I wouldn't consider a Sport w/o the 44, so I just figured that was standard fare.
Tom, I and stuck with an SE for the foreseeable future, but I'm gonna make the best of it. I just realize there are some things it won't do (for safety and mechanical's sake, forget Pete!)
There are much worse things to be "stuck" with than an SE. For off roading, they are fine. It's just the lack of power on the highway that would be a problem for some people (including me).
Problem is, living where I live, I have a 1 hr highway drive to get nearly anywhere.
For around town, I've enjoyed driving it. Drove it home from our Boy Scout meeting last night with just the Safari top on. Brrrrr... it gets cold in the mountains at night.
While the heater is good in the Wrangler, it isn't THAT good! This morning was the first time there has been dew on the windshield that hasn't been frozen.
If there had been an X model when I was looking back in '98 I probably would have bought one. While I venture off the pavement quite often, I don't do the really hard core stuff Tom does, and the X would have been fine.
However, you get fog lights standard (and I think the tilt steering wheel, but that could be an option) with the Sport. I never had them on a vehicle before, and probably wouldn't have bothered with them, but they were on the one I happened to buy. Now I wouldn't want to be without them - they are great on mountain roads when it is snowing.
Speaking of snow - could you send some of that our way, Tom? Last year on May 1st I took a photo of my neighbor's flowers all covered with snow. This year they have already bloomed and died.
The day was gorgeous and I needed to take the TJ into town to get some bolts to connect my soft top to the rollcage. I want to be able to pull them out w/o using tools and take the top and mounting hardware totally off when running the Safari top. So I just brought the whole car.
I understand your hesitation. However, I took Ellie’mae up the grapevine towing a heavy piano without a problem. In fact that was when I got the best gas mileage. I turned off the overdrive witch kept it from going in and out of high gear limiting the wear and tear on the transmission, so she just singed up the hill. In fact the biggest problem I had was that I had to keep moving over to pass people going up the hill.
Good point about just taking it out of overdrive to keep it from shifting.
I wonder if you could get a tranny cooler for a Wrangler, or if that would make any difference. In some ways having an auto with my commute would be nice, because some of it is such slow and go traffic.
My Noble Black Steed does quite well in that type of driving - the gears on the MT Wrangler are such that I just put it in 2nd gear and crawl along. I have to shift much more between 1st and 2nd in the Taco - 2nd gear isn't as low and the traffic often slows down to below it's bottom speed.
On the other hand, what advantages I get from having an auto I'd lose on the break side. With the MT I can stay off the brakes much more.
Has anyone else noticed how cars are all about compromises - there's no one perfect answer!
A cooler is the best investment you can make for any automatic transmission, and yes, they are available for the current Wrangler's 42RLE.
Second, the Wrangler torque converter is a lot 'stiffer', or less 'slushy', than the one in an average vehicle. This results in better engine braking on the over-run, hence less use of the brake pedal is required than you would think. In any case, brakes are cheap and simple to maintain.
"Has anyone else noticed how cars are all about compromises - there's no one perfect answer!"
For example, we are each born with a certain "total" in terms of good looks and wealth. I just wish that I had been born wealthier instead of so good-looking!
Hello all. Thanks for the nice welcome and the advice on removing the hardtop. I'm just now writing back because I have been out enjoying my new 2004 Electric Lime Green Rubicon which I have nicknamed "the Frog". I had to make a trip to WalMart and get those tree frog seat covers, also got the tree frog steering wheel cover and license plate frame. Some people might think this is a little silly but I'm loving it and having a lot of fun dressing up the Frog.
I don't have a hard top hoist yet but from the advice you all have given me I believe I will invest in one soon. Getting one on ebay sounds like a plan as they are a bit pricey in the jeep catalogs. Just got the new jeep last Friday and have lots of accessory ideas running through my head. My husband came home yesterday to find me looking through 4Wheel Drive Hardware catalog and became really nervous.
Thanks again to all of you for the advice. You helped me tremendously.
Tom: To answer your question -- Have you hugged your Jeep today? Answer: Yes, I do it every chance I get. Even got up several nights in a row to go to the garage to see if the Jeep was REALLY there. I was afraid I might have dreamed I got a new Jeep and just wanted to make sure it was reality.
Drove the Sara Jeep topless to the office today. It looked real good parked next to the RX330, BMW Z4 and other vehicles of my fellow workers.
