Alberta LJ

[Canadian Moose]

Current Photo:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo27.jpg

Table of Contents
History
Day 1 Clean it up!
Day 2 Chrysler is paying for a new cam and crank.
Day 3 Hard Top!
.... little behind on the table of contents.

[Canadian Moose]

2005 Jeep Tj Unlimited
Warn 8274.5 Winch and Warn Winch plate
Very used 4" Procomp lift
ARB Safari Snorkel
Warn engine skid
Warn steering box skid
Locked front a rear
36,000Miles or 59,000 KM!!!!!!
In need of some TLC!!

I picked up the Jeep for a very good price. I was fortunate to know the owner, thus I pretty much bought the jeep unseen. There was a bunch of stuff wrong with it... but I wasn't too concerned... The previous owner had invested a lot of time and money into the jeep, which I appreciate. However, I always desire certain clean look. With each build I get better and learn tons more. For this build I strive to follow in the steps of Gunkle and Idaho Jeep. It also helps that my brother is a body man/painter.
For the first part of this build there will be a lot of maintenance to ensure everything is working properly.

2006/2007
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1.jpg

2009 (wasn't used in 2010)
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/4.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

He is a photo of the Jeep the day I bought it. Pretty Rough!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/Picture1.jpg

I started driving it home.... it started to run really rich/black smoke, pinging and losing power! :( Crap! I parked it and went home to get the truck and carhauler. The only thing obviously wrong was that the battery wasn't connected. I figured the computer must have gone haywire.

I brought it in to Chris at Robins Automotive (Robin's Automotive > Home (http://www.fyurl.com/rr.php?c=2&site=www.jeepforum.com&url=http://robinsautomotive.ca/)) ... the only mechanic I trust :2thumbsup: He scaned it and reset the computer. It seemed to run ok. Then it started pinging. He was familiar with the http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/chrysler-paying-install-new-cam-2005-2006-owners-should-read-963235/ issue and proceeded to pull the oil pump drive gear (distributor type thing). He found lots of wear on it and the cam. CRAP! :(

I called a local jeep dealer, turns out I still have 5 months of warranty left! :2thumbsup: Finally some good news!!! I made an appointment @ Sherwood Park Dodge (earliest was a week later). I talked to a service adviser, she told me it would all be covered.
This too turned into a disaster :( I will try to summarize. During their initial diagnoses they found that there was a hole in the rad and no coolant. I am not sure when this happened, as the jeep gauge wasn't running hot when I attempted to drive it home. But the symptoms match. They couldn't get over this.. and wanted to charge me 1200 for a new rad. Then they said the issue was a recall and you would not be covered, please pay $200 (for telling me there is no coolant) and pick it up. I was persistent, then one day they said it was a modified vehicle and would not be covered my warranty (little to late, besides the engine isnt modified). Twice they promised to look at the cam/OPDG. Finally they said they would replace it but not the whole job (no new cam). Then they had the parts, then they never. 6 Trips to the dealer in 1.5 weeks. I was fed up. I took the jeep home unfixed. :mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Canadian Moose]

Anyways continuing on with the LJ.

While actually having the jeep around... I started working on it. The interior was soo dirty!! Like several inches of mud in the tub. Carpet was removed.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/Picture6.jpg

I am trying to decide... bedline it, install carpet from the 1997 in the front/ bedline the back, or order full new carpet. What do you guys think?

[Canadian Moose]

Since this is my daily driver, The bias ply interco TSL's needed to go. Its a shame because they were pretty much brand new. They were mounted on new 10" wide rims :thumbdown:

I sold the TSL's and bought some 33x12.5R15 BFG A/T's. These will be my winter tires. Got a good deal on the A/T's. The tires kinda look like balloons on the 10" wide rims but w/e. I cant afford to buy new rims now. Big thanks to Chris at Robins Automotive (http://robinsautomotive.ca (http://www.fyurl.com/rr.php?c=2&site=www.jeepforum.com&url=http://robinsautomotive.ca)) for mounting + Balancing. I know 10" wide rims with 12.5" tires arnt always the easiest.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-2.jpg

Here are the TSL's on there new owners Suzuki!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/suzuki.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

I bought a set of silver flares from kijiji (Think Craigslist) for $50. The original flares were all bent and cracked. I fixed the front fenders at the same time. I also removed the rear inner fenders. I dont really see any issues with this besides increased noise from rocks flying up. What do you guys think?

