Repairs we've made that we would just as soon keep quiet about...

[007]

So I'm trying to do some things to my Jeep to make it look a little cleaner, run a little better, brake a little better, and just wheel a little better. I mean, we've all done that right?

Well what about all the things we've done that we would rather no one else knew...??? Come on, we've all done something. Time to share and come clean... I'll start.

I just took a Dremel to my speedometer bezel to knock the rust off, then taped it off and clear coated it!!!

Any other turd polishers out there?


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[Saddle Tramp]

Put a set of Desert Dogs tires on my 1972 CJ5 . They were great sand tires on the Oregon dunes but after about 10K on the road they were all wore out. I learned you need a little more rubber in the tread.

 

[HackFabrication]

I question every thing I've done to my CJ. And every dollar $pent...

Biggest Mistakes:

Putting way too much $$$ into the narrow track Dana 30 and AMC20 . Should have just went with custom Dana 44 /60 wide track axles.

Using and updating the Dana 20 Transfer Case with TeraLow gears, I should have just went with a Dana 300 . Or STaK.

Trying to retain the stock Jeep CJ dash, when the instrumentation is barely adequate. I finally surrendered to the custom dash and Autometer gauges route.

Too many MAW's (might as wells). You know, when you're in there tearing stuff apart, and the thought occurs that 'I might as well.....'

 

[Torxhead]

Years ago, I installed a set of those chrome 1/16" thick rocker panel protecters. Were those ever useless. I have had many issues buying cheap parts. Another was buying a cheap winch and watching it go up in smoke after overheating it.

 

[Old Dog]

I also put to much money in a Dana 30 and AMC20 . The 20 is now junk sitting beside the garage, the 30 is still good but sitting on the floor taking up space.
The cheap winch was some more money thrown away.

 

[Scooter402]

Oh, my...come clean on my own little secrets...where do I start?

No. 1 would have to be when I decided to make it a full-on mud racer...When I had it streetable still, that was fine. Full widths (learning how to weld while I was making all the bracketry...looking back on that now being certified, that was definitely a no-no) was an ok decision...most days. Some days I wish I wouldn't have bothered. Like now living in PA.

Along with making it a mud racer, I literally GAVE AWAY all the parts that I stripped off of it...stock dash and gauges, fuel tank (might I add that this was the 20 gallon poly tank...I'm now learning how expensive that is to replace), 4 speed Transmission , the Dana 30 and AMC20 (which already had money in them from the PO via gearing, locker, and 1 piece shafts in the rear), and then the nice aluminum dash I put in when I had it combo street/mud got hacked up when I sold the Autometer speedometer I had for some dumb reason or another...figured being mud racing only, I didn't need a speedo. Now I need it again...and I have to fix the hacked up dash.

I pulled the windshield glass and replaced it with lexan. Now I gotta put glass back in it, because the lexan has been faded/pitted from sitting in the weather for 8 years.

Putting that giant gonzo-sized hood scoop on...if I could go back in time, and kick myself in the jimmys for even letting the thought enter my mind, much less take the cut-off wheel to my hood...

Hacking a hole in the back floor board for the sump on the fuel cell.

Ripping out the heater box, cables, etc. and tossing it into the dumpster...

I just wish I could have the CJ back that I bought 10 years ago. I mean, sure, I still have the same frame and most of the body, but everything else has been changed. I knew I should have listened to that little voice in the back of my mind that was saying "are you sure you want to do this? It's kinda permanent..." Bah, it's only money. Maybe one of these days my wife will let me loosen up the vice she has around my wallet (among other parts ) and let a little cash fall out.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I just wish I could have the CJ back that I bought 10 years ago. I mean, sure, I still have the same frame and most of the body, but everything else has been changed. I knew I should have listened to that little voice in the back of my mind that was saying "are you sure you want to do this? It's kinda permanent..." Bah, it's only money. Maybe one of these days my wife will let me loosen up the vice she has around my wallet (among other parts ) and let a little cash fall out.

Ahh…. With time comes wisdom. Who Knew!

 

[jdcaples]

It's very sad how we're all the future vilified PO.

... not really a repair so much as a make over.

I had a local Maaco franchise refresh the 33 year old Forest Green paint just after I bought the Jeep. I said good-bye to the factory decals.

I get the Jeep home and my girl frend says, "Where are the decals?!?!" I said, "$300 from now." Then I rolled my eyes, to which she replies, "They remind me of Atari. Bring them back."

I held out for a little over a year before she won. I decided to get some rust cut out and new floor boards put in, and while the Jeep's in a buddy's body shop, the decals show up at my house.

They're back in all their gaudy glory.

-Jon

 

[IOPort51]

Ahh…. With time comes wisdom. Who Knew!

Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from a lack of wisdom.

Threw away the OME top and frame after I bought the hard top, "Don't ever want that top on again!" I would gladly trade my best top and $200 for the original , white top, a lot easier to put on and did not have door latches that grab for you every time you get in or out.

tighten the exhaust pipe to manifold until it cracks at the flair, then notice the donut gasket is completely deteriorated causing the exhaust leak in the first place.

 

[hdgapeach]

Installed a new, homemade "custom" diamond plate aluminum dash in place of the original. Tossed the original in the trash heap (PO done hacked it to death). With the new shiny dash, I added a series of cheap aftermarket gauges that are worth about as much as the space they take up. Kicker of it all is the original gauge pack was still working. Swapped good for bad. Hey, at least I still have the original gauge.

Plan to go back to the original set up..........real soon!!

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Sold my rust free 82 Limited ... one if only a few thousand made, nuff said