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05-09-2008, 09:35 PM
Its cold and rainy out so I edited some past posts to add in pictures that I forgot.
Was really happy with the way the ZeeJay performed at rauch Creek in April. Had one mis-hap though. I had the electric fan wired up to a adjustable controller and after coming out of Cracker Barrel full of chicken dumplings, the fan was still on. Seems the controller couldn't handle the electric load of the low side 5.9 fan. Junked it and went simpler, the controller seemed too complicated anyway.
Drew up some wiring diagrams to help future electric fan installers.
Old wiring (would work for a fan that draws lower amperage):
New wiring. The factory 5.9 fan diagram uses a 60Amp fuse and relays. I went with those and a thermo switch on the ground side of the relay from Summit Racing. The relays are designed for Nitrous systems and already have clamping diodes in them.
Summit racing was nice enough to send me some stickers.
So I put some to use and fixed my hood rattle at the same time.
Old temp probe that came with Derale controller.
New thermo switch.
3/8" NPT threaded hole in thermostat housing for sensor/switch.
Mutilated Derale Controller A.K.A. waste of money.
New relay mounting location. Between battery and driver headlamp header.
Thermo switch installed and new wire run.
Shot of the front end all back together and cleaned up.
So far no problems with newer wiring, but I only have 15 miles on it to bring it home from work.
Last edited by PatM; 05-09-2008 at 09:46 PM.
10-20-2008, 09:39 AM
Haven't updated this in a while. Some stuff for you to wrap your head around. Smashed in my third set of tail lamps. So instead of buying another pair from the junkyard, I decided to upgrade to LED's.
Adjusting the blade.
Cutting away.
Gate open:
Gate closed:
Put some weatherstip adhesive behind the rubber gromets to keep some water out.
Here's a video comparing the stock left to the new right side.
http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i3...Picture018.flv
Have to upgrade to heavy duty flasher to slow the blinking down. Don't want to trip any epileptic seizures.
Sanded, cleaned, taped, primed, final coat....
Finished product.
Planning on building a 'cage' over the new lights to further protect them.
I'll get a picture of the harness I put together tomorrow. I also want to seal the back of the lights so water can't get in too easy.
I know this isn't too hard core but the next few times I go wheeling and don't have to spend $50 on new taillights the day after that $50 can go towards a real upgrade. Working on headlights next, driver side is still being held in by radiator hose repair tape after BLB '08.
10-20-2008, 11:12 AM
love the light idea...i think that cage will make it a little more aesthetically pleasing though. you could try to make it look similar too stock.
10-20-2008, 12:40 PM
Haven't figured out what to do exactly yet. Truck is pretty beat any only sees the road at most 8 times a year. Trying to keep it some-what legal. NJ doesn't like those brush guards/ tail lamp guards that people put on their trucks, because the "block" the light. So I don't want to chance it, probably make something that is removable.
11-08-2008, 02:07 PM
I know its been done and its not hardcore, so mock away!
Got some Hella 550's and grafted on a piece of stock housing. So I can keep the stock bulbs, mostly so I don't have to rewire everything. JB Weld is your friend.
The Hella's come with an adjustable mount system.
Bunch of stupid holes behind the stock headlight.
Cut some relief cuts.
Bent the metal flat.
Had my neighbor Dan weld some 2 1/4" ID exhaust pipe to 20 guage. Bolted up nice.
Mounted the Hella's, LED's, and some marker lights.
Signals on.
Creepy night shot from like 2am..
Drove her to work. Looking good!
Some black paint behind the lights. Sealed in the LED's. Aimed the lights.
Put her to sleep, 11:45pm the next day. Long hours.
All in all, I like the look but I've run into 2 hiccups. The flasher doesn't really understand the LED's, so I need to upgrade to a solid state flasher designed for LED's. Not too impressed with the actual headlight output. Going to try and get rid of the Hella symbol on the lense to see if that evens the light out. And maybe upgrade to a better quality bulb. Otherwise they'll come out and I'll put something even more creative in.
11-08-2008, 02:09 PM
A little set back
OUCH! Ruined the weekend with a bit of rain and some trail damage.
Famous last words: "Bump it a little harder!"
Building a bumper tomorrow. about time!
11-08-2008, 07:28 PM
ouch...Originally Posted by PatM
A little set back
OUCH! Ruined the weekend with a bit of rain and some trail damage.
Famous last words: "Bump it a little harder!"
Building a bumper tomorrow. about time!
11-08-2008, 09:10 PM
i kinda like the way the 550's fit in there
Originally Posted by Krash80
11-10-2008, 01:53 PM
Old junk out
Removed everything.