(PHOTOS in next Post)

I removed the chrome overlay on the grill and painted the rock sliders black. One day I will paint the headlight bezels black.

[Canadian Moose]

I sold the nitrous system (wet shot) out of the jeep to a tuner in a honda :2thumbsup: It doesn't belong in a jeep anyways lol.

Sold the stock soft top. With all that money I bought a new custom fastback soft top. Its pretty neat, the windows are bigger/ brighter. I like the look and I like that it is frame less. It is also a three in one top and can transform into just a bikini or one of those half tops (like a truck/brute).

I think the Jeep looks pretty cool, something different! The only issue I have with the top is the custom header bar. It makes some noise on the highway. Ill have to see if I can fix this. I have to keep my eyes out for a hard top.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-3.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-1.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

For those of you just tuning in. You might be wondering how I got the jeep bug. Feel free to share your story?:victory:


Here is a photo of my first Jeep, a 2001 TJ. I cleaned it up and fixed all the issues it had when I picked it up. It had a 2" Body Lift and some 33s.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/98%20XJ/SH105918.jpg

Then I started my XJ project (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/project-xj-made-steel-rebuild-900095/#post8276398)

Before
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/98%20XJ/IMG_1810.jpg
After
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/98%20XJ/25-2.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

I finally got the soft top as quiet as I can. Got a local shoe repair man to sew on some more velcro and tweaked the header bar a bit. I tried buying a smittybuilt header. The concept would have worked but the header sealed like crap. Worse then the homebuilt one the custom soft top came with.

Also got some extra keys (Strattec) made. I ordered them off ebay for approx $15 each. I got the dealership to cut and program them ($65 for both).


I have a seemingly endless list of things to fix
-Adj Track Bar (I need some suggestions!) My front axle is off center and I need a wheel alignment
- rear pinion seal
- get the 6 speed shifting better
- New tailgate (+paint)
- Repaint front grill
- Reinstall winch (+wiring)
- work on front locker

Hopefully in the next couple weeks I will get into some really cool fab projects. Build list:
-Rear tire carrier
-Tummy Tuck
-Tj/ Wrangler Trailer out of a old tub.

[RedDog]

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1.jpg

I know that crossing. Been there done that. Nice rig btw.

[Douglas S.]

Nice transformation.

I'm hoping to pick up an LJ Rubi in a few months so I'll be watching closely!

[NOMADIC_LJ]

Love that new fastback soft top. Might look into that when my soft top dies.

[Warn Industries]

Good stuff! (and nice 8274!)

[cdnabn49]

I looked at that rig on-line before I bought my 04 Rubicon.... "Repo" on the title made me a little gun shy of it though... great looking rig now - nice that some TLC and cash will cure most DPO crap up... I really like the look of the LJ now I am kind of wondering if I should have gone that way as well... no complaints on the TJ - would have been nice for the dogs...
:smiley_drive:


He is a photo of the Jeep the day I bought it. Pretty Rough!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/Picture1.jpg

I started driving it home.... it started to run really rich/black smoke, pinging and losing power! :( Crap! I parked it and went home to get the truck and carhauler. The only thing obviously wrong was that the battery wasn't connected. I figured the computer must have gone haywire.
<<< SNIP >>>

[Canadian Moose]

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1.jpg

I know that crossing. Been there done that. Nice rig btw.

Yeah its a neat spot, nice scenery!
Thanks!

[Canadian Moose]

Nice transformation.

I'm hoping to pick up an LJ Rubi in a few months so I'll be watching closely!
Thanks! So much to do yet on the LJ. Have you found one yet?


Love that new fastback soft top. Might look into that when my soft top dies.
Thanks! They are pricey ($800) but nice to have it frame-less.


Good stuff! (and nice 8274!)
Thanks! I cant wait to get the winch back on the jeep. I need to repaint the front grill one of these days.


I looked at that rig on-line before I bought my 04 Rubicon.... "Repo" on the title made me a little gun shy of it though... great looking rig now - nice that some TLC and cash will cure most DPO crap up... I really like the look of the LJ now I am kind of wondering if I should have gone that way as well... no complaints on the TJ - would have been nice for the dogs...
:smiley_drive:
Yeah, at the time I didnt think it was so bad. A lot of issues have come up that shouldn't be wore out already. The previous owner drove it pretty hard. Once I fix them I should be set for awhile.

[Canadian Moose]

One little side note. I picked up a new thermostat at napa. When I got home the box said 180 but I really wanted a 195 for the winter. After bringing it back and finding out that the box was just mislabeled. I have a bit of knowledge to share. Thermostats actually are stamped with the temperature rating on the brass bit (see the "inside" of the following photo)

http://cdn1.autopartsnetwork.com/images/catalog/wp/full/W01331673154GAT.JPG (http://www.fyurl.com/rr.php?c=2&site=www.jeepforum.com&url=http://cdn1.autopartsnetwork.com/images/catalog/wp/full/W01331673154GAT.JPG)

Here is a photo of the old one. Stuck wide open.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-3.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

A few updates.

Ordered up a Motion Offroad Track Bar (http://motionoffroad.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_30_231&products_id=134 (http://www.fyurl.com/rr.php?c=2&site=www.jeepforum.com&url=http://motionoffroad.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_30_231&products_id=134))
When it comes in I will install it with some JKS discos I got from a friend. Can't wait until my jeep starts handling better.

Also found an hard top this week for $500. Picked it up yesterday. I love it, sure beats the soft top! It has been snowy and cold (-37C or -34F) It came from a Tan rubicon, what do you guys think?

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-7.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-8.jpg

Funny story relating to the hard top. When I got to the guys house I noticed something dragging behind my jeep. One of the bar pins on the rear shock had snapped! One more thing to fix. I might ride with 3 shocks and outboard the rear shocks as well as replace them with a bilstein or OME. Also noticed that these shocks were rubbing on the coil buckets... ulg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-1.jpg

[wardrow]

Personally I like your LJ and I am glad to see it went to a good home. Now all you need is a rear storage system RTT, and so on, and so on. :victory:

[ccarm]

Hardtop for $500...what a deal!!

[Canadian Moose]

Personally I like your LJ and I am glad to see it went to a good home. Now all you need is a rear storage system RTT, and so on, and so on. :victory:

Thanks! Those are on the list :) I would like to have all the kinks worked out, body work done and TJ tub trailer done by spring. I am thinking about mounting a RTT on the trailer though. The trails in Alberta can be very tight. What do you guys think?


Hardtop for $500...what a deal!!

Haha yup! I thought I would never find one... just goes to show... never give up. Kijiji ftw!

[wardrow]

[QUOTE=Canadian Moose;798852]Thanks! Those are on the list :) I would like to have all the kinks worked out, body work done and TJ tub trailer done by spring. I am thinking about mounting a RTT on the trailer though. The trails in Alberta can be very tight. What do you guys think?


Ditch the trailer and keep the Jeep self sufficient!

[Canadian Moose]

[QUOTE=Canadian Moose;798852]Thanks! Those are on the list :) I would like to have all the kinks worked out, body work done and TJ tub trailer done by spring. I am thinking about mounting a RTT on the trailer though. The trails in Alberta can be very tight. What do you guys think?


Ditch the trailer and keep the Jeep self sufficient!

It will still be self sufficient :) I wont be wheeling with the trailer. The trailer is mostly just to hold camping stuff and large items like RTT or Kayaks. Basically if I want to go out one weekend everything is ready to go. Tools and spare parts will still be stored in the jeep while the trailer remains at camp.

The mountains are 3-5hrs away. From what I understand, towing a light weight trailer will have less of an impact compared to adding height... both for gas mileage and maintaining a LCG. Not to mention wheeling with a RTT wouldnt fit most places I go.

