Project Nomad: Jeep 97 TJ

[FlexdXJ]

So you are doing a build on the streets of NYC?

[Jeepthreat]

Yes. I dont currently have a garage or driveway. Its almost like doing a build up on a trail except when im laying on the ground there are more used condoms and dog poo remnants around me.

Its gonna be a bit challenging, but i will go to a garage i am cool with for certain things and use their lift, for the price of buying everyone there lunch, but yes most of it will be done outside on the street near the condo where i live. The price for urban dwelling i suppose.

[NOMADIC_LJ]

thanks for documenting. I'm really enjoying the pics and write-up. I'll remember this next time I complain that my garage or driveway are too small

[grahamfitter]

Cool build.

Food for thought: If your Jeep has the same 3.07 gears as my '97 you'll probably find 31" tires are about as big as you can go and still make progress up hills on the interstate.

[Xodius]

Looks good. Curious how much you got that gem for? Would love a nice project like that one.

[Jeepthreat]

yes, i have 3.07. I havent been able to find any undamaged 3.73! I also can't find 32 BFG AT's and my trip window is soon so it looks like I'll have to get 31's no matter what. BFG says no AT 32's until next year. Darn.

Maybe once I hit the highway to the west coast some 3.73 might pop up at a junk yard and I can regear on the way? Might have to bring a sledge hammer now too.!

About to go hardcore on work on it this weekend. Window to leave is still the 30th to October 6th. (some how I think Ill be leaving on the 7th! - still have to wait on the order of some parts as well as I ordered a G2 android phone - that I probably should configure before I hit the road)

I've had this jeep as a beater, but I bought it a while ago. Here in New York you can pick up a beater TJ for a song, like 500$ to 2k. Jeeps aren't like highly prized in the city as such.

[Jeepthreat]

Seating:

I've gone the way of the mighty Twisted Stitch. My Vortex XL seats came - i got them in basic black. These are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. I have a couple of notes, and of course I borked the install, but these seats are amazing! Full marks - the reviews don't do the exerpeince of these seats justice. I got them with lumbar support and a heating element and reclining. I like to recline and look up at the stars!

They came in a box - and they were not that heavy and packed beautifully!

Unpacked - heating wiring, box for stock seat adapter brackets and two beautiful seats

Compared with my old seat - the driver side was disgusting - I probably have to admit i wiped snot on them a couple of times and it rusted so bad it torn right out off the brackets

Mounted adapter to stock seat mount - they only go on one way - so you can't really bork that

First one in! I spent hours trying to find Grade 8 3/8 Bolts to attach seat to adapter - guess what - They were in the box with the brackets! Twisted Stitch rocks! I'm dumb - lost $10 in gas and bolts there!

Sometimes its the little things - look at the detail - its all comfort - all my back pain is gone - feels like im sitting in a massage chair - for real

Alright! Both in! Took it for a ride - all night long - couldnt stop! chair is better than my herman miller aeron at work. I am going to pull them back out to spray down the mounts with anti-rust primer.

From the back. Looking good!


In short - twisted stitch rocks. You can get the seats any color you want - I'm 6'3" and it fits plus i am roughly 240#'s at the moment. If you can try it out because maybe I should have gotten it a we bit taller, but it feels good and I can lay my head where it counts in the seat. You may also want to get it wider if you are large - they are narrowish, but a good snug. Best seat on your back - and if you have back pain before - you know you gotta grab this seat. even felt good on speed bump jumps! Not good - amazing!

other thoughts: the ledge on the side of the seat make jumping out of the jeep a bit awkward - you'll either brake this ledge off after time or learn to jump over it or just get out really slow and uncool. I've figured out how to get over it cool again. A girlfriend of mine complained a bit about the ledge, but loved the comfort. I don't know if I will hook up the heater element before the trip. I haven't really planned that out yet, especially two sets of wires coming from the seats, and I have to put them on a relay and a switch. I tend to get caught in the rain a lot with the top off, so I am not sure i want to be electrocuted from down that way. ouch.

other thoughts still: so my shifter is broken - and I had to fix it offroad and it placed my shifter father right than normal. It knocks right into the seat so currently I can't go in reverse - ever try to parallel park when you have to get out and push it in reverse? Oh well - that's what I will be doing for the next couple of days till i the new shifter assembly comes from ebay. that's not on twisted stitch - that's on me being dumb. Twisted Stitch makes the best seats in the business right now hands down.