I like to think of Sara not as jeep but as a "common person's cabriolet".
Green Jeep- Make sure you look real carefully at the hoists on ebay. Thee ones in the 4wd catalog and Quadratec are better quality than some of the ones I've seen on ebay.
"I like to think of Sara not as jeep but as a "common person's cabriolet"."
LOL! I remember the time when I was dating this really cool Canadian guy (now my hubby). We were talking about what kind of cars we liked, and he asked me if I would like a convertable. I told him that the only convertable for me would have to have a roll bar! I still feel that way.
mac - Thanks for the info about the auto tranny and the fact I can get a tranny cooler - I think I'd feel better about getting an auto if I put one on. And I do agree that brakes are much cheaper than either a new engine or a new clutch. Maybe I shouldn't ask this in case I jinx myself, but how much does a new clutch cost? I've never had to replace one (never kept a vehicle long enough before now). I'm not having any problems, just wondered.
greenjeep - I love your ideas of customizing the Frog. Isn't it great to have a vehicle that you feel good about doing such things with? And no one will give you strange looks, just a Jeep wave as you drive by.
My daughter would love your Jeep. She is really into frogs not sure why.
Regarding the hoist: I bought the manual Lang hoist, which I have seen on ebay for a lot less then I paid. I like the hoist but I did not like the way it was held together. The screws that came with it were weak and the threads stripped. I went to the Home Depot and bought some #8 bolts (double check the size) with nuts, drilled holes threw both Square tubes where the existing holes were, and bolted it together that way. It’s working great; it is a very strong hoist system. I would not trust hanging the top for a summer without modifying it by bolting it together. I still use two ratchet tie down straps as added security when hanging the top, although I do not believe they are necessary.
If you choose to use the Lang hoist and modified it the way I did be sure to fitted to your top first. I used the screws that came with it to hold it in together while I drilled the holes for the bolts.
I think there could be as many as 14 or 15 Jeeps in the group at Turkey Bay this Saturday! We'll need to split up into two groups if that many really do show up.
What's happening is that someone will "wheel" for the first time, go totally nuts over it, and then invite someone else. That's cool. The more the merrier.
Got that Lockright locker in the front diff now, so it will be fun to see how much it adds to Thelma Jane's capabilities.
Also got those Poison Spyder corner panels yesterday. Have the drivers side panel installed. Gonna drop Thelma Jane off at a body shop this AM, and they are going to hammer that passenger side tub corner back into something close to its orginal shape. I might just let them install the panel on that side while they have her.
The location of one of the holes in the corner panel makes it necessary to remove the fender liner in order to get the nut on the bolt and hold it while tightening the bolt. Might not be that big of a deal, but I left that bolt out on the drivers side for now. I might have the body shop do that for me on the drivers side and just do the whole job on the passenger side.
The inner liner is easy to remove, just give a sharp tug and the plastic rivets will come out a bit. You may need to remove a couple to reach the bolt depending on where it is.
What do y'all think of Toys by Troy equipment? I'm looking at their rock slider/steps/guards and it looks like the mount to the body AND the frame, like AEV Conversions do, but for a lower price. Any idea if they are powercoated?
Although I have not used or seen any of the TBT stuff, it has an excellent reputation among many guys that wheel out west. His fans include guys on some other boards that I have a great deal of respect for. Good engineering/design and competitive pricing. I do like his side bars. Had they been out when I bought mine, I would have definitely considered them over the Turbo City ones I have Can't help you on the powdercoating/paint question.
Just a quick rant--why does it have to be so hard to get front wiper blade refills for Jeeps? So they're 13 inch blades and probably the only vehicle with blades that small. It's not like there aren't lots of Wranglers and CJs on the road. EVERYTIME I need new blade refills I have to track down a store that carries them. The local NAPA here says that NAPA doesn't carry them for Wranglers anymore, though I can buy a whole new assembly for each wiper if I order them, at only $7 a blade. That makes sense, every 6 months I'll just buy a new blade assembly for each wiper, never mind that there's nothing wrong with the old ones.
For the record, I did track down a Pep Boys that carried the refills for a more reasonable $4/pair. As always, I bought several sets, since I never know where I'll be able to find them next time.
Have you all had the same experience or do I just pick the bad stores?