For my area and current needs I think a small trailer is best. However, it might totally be different for you and your area :victory:

[Canadian Moose]

Well I brought the jeep into a dealer to investigate why the 6 speed transmission wasn't shifting very well and was constantly popping out of reverse.

Stopped by to check on the progress...
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo.jpg
I brought it in February 3, 2011 and got it back March 1, 2011 looking like this:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/4-1.jpg

The transmission was replaced under warranty... but not without complications.
At first they were going to replace just the syncros as they were worn. The parts needed were in the USA and it would take a week to 10 days to get them. When the parts arrived I was told that they were damaged in shipping and it would be another week to 10 days. I was ok with that... until I found out they were lying. Turns out the mainshaft was seized into the rear output bearing. The rear case broke upon removal attempt. Thus a new transmission was ordered. Thats when Chrysler was notified and my jeep was flagged due to all this spending. They requested service records which I didnt have (new vehicle to me). This is when the dealership really blew it. They are pretty much the only one to see the jeep since I bought it, but they refused to sign off... they suggested I "buy" a safety inspection from a mechanic even though the jeep was in their lot with no transmission. WHAT DOES A SAFETY INSPECTION HAVE TO DO WITH SERVICE RECORDS!? Not to mention I had already waited a few weeks... and the new transmission had arrived. After playing phone tag for a few days I had it. I went in to speak in person to get this resolved. Ended up talking to the dealer principle and we got it all sorted out. I picked up the jeep on Tuesday with a new transmission. The only cost to me was a throwout bearing for the clutch.

What a hassle!

[Canadian Moose]

If you look closly in some of the photos you will see that the rear tailgate is bent and twisted beyond repair. This is due to the previous owner using a heavy 33" TSL (measured to 35") on the stock carrier. Additionally I think he may have backed into something.

(I will find a photo)

Well I started working on the red parts jeep tailgate. It was badly rusted on one hinge and slightly rusted on the lower one.

I will see if I can find a good before photo.

I removed the carrier and latch mechanism.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/48.jpg

Here is all the rust cut out
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/49.jpg

There is a floater nut strip that needs some guidance so I welded two support pieces. They will also be welded at the top.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/47.jpg

We then sand blasted the whole area and hit it up with some black rust paint.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/46.jpg

Then came the tedious process of spot welding/ tacking the sheet metal into place. They are not pretty.... it was hard to keep from burning through... not to mention you only weld a quarter of an inch at a time then do lay another bead on the other side... and go until everything is covered.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/45.jpg

I thought it would look awesome if all the holes in the tailgate were welded up and ground smooth.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/44.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/43.jpg

This was the tool of choice
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/42.jpg


Thanks again for Phil and my brother for the help!!!!!

[Canadian Moose]

Had a chance to paint the hard top and tailgate last weekend. We didn't quite get enough base down on the hardtop. I will have to touch it up this summer.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo4.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo5.jpg

How does it look?
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo6.jpg

[BIGdaddy]

How does it look?
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo6.jpg

very cool. Like the silver surfers jeep. :)

[alexfm]

very cool. Like the silver surfers jeep. :)

Second that! That looks sweet! :sombrero:

[Canadian Moose]

Thanks Guys! :victory:

[College Kid]

Looks awsome! Where you at in Edmonton? If your brother's up for it I might have a bit of light body work for him. What brand of soft top is that? I've being going back and forth on going the frame less route or not.

[Canadian Moose]

Looks awsome! Where you at in Edmonton? If your brother's up for it I might have a bit of light body work for him. What brand of soft top is that? I've being going back and forth on going the frame less route or not.

Pm sent

[Canadian Moose]

Double post

[RedDog]

Very cool with the silver top.

I commented on the water crossing earlier. Here's my TJ:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/RedDogAlberta/Jeep/DSCN0778.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

Very cool with the silver top.

I commented on the water crossing earlier. Here's my TJ:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/RedDogAlberta/Jeep/DSCN0778.jpg

Thanks!

Your jeep looks very good as well. Very clean! I like those wide flares.

[Canadian Moose]

Here are some additional photos of the tailgate. The jeep is kinda dirty but you get the idea.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo2-2.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo-2.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

So I have the fat ATs on the jeep. They work amazing in the winter... however, Alberta has a lot of mud. Additionally, I don't care to much for the 10" wide rims. I started looking for some alternative wheel and tire combo.

I love the TJ Rubicon rims, however they are hard to find these days. So I started looking for some JK Rubicon rims with MTs. I rolled a few sets beside. They were basically the same height, just way thinner and way lighter.

Settled for some plain aluminum ones and painted them with the same stuff I used on the XJ. Duplicolor Gunmetal rim paint. I figure this way when they do get scratched it will be an easy fix. I am using Spidertrax adapters
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo3.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo4-1.jpg

What do you guys think? I think the tires are a little small.... but they should help my MPG.

[Canadian Moose]

I was cruising down one of the major highways last Monday when all of a sudden there was a loud bang and my jeep started shaking. One of the fans blades had struck the fan shroud, killing the blade and then the rad. :thumbdown: I am lucky it didn't go through the hood.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo5-1.jpg
I ordered another single core rad from NAPA... as people like Jerry B recommend. I took this opportunity to install a taurus fan I had saved up. I will be posting the complete wiring instructions in a few weeks when I get the fan controller from Summit Racing. So far I have just used a heavy duty continuous duty 70Amp Hella Relay. The fan runs on low speed anytime the jeep is on.

[Canadian Moose]

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photoskid.jpg

UCF ultra high clearance aluminum skid with low pro mount. Beautiful product.

I will install it once the OME 2.5" lift comes in.

[Canadian Moose]

Painted the windshield frame and grill. The grill was scuffed up due to the chrome cover. The windshield frame had a bunch of rock chips. The windshield was also replaced.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo6-1.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo7.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

Picked up a HP D30 and re geared it to 4.56.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo3-1.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo5-2.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo2-1.jpg

Thanks to Travis and Phil for the help!

[Canadian Moose]

I know this is a bit late... but here are some photos from May Long Weekend 2011.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1-1.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-4.jpg
Bear!

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-4.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/4-2.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/5.jpg
Ram River Crossing
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/6.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/7.jpg
We followed down a 10 year old logging road.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/8.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/9.jpg
Rocking the Subaru look.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/10.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/11.jpg
Badly washed out section, played it safe and winched.

It was on this trip I realized how ill suited the skinny tires are for the wet Alberta Trails.

[bob91yj]

Looks like a great time.

[Canadian Moose]

Few more photos of the rims. Also I got the new Best Top Trek Top NX. I love the sunrider feature. Very quiet when open. I like how easy it is to see our of the windows. There is a fair bit of wind noise when the top is shut.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo27.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo28.jpg

[Canadian Moose]

1.25" jks body lift and 1" motor mount lift came next. The night we were installing them Phil asks if he can draw on my hood with a sharpie... I said go for it (planning on painting it down the road to fix some dents).

These are the results.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo24.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo28-1.jpg
Any Gears of War Fans out there?

Later I made some mud flaps (similar to the teraflex ones) Cost me about $50.

[Canadian Moose]

June 2011. Went with one of the local clubs. We traveled as a large group (approx 10 rigs). This time we chose a cut line. Pretty much headed straight west all day besides the odd by pass for extreme terrain. There were some intense hill climbs and we actually had one driver roll their jeep. Luckily no one was seriously injured and the jeep was able to drive out. We also spotted a black bear while crossing some skeg in a valley. Due to the difficult terrain we had a very long day. 9am till 10-11pm.

I didnt get very many photos of my jeep but hopefully you guys enjoy these.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1-2.jpg
The cut line... I lost count how many "peaks" we crossed.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-5.jpg
family friendly JK Rubicon complete with cage/crash helmets for the difficult sections.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-5.jpg
Particular steep section... off camber. In this photo the guy is removing a tree root so the hummer h1 can descend.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/4-3.jpg
good shot of the hood.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/5-1.jpg
3 guys holding down the rear corner of this TJ Rubicon on that same steep spot. Not quite the wheelbase/ stability of the hummer.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/6-1.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/7-1.jpg
nearing the end of the day, this was the top of a steep section with some bad ledges... no one wanted to roll...again. I made it up thanks to the Detroit in the rear.