Okay - i am beat - time to go out and test the seats more by driving to dinner and jumping over street dividers!

[Mr. D]

thanks for the updates you are dedicated to work in the street
The seats look awesome good detail.
The liner job looks nice as well.

enjoying this build nice narrative and pics...

laters Kelly aka Mr. D

[Jeepthreat]

Okay, so I deseperately wanted a inverter in the jeep full time with regular AC plugs and a USB port to charge things for a while now and I finally got the first half of it done today.

I wanted it under the dash because its cooler there than in the engine compartment, and its nearly-waterproof under the dash when you get rained on or splashed from below. I know everyone is like you are dumb for getting wet all the time, is there anyone else out there who doesnt mind getting rained on in the jeep here and there?

I also could use it for work - lights and chargers, and USB for the phones, and let's face it, overland expedition? AC all the wall. Who has time to find a DC plug for this that and the other thing. I grabbed a blade fuse, fuse block, and 12 feet of 4 gauge wire and some zip ties, to make it all neat for phase 1

Here is the 1500 watt continuous inverter. it has 3 plugs on it's face and a usb port. The thought is to wire the switch to cut it on to the dash and two plugs and the usb to the dash and the third one to under the hood somewhere in beyond the firewall or to the rear. It also has a LCD readout to let you know how you doing with your voltages and stuff.

Next up to start is the blade fuse, I grabbed a 100 amp one, so that it can blow quickly if something goes wrong - i might move up to 150 or 200, but ill run the numbers again and see how well the amp performance in real life scenarios, better safe than sorry because Pain Hertz.

Next up was the 4 gauge wire, that should contain the current. I got a red and black one at about 6 feet each. I ran the red/positive into the fuse block and out the other side.

Next i opened the top to make it easier to rewire the power switch at a later date. I didn't get to do this tonight. Hopefully tomorrow.

Next I pulled out the dash yet again. I pulled the fuses for the air bags. shucks i have to go put them back in!

Okay, shoved it behind the dash, doesn't quite fit. I am choosing to remove the vent extension to the passenger side heating duct. the part that connects to the central duct, i tamped it down and screwed into the frame to make it flat for now. Where is that hot air going to go!

Okay, cut a whole in the rubber grommit in the firewall and threaded it with both 4 gauge wires, bought it inside and wired up the inverter. I
disconnected the battery again at this point, for saftey.

I used 3m doublesided tape , after cleaning the firewall to stick the fuse box to the firewall and then zip tied a lot of these crazy additional wires. There is another fuse block for the amp - im rather partial to loud music.

Next up I closed the dash. It fits! My passenger might not have the best heat anymore, I never use the AC - but now I have power! I have heated seats, so I guess that makes up for it. Looks like a good fit! Who knows what I broke doing this. any guesses?

you can see the numbers running thru the vent. when closed up for now. would be nice to move the lcd panel somewhere onto the dash or maybe in the vent, if I can make it look stock.

Lets try it! Yup! Powers up a fluorescent AC work light perfectly without breaking a sweat. This is gonna be great for camping, overland adventures and working on the job. No more dual chargers scenarios.

Oh yeah! Usb port works good too, cell phone is charging! Better I tested with this than the g2 android I am switching too, and this will work for the Ipad that I planning to use for the overland expedition. Okay! I didn't burn things down. I guess part one was a success! Tomorrow I'll burn another day at this, and blow of a date with a sexy girl.


So tomorrow I will try to tackle cutting the dash and putting in a USB slot and 2 AC outlet slots and tie the power to the switch. I dont know what the downside yet of modifying the right side air duct is yet. Anyone care to venture a guess?

[bftank]

good info on the seats, your build honesty is hilarious keep it up.