Explorer 1 Finally gets a paint job!

[Explorer 1]

I think it was a good choice. Do you have any plans for the bumpers and carrier or are they staying black?

I've purchased a 2 parts bed liner product along with their gun. The idea is that all the lower portion of the vehicle including, the bumpers, would be this fine textured black. (similar to the snorkel finish) This would follow the metal fender flares and the botton 6" or so of the doors. I would as a final step allly a fresh layer of undercoat to the fender wells and the metal uni-bodi undersides.

Thanks for asking,

Fred
Explorer 1

 

[Healeyjet]

I love the dark gray color. You must be thrilled to have a long project coming this close to being done!
Looks Great!
Ward

 

[daveyd]

I don't think the hood vents are going to fly away any time soon. Nice paint job! :smiley_drive:

 

[Explorer 1]

I don't think the hood vents are going to fly away any time soon. Nice paint job! :smiley_drive:

Does look like a bit overkill doesn't it!

The mfg. of the hood vents had pre-drilled holes where we installed the rivets. We used the larger face ones because the aluminum was so thin it tended to curl on the edges when the pressure of the rivet was applied.

I delivered the last pieces of weather stripping this morning. I had to dig them out of a XJ in the junk yard. Seems the XJ parts are becoming obsolete!

The shop thinks they may have their portion of the work done next week. Then it's back to my home for the balance.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[88Xj]

Weather stripping as in the door weather stripping? You can buy it new from numerous places just won't be XJ specific, but it will be 100% identical or better that what you have now. I did that and got the later style thats thicker or wider. It covers alot of the door when they are shut. Popped it on and cut it to size.

 

[Explorer 1]

Weather stripping as in the door weather stripping? You can buy it new from numerous places just won't be XJ specific, but it will be 100% identical or better that what you have now. I did that and got the later style thats thicker or wider. It covers alot of the door when they are shut. Popped it on and cut it to size.

Weather stripping as in window weather stripping.

Specifically, the rear door ( 4 door model) windows. The strip that the small stationary window sits in and the strip that sits next to the stationary post which the rear of the back door window slides down in.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[Explorer 1]

Ever closer....

I'm told next week I should be able to take it home and put all the lights and remaining trim back on......but first I have to deal with the front and rear bumpers and the lower sides with the bed liner material.

At least when I start putting it back together it will look more and more finished...........is that possible that my project will be finished!?

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[Explorer 1]

Some more progress.......

Explorer 1 has come home for some assembly and additional restoration.

Painting is pretty much done except that I and the paint shop owner are dissatisfied with the quality of the paint on the roof, so next week we'll be back for a redo of the paint on the roof.

We've visited Line-X where the lower portion of the body what shot black, the front bumper was removed and powder coated with a textured black.

It had been decided that since so much of the interior has been torn apart to go ahead and get a new carpet kit installed, we might even look at some new seats.

But for now I've been busy putting all the trim and light back on. I'm leaving the old tires on until I get the new undercoating sprayed on.

So for now , here's what it looks like........

And one more of the torn up interior:

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[Lacy Hershey]

looks good! love the colors

 

[BIGdaddy]

Wow, Fred. That looks VERY good!!!

What a difference! I love the subtle use of several colors. Enough that it's interesting, but not overdone like a few 4x4 resto's on this forum, trying to be something more than they are.

I think new carpet is a great idea. I've seen a few companies sell whole kits for just a few hundred dollars, which seems (even to a penny-pincher like myself) to be a pretty good deal.

Interested to see what you consider in the seat department. I like PRP's, and you can use them with corbeau brackets, but the cost ends up being around $700.00 or so. Quite the chunk of change. You can get them in standard Jeep Grey, though. Very nice color.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I must say this is one of the best looking XJs I've seen in awhile. I have been following this thread since I joined EXPO and can't wait to see it finished, well a Jeep is never finished .

 

[Explorer 1]

Back to the body & paint shop.........

Didn't care for the quality of the paint job on the roof. What they did was mask over the rubber rails on the top when they should have removed them, painted and then put new rubber rails on. Also, there was a bit of alligatoring of the paint against the rails. Bill, the owner agreed and so back to the shop where they are removing and replacing the rubber rails along with repainting the top fixing the alligatoring.

Also, some how, no one is taking credit for this, a window was left open when they were wet sanding the car. The interior carpet was soaked, once this was discovered and the carpet was removed, a little bit of rust was showing on the floor. So the shop is removing all the heat insulation and prior bed liner material I had installed and preping it for a new coat of bedliner. I'll also install some new heat shield material.

Found that they still make complete carpet kits the sme OEM quaility so one is ordered and will arrive next week.

Once it come home I will continue the assembly, Looks like I'm going to do ahead and have a new headliner installed also.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[jscusmcvet]

Looking great. Nice work.

 

[Chi-Town]

Good looking rig, makes me miss my 89'.

 

[Rubicon John]

Wow!!! That is an awesome XJ!!! Nice colors too.