[AmericaOverland]

Table of Contents
Day 2 Chrysler is paying for a new cam and crank.


I see later down the thread that you had to get your OPDA and Cam replaced. Seems to be a common problem for 2005-2006 Wranglers with the 4.0L engine of a certain range of build dates. Fortunately, I'm outside that build date range AND I had the OPDA checked this week (as I bought my gorgeous LJ last week!). Other than the silver top, it's just like mine, though I don't have it beyond stock at this time. I'm wondering about getting the hard top done like that to ease up on the heat and make it easy to clean. I LOVE the way it drives, a better ride over bumps, cracks, and dips in the road. Yours looks beautiful in the snow photos... I have both the soft and hard top. I chose to use the hard top and store the soft top until I figure out what to do with it.

Now that you've had the LJ for a while, could you tell me why is it that when I drive a car like the Honda CR-V, which I traded in for the Jeep, I have to almost come to a complete stop and brace myself when I come to a hard bump or that dreaded "V" dip that is built at the street boundary between street and driveway, and yet the LJ walks over it like it's nothing? In the LJ, I feel the roughness mainly in the steering wheel, but not in the way it rides or the body. In the CR-V, when I hit a band dip running across the street, I would get pulled down and the jerked up hard in the seat; it would follow every little thing in the road. It might as well be without shocks or springs. Is it the combination of wheelbase, coilovers, and shocks on the LJ? I'm reminded of the old pickups with the heavy axles and bodies. The LJ is simply a joy to drive. I like how the inertia of the heavy axles prevents me from feeling every little thing, not even following the vertical profile of the street.

Great Jeep and great trips!

[Canadian Moose]

I see later down the thread that you had to get your OPDA and Cam replaced. Seems to be a common problem for 2005-2006 Wranglers with the 4.0L engine of a certain range of build dates. Fortunately, I'm outside that build date range AND I had the OPDA checked this week (as I bought my gorgeous LJ last week!). Other than the silver top, it's just like mine, though I don't have it beyond stock at this time. I'm wondering about getting the hard top done like that to ease up on the heat and make it easy to clean. I LOVE the way it drives, a better ride over bumps, cracks, and dips in the road. Yours looks beautiful in the snow photos... I have both the soft and hard top. I chose to use the hard top and store the soft top until I figure out what to do with it.

Now that you've had the LJ for a while, could you tell me why is it that when I drive a car like the Honda CR-V, which I traded in for the Jeep, I have to almost come to a complete stop and brace myself when I come to a hard bump or that dreaded "V" dip that is built at the street boundary between street and driveway, and yet the LJ walks over it like it's nothing? In the LJ, I feel the roughness mainly in the steering wheel, but not in the way it rides or the body. In the CR-V, when I hit a band dip running across the street, I would get pulled down and the jerked up hard in the seat; it would follow every little thing in the road. It might as well be without shocks or springs. Is it the combination of wheelbase, coilovers, and shocks on the LJ? I'm reminded of the old pickups with the heavy axles and bodies. The LJ is simply a joy to drive. I like how the inertia of the heavy axles prevents me from feeling every little thing, not even following the vertical profile of the street.

Great Jeep and great trips!

Thanks for checking it out.

As for your first question... hard top or soft top. Easy, hard top in winter, soft top in summer. Nothing beats going topless!

For your second question. It is probably a combination of solid axles and a bit longer wheelbase. Your shocks might be worn in to the "perfect" amount. If / when you replace them, off road shocks and springs tend to be fairly stiff. In addition lifting (>2.5") a vehicle decreases the ride quality unless long arms are installed.

ps Your LJ wont have coilovers stock.

Keep it up :elkgrin:

[Canadian Moose]

The next trip consisted of a 4,000km (2500 miles). From Edmonton Alberta to Tofino British Columbia.

