xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
I've been layin tile, man! Off to the salt mines I go...
-
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Grin's WJ Build Thread
- Thread starter xj-grin
- Start date
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Pretty well, I have now redone 2 of our 3 bathrooms (not the boys', they're slobs anyways), plus added the 4th in the basement.
Totally re-did the main-floor 1/2 bath, all new fixtures, tile, replaced the regular door with a pocket door (used to open into the basement door across the hall, sucked), new vanity, light fixtures and crown molding:
Master bath we replaced the single vanity with new cabinets, double sinks, new counters, new fixtures, added a medicine cabinet, glass tile backsplash, new tile floor with under-tile heat mat... I started this project in April as a b-day present to Sheila, but we decided to have some fun over the summer instead of working every weekend, so it stalled out for a while:
Edit:
Here's my first bath-build, the bath we added in our basement a couple years ago, again with the heated tile floor and glass tile details... off to the garage today!
Last edited:
jeepdude25
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs, CO
oh nice no toilet paper on the holder....poor cat.
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
I had a photobucket meltdown, so reposting post #76 above...:
allright, well, page 6 and... holy shit, I got to work.
After finishing two bathroom remodels (pics of those to follow shortly, the better half is applying paint...), I finally got it in the garage and started on the dark, depressing task of replacing the heater core (stage 1), which will be followed by lift, t-case rebuild and axle swap, hood refinish... (stage 1a-zz?)...
Here she is in the driveway, bone stock and ready to come into the garage for the last time in that state (I think):
The hood's clear coat is fubar, haven't decided whether to just buff it off, or buff it off and hit it with some satin black until I can afford to get MAACO...
Headlights are completely clouded, so I'll give em a try with some buffing stuff/sandpaper, and replace them with some cooler units if that fails:
What was waiting in the garage...
aaaand, she's IN:
two hours and 5 baggies of bolts/nuts, and maybe 10 more to go on the heater issues:
I'm hopeful to get the core done tomorrow, maybe sunday morning, then get the front end up in the air on the lift springs so Frank can take some measurements for trac-bar/draglink building. With some luck and a little time off after x-mas, I may have her back on the road early in '11...
allright, well, page 6 and... holy shit, I got to work.
After finishing two bathroom remodels (pics of those to follow shortly, the better half is applying paint...), I finally got it in the garage and started on the dark, depressing task of replacing the heater core (stage 1), which will be followed by lift, t-case rebuild and axle swap, hood refinish... (stage 1a-zz?)...
Here she is in the driveway, bone stock and ready to come into the garage for the last time in that state (I think):
The hood's clear coat is fubar, haven't decided whether to just buff it off, or buff it off and hit it with some satin black until I can afford to get MAACO...
Headlights are completely clouded, so I'll give em a try with some buffing stuff/sandpaper, and replace them with some cooler units if that fails:
What was waiting in the garage...
aaaand, she's IN:
two hours and 5 baggies of bolts/nuts, and maybe 10 more to go on the heater issues:
I'm hopeful to get the core done tomorrow, maybe sunday morning, then get the front end up in the air on the lift springs so Frank can take some measurements for trac-bar/draglink building. With some luck and a little time off after x-mas, I may have her back on the road early in '11...
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
heater core, or any HVAC work for that matter on a WJ, to quote the Diceman, sucks dick on horseback...
I had toyed with discharging the AC and replacing the evaporator while I was in there, but opted not to. Talked with Frank yesterday and he advised that when doing the heater core in the XJ, he didn't have to pull the whole dash, just get it lose enough to pivot the passenger side back and access the core... so, I gave that a try, and my boy Riley and I were feeling confident around noon yesterday:
Turns out, the WJ HVAC systems are in a "module", and you have to pull the whole MF to work on any part of its, so the AC got discharged, and the whole dash came out:
here's the module:
and its out:
the old heater core was absolutely corroded to hell:
new one looks pretty:
There was just a touch of gunk, leaves, and other kitch in the HVAC module:
But, she's done, module, dash and steering are all back in, did the blend-door repair while I was at it so my dual climate control should be back in operation... heater hoses were shot and I had to cut them out, so I ordered up some new OEM's, and will slap those in next week sometime. In the meanwhile, I'll start on the t-case build...:cheers:
I had toyed with discharging the AC and replacing the evaporator while I was in there, but opted not to. Talked with Frank yesterday and he advised that when doing the heater core in the XJ, he didn't have to pull the whole dash, just get it lose enough to pivot the passenger side back and access the core... so, I gave that a try, and my boy Riley and I were feeling confident around noon yesterday:
Turns out, the WJ HVAC systems are in a "module", and you have to pull the whole MF to work on any part of its, so the AC got discharged, and the whole dash came out:
here's the module:
and its out:
the old heater core was absolutely corroded to hell:
new one looks pretty:
There was just a touch of gunk, leaves, and other kitch in the HVAC module:
But, she's done, module, dash and steering are all back in, did the blend-door repair while I was at it so my dual climate control should be back in operation... heater hoses were shot and I had to cut them out, so I ordered up some new OEM's, and will slap those in next week sometime. In the meanwhile, I'll start on the t-case build...:cheers:
SurfXJSnow
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
Worst parts over. Can't wait to see the progress.
