Project Potimus

[smokeyyank]

Originally Posted by trippled

We're you welding outside? Even a gentle breeze can blow your shielding gas away and give you porosity. Others aren't too bad tho. Mig spatter is pretty normal I'd say.

Yeah I was. Guess that would explain it then. I wasn't able to get a good pic of it but when doing the exhaust that was tricky. I think a large part was from welding upside down. I just couldn't get a good bead started. We also changed the spool to a smaller gauge wire and I don't think I had the welder set up right. We turned down the purge and wire speed but when I was upside down beads just did not like to stick.

[smokeyyank]

Replaced all the steering this past weekend. The TRE's were in worse shape than I thought. They had 0 resistance when it came to moving them around. Also found one of the control arms was a little loose so tightened that up along with the track bar. I also corrected some issue with the steering stabilizer. I went with the MOOG trail boss and it didn't have all the correct hardware when I put it in. A lot less noise on the road but still not the smoothest. I will admit some of the roads around here are really bumpy and most of the time it's not a bad ride but fn a it's loud compared to my MJ, and that's stock for the most part with stuff that hasn't been replaced in I don't even know how many years. I'm going to air down the tires a little as I think that is another thing causing some issues. I'm running load E which is overkill (I know, but wanted 10 ply tires) and I think I need a little more cushion and not as much air.

I also started to finish up some of the stereo. I bought all new speakers, nothing special just some basic Kickers. Only thin I really changed was I put 3.5" in the dash vs the stock size. Few little cuts but they fit just fine. I'm not happy with the way to deck looks though. I moved up to a double din and the fitment is garbage. I'll take a pic later but it just looks terrible.



Old vs New


My "helper" for the day

[smokeyyank]

Well it's been a while....not a whole lot to report other than I finally got a free weekend to work on somethings. One of the things I've been wanting to do was freshen up the headlights.

They've been rough and at night can't see $h*t especially in the mountains where there is already limited light.







Process was pretty easy and I like the results.

[PacificEd]

What did you do to freshen them up and make them clear again? I need to clean some headlights up in my stable.

[smokeyyank]

Originally Posted by PacificEd

What did you do to freshen them up and make them clear again? I need to clean some headlights up in my stable.

I just used this kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Two-.../dp/B01M75GUJB

The sylvania kit is better but I couldn't get it shipped to me.

Took about 45 minutes. Only advice is use both of the scuff pads. I only used one because there is way more cleaning and spray than needed and wanted to do my wifes car. But there is a slight difference between how "clean" the first vs second side is. So you could probably find some scotch bright pads to do more than 1 set.

[smokeyyank]

Well been a while lots happened.....dropped a valve seat so engine had to be rebuilt again. That took 6 months to get back. During that processes also replaced axle seals and put the lunchbox in. Also put a new ironman diff cover on and had to modify the sway bar and put spacers on the reduce contact. Fixed a stereo issue and got rid of an annoying crackle along with replacing the double din faceplate. Had a really bad leak at avtranny line and the temps havent been doing good been 200+ most days. So I bypassed the rad to a standalone remote cooler. Temps stay about 150-160 and doesnt leak anymore. Next up is fixing an exhaust issue and getting so 4awg battery cables.

[smokeyyank]

Took the junk out to mess around with the lunchbox. Love it offroad, on road........not so much.

Here's my cute poser shots.

[Kittrell]

Originally Posted by smokeyyank

on road........not so much.

Curious, I loved our '04 Overland around town. What's the nag?

[smokeyyank]

Originally Posted by Kittrell

Curious, I loved our '04 Overland around town. What's the nag?

The lunchbox is the nag. Without it it was fine, no issues, but the thing is loud. I had a lunchbox in the XJ and wasn't that bad but in the WJ it honestly is annoying AF. The WJ got retired from DD duties so don't mind it as much but more than likely I'm going to take it out or swap in a 9".

[Kittrell]

Originally Posted by smokeyyank

The lunchbox is the nag. Without it it was fine, no issues, but the thing is loud. I had a lunchbox in the XJ and wasn't that bad but in the WJ it honestly is annoying AF. The WJ got retired from DD duties so don't mind it as much but more than likely I'm going to take it out or swap in a 9".

Why not a JK 44 with elocker? Perfect width and bolt pattern for the WJ.

[smokeyyank]

Originally Posted by Kittrell

Why not a JK 44 with elocker? Perfect width and bolt pattern for the WJ.

That's another thought. Guess it just depends on cost.

[Kittrell]

Just need to look around, they are out there. If you get the non rubicon housing, you can save a bunch (no elocker of course but endless options). I sold one a month or so back for $200 (bare housing).

[smokeyyank]

Yeah then theres the gremlin in the back of my mind keeps saying just say f it and go tons.

[Kittrell]

Originally Posted by smokeyyank

Yeah then theres the gremlin in the back of my mind keeps saying just say f it and go tons.

I mean, I won't try and talk you out of that.

[smokeyyank]

Snagged some new bumpers from trailforged. Front was a black Friday deal and rear was a lucky CL find. Hoping I can get them intalled before next wheeling season but not banking on it. I'll need to fab a tire carrier for the rear but super stoked to finally get them.