The trip kicked off with some dirt biking near the "famous" whipsaw trail. I had never heard of it but when I was down there everyone kept asking me if I was doing it. Unfortunately, there were no other jeeps in the group I was visiting. After a few days there, we headed to the island. We had to take a 2hr ferry ride.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/1-3.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo5-3.jpg
The jeep barely made it on.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/2-6.jpg
At our campsite near Tofino.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/6-2.jpg
A bear cub on the road across the island.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/3-6.jpg
Whale watching in a zodiac (Jamies Whaling Station). We saw plenty of grey whales, humpbacks, seals and sea lions.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/4-4.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/5-2.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/surf.jpg

Then we returned to the mainland and climbed Mt Cheam.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/7-2.jpg
We took a logging road up to the base of the climb.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/8-1.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/9-1.jpg
We climbed through snow most of the way even though this was early august!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/11-1.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo1.jpg
Finally back in Alberta... I catch the tail of a storm.. lots of hail!

[forsakenfuture]

You really need full length LJ rocker gaurds. :)

[A7XJ]

Wow I can't believe how much I miss Alberta an B.C. After looking at your pics I was ready to load up the family into our XJ and make the trek up there. Thanks for sharing.

[bob91yj]

Who makes that roof?

[Canadian Moose]

You really need full length LJ rocker gaurds. :)

Yeah, I do. They are on the list but short is better than none. Any suggestions?


Wow I can't believe how much I miss Alberta an B.C. After looking at your pics I was ready to load up the family into our XJ and make the trek up there. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for looking. You probably want to come here as much as I want to head to your area (I have never been to Colorado, Arizona or Utah!)


Who makes that roof?

The soft top? Its the brand new (2011) Best Top Trek Top NX. Very clean, fits snug, very good viability through the windows and is the same if not quieter than stock. In addition I love the sunrider feature.... I use it every day! One of my favorite mods. http://www.jeeptopdepot.com/jeep-parts.aspx?cid=37&jeep-sid=359&plID=10876

[bldeagle10]

Thanks for looking. You probably want to come here as much as I want to head to your area (I have never been to Colorado, Arizona or Utah!)[/url]

I'm dying to one day head up to the Alberta/BC area some day, if you come down to AZ I could show you around, a lot of great trails here from desert, canyons, foresty and alpine mountains...

nice LJ one of the last REAL Jeeps out there!

[cdnabn49]

I'm dying to one day head up to the Alberta/BC area some day, if you come down to AZ I could show you around, a lot of great trails here from desert, canyons, foresty and alpine mountains...

nice LJ one of the last REAL Jeeps out there!


you should come on up to AB/BC - AB has lots of empty space to drive through, around and over... some people can be a little knobby but you get that every where... but Jeepers are Jeepers no matter what the rig. We really only have 2 decent months of summer - June/July in AB, BC on the other hand is totally different and has a fair amount of decent weather/rain :ylsmoke: it's definitely worth checking out

[Canadian Moose]

Update.

Just call me Daveys Jeeps... haha.

Back in the fall I picked up this almost stock Tan Rubicon from an auction. It had 120,000 km and needed a clutch and some TLC, as well as tires and a top. I swapped the tires and rim and put on my soft top. Ended selling it for a bit of profit, which in turn bought me my daily driver. A "sweet" 1998 Chrysler Intrepid that my Grandpa used to own.

Here is a photo of the Rubicon slightly fixed up and for sale.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo43.jpg



Edit: In hindsight I should have kept the tan Rubicon as a project jeep.... Read on....

[Canadian Moose]

In November I took a 3.5 week trip to Thailand and Cambodia. No real jeep photos but I will show some from the trip anyways. Just a couple of them...