Lateral thinking required here.............. just buy refills that are 26" or over (readily available in Wal-Mart and elsewhere) and cut them to size. That's what I do.
Hey, I really, really like that LockRight Locker up front on Thelma Jane! It made the going easier where I went yesterday. One place in particular is Silo Hill. This is a very steep climb with large, loose rocks and rock ledges to be negotiated.
It is quite a ride without a locker, since you have to depend more on momentum and maintain more speed than you really want to. The Jeep really bounces over those big rocks, and your tires spin and grab, spin and grab just about all the way up. This can break a rear axle, and a lot of folks I wheel with that have the Dana 35 will not run this hill.
Well, with that LockRight up front, I was able to go much slower and Thelma Jane did not bounce as much as she used to.
I was afraid of losing manueverability by having a larger turning radius when in 4 WD with the locker up front, but I didn't really see that yesterday. I did not get into some of the very tight spots that I sometimes get into, but the stuff I did yesterday did not make me think I had given up much, if any, manueverability.
We had 12 vehicles in the group most of the time yesterday. We had a Samurai, an old Land Cruiser, and a Grand Cherokee besides a YJ and several TJs.
Greeting everyone! I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed how loud the noise is, when one hits the switch to wash the rear windshield on the hardtop?!? It comes from the area of the hose harness coupling. I thought it might have been an air bubble, but it didn't get worked out with/ several squirts? Small complaint, I realize. I also wonder if anyone knows why the '04 Jeep Wrangler Hardtop's have no louvered vents, to help pull a fresh air draft out of the interior when the windows are closed. I've noticed that the older models have those "gill slits," to help pull the air though. Seems like you always have to have the fan operating, to get air circulating, if you choose to have the window closed. Thanks. Eric
Mac24, curse your infernal logic. Though still I think I ought to be able to just BUY the right size. Fighting all this pollen is making me cranky.
Still waiting on the Rock Gear soft top, but it's being shipped via UPS as we speak so I should have it by next weekend. The guy at the company I spoke to--Bob I think--said they had a big jump in orders this year and were caught by surprise. I'll let you all know how it goes getting it installed. It sure looks like it will be easy.
Noisy washer is standard. If you don't use it often, it drains back, and the pipe is always close to your left ear anyway.
From '03 onwards you have the vents in the tailgate rather than the hardtop. General consensus is that they don't flow quite as well as the earlier ones. However, because of the design of the HVAC system, you'll always need the fan to get air movement, both in the fresh air and recirculation modes.
If this does become a problem you might want to consider the Teraflex '2 Low' kit. This gives you an additional position on your t/c shifter for 'rwd only low'. In other words it disconnects the front propellor shaft in low range. Not too expensive, but you do need to split the t/c to fit it.
Thank you very much for your response to the noisey washer and air vent ?'s. You certainly sound like you know your Jeeps! Much appreciated reassurance. Good Day.
Sir; if you dont mind, re: the vents in the tailgate; I certainly can see those louvers on the inside of the tailgate, but have not been able to to how they actually are vented to the outside? The exterior of that door seems to be solid on the outside, unless some vents are hidden where the spare tire is attached? (1) Now that you got me started, I do have two other questions. The Oil Pressure gauge seems to always remain in it's centered position, which I assume is a good thing, however, with my '95 Toyota T-100 pickup, that gauge seems to fluctuate with driving conditions. It would seem to me that a gauge would fluctuate with varying pressures, but not so with this '04 Wrangler? (2) Last question for now. When you open the hood and look at the right rear engine compartment area, to the corner, forward of the firewall in front of the driver, there is a small plate or shelf, about the size of 7"x9". It looks like it could accomodate something there, as it has holes through the plate metal. Any idea what it might have been designed for? (3) Thanks, these things have been intriquing' me since I purchased this new Sahara Edition. greta
1: If you remove your spare wheel you'll see the exit vents.
2: From '03 onward the oil pressure gauge is no more useful than an idiot light (unfortunately). As long as you have more than minimal oil pressure the gauge will be centered. Saves DC and dealers lots of time spent in explanations of differences in readings at different rpm and temperature.
3: That would be where the ABS pump goes (if you had ABS).
Went back for some more wheelin' today, and that LockRight is proving to be a wonderful thing! I really, really like it.
I can't tell all that much difference in manueverability with that locker in there. If I have given up a teeny bit of manueverability, the gain in traction makes it well worth it.
Oh, don't think I mentioned it in here, but as of Friday evening, Thelma Jane has been topless and doorless. Yeeeeeeeeeehawwwwwww!!!!!
Don't know what kind of weather everyone had this weekend, but it was beautiful here in the Indianapolis area. I took the top down Friday after work. On Saturday, I was ready for a spin, and decided on the spur of the moment to take the doors off and switch over to "summer mode". (Move mirrors so I can take doors off, remove fuse for overhead light, etc.) Man, it felt GREAT to be topless and doorless again! It is supposed to rain tomorrow, so I had to put the top back up and put the doors back on, but it was a GREAT weekend for Jeepin'!
I'm glad everyone else in the country had some normal SoCal type weather. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings we woke up to a dusting of snow (this is SoCal in spring...). Of course, this weekend we had scheduled home improvement projects - screwing down the boards on our deck and replacing the front and back doors. A house can get REALLY cold when you have no door on it and the outside temperature doesn't get above 40!
But it was a nice excuse to take the Wrangler up on one of the local dirt roads Sunday morning, before we went to test drive an Unlimited.
There is a lot to like with the Unlimited - quiet, that auto tranny is nice, the suspension isn't as harsh as my Noble Black Steed (which has the heavy duty gas shocks) and the extra room is wonderful. However, it wasn't half as much fun as my Sport. Sigh. I haven't ruled it out, but it isn't very high on my short list.
It sounds like they are taking that which makes a Wrangler out of the Wrangler Unlimited. Things about a Wrangler that make it a Wrangler to me: Short wheel base ride noise top off / roll cages up doors off and a lot more
But even if the ride is smoother and it is a bit quieter, it is STILL a Wrangler, but maybe just a bit more refined. I doubt it will be as maneuverable as a regular Wrangler, but I'm sure it is still more manueverable than most SUV's out there. Don't rule it out yet.
Hello All. Hope everyone had a great jeepin' weekend! I did after a few busted knuckles but it was well worth it. Installing new soft tops are NO FUN. I knew the denim material would be tough but mercy it was down right brutal. I have a Sunrider top on my black 1980 CJ-7. It is not the denim material but instead that black vinyl stuff. I can armor all it and make it look really shiny black but this denim will take some getting used to. The Sunrider was easy to stretch right out of the box. No time to get a hoist yet so my husband and I man handled the top and we were able to get it off with just a few strained back muscles. Then the real fun came when trying to get the soft top to stetch enough to zip, snap, and slide into the proper areas. Had a nice sunny 82 degree day on Saturday in southern Wisconsin and by that afternoon I noticed the top was easier to unbuckle from the windshield. I had a time getting it back up yesterday and my husband asked if I wanted help. I said no, I've got to do this by myself. You can't be there with me every time I need to do this so I need to experience the difficulty and develop my own little tricks for taking the top down and putting it back up again. It took me a little time but I did it and was quite pleased. Took it for a ride since I had never driven with the hard top on and it was great! No noise -- couldn't really tell the difference from when the hard top was on. Side windows jiggle a bit but not enough to be a bother.
Sorry to hear that the test drive of the limited was a bit of a disappointment for you mtngal. I guess there just any substitute for the legendary CJ's and Wranglers.
Yes, Tom I hugged my jeep multiple times this weekend and last night I went into the garage to get something and as I walked out to turn off the light I turned and said "good night" frog. I'm really starting to think I need help. I'm sick -- I have been bitten by the "jeep bug."
You have already found one trick - do it in the sun and let the top warm up. MUCH Easier.
I have found that if you put the rear windows on BEFORE you tuck the top into the rails along the side (over the door windows), they go in much easier.
Sometimes, it is easier to latch the top to the windshield first, then attach the back part of the top near the rear wheels.
For cleaning, I would NOT use Armor All. It has a tendency to dry things out over time. I use soap/water to get most of the dirt/poop off the top, then use the 303 protectant (usually available at RV places or online sellers like 4wd.com). It works well and protects the top.
I wanted a Jeep weekend (no top/no doors), but it was 50 degrees and 30 mph winds. Top stayed on. Still need the relocation brackets too.
If you have the soft top on and don't have the front windows down, try setting the blower to one click above the lowest setting. The HVAC system on newer Jeeps works well enough to create positive pressure inside the cab. It will push the windows out enough to keep them from flapping even at interstate speeds. Sounds like you're really enjoying the new Jeep!
Maybe the Unlimited is TOO refined for my tastes. It doesn't maneuver as well as our Sport, but it isn't all that much different. The fact that it isn't so quick turning would be much better at freeway speeds, which is really my primary need, since I'm not going to get rid of my Noble Black Steed.
I think that the auto tranny might be part of the reason why I think it lacks "fun." My MT Sport is really quick off the dime, and the Unlimited seems slow and heavy.
We test drove a soft top and it was really quiet - and it does have a roll cage and I think you could take the doors off also (I didn't actually check that out). Maybe I need to look at it again, now that I know what to expect.
Well it's about time that I had another technical challenge.
Driving around enjoying the sun this past weekend I noticed that when I depressed the clutch I heard a creaking sound. The creaking sound would still be present with the jeep turned off and the clutch pedal being depressed(like I am now!) or released. I checked fluid in the clutch master cylinder and it is ok. I did feel a vibration on the master cylinder when my able assistant pushed the clutch in.
I'm guessing it is the clutch Master/Slave assembly. Looking at the 1999 TJ FSM this is all one unit. Before I spend $250.00 on the parts I wanted to see if I am on the right track.
I did try to lube the clutch pedal link under the dash but this had no effect.
I also searched this forum and noticed that someone else had a similar problem...but under warranty.
When a noise could be coming from a variety of places (in your case the pedal pivot, either of the hydraulic cylinders, possibly the movement of the release bearing on its shaft, or even the clutch cover diaphram spring) a mechanics stethoscope is the ideal tool to isolate the problem.
Have a helper depress the pedal while you probe the various possible locations. You can use a long thin screwdriver and press your ear to the handle, but this is so much easier.
Hope the problem is not internal(release bearing).
I also just noticed a slow drip of fluid off the tcase crossmember up by the tranny that was clear.Makes me think the slave side is leaking.Do you know if this system is bleedable?I didn't have time to fully look into this. I'll do some more checking tonight and probably order up a stethoscope to have on hand.
Ah, you didn't mention the drip! It does rather sound like a leak from the slave cylinder. Unfortunately, repair parts aren't available, and it can't be bled anyway.
Just noticed the drip. Make's me think the two are related. Also, when cold it does not make the noise. So I'm thinking that as it heats up it leaks.. air gets in and thus the noise.
I'll let ya know what I find out tonight when I crawl under and look further.
The FSM doesn't get into detail about filling a new master/slave assembly. I'm wondering if you just fill it up and go without bleeding. The manual also states that the assem. is filled at the factory. That would be a first!
Hopefully I won't have to drop the crossmember.My compressor's in the shop and I'm so spoiled with air tools that I can never go back.
Funny you should mention that Mac. A buddy of mine recently asked me to help him diagnose an engine noise. I was pretty sure it was the alternator bearing making the noise, but I aksed him to hand me a golf umbrella that was in his trunk and showed him how you could use it to diagnose noises (touch tip to parts of engine and put ear to handle). He was pretty impressed and we got a few stares since we were in a restaurant parking lot at the time. My neighbor growing up taught me that trick with a broom handle, but for $5, I really should get the real deal. That narrow rod makes it easier to get into tight spots for sure. I'll check out HF for one; thanks for the link.
Comments
Hey, it's the middle of APRIL, for Pete's sake!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I wouldn't consider a Sport w/o the 44, so I just figured that was standard fare.
Tom, I and stuck with an SE for the foreseeable future, but I'm gonna make the best of it. I just realize there are some things it won't do (for safety and mechanical's sake, forget Pete!)
-Paul
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Problem is, living where I live, I have a 1 hr highway drive to get nearly anywhere.
For around town, I've enjoyed driving it. Drove it home from our Boy Scout meeting last night with just the Safari top on. Brrrrr... it gets cold in the mountains at night.
-Paul
If there had been an X model when I was looking back in '98 I probably would have bought one. While I venture off the pavement quite often, I don't do the really hard core stuff Tom does, and the X would have been fine.
However, you get fog lights standard (and I think the tilt steering wheel, but that could be an option) with the Sport. I never had them on a vehicle before, and probably wouldn't have bothered with them, but they were on the one I happened to buy. Now I wouldn't want to be without them - they are great on mountain roads when it is snowing.
Speaking of snow - could you send some of that our way, Tom? Last year on May 1st I took a photo of my neighbor's flowers all covered with snow. This year they have already bloomed and died.
The day was gorgeous and I needed to take the TJ into town to get some bolts to connect my soft top to the rollcage. I want to be able to pull them out w/o using tools and take the top and mounting hardware totally off when running the Safari top. So I just brought the whole car.
I just needed an excuse to drive it hehehe.
-Paul
I wonder if you could get a tranny cooler for a Wrangler, or if that would make any difference. In some ways having an auto with my commute would be nice, because some of it is such slow and go traffic.
My Noble Black Steed does quite well in that type of driving - the gears on the MT Wrangler are such that I just put it in 2nd gear and crawl along. I have to shift much more between 1st and 2nd in the Taco - 2nd gear isn't as low and the traffic often slows down to below it's bottom speed.
On the other hand, what advantages I get from having an auto I'd lose on the break side. With the MT I can stay off the brakes much more.
Has anyone else noticed how cars are all about compromises - there's no one perfect answer!
Second, the Wrangler torque converter is a lot 'stiffer', or less 'slushy', than the one in an average vehicle. This results in better engine braking on the over-run, hence less use of the brake pedal is required than you would think. In any case, brakes are cheap and simple to maintain.
"Has anyone else noticed how cars are all about compromises - there's no one perfect answer!"
Isn't everything in life like that?
;--)
For example, we are each born with a certain "total" in terms of good looks and wealth. I just wish that I had been born wealthier instead of so good-looking!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I don't have a hard top hoist yet but from the advice you all have given me I believe I will invest in one soon. Getting one on ebay sounds like a plan as they are a bit pricey in the jeep catalogs. Just got the new jeep last Friday and have lots of accessory ideas running through my head. My husband came home yesterday to find me looking through 4Wheel Drive Hardware catalog and became really nervous.
Thanks again to all of you for the advice. You helped me tremendously.
Tom: To answer your question -- Have you hugged your Jeep today? Answer: Yes, I do it every chance I get. Even got up several nights in a row to go to the garage to see if the Jeep was REALLY there. I was afraid I might have dreamed I got a new Jeep and just wanted to make sure it was reality.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeehawwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom
Glad you hugged your Jeep today!
............or so modest!
;--)
I like to think of Sara not as jeep but as a "common person's cabriolet".
Green Jeep- Make sure you look real carefully at the hoists on ebay. Thee ones in the 4wd catalog and Quadratec are better quality than some of the ones I've seen on ebay.
David
*sigh* my wife is dreading my final goodie list!
-Paul
LOL! I remember the time when I was dating this really cool Canadian guy (now my hubby). We were talking about what kind of cars we liked, and he asked me if I would like a convertable. I told him that the only convertable for me would have to have a roll bar! I still feel that way.
mac - Thanks for the info about the auto tranny and the fact I can get a tranny cooler - I think I'd feel better about getting an auto if I put one on. And I do agree that brakes are much cheaper than either a new engine or a new clutch. Maybe I shouldn't ask this in case I jinx myself, but how much does a new clutch cost? I've never had to replace one (never kept a vehicle long enough before now). I'm not having any problems, just wondered.
greenjeep - I love your ideas of customizing the Frog. Isn't it great to have a vehicle that you feel good about doing such things with? And no one will give you strange looks, just a Jeep wave as you drive by.
Regarding the hoist: I bought the manual Lang hoist, which I have seen on ebay for a lot less then I paid. I like the hoist but I did not like the way it was held together. The screws that came with it were weak and the threads stripped. I went to the Home Depot and bought some #8 bolts (double check the size) with nuts, drilled holes threw both Square tubes where the existing holes were, and bolted it together that way. It’s working great; it is a very strong hoist system. I would not trust hanging the top for a summer without modifying it by bolting it together. I still use two ratchet tie down straps as added security when hanging the top, although I do not believe they are necessary.
If you choose to use the Lang hoist and modified it the way I did be sure to fitted to your top first. I used the screws that came with it to hold it in together while I drilled the holes for the bolts.
Good luck.
Glen
What's happening is that someone will "wheel" for the first time, go totally nuts over it, and then invite someone else. That's cool. The more the merrier.
Got that Lockright locker in the front diff now, so it will be fun to see how much it adds to Thelma Jane's capabilities.
Also got those Poison Spyder corner panels yesterday. Have the drivers side panel installed. Gonna drop Thelma Jane off at a body shop this AM, and they are going to hammer that passenger side tub corner back into something close to its orginal shape. I might just let them install the panel on that side while they have her.
The location of one of the holes in the corner panel makes it necessary to remove the fender liner in order to get the nut on the bolt and hold it while tightening the bolt. Might not be that big of a deal, but I left that bolt out on the drivers side for now. I might have the body shop do that for me on the drivers side and just do the whole job on the passenger side.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I had to pull mine when I swapped flares.
-twylie
-Paul
Although I have not used or seen any of the TBT stuff, it has an excellent reputation among many guys that wheel out west. His fans include guys on some other boards that I have a great deal of respect for. Good engineering/design and competitive pricing. I do like his side bars. Had they been out when I bought mine, I would have definitely considered them over the Turbo City ones I have Can't help you on the powdercoating/paint question.
-twylie
For the record, I did track down a Pep Boys that carried the refills for a more reasonable $4/pair. As always, I bought several sets, since I never know where I'll be able to find them next time.
Have you all had the same experience or do I just pick the bad stores?
:--)
It is quite a ride without a locker, since you have to depend more on momentum and maintain more speed than you really want to. The Jeep really bounces over those big rocks, and your tires spin and grab, spin and grab just about all the way up. This can break a rear axle, and a lot of folks I wheel with that have the Dana 35 will not run this hill.
Well, with that LockRight up front, I was able to go much slower and Thelma Jane did not bounce as much as she used to.
I was afraid of losing manueverability by having a larger turning radius when in 4 WD with the locker up front, but I didn't really see that yesterday. I did not get into some of the very tight spots that I sometimes get into, but the stuff I did yesterday did not make me think I had given up much, if any, manueverability.
We had 12 vehicles in the group most of the time yesterday. We had a Samurai, an old Land Cruiser, and a Grand Cherokee besides a YJ and several TJs.
Very happy so far!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I also wonder if anyone knows why the '04 Jeep Wrangler Hardtop's have no louvered vents, to help pull a fresh air draft out of the interior when the windows are closed. I've noticed that the older models have those "gill slits," to help pull the air though. Seems like you always have to have the fan operating, to get air circulating, if you choose to have the window closed. Thanks. Eric
Still waiting on the Rock Gear soft top, but it's being shipped via UPS as we speak so I should have it by next weekend. The guy at the company I spoke to--Bob I think--said they had a big jump in orders this year and were caught by surprise. I'll let you all know how it goes getting it installed. It sure looks like it will be easy.
From '03 onwards you have the vents in the tailgate rather than the hardtop. General consensus is that they don't flow quite as well as the earlier ones. However, because of the design of the HVAC system, you'll always need the fan to get air movement, both in the fresh air and recirculation modes.
Now that you got me started, I do have two other questions. The Oil Pressure gauge seems to always remain in it's centered position, which I assume is a good thing, however, with my '95 Toyota T-100 pickup, that gauge seems to fluctuate with driving conditions. It would seem to me that a gauge would fluctuate with varying pressures, but not so with this '04 Wrangler? (2)
Last question for now. When you open the hood and look at the right rear engine compartment area, to the corner, forward of the firewall in front of the driver, there is a small plate or shelf, about the size of 7"x9". It looks like it could accomodate something there, as it has holes through the plate metal. Any idea what it might have been designed for? (3)
Thanks, these things have been intriquing' me since I purchased this new Sahara Edition. greta
1: If you remove your spare wheel you'll see the exit vents.
2: From '03 onward the oil pressure gauge is no more useful than an idiot light (unfortunately). As long as you have more than minimal oil pressure the gauge will be centered. Saves DC and dealers lots of time spent in explanations of differences in readings at different rpm and temperature.
3: That would be where the ABS pump goes (if you had ABS).
I can't tell all that much difference in manueverability with that locker in there. If I have given up a teeny bit of manueverability, the gain in traction makes it well worth it.
Oh, don't think I mentioned it in here, but as of Friday evening, Thelma Jane has been topless and doorless. Yeeeeeeeeeehawwwwwww!!!!!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
JeepHead
But it was a nice excuse to take the Wrangler up on one of the local dirt roads Sunday morning, before we went to test drive an Unlimited.
