Joined the Dark Side...traded a T4R for a YJ (The Black Jeep Build)

[Caoboy]

OK! Hard top is ON. there are a couple of issues. First, it's a Steel Horse top, from COMPTON CA. Not OEM, like I thought. There was only a big ole decal on the back!

The rear clamps do not work, because the roll bar is in the way. I didn't think to check the guy's Jeep and see if he had a family roll bar, versus mine. Does anybody know if I can move the clamps to the rear a bit without messing up the top? It is literally RIGHT where the roll bar is, I'd only need to move it back the space of the clamp. Pictures to follow.

On the front, there are clamps for the passenger/driver side. There is nowhere to mount these clamps. Looks like there is supposed to be an attachment from the spreaderbars. I'd like to save drilling through the top and the windshield if I don't have to.

Weather stripping is completely toast, so I'm going to order a kit or piece together something that'll work.

I'm now on the hunt for either full doors or some half sliders or something that'll fit the top, and then I'll be complete. I think I'm going to leave the hard top on, and pick up a bikini top if I want to go 'topless'. Since I've owned it I pretty much run around town with all the windows zipped out and the tops of the doors off.

I'm not feeling the bumpers. I'm probably going to toss them up for sale. Heck, they can be considered a bonus, given the top was only $350!

 

[jeepdreamer]

I'm not feeling the bumpers. I'm probably going to toss them up for sale. Heck, they can be considered a bonus, given the top was only $350!

Yeah...X2 on the bumpers. The "Tube trend" is kinda gone and there are far more protective options out there. And 350 for a hard top is a score!

 

[Caoboy]

They wouldn't look so bad if they were blacked out. Right now my Jeep looks like the Monopoly Man

 

[Caoboy]

Hard top is officially on. I need to get some weather stripping and seal it, but I moved the clamps out of the way of the roll bar, and it's officially clamped down.

Still need more info on the front. there are 2 clamps, that look like they are to clamp to a roll bar attachment.

Also, if I didn't mention, it's a Steel Horse top.

Now I'm just looking for upper door sliders and I'll be complete! Sad thing is, those alone, will cost more than the hard top probably

 

[SSRx7]

What's wrong with the tube bumpers?? (other than that they are chrome.) Personally, I like the way they look. Everyone seems to be going to the new rockcrawling bumpers, which also like some of them. But the tube bumpers a classic. Like you said, black them out. Welcome to the delima of finding upper doors to fit a yj hard top. I don't know if the steel horse top is the same as the factory, but most aftermarket upper doors do not fit the factory yj hardtop. There have been some who say that the Steel Hores upper sliders will fit the factory hardtop, so it stands to reason that they will fit the Steel horse top as well. Plan on spending $500 or more for factory full size hard doors. This is the delima that I am facing right now. I have a CJ7 top, with lower half doors, and am trying to figure out how I can fix the situation.

Quadratec sells the Besttop Supertops which is supposed to fit the factory full hard doors. It also sells upper half's that fit the same, so by reasoning those uppers should fit the factory hardtop as well, but I can't get a strait answer, and i'm not shelling out $350 for something that might not fit. I'm really waiting to find some factory hard doors for the right price.

 

[jscusmcvet]

What's wrong with the tube bumpers?? (other than that they are chrome.) Personally, I like the way they look. Everyone seems to be going to the new rockcrawling bumpers, which also like some of them. But the tube bumpers a classic. Like you said, black them out.

... and this to me is the beauty of jeeping, jeeps and those of use who spend stupid hours wrenching on our rigs... Your jeep, your build, your likes, trends be damned. If you like your set up, that is all that matters. March on.

John

 

[Caoboy]

The reason I'm not keeping these bumpers, besides being awesome chrome 1991 chick magnets, is because I want shackles up front, and I am planning on getting a winch (eventually) .

As for the rear, I want to get a bumper with a tire carrier as well as a hitch receiver, and shackle points.

 

[Karma]

HI,
Congrats on your YJ. I have an '89 YJ with the older 258 engine and 5 speed. I have modified mine heavily. Recently, I bought an 2008 JKU Jeep. Nice vehicle, I like it a lot. But compared to my YJ it is a bi*ch to work on. The YJ is a simple vehicle with a lot of room for hands and tools and with a plethora of after market mods available. While it does have an engine control computer, that's it. Mine was originally carbureted, the last of the Jeeps so equipped but now has fuel injection, a major improvement. You won't have to worry about that.

I'm keeping both of my Jeeps. The JKU is my daily driver which will also get used for camping trips and other non-intensive 4 wheeling. OTH, my YJ is my crazy car. I have a use for both so why not have both?

One thing you might consider after you get past all your basic modifications, is the Tara Low transfer case mod which will give you a 4:1 low range. I have found this to be one of the most useful things I have done to my Jeep. In the same category of things to do once the basics are covered are lockers. My YJ has ARB's front and rear. I can't say enough good about them.

It looks like you got a good YJ. I don't see much rust. Some of the YJ's out there are so rusted that I can't understand why someone would buy them. Mine too was rust free and that's a biggie for me.

I love my YJ. It's just so much fun.