Grade 8 hardware. mmmmmm
Some 2x4 tubing, I think. Goes about 4" into frame rail.
Rich massaging the "frame rail" to make pretty
Put some tubing/pipe inside the frame extensions to keep from pinching everything when tight.
Big bolts!
Sweet drill press. We gave it a work out.
Test fit the winch plate
Winch mocked up. (somethings not right)
Close up of passenger frame rail. Some crazy plating going on here. Go ahead and laugh at the ugly welds.
Front plate and some "tow points".
Almost done.... that was a long day. I'll have more pics soon.
11-10-2008, 08:05 PM
your utter disregard for anything aesthetically pleasing rivals that of sir fuego...i love it
11-10-2008, 09:43 PM
lol I was thinking the same thing.your utter disregard for anything aesthetically pleasing rivals that of sir fuego...i love it
11-12-2008, 11:47 AM
I'll take that as a complement. I have a 98 5.9L, she's the pretty one. The ZeeJay is the "red headed" step child of my fleet.
11-12-2008, 06:00 PM
Want another opinion?
Well here's mine:
Rigs are like girls - you need a pretty one...
Ok, like a girl first of all a good rig must be able to handle the hardest ride you take her on.
Some guys have two rigs/girls, the one which is good looking to show off and another one which is willing to do all the dirty things you would never do with the first one...
But godamn, even the second one should at least be goodlooking...
If i'd build a rig to spend time with doin' fun stuff i'd like to be proud of it
Boy, your rig looks not like something you're proud of...
Sorry...
11-12-2008, 06:50 PM
dont get me wrong i like good lookin rigs but... you cant really see the ugliness if your actually in the jeep wheeling it. the fun factor of offroading is not determined by how good your rig looks, usually its the opposite... i think sir fuego is the ultimate example of this.
11-12-2008, 08:55 PM
once u smash it all to hell it gets to be alot more fun. cause then u just go for it.
Kind of like hitting the ungly chick in the dark
Those are some of the best stories (remember that time i ) you know the rest
11-13-2008, 12:33 AM
Pretty sure I........yep.....just threw up in my mouth a bit...Kind of like hitting the ungly chick in the dark
Those are some of the best stories (remember that time i ) you know the rest
11-13-2008, 12:38 AM
Whatever dude...
Originally Posted by Cody
11-13-2008, 08:34 AM
whats the old saying "fat girls are fun to ride till your friends see you on one"
Just keep in mind its usally the ugliest beat up rig that you find at the top of the hill.....and sometimes broken down along the side of trail given up for dead.
11-13-2008, 10:16 AM
Form follows function. Pretty costs extra.
11-13-2008, 01:29 PM
Hit the nail on the head. Everything works and my wallet still has a little left in it. I got this truck for real cheap and I think it still looks good. I'm not going to relate Jeeps and girls, because I have 5 Jeeps and my fiance might not like any of those correlations.
Its really all about the function then getting out there to test it. Last time out when I smashed in the radiator for the second time I felt like giving up and trying to sell this thing. With a little work (new bumper) I'm back in the game and can't wait to wheel again...9 days.
11-13-2008, 02:27 PM
Exactly but if you got something what's dam fun to ride and also makes your friends fawking jealous when lookin at it then you don't just feel good...whats the old saying "fat girls are fun to ride till your friends see you on one"
You feel king!
100% agree...Form follows function. Pretty costs extra.
But it is such a small extra buck which makes your Grand both, working and lookin great...
11-16-2008, 03:36 AM
Pics from Sat morning:
11-16-2008, 03:37 AM
Pulled the bumper off and started to clean up some of the welds.
Naked front end
Painted inside tube.
Capped the end as Dan suggested
Cleaned up
Bunch of different angles
Rich broke a bit on the press
New lower rad support. This one is made out of 1/4" C channel. The old one was .120" wall tubing. Lets see how this holds up.
Some paint.
Check out that penetration.
Helps to have the right tools.
Rich on the plasma. cutting skid plate.
Rich welding. He doesn't know how to use a camera, so there are no pics of me welding/cutting.
Test fit # 1356
Bending some 3/16" for a skid.
Finished skid
Everything installed. Grill got new mounts this time around too.
On the way home again. Great rain again, wire brush is gonna have a workout before paint tomorrow.
11-16-2008, 11:28 AM
Im starting to like the looks of that
11-16-2008, 12:15 PM
Winner!!
Nothing wrong with an ugly trail rig. If you're gonna smash it into rocks and trees, not much point in trying to make it pretty. And that kind of ugly can actually be pretty to those of us who are fawked in the head enough.
Any reason you didn't put the winch plate on top of the frame extensions for a little better approach angle?
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