There is a lot to like with the Unlimited - quiet, that auto tranny is nice, the suspension isn't as harsh as my Noble Black Steed (which has the heavy duty gas shocks) and the extra room is wonderful. However, it wasn't half as much fun as my Sport. Sigh. I haven't ruled it out, but it isn't very high on my short list.
It sounds like they are taking that which makes a Wrangler out of the Wrangler Unlimited. Things about a Wrangler that make it a Wrangler to me:
Short wheel base
ride
noise
top off / roll cages up
doors off
and a lot more
But even if the ride is smoother and it is a bit quieter, it is STILL a Wrangler, but maybe just a bit more refined. I doubt it will be as maneuverable as a regular Wrangler, but I'm sure it is still more manueverable than most SUV's out there. Don't rule it out yet.
-Paul
Sorry to hear that the test drive of the limited was a bit of a disappointment for you mtngal. I guess there just any substitute for the legendary CJ's and Wranglers.
Yes, Tom I hugged my jeep multiple times this weekend and last night I went into the garage to get something and as I walked out to turn off the light I turned and said "good night" frog. I'm really starting to think I need help. I'm sick -- I have been bitten by the "jeep bug."
I have found that if you put the rear windows on BEFORE you tuck the top into the rails along the side (over the door windows), they go in much easier.
Sometimes, it is easier to latch the top to the windshield first, then attach the back part of the top near the rear wheels.
For cleaning, I would NOT use Armor All. It has a tendency to dry things out over time. I use soap/water to get most of the dirt/poop off the top, then use the 303 protectant (usually available at RV places or online sellers like 4wd.com). It works well and protects the top.
I wanted a Jeep weekend (no top/no doors), but it was 50 degrees and 30 mph winds. Top stayed on.
-Paul
:--)
-twylie
The only thing to add, would be to make sure that you have selected one of the fresh air positions and not 'recirculate'.
Maybe the Unlimited is TOO refined for my tastes. It doesn't maneuver as well as our Sport, but it isn't all that much different. The fact that it isn't so quick turning would be much better at freeway speeds, which is really my primary need, since I'm not going to get rid of my Noble Black Steed.
I think that the auto tranny might be part of the reason why I think it lacks "fun." My MT Sport is really quick off the dime, and the Unlimited seems slow and heavy.
We test drove a soft top and it was really quiet - and it does have a roll cage and I think you could take the doors off also (I didn't actually check that out). Maybe I need to look at it again, now that I know what to expect.
Driving around enjoying the sun this past weekend I noticed that when I depressed the clutch I heard a creaking sound. The creaking sound would still be present with the jeep turned off and the clutch pedal being depressed(like I am now!) or released. I checked fluid in the clutch master cylinder and it is ok. I did feel a vibration on the master cylinder when my able assistant pushed the clutch in.
I'm guessing it is the clutch Master/Slave assembly. Looking at the 1999 TJ FSM this is all one unit. Before I spend $250.00 on the parts I wanted to see if I am on the right track.
I did try to lube the clutch pedal link under the dash but this had no effect.
I also searched this forum and noticed that someone else had a similar problem...but under warranty.
Thanks in advance for your help.
David
Have a helper depress the pedal while you probe the various possible locations. You can use a long thin screwdriver and press your ear to the handle, but this is so much easier.
Costs about $5 from Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=- - 41966
Hope the problem is not internal(release bearing).
I also just noticed a slow drip of fluid off the tcase crossmember up by the tranny that was clear.Makes me think the slave side is leaking.Do you know if this system is bleedable?I didn't have time to fully look into this. I'll do some more checking tonight and probably order up a stethoscope to have on hand.
I'm sure I'll end up using it at some point!
Thanks again...
David
:--(
are related. Also, when cold it does not make the noise. So I'm thinking that as it heats up it leaks.. air gets in and thus the noise.
I'll let ya know what I find out tonight when I crawl under and look further.
The FSM doesn't get into detail about filling a new master/slave assembly. I'm wondering if you just fill it up and go without bleeding. The manual also states that the assem. is filled at the factory.
That would be a first!
Hopefully I won't have to drop the crossmember.My compressor's in the shop and I'm so spoiled with air tools that I can never go back.
-twylie