes OM617. Instead I opted for a custom 42 gallon fuel tank; a lot of vehicles also have the option of the second long ranger fuel tank too. That was my solution and I felt the best option for me giving me cash freed up for other pursuits. If I didn't have other things I wanted to do with my cash I would have done it.
Yetters,
Can't wait to see it. I think the old TJ Brute single cab with a VW diesel would be absolutely stunning combination. With the white paint are you going to go with a tan interior? Who's going to do your body work and paint? Interested because I am in Phoenix area and looking for a good shop to do a frame off, strip, repaint, rewire on my 81 Scrambler.
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