Red Rocket

[bmikes]

Did a little more work today. Got one item checked off the list of things to do before trophy challenge. Co2 tank holder. The bracket is bolted woth 2 bolts through the floor, 2 into the inner quarter panel where the factory mount goes. Then the tank holder I bought and modified has angle iron bolted to the back of it, and then the angle is bolted to the spare tire bracket. Then at the top of the angle is a notch for a strap to fit into so I have one extra strap on the tank.

The bracket I made. And bolts all sealed up on the bottom

Then the tank holder bolted to the bracket

And the tank. I need to go buy a little ratchet strap for it.

you can see the notch for the strap.

 

[hughgrection]

Looks great

 

[TORX]

Dustin is good for inspiration.

Ha, I can usually be a good example of what not to do.

Nice work, Brandon. It takes time to complete the little projects, but they matter too.

 

[bmikes]

Fishing up all the little loose ends sucks. But those are things that help everything continue to go smooth down the road later on.

Today I got a little more done. Turned my cross member 180° and put my tcase skid back on.

While I had my cross member off I checked my Trans mount, it's still doing good. No cracks or anything yet.

late last year I picked up a factory gas tank skid from the Sherwood pick n pull. I just got around to putting it on today. Looks mighty fine to me. I know it's not the strongest thing in the world, but hey it was cheap, fits nice and snug, and looks good.

 

[Jbh97009]

Looks good! I have a zj gas tank skid on mine, I'm happy. I honestly don't think I'll ever change it.

I like your transfer case skid too!

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

the factory gas tank skid is pretty good at doing its job, surprisingly. I beat the crap out of the one on my last ZJ, and the tank was un-touched

 

[bmikes]

I'm a little worried about thr tcase skid, if I came down on it hard what would happen. But I've got too many other projects to worry about right now so modification of that will have to wait.

And good to know Scott! If you can beat the crap put of it I feel comfortable

 

[bmikes]

It looks like almost 1/8th inch plate so I think itll.hold up

 

[bmikes]

Got my wiring done. I chose to buy the supplies and do it myself rather that go with Kelleys or a similar kit. I replaced all the battery cables and other cables that Kelley sells with 2ga fine strand welding cable. I got a steal on it and bought 20' (10' red, 10' black), a heat shrink set, and 2ga crimp on lugs (10 pack 5/16", 10 pack 3/8") all for 60 bucks off amazon.

I uses Kelleys for length reference but made some changes here and there. Shortened hp the battery + to PDC and used the 18" length that he says to use for that to go from the PDC to the altenator.

I crimped on the lugs, then soldered them, and then heat shrunk them. They're pretty solid. Then I put split loom over that, so they should last a little while. I don't have pics of all of it but you get the idea.

Comparison of a couple of cables

Then I made a little bus bar I think it's called. This way only starter lead and battery to PDC go to the factory bolt on the PDC and I can bolt accessories on the smaller one. I'll get a picture of it installed and other cables in today maybe.

 

[bmikes]

Whats up guys? Been a while. Been doing a little work lately. This is what the Jeep looks like atm.

 

[bmikes]

Oh and this lil guy is an addition to the family for a bit.

 

[muddypunk]

What do you have for a bump stop?

 

[bmikes]

Just the daystar extended bumpstops. But I turned some aluminum to go inside the coil and sit on the coil pad to take up some more space.

 

[Luke95]

Who's steering box plate? I liken that.

 

[bmikes]

Who's steering box plate? I liken that.

Just something I made for it. I've seen aftermarket spacers and decided why not combine the spacer and the reinforcement plate. It's 10 ga plate with spacers I made to match the thickness of the stock spacer.

 

[Demonoid369]

Who's steering box plate? I liken that.

There is one that is made by a guy in Albany. I think it's tmi? Don't quote me on that.

Just something I made for it. I've seen aftermarket spacers and decided why not combine the spacer and the reinforcement plate. It's 10 ga plate with spacers I made to match the thickness of the stock spacer.

Ya I was thinking about redoing mine like that too and tie it In permanently

 

[bmikes]

Well a lot has happened lately. I took the motor out of that green jeep and put it in mine. When I did that I went through and did the valve cover gasket, rms, oil pan, oil filter adapter, intake/exhaust, and put a not cracked header on it.

Before I got that mated up and put back in I made some custom shock towers because I was tired of using my shocks as bump stops and wanted to raise my upper mounting point. I didn't get any finished pictures but I'll try to in the next few days. It's 1/4" 3x3 box tube with 2 different cross hokes drilled. It's tied into my frame stiffeners as well as from the inside of the engine bay

Once I did all the sheet metal work and paint it I got my motor put back in and everything hooked up.

Next thing I had to do was make a new shock mount on my axle. I cut off the factory pad, reinforced the lca mount, boxed it in, then went off that. It's how my passenger side has been for about 6 months and haven't had any issues.

I'll have to get some finished pictures of that too.

But I got the jeep running and driving Sunday night and have been driving it to work! I'm a happy camper. Last night I cut my bumper and moved the bracket about a quarter inch out (frame stiffeners made the width .268" wider). I'll snap a couple pics of that too

 

[NW-ZJ-SCOTT]

Awesome! Gotta get her ready for snow!

 

[SPECFab]

Snow LOL what is that?

 

[kenny811]

Meteorology. a precipitation in the form of ice crystals, mainly of intricately branched, hexagonal form and often agglomerated into snowflakes, formed directly from the freezing of the water vapor in the air.
Compare ice crystals, snow grains, snow pellets.