Project Jeep TJ/JK build

Started running wire to put in a small amp and sub. I will have to finish that up tomorrow because I ran out of light.

James

 

The sub and amp are installed, the wires are ran. Sounds pretty good. I need to replace my front speakers and tweeters as well as my sound bar speakers. And maybe a small amp to give them a boost.

James

 

Here is the sub.



James

 

Thinking over lift kits. I was pretty much set on BDS before buying it. It is still on my list. AEV is on the list as well. I would be looking at the 2.5" which they claim is good for 33"-35" tires. They use a dual rate spring and some are saying it is as good or better on road and good off road as well.

Also looking at MetalCloak products. I kind of like their fenders and I'm not a huge fan of flat fenders.

James

 

Can't believe I forgot to do this already but I want to thank Brett Lane and Pothier Motors in Falmouth, Nova Scotia. http://www.pothiermotors.com/index.htm

Everyone I met with there was great. Brett, Juile and some people in the service department all offered excellent service. If you are looking for a Jeep, Dodge or Chrysler then you should check them out.

If I get the money to start looking at an suv for my wife, I will be stopping by to look at Grand Cherokees.

James

 

Did an oil change on the Jeep today. It has a top mounted cartridge oil filter. It makes changing it really nice. My Oldsmobile had one but it was under the engine like a regular filter. You also needed a special tool to remove it or get creative. I would get creative.



James

 

Well the sub stopped working the other day. I did some trouble shooting and it seems like the sub is the issue. So I installed my other unit. Some more power and more bass. Quite a bit more.

Took the Jeep for a little run to the breech and then a run into the woods for a bit on the weekend.



James

 

I did a 5 wheel rotation today. For those that don't know, a 5 wheel rotation includes the spare. The reason I did this was that the spare will have close to the same tread depth as the rest of the tires. And if I get good life out of the regular tires, the spare could be dry rotted by the time I needed with the next set of tires.



















I also washed the inside of the rims while they were off. I planned on painting the calipers when I did this but it I started later then I wanted to. I also was planning on doing this 3 or 4 weeks ago. But with work and weather that didn't happen. So I will have to do that later or maybe next spring.

James

 

Well today was a little disappointing. With the job I have been doing for over a year, it cut into my time as a volunteer firefighter. Because of that I had to leave the department. This morning I had to remove my now expired plate. Next year I might go with a personalized plate. That depends on if the one I want is available.

James

 

Ordered my trailer hitch. Went with a Curt trailer hitch (#13432) and T-Connector plug and play wiring harness (#55124). I'm excited to get it but I won't install it right away. I don't need it till I start using a cargo carrier so I don't want it to see our winter salt till next year. I will install it in the spring.

James

 

Hey. Happy New Year to you too. Thanks for that.

It is hard at times but I try to push though.

The Curt T-connector is the trailer wiring connection. What it does is connects between the tail light wiring harness and the tail light. That eliminates the need to cut and splice the wires. I can splice the wires and save $10 or so but then you have a connection that is a little more permanent and you have to cut wires. It isn't an issue but the t-connector is pretty much plug and play other then a screw for a ground wire. And I can remove it if I wanted to and put the light back to normal without repairing the wires.



The top two plugs go between the wire harness and the tail light. The white wire is to ground it. You screw in a self taping screw so it is grounded to the body. The last plug is the trailer plug. That is the one that would connect to the trailer wiring harness. That last piece is a cover to keep the plug wire clean.

James

 

Today we had our first real snowfall. I took the Jeep out to finally test it and the new tires (Goodyear Duratrac). I am really impressed with them so far. The snow was really sticky. Great for snowballs. The plowed sections were slick.




The hill in front of my house. This wasn't plowed. Had no issues on this hill in 2wd.






This is a hill I have gone up many times dry and in the rain. It was more fun with the snow on it. The Jeep made it up no problem.



Looking down the hill. I was stopped near the top at this point.





Heading down the hill.



James

 

Here is some of my cell pics from that same day. This is in my driveway.




This is checking out the snow before climbing the hill.


Heading back down the hill.





James

 

I made grab handles for Jeep. I made them out of 550 paracord. So far I really like them.


Here is my thread on me building them. http://gearheadcentral.com/index.php?threads/paracord-grab-handles.11355/#post-32774

James

 

My trailer hitch came in today.



Seems really well built. Can't wait till spring so I can install it.

Here is the thread on the hitch. http://gearheadcentral.com/index.php?threads/curt-trailer-hitch-newjeeppartday.11356/#.VKyon3vhBHd

James

 

I was out in the snow last week having a little fun.














James

 

I bought a hitch mounted carrier for the Jeep. This will allow me to carry more when we go camping. I'm excited about the extra space. This will help till I have the money to build a trailer.



Here is the thread for the carrier. http://gearheadcentral.com/index.php?threads/hitch-mounted-cargo-carrier.12921/#.VSh0yZPhDJQ

James

 

I also replaced my wipers today. They were needed. Rained today so it was a perfect day for it.



Went with the Michelin Stealth wipers. They were $9.99 at Costco so they were a good deal.



James

 

Installed my Curt trailer hitch today. They say you need to lower the exhaust. I found it wasn't necessary. If you put the head of the bolt above the exhaust you can slip it down into the hole without much issue at all. The biggest issue was getting the nuts on the bolt. Most went on pretty easy but there was one, the second from the drivers side that took longer because I'm right handed. But it isn't hard to do.















There was a little rust around some of the bolt holes on the Jeep. I sanded them down a bit, put on the rust remover, then sprayed them with black paint before installing the hitch.


James