Enjoy, Sparky

 

[Caoboy]

Had a bit of an issue, the heater hose sprung a leak, it was looped and old. Long story short, fixed it, then my battery cable jumped loose (due to the lift....) and arced, and burned a wire that ran to one of the relays. fixed the wire, tightened everything down, put a new tie down bracket on, and it's fixed.

ON TO THE FUN!

Got my tires today!

GT Radial MT 31x10.5

My buddy is running these tires in a 33" and he's lovin' them, so I decided to give them a shot. For $480, I think it's a decent deal.

 

[TheBigJ]

A guy I know just got, and LOVES the OME setup he recently put on his TJ. Check out BDS suspensions as well. Make a few different kits for the YJ and have a really good warranty.

 

[Caoboy]

And they're ON!

They already make a big difference. Acceleration is better, I can steer the dang thing without getting a hernia (12.5 is just too wide for no power steering) and it rides a bit better. Still need to lower the PSI a bit, I was bouncin' around on the ride home.

Now I think I'll adjust the steering box and see if that'll take the slop out of the steering, if not, next plans are new box, as well as a different lift. (not in that order )

 

[Caoboy]

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated this thread! Major update to follow later today, including offroading, welding, bumpers, seatbelts, and dogs!

 

[Caoboy]

Ok...I started by prepping the Jeep for the Slick Rock Trail in Northern CA. I took the Jeep down to a local mechanic to diagnose a backfiring/popping. 200 dollars later, I have my exhaust welded, manifold gasket replaced, and a couple of hoses replaced.

Pulled the rear seat out to prep for camping. I'm not sure yet, but I believe it will stay out for good soon.

We went to Slick Rock, for those who don't know, it's a 6/10 difficulty rated rock crawling trail. I'm used to fire roads...lol. That was fun. Had a group of Jeepers not come along and saw that we were total NOOBS, it would have taken us all day/night, as well as possibly come out with damaged rigs/people. This is a trail that should take you 4 hours. It took us 8! We were so thankful that they came through and helped us out.

I only have a couple pictures from that trail, we were so busy spotting/driving that we didn't take many pictures. Here are a few.

You can't beat a view like this. This is starting the "Slick Rock Descent" This is where the Jeepers came up behind us, and helped us all the way through the stair case on the trail.

We were beat, went back to base camp. Took us an hour to get to our site the first time. Took us 20 minutes, AT NIGHT, to get to the same post. Needless to say, I now truly KNOW my Jeep, it's capabilities, and where I need to improve on it.

Power steering really is a priority that I need to install on my rig. It took me forever to get back on the right line to go up the Stair Case.

After we got back, I was talking to my buddy, who has a welder. I showed him my tailgate, he said "Come over after work, I want to practice!" And now my tailgate is straightened out, and a lot stronger than before lol.

I ended up painting it flat Khaki. I believe this is the color I'm going to go with. Khaki, and black accents.

I also fixed the tailgate lock. It was missing a metal rod, I found some heavy duty wire that worked. About the girth of a coat hanger.

So now it closes/opens smooth, and locks!

Installed some new seat belts. Got rid of the broken passenger, as well as the sticking driver. I went OD green on the belts. I originally wanted to go OD Green for the paint. Ah well, nobody will notice!

I purchased a smittybilt bumper, as I needed some tow hooks/shackles for Slick Rock. I ended up not needing them, as I didn't get stuck at all, but at least I have a proper front bumper now. I'm thinking about welding some tubing onto it to make a bull bar/brush guard.

And last, but not least, meet Denver!! I pick him up tomorrow at 2PM! He's a half Blue Heeler, half Aussie Sheppard. His whole litter was surrendered to the pound... the rescue picked all of them up, and I'm picking him up. He's only 8 weeks in this picture, and had kennel cough at this time. The litter was quarantined for 3 weeks. It's been hell on me. He's already my little boy. He'll be my trail buddy soon! I'm so excited

That's all for now, we just got done moving houses, and I'm still having no idea where to start next on the Jeep. Little by little, it will be what I am envisioning though...low center of gravity build.

MetalCloak Fenders, homebrew rear bumper/tire carrier, purchase a roof rack for the canoe, 2.5" suspension (BDS or OME) and some 1/2" boomerang shackles, new wheels, LT1 swap, etc etc. I think it'll be enough for my trail riding I'm planning on doing. I'm not planning on anymore 6/10 rock crawling trails anytime soon!

 

[88Xj]

What did you pay for the pup? I've been looking for a new pup. Possible to get a # via pm or something? Would love to see if they have another boy left.

And I run the same tires Now to bad for the price, wear kinda quick but overall they are very nice.

 

[Caoboy]

I paid $250 for him. Most, of his shots are already completed, and that includes neutering. He'll get snipped in 2 weeks. All of their info is at WAWR.org I found them through petfinder.com. The lady may have had the ads removed for the dogs as they were all quarantined for 3 weeks, or they may have been adopted out already. The one I originally wanted was gone as soon as I saw the ad.


I don't daily this thing, so I'm hoping they'll last a while. I literally drive it on the weekends, if that. After these, I may move to some 235/85/16's. I like that size tire and it's very common, as well as mostly being load range D/E.