An outfitted Samurai on a island in Thailand which anybody could rent. It was very strange to drive on the "wrong" side of the road.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/10-1.jpg

Some scuba diving, tons of fish, saw several shark and hundreds of barracuda.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/5-3.jpg

Dirt biking in Cambodia, Extremely poor country. Very "wild". Only a few paved roads which were just created a few years ago. A jeepers Dream!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/20.jpg

A little deep for dirt bikes. Gotta love the GoPro.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/21.jpg

Watch out for the land mines! Luckily we had an excellent guide. (http://www.siemreapdirtbikes.com/id5.html (http://www.fyurl.com/rr.php?c=2&site=www.jeepforum.com&url=http://www.siemreapdirtbikes.com/id5.html))
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/P1040309.jpg

Abandon ruins on the top of a mountian. Good thing we had dirt bikes, there was no way my jeep could have made it up here.\
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/IMG_0085.jpg

We also visited an orphanage. These kids have it extremely rough and many of them suffer from missing limbs due to land mines. There are an estimated 5 million land mines in Cambodia today. That being said the people are extremely friendly. This particular orphanage put on shows to generate income.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/DSCF2607.jpg

Took a trip to an army base and shot a ak47. This was pretty cool as in Canada we have strict gun laws. Only 5 bullets per clip, no full auto. Not the case in Cambodia!
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/DSCF3151.jpg

[TOI]

1.25" jks body lift and 1" motor mount lift came next. The night we were installing them Phil asks if he can draw on my hood with a sharpie... I said go for it (planning on painting it down the road to fix some dents).

These are the results.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo24.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo28-1.jpg
Any Gears of War Fans out there?

Later I made some mud flaps (similar to the teraflex ones) Cost me about $50.


thats awesome! i was going to do the gears logo on the trunk of my impreza

[Vinman]

Update.

Just call me Daveys Jeeps... haha.

Back in the fall I picked up this almost stock Tan Rubicon from an auction. It had 120,000 km and needed a clutch and some TLC, as well as tires and a top. I swapped the tires and rim and put on my soft top. Ended selling it for a bit of profit, which in turn bought me my daily driver.

Here is a photo of the Rubicon slightly fixed up and for sale.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n35/fortinbras9/2005%20LJ/photo43.jpg



Edit: In hindsight I should have kept the tan Rubicon as a project jeep.... Read on....

The tan Rubicon is sitting in my garage.
I put in a clutch, changed all the fluids, installed a 33 Engineering tummy tuck and tucked the gas tank amongst other small mods. I've been driving it for the last couple of months but it's a work in progress.

Vince

[Canadian Moose]

thats awesome! i was going to do the gears logo on the trunk of my impreza

Thanks, Phil did mine and made it look easy!! One thing I noticed though was that after a month the sharpie was beginning to fade. I would recommend clear coat immediately or a UV resistant marker... or both.

[Canadian Moose]

The tan Rubicon is sitting in my garage.
I put in a clutch, changed all the fluids, installed a 33 Engineering tummy tuck and tucked the gas tank amongst other small mods. I've been driving it for the last couple of months but it's a work in progress.

Vince

Small World!! Glad to see its working for you. I regret selling it... because after all it is a rubicon, the cheapest one Ill ever find. The main reason why I sold it was I didnt want to buy new suspension and tires all over again.

What else do you have to do on it?

[Canadian Moose]

Well its been just over a year since I bought this silver LJ. It has been quite the project just to keep it roadworthy. Once again I have learned a ton and I have no regrets.

However, post South East Asia trip I have changed my priories a bit. I find it very hard to justify spending big money on parts when with just some basic upgrades and a good winch a small group of guys can get though 99% (if not 100%) of the trails out there. Also, I am 25 years old and I have decided to buy a house. Unfortunately, the housing market in Alberta has not crashed. Houses are very expensive. I have decided to sell the LJ for a downpayment.

Had I knew I was selling this jeep a couple months ago I would have kept the rubicon. But it has a good home :)

I will be posting a new thread for the new project..... a 2003 SWB (regular) TJ with a 4.0L.

[A7XJ]

I am sad to see the jeep go. This had to be my favorite thread.
Just curious what is the average price on something like a 3 bedroom house? My wife and I absolutely love Alberta. We have friends in Magrath and Lethbridge. We haven't had the chance to drag the jeep up there but our dream is to someday.

[Piet]

Good luck with the sale... it was nice to see this LJ fixed up.