Kiefer316
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Littleton, Crawloardo
X2. Looks like a crappy task. Hurry up and get her on some Jack stands!
Chris. When you go to do the headlights let me know.
Ya wanna keep the lights and sandpaper as wet as possible the entire time. I usually start at 400 grit then go to 1k and then 2k if needed. Once it's all sanded down rinse it off really well then hit it with a buffer and some good compound :thumbup:
Speed and heat just hurt ya. Moderate speed and repitition is best way to get good results.
Ya wanna keep the lights and sandpaper as wet as possible the entire time. I usually start at 400 grit then go to 1k and then 2k if needed. Once it's all sanded down rinse it off really well then hit it with a buffer and some good compound :thumbup:
Speed and heat just hurt ya. Moderate speed and repitition is best way to get good results.
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Thanks, Mike -- I picked up a rainx kit that has great reviews from the WJ crowd, we'll see how it goes... its a couple items down on the priority list.
SurfXJSnow
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
Forgot to say how good the bathrooms look! I really like the corner pieces you used on the crown moulding... Definately give them a unique look. Tile looks great to. Did my guy John get the drywall patches buttoned up for you?
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
John was the man, thanks for the reference. I like the crown corners, but to be honest I used them because I have ZERO skills at the compound miters necessary for regular crown corners...
SurfXJSnow
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
Compound miter saws are a love hate relationship for me. I was forced to make a jig when I did 350 feet of it last summer. Then again, walls are rarely ever square which makes for quite a few donations into the cuss jar... Which I'm sure you found out.
- Location
- Thornton, CO
The hood's clear coat is fubar, haven't decided whether to just buff it off, or buff it off and hit it with some satin black until I can afford to get MAACO...
That is some nasty sunburn!
jimgrms
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Oceanside Ca the beach
Chris now that you are a expert at wj hvac systems when mine takes a dump you can fix it and i will give you nillas :>{)))
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jim, for you I would do it for $1000, and nillas. It sucked that much. I think my normal "shop rate" would be closer to $2k, after all the suckage fees were added in. 
DJManche
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Colorado Springs , CO
So ... how many boxes of nilla's is that ?
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
put some hours in today on the LIFT!:guitar:
LPD30 is out:
JK HPD30 is in, along with the Tera 4" front lift coils (that is my amazing "no-link" design you see there...):
Old vs. New coils:
Clayton crossmember is in and ready to weld up:
manana I plan on getting the front arms in, and likely starting on the 231 tcase rebuild/swap!
LPD30 is out:
JK HPD30 is in, along with the Tera 4" front lift coils (that is my amazing "no-link" design you see there...
):
Old vs. New coils:
Clayton crossmember is in and ready to weld up:
manana I plan on getting the front arms in, and likely starting on the 231 tcase rebuild/swap!
- Location
- Golden, CO
I mean this in the most constructive way possible, but I hope you are getting some help with welding that crossmember in place. I know a guy down your way...
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
If you're asking if I intend to weld it up with a flux core machine - negative ghost rider, there are certain applications where I think more voltage is in order. Got it covered.
xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
got the front control arms knocked out before the tebow-show yesterday...
Cut off the old lower control mounts and prepped em for paint:
painted:
front control arms in:
I may have the front end on 33's by the weekend so I can get started on the rear - I kinda like having two wheels on the ground at any given time... multiple jackstands make me nervous.:repair:
Cut off the old lower control mounts and prepped em for paint:
painted:
front control arms in:
I may have the front end on 33's by the weekend so I can get started on the rear - I kinda like having two wheels on the ground at any given time... multiple jackstands make me nervous.:repair: