Yes, I installed the Kilby myself! I was VERY proud of myself for having done that job, since I have NEVER been very mechanically inclined.
I didn't bother depressurizing the fuel line. I just kept a rag in my hand and kept my face well away from the area when I broke the fuel line connection by the gas tank. Only a trickle of fuel came out, and it wasn't under any real pressure. I guess I just took it slow enough that the pressure escaped slowly instead of all at once.
I have since learned that there is a valve on the fuel rail that would have made the job of depressurizing the line very easy, and I would do that if I had to do another install.
I had all day to do the job, and it TOOK all day, since I was working by myself. I wasn't in a hurry and wasn't real confident that I knew what I was doing, so I took it real slow.
It would be MUCH easier if there were a second person available to help when the old skid is lowered and when the new skid is raised into place. It would be nice to have someone work the jack while the other person guides the skid and the gas filler hose. I had to switch back and forth between the jack and the job of positioning things.
I helped my bud at work do his installation, and, man, with my having done the job once and with the extra pair of hands, we got through the job MUCH faster. I'll bet we took no more than two hours, or maybe just a little over two hours, to get the job done!
I would be glad to help ya install yours, if we lived closer together. Hey, just buy one and have it delivered here, then come down and we'll install it. We could combine that job with a wheelin' trip to Turkey Bay.
I have a few tips for installing a Kilby, but I won't go into them now, since it might be a while before you get one. Let me know when you are ready, and I'll warn you about a couple things.
Just talked to my brother in law who owns a 30,000ft car restoration shop. I bartered away one of my guitar amps(nephew is learning) to have him do the install on the skid as well as a possible lift kit.Eventhough I'm pretty confident I can do the job, it is pretty cold out!
Search is great when you KNOW what you are searching for, but someone new to Jeeps might not even know the right things to "search" for.
Besides, that's SO impersonal, if someone just does their own research. How we gonna get to know people, if they don't post and ask questions?
The search is a good tool, but it is by no means supposed to keep folks from feeling like they are welcome to ask questions.
We even discussed having a FAQ section (was my suggestion), but we decided that we would rather have folks post questions, so we could get to know them. I agreed completely with my buds in here when they made the point that we might not hear from people if we had a FAQ section.
When you say your brother in law is going to install the "skid," are you talking about just the steering box skid, or are you going to go ahead and get a Kilby too?
Hey, I am VERY grateful to the folks who were posting back when I first got interested in Jeeps. Many of those folks seem to have disappeared, but they were a great help to me.
I look back at some of my original posts and have to laugh at myself. I sure had Wrangler Fever BAD!
I think I was reading and posting in here for at least three or four months before getting Thelma Jane. She was a factory order, and I learned just what options would be best for me. Heck, I also even knew how much I should expect to pay in relation to invoice as a result of this forum. (People were kind enough to post how much they had paid for their Jeeps in relation to invoice, so I knew what kind of deal to hold out for.)
I knew NOTHING about Jeeps before I started coming here. I only knew that I HAD to have one!
OK, Paul, and anyone else who is interested, I have taken some pics of Thelma Jane with her front sway bar disco'd. I picked the best one to post here, but I might also include a section on my website about this too. For now, it's quicker and easier to just post here.
From this pic you can see where the sway bar links would normally be connected. I have included arrows to show this. There is a bolt that you take out when you disco, and it goes through that arm that is welded to the axle (lower arrow) and then through the bushing on the sway bar link (upper arrow). The bolt has a T55 size torx head, and there is an 18 MM nut on the other end.
You can see how the sway bar has been rotated upwards to get the link out of the way and close enough to the spring housing to use that little gap between the spring housing and the frame to run a zip tie through to hold the sway bar link up and out of the way. Obviously, you have to disconnect both sides before you can rotate the sway bar upwards.
On one of your pics on Thelma's site, I see a beam going from the roll cage to the windshield (parallel with the sides of the TJ). What is that? Is that one of those overhead storage things?
I guess what you saw might have been my overhead CB rack. That's the only thing I can think of that would run from the roll cage to the windshield.
I bought the rack from CBrack.com. That's a guy in Texas that makes those things.
That rack is nice, but not necessary. There are other ways to mount a CB, but I do like that rack. They also make that rack with a place built-in to mount switches for accessories, like extra lights or whatever. I didn't get that model, though.
Well it's been a few days. Haven't had the time lately to get in, still searching for a job.
Gman: congradulations on your new baby. I'm sure you'll love that Jeep.
Thel: Glad to see you are interested in a new Jeep. Don't fear asking any questions here. There are plenty of people here that will help no matter what the question. Everyone beat me to everything I would have said. Only thing I can say is, like a few other people have said, read read and read some more. I started out at the post from the beginning of this year. It was over 1000 posts but I learned a lot and then like others said got answers to ?'s and new ?'s to ask.
Tom: How's the quitting going? Hope your doing well. You always manage to post up some damn good info. What would we do without you
Well it's time for me to go get ready to work all night. Hope everyone has a good New Year.
GMAN... CONGRATS!! woo hoooo A new jeeper..doest get any better than that! Thel.. NEVER EVER think u ask a stupid question Ask away.. we just love talking JEEP.
Soft top..i can take soft top down in about 3 min. takes practice but no biggy soft top for summer..hard top for winter
I hope everyone has a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Here is to 2004.
Thanks for the warm welcome. I usually hang out in the Smart Shopper board but I also frequent the Mazda Miata and Toyota Matrix boards as they are my current rides.
I plan on taking my time with a yay or nay on the Wrangler decision. I like cars that are unique and fun to drive but I realize that the Wrangler is NOT for everybody, just like my Miata.
I know the Miata and the Wrangler do not have much in common other than being convertibles but there is something REALLY fun about being in a sports car and wagging the tail on turns....woo hoo!
There are many things that I like about the Wrangler like the convertible thing, the look, the all-weather ability (which is noticeably lacking in my MX5) the idea of going out "into the woods" and camping out.
There are some things that I am not yet sure about however such as how much of a PITA it will be to tote around my 3-year old, the gas mileage could be an issue as I put about 20,000 miles per year on a car...easy.
I'm also concerned about reliability. I know the 4.0 is near bulletproof but I also know that some of the other Jeeps have been plagued with electrical problems (Cherokee pre-97 for example) and such. It has been a long time since I owned anything not Honda, Mazda or my current Toyota.
I figure I'll research for a few months (or more) and try to decide if the Wrangler would be good for me. I've been on a bit of an automotive merry-go-round that is becoming tiresome so I want to be sure that my ride is the right one before I buy or don't buy.
Happy New Year to all. Drive safe and drive sober.
Take your time. You are wise to do so, because, like you said, Wranglers aren't for everyone.
You will never find a vehicle more FUN than a Wrangler, but you have to make some sacrifices in terms of room, comfort, ride quality, and fuel economy. Those of us who love our Wranglers consider the PURE FUN of a Jeep to be well worth these sacrifices.
Some folks have concerns about having a Wrangler as a daily driver, even though they can easily see a Wrangler as a second vehicle just for fun.
I had the same concerns about trading in my really sweet 2000 Grand Prix GT for a Jeep. Altough I have bought a little S-10 pickup to be my daily driver, at the time that I bought Thelma Jane, she was going to be my daily driver.
She did serve in that capacity for the first seven months that I owned her, before I bought the S-10. I had no problem using her as my daily, but I just thought it smart to get an old pickup to drive to work instead of putting so many miles on the new Jeep (I live 27 miles from my job). I wanted my warranty to last the full three years for one thing.
I think the reliability of the Wranglers is excellent, so you can put that fear to rest. If you read all these 11K+ posts in here, you would be amazed at how few problems are mentioned!
All I can say is there is NOTHING like a Jeep Wrangler! They are more fun than you can even begin to imagine!
I'll 2nd everything Tom said. Thel, I agree take your time. I did I reasearched ALOT on wranglers. Plus, you cant beat this board. Tom was a MAJOR help too. Even though im not a off-roader ( Tazz might get dirty, there is NUTHIN like driving that jeep topless & doorless. Keep us posted..
in one review I read, the Wrangler is described as a 4wd Miata. My dad has a '99 Miata and having driven it many times, I have to admit they both put a smile on your face when you jump behind the wheel. As strange as it sounds, they are pretty similar in their uniqueness. Many of the reasons you love your Miata would translate over to a Wrangler. The owners "club" you join by owning one is at least as strong as Miata owners, and like the Miata, there are plenty of aftermarket goodies (probably more for the Wrangler) that you can buy to customize your Jeep. At the end of the day the simple reason that it "puts a smile on your face" every time you drive it is reason enough to give it a chance.
Having said that, you mentioned fuel mileage and reliability as a concern. I think most people are getting anywhere from 15.5 to 19 on average. Best mileage is obtained at sub interstate speeds with the poor aerodynamics. Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes for better mileage. Slow down and enjoy the ride is the only one that comes to mind. As far as problem, specifically electrical, I can't remember anyone having any on this board in the last 3 years. The Wrangler is somewhat primitive by modern standards but that simpleness means fewer things to go wrong. I'm not sure I caught it in your earlier post, but are you looking to replace either the Matrix or the Miata with the Jeep? It might help us give you some more specific opinions given how we (on the board) use ours.
Wheelin on Jan. 1st 2004........Heck of a way to celebrate the new year!!
My B-law and his team of able tech's is going to do both the steering box skid and the gas tank skid.(My nephew really really loves his guitar amp!)I will be the gofer for the project.I ordered the skids at the same time as I ordered the Raingler nets.
Still gathering info on side skids/nerfs.Also looking into a decent rear bumper and swing away tire carrier. I'm not too comfortable lugging 31" MTR's on the standard tire carrier. Plus with the Olympic 921 roof rack the sides of the stock bumper need to be cut a bit.
Since the Jeep will be up on a rack in my B-laws shop, I'm also thinking about replacing the clutch with a Centerforce unit..I guess my question is how long do clutches typically last? Sara's got 38k on the odometer and shifts ok but if these wear out within a few 1000 miles I may as well replace it before it becomes an issue.
Also the Goodyear MTR's are great.However I do get a slight bit of rub when the steering wheel is fully turned in either direction.
My 1999 Wrangler was purchased used with over 40K on the odo. Like you, I also worried about the reliability of the TJ, but after almost 20 months of happy ownership I've only replaced the radiator and the steering damper-less than $300 total. I also fixed the well-known A/C evaporator drain leak(part-$4.50 DIY labor-10 min) as well as the IP gauge gremlin(DIY labor-30 min). In my opinion, the electro-mechanical simplicity of the TJ is such that even Chrysler can't screw it up. I agree with Automobile Magazine which commented, "A Wrangler is not for everybody, certainly not as a daily driver. But no well-rounded stable of cars would seem complete without one." While my 318ti Club Sport remains my favorite ride, the TJ is also a lot of fun to own and drive; there's nothing else quite like it.
Would include first and foremost, my Miata (good daily driver with high mpg and loads of fun).
An Odyssey or CR-V for my wife. We need cargo room with the family and my woodworking hobbies. You ever try to haul a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a Miata (or a Wrangler for that matter)...it ain't pretty! LOL
A Wrangler might make a good complement to my Miata as it has the 4x4 capability that would be nice to have here in mid-Missouri. It has a back seat so I can carry my wife and my daughter around in it.
That has been one buggaboo with my Miata...with only two seats I haven't had the pure joy of top down driving with my wife and daughter along for the ride at the same time. I think that would be fantastic!!!
I've also considered a pickup just b/c that truck bed is soooo handy for my woodworking (mostly furniture but I did build a two-level deck onto my house last summer). Of course, pickups aren't convertibles, it is difficult to squeeze 3 of us into one, and they're not very fun to drive.
Thanks for all the input so far. I have to say, this is one of the friendliest boards here at Edmunds and that says a lot!
The Wrangler makes an ideal 3rd vehicle for us. I have a 4 door Explorer as a DD that sees road trips, Home Depot duty, and hauling anythign bigger than a suitcase or groceries. My wife has an SC400 that's a great car, but not very practical for anything over a long weekend.
Before we bought the Jeep, we also had an MGB (fun convertible), and a Nissan 4x4 King Cab as a beater work vehicle and 4wd to get into the woods. It was my wife's idea to get the Jeep (convertible and 4wd) and get rid of the MGB and Nissan truck. I initially resisted since my MGB was my hobby/baby, but after driving the Wrangler, I realized (again) that she is wiser than I am. Almost 3 years now and zero regrets about the decision.
If you will be able to garage the Wrangler, it's even better because you can leave the top down or off for extended periods of time. We pull our soft top in March and leave it off until Nov the last two years. In the summer, we run a duster, bikini and windjammer depending on conditions.
Keep researching and posting. If you have a chance, try to rent a Wrangler in the Spring to get the full effect.
I checked my TJ today to see how hard it would be to disco the stabilizer. It'll be REAL easy. It IS NOT THERE!
If I am looking in the right spot, there is no kind of sway bar on the front at all! I totally missed it when I bought it and the dealer (when I had it inspected) thought it had been a mod, so I guess they didn't see a need to mention it. I can send you some pics of the front end if you want to confirm.
I thought when I climbed in, it was a bit soft. I can bounce the car easily when on the step up. Fortunately, my daughtet doesn't drive it on the highway and the few times she has, it is a straight shot (very straight hiways up here in Kern County).
How much would a new sway bar be? May as well get one with quick discos on it.
Does that Jeep of yours have a lift on it? Any indication that the front springs and shocks are not factory?
What could have happened is that the previous owner had stiffer shocks and/or springs installed and thought the sway bar to be unnecessary.
If the suspension is stiff enough, the body lean is minimized, and the effect of the sway bar is lessened. That's not to say that you really should run without one, though.
Not sure what they would charge for a sway bar. Wish you could ask the previous owner about it. It might be just lying around somewhere, and he might just give it to ya.
I saw some messed up things today, so messed up it was great. I live in st. louis and about 30 miles south (bloomingdale) there is a guy who owns a business(custom-differentials) and owns about 70 acres of land. Mudpits, trails, rockcrawling course, you name, it is a 4wd dream come true. FOr me to write what I saw today would be very unfair to all the mass chaos I saw today. Actually, there is an article on it in this months four wheelin magazine called "playing in jeremy's back yard". I saw a guy drive an old army cargo truck(over 700Hp)called captain R.P.M through a mobile home today. Read the article, it's atleast good for a laugh. -scott
We can put this one in the record books, Folks! It was about this time last night that I finished my last cigarette. Made it all day today witout having one, BUT IT WASN'T EASY!
You can do it! I stopped cold turkey in 1983 and haven't touched one since, although my co-worker did talk me into sharing a cigar with her at one of our annual continuing education seminar; what the heck-it's only one per year. What motivated me to quit was the cost. I figured out that kicking the habit would pay for a quarterly oil change on my old Bavaria.
Can you see the round bar going across the front of your Jeep behind the bumper? That is the sway bar. It's possible that the sway bar is there, but that the links have been removed. Is that the case? If so, you should be able to see where the links were attached.
Feel free to send me some pics, but I am on dial up, so they need to be pretty small files.
Both of my parents quit for good in the mid-sixties; Dad smoked 3 packs/day and Mom went through two packs/day. Again: You can do it! We're all pulling for you!
I agree with Glen. One day at a time. Anything can seem insurmountable if you look at the big picture. Break it down into small periods of time. You can do it. Just think of all the people here & at home who are rooting for you.
That's where I messed up before, I think. I kept trying to fight too many battles by thinking that "if I overcome this urge, another one will come along anyway, so what's the use?" I need to learn to fight just the battle at hand and not worry beyond that.
I don't know if you guys realize how big of a factor you all are in here. I know that if I fail, I am going to be letting all of you guys down. You have been so good to me and so supportive, that I will feel real bad if I let you all down.
Tom - we're all behind you so if you need any more encouragement, just let us know!
Paul - feel free to send me pics of the Jeep if you want. I have a few shots showing the swaybar from when I installed poly bushings. The first three pictures in this link show the sway bar.
If you need me to draw arrows on them, just let me know. Also, if it turns out you have the front sway bar, but need end links, let me know and I'll send you my stock links that are sitting in the basement. I pulled mine when I installed the JKS discos.
Had a little slip today. Was taking a nap with Ross Allen, and the phone rang, waking me up. When I was on the phone and still had not really come fully awake, I reached over and got a cigarette and lit it. Man, one puff was all it took to make me realize what I was doing! After all those hours without a cigarette, that one puff was quite a shock. You smokers will know what I am talking about. When you have gone hours and hours without a cigarette, that first puff of the first cigarette packs a good wallop.
I checked against some other TJ's. It not be there man. The tube for the sway bar is where I currently have my wiring for my fog lamps going. Guess I'll be rerunning that too.
There is no sign of a lift on this, except for the larger tires/wheels I put on a few months ago. I'm checking to see if there is any on the rear.
The suspension is not very stiff and when I get in the TJ, the things leans. I definitely need to add one. Anybody recommend a good manufacturer for sway bars? I was thinking about doing this for my WJ (Grand Cherokee) as well. There are some Addco ones for it.
Do I need to upgrade front and rear at the same time? I'll probably put quick disco's on it while I'm at it. Do it all at the same time I guess.
Well I was finally forced to sell my Miata today. I don't want to get into the details but it simply became an expense our recently diminished household income could no longer bear. While this is a very sad day for me (imagine tsjay having to give up his Thelma Jane) it is time to move on and look to the future. I don't know if a Wranlger is in that future but I'll continue to stick around and research with this board.
The only thing I do know is that a 2002 Blazing Yellow Mica Miata SE is in my future....but probably not for a couple of years.
I go away for a couple of days and there are tons of messages, including ones that I usually chime in on.
Glen - congrats on getting that new TJ! Glad it all worked out - funny how that happens. If you don't mind the ride on the 91 you shouldn't mind it anywhere. The only place that sort of drives me nuts in the northbound 405 at the 101 interchange. The expansion joints on that one stretch are set just far apart to get the Wrangler really rocking. The first time I drove it I thought something was wrong, then realized it was probably because of the shorter than normal wheelbase and a stiffer suspension.
I have a '98 Sport that I bought new that now has something like 114,000 miles on the odometer. I did have the exhaust manifold problem (expensive to fix) and the dash gauge problem. That turned out to be the easiest thing to fix - it wasn't really electrical, just a contact problem. I haven't had a problem with it since. I've replaced the brakes and rotors and it has a new battery, but I haven't had to replace the clutch. I also need to replace the rubber seals around the passenger door and back tailgate, but that is due to the fact I live in a very dry climate. I didn't realize the passenger side was leaking until today - it poured all day yesterday and there was quite a bit of water on the passenger side. That tells you something about the difference between high elevation SoCal and low elevation NorCal.
Paul - glad you had a good time up at Mammoth. I know what you mean about the snow banks driving down the road. We went up to Bear Valley on Tuesday and saw the same thing. I was glad we were staying below the snow level.
I am now thinking of taking up a new sport. I tried out cross country skiing while I was gone this week and loved it! This from someone who has been on skis exactly twice in their life, many years ago. So now I'm wondering about carrying skis in/on the Wrangler. Any suggestions?
Tom - hang in there. Remember, you only have to avoid smoking one cigarette - the first one. It isn't that hard to not smoke one cigarette, is it?
"The tube for the sway bar is where I currently have my wiring for my fog lamps going."
The stabilizer bar doesn't sit in a tube, it's secured to the frame by two rubber isolation bushes. I think that the tube you may be referring to is the crossmember at the front of the chassis?
Tom, I know what you are going through - I've been there. Some advice... get rid of all your cigerettes, ashtrays, and lighters. Think of yourself as a non-smoker. These things in your house will do you no good. Slip-ups happen, don't let it get you down. Most people need several attempts to make it "stick". The toughest time is now. Remember, YOU are in control. Find something to replace them, dare I say... exercise? It helps as a stress reliever. If not that then try carrots, celery sticks or gum. When the "feeling" overwelms you, take RA out for a walk, you'll feel better and so will he. Last bit of advice, you are human. It took a long time to get hooked, it will take a long time to free yourself. As others have said, take it one day at a time. You are doing this for yourself, no one else. If you need some extra help you know where to find me. Good luck, you can do it!
I am installing driving lamps on my jeep and I want them to run individually of the head lights. With my luck I will hook em up to the freakin horn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The wires supplying the headlights are just sufficient for their intended job. Even fitting higher wattage bulbs can cause problems.
Your can wire your driving lights to come on only when the headlights are also illuminated, but you should also include a switch so that you can control them independently.
The power to your lights should be run via a fused connection through a relay. Your switch will operate the relay which will then send power to the lights. Obviously, you'll use correctly sized wire for the power feed.
Haven't been here for a while (wow, there sure are a lot of posts!) - enjoying my sweet new ride. Yes, she's here and I have spent all day yesterday breaking her in (gently of course). Racked up over 125 Km in the City and (as per manual) got onto a freeway after the first 100 Km to push her a little faster. Sweeet.
Came up with a name to boot. She's cute, has her quirks and definitely kicks some booty... henceforth she shall be called Buffy! lol. This way I can even come up with some really lame-o things, like she's the off-road trail slayer. ;-)
Will post some pics when I can... once I've actually taken some. Too busy enjoying the ride. :-)
Really cold out here (last evening it was hitting -27 C and colder (approaching 0 F I believe). Plenty of snow, can't believe how incredibly grippy she is, I almost haven't bothered with 4WD except to test it and the roads are plenty slick (quite glazed to say the least).
Anyway, won't gush any more.. time to go for another drive!!
Tom, hang in there. As per what so many others have been saying - dump anything to do with cigarettes from your house, cars, etc. They only create a reminder for you. One day at a time, the big picture can wait...
I understand all of that Mac, what I need to know is which wire under the dash or under the hood can I connect the power feed? I bought the set through Quadratec and it came with all of the wires, the relay and the switch, but the directions tell you to hook the power feed directly to a parking light. I would rather have the lights as individuals and use them as running lights during the day. Any suggestions on where to connect the power feed??
Comments
I didn't bother depressurizing the fuel line. I just kept a rag in my hand and kept my face well away from the area when I broke the fuel line connection by the gas tank. Only a trickle of fuel came out, and it wasn't under any real pressure. I guess I just took it slow enough that the pressure escaped slowly instead of all at once.
I have since learned that there is a valve on the fuel rail that would have made the job of depressurizing the line very easy, and I would do that if I had to do another install.
I had all day to do the job, and it TOOK all day, since I was working by myself. I wasn't in a hurry and wasn't real confident that I knew what I was doing, so I took it real slow.
It would be MUCH easier if there were a second person available to help when the old skid is lowered and when the new skid is raised into place. It would be nice to have someone work the jack while the other person guides the skid and the gas filler hose. I had to switch back and forth between the jack and the job of positioning things.
I helped my bud at work do his installation, and, man, with my having done the job once and with the extra pair of hands, we got through the job MUCH faster. I'll bet we took no more than two hours, or maybe just a little over two hours, to get the job done!
I would be glad to help ya install yours, if we lived closer together. Hey, just buy one and have it delivered here, then come down and we'll install it. We could combine that job with a wheelin' trip to Turkey Bay.
I have a few tips for installing a Kilby, but I won't go into them now, since it might be a while before you get one. Let me know when you are ready, and I'll warn you about a couple things.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Thanks again and have a Happy and safe new year!!
David
Search is great when you KNOW what you are searching for, but someone new to Jeeps might not even know the right things to "search" for.
Besides, that's SO impersonal, if someone just does their own research. How we gonna get to know people, if they don't post and ask questions?
The search is a good tool, but it is by no means supposed to keep folks from feeling like they are welcome to ask questions.
We even discussed having a FAQ section (was my suggestion), but we decided that we would rather have folks post questions, so we could get to know them. I agreed completely with my buds in here when they made the point that we might not hear from people if we had a FAQ section.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I look back at some of my original posts and have to laugh at myself. I sure had Wrangler Fever BAD!
I think I was reading and posting in here for at least three or four months before getting Thelma Jane. She was a factory order, and I learned just what options would be best for me. Heck, I also even knew how much I should expect to pay in relation to invoice as a result of this forum. (People were kind enough to post how much they had paid for their Jeeps in relation to invoice, so I knew what kind of deal to hold out for.)
I knew NOTHING about Jeeps before I started coming here. I only knew that I HAD to have one!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
From this pic you can see where the sway bar links would normally be connected. I have included arrows to show this. There is a bolt that you take out when you disco, and it goes through that arm that is welded to the axle (lower arrow) and then through the bushing on the sway bar link (upper arrow). The bolt has a T55 size torx head, and there is an 18 MM nut on the other end.
You can see how the sway bar has been rotated upwards to get the link out of the way and close enough to the spring housing to use that little gap between the spring housing and the frame to run a zip tie through to hold the sway bar link up and out of the way. Obviously, you have to disconnect both sides before you can rotate the sway bar upwards.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I have the Torx and the sizes required. Guess I need to try that out now eh?
-Paul
If anyone is interested, here are the links.
http://home.earthlink.net/~tsjay51/thelma.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~tsjay51/raj.html
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
-Paul
I bought the rack from CBrack.com. That's a guy in Texas that makes those things.
That rack is nice, but not necessary. There are other ways to mount a CB, but I do like that rack. They also make that rack with a place built-in to mount switches for accessories, like extra lights or whatever. I didn't get that model, though.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Gman: congradulations on your new baby. I'm sure you'll love that Jeep.
Thel: Glad to see you are interested in a new Jeep. Don't fear asking any questions here. There are plenty of people here that will help no matter what the question. Everyone beat me to everything I would have said. Only thing I can say is, like a few other people have said, read read and read some more. I started out at the post from the beginning of this year. It was over 1000 posts but I learned a lot and then like others said got answers to ?'s and new ?'s to ask.
Tom: How's the quitting going? Hope your doing well. You always manage to post up some damn good info. What would we do without you
Well it's time for me to go get ready to work all night. Hope everyone has a good New Year.
Tony
A new jeeper..doest get any better than that!
Thel.. NEVER EVER think u ask a stupid question
Ask away.. we just love talking JEEP.
Soft top..i can take soft top down in about 3 min. takes practice but no biggy
soft top for summer..hard top for winter
I hope everyone has a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Here is to 2004.
BAMATAZZ
terry
www.geocities.com/bamatazz2001
I plan on taking my time with a yay or nay on the Wrangler decision. I like cars that are unique and fun to drive but I realize that the Wrangler is NOT for everybody, just like my Miata.
I know the Miata and the Wrangler do not have much in common other than being convertibles but there is something REALLY fun about being in a sports car and wagging the tail on turns....woo hoo!
There are many things that I like about the Wrangler like the convertible thing, the look, the all-weather ability (which is noticeably lacking in my MX5) the idea of going out "into the woods" and camping out.
There are some things that I am not yet sure about however such as how much of a PITA it will be to tote around my 3-year old, the gas mileage could be an issue as I put about 20,000 miles per year on a car...easy.
I'm also concerned about reliability. I know the 4.0 is near bulletproof but I also know that some of the other Jeeps have been plagued with electrical problems (Cherokee pre-97 for example) and such. It has been a long time since I owned anything not Honda, Mazda or my current Toyota.
I figure I'll research for a few months (or more) and try to decide if the Wrangler would be good for me. I've been on a bit of an automotive merry-go-round that is becoming tiresome so I want to be sure that my ride is the right one before I buy or don't buy.
Happy New Year to all. Drive safe and drive sober.
You will never find a vehicle more FUN than a Wrangler, but you have to make some sacrifices in terms of room, comfort, ride quality, and fuel economy. Those of us who love our Wranglers consider the PURE FUN of a Jeep to be well worth these sacrifices.
Some folks have concerns about having a Wrangler as a daily driver, even though they can easily see a Wrangler as a second vehicle just for fun.
I had the same concerns about trading in my really sweet 2000 Grand Prix GT for a Jeep. Altough I have bought a little S-10 pickup to be my daily driver, at the time that I bought Thelma Jane, she was going to be my daily driver.
She did serve in that capacity for the first seven months that I owned her, before I bought the S-10. I had no problem using her as my daily, but I just thought it smart to get an old pickup to drive to work instead of putting so many miles on the new Jeep (I live 27 miles from my job). I wanted my warranty to last the full three years for one thing.
I think the reliability of the Wranglers is excellent, so you can put that fear to rest. If you read all these 11K+ posts in here, you would be amazed at how few problems are mentioned!
All I can say is there is NOTHING like a Jeep Wrangler! They are more fun than you can even begin to imagine!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Thel, I agree take your time. I did I reasearched ALOT on wranglers. Plus, you cant beat this board. Tom was a MAJOR help too.
Even though im not a off-roader ( Tazz might get dirty, there is NUTHIN like driving that jeep topless & doorless.
Keep us posted..
Keep Jeepin
BamaTazz
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Steve, Host
We are a team!
The three of us are so close, I wrote this poem about us.
Bury me shallow
Or bury me deep
As long as you bury me
In my Jeep
Tell the mortician
It's no disgrace
If he can't remove
The smile from my face
When friends come view
My earthly remains
They'll see me in Thelma
My Thelma Jane
Be sure she's topless
And doorless too
Do this for me
And I'll be grateful to you
When you get to Heaven
Be sure to look for us three
You know we'll be wheelin'
Thelma Jane, Ross Allen, and me
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
You need to get to Gill's more often!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Goin' to bed, so I'll be takin' at you guys when I get back from wheelin' tomorrow. Gonna start the new year off right! Goin' wheelin'!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeehawwwwwwww!!!!!!!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
P.S.
I didn't cheat. It's not midnight here yet. I'm on CST.
Having said that, you mentioned fuel mileage and reliability as a concern. I think most people are getting anywhere from 15.5 to 19 on average. Best mileage is obtained at sub interstate speeds with the poor aerodynamics. Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes for better mileage. Slow down and enjoy the ride is the only one that comes to mind. As far as problem, specifically electrical, I can't remember anyone having any on this board in the last 3 years. The Wrangler is somewhat primitive by modern standards but that simpleness means fewer things to go wrong. I'm not sure I caught it in your earlier post, but are you looking to replace either the Matrix or the Miata with the Jeep? It might help us give you some more specific opinions given how we (on the board) use ours.
Good luck. Keep posting and asking questions.
-twylie
My B-law and his team of able tech's is going to do both the steering box skid and the gas tank skid.(My nephew really really loves his guitar amp!)I will be the gofer for the project.I ordered the skids at the same time as I ordered the Raingler nets.
Still gathering info on side skids/nerfs.Also looking into a decent rear bumper and swing away tire carrier. I'm not too comfortable lugging 31" MTR's on the standard tire carrier. Plus with the Olympic 921 roof rack the sides of the stock bumper need to be cut a bit.
Since the Jeep will be up on a rack in my B-laws shop, I'm also thinking about replacing the clutch with a Centerforce unit..I guess my question is how long do clutches typically last? Sara's got 38k on the odometer and shifts ok but if these wear out within a few 1000 miles I may as well replace it before it becomes an issue.
Also the Goodyear MTR's are great.However I do get a slight bit of rub when the steering wheel is fully turned in either direction.
Thanks for the excellent help and advice!
David
An Odyssey or CR-V for my wife. We need cargo room with the family and my woodworking hobbies. You ever try to haul a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a Miata (or a Wrangler for that matter)...it ain't pretty! LOL
A Wrangler might make a good complement to my Miata as it has the 4x4 capability that would be nice to have here in mid-Missouri. It has a back seat so I can carry my wife and my daughter around in it.
That has been one buggaboo with my Miata...with only two seats I haven't had the pure joy of top down driving with my wife and daughter along for the ride at the same time. I think that would be fantastic!!!
I've also considered a pickup just b/c that truck bed is soooo handy for my woodworking (mostly furniture but I did build a two-level deck onto my house last summer). Of course, pickups aren't convertibles, it is difficult to squeeze 3 of us into one, and they're not very fun to drive.
Thanks for all the input so far. I have to say, this is one of the friendliest boards here at Edmunds and that says a lot!
Before we bought the Jeep, we also had an MGB (fun convertible), and a Nissan 4x4 King Cab as a beater work vehicle and 4wd to get into the woods. It was my wife's idea to get the Jeep (convertible and 4wd) and get rid of the MGB and Nissan truck. I initially resisted since my MGB was my hobby/baby, but after driving the Wrangler, I realized (again) that she is wiser than I am. Almost 3 years now and zero regrets about the decision.
If you will be able to garage the Wrangler, it's even better because you can leave the top down or off for extended periods of time. We pull our soft top in March and leave it off until Nov the last two years. In the summer, we run a duster, bikini and windjammer depending on conditions.
Keep researching and posting. If you have a chance, try to rent a Wrangler in the Spring to get the full effect.
-twylie
I contacted the local Jeep dealer about renting Jeeps but they only rent Explorers (they also sell Fords).
Happy Holidays all!
If I am looking in the right spot, there is no kind of sway bar on the front at all! I totally missed it when I bought it and the dealer (when I had it inspected) thought it had been a mod, so I guess they didn't see a need to mention it. I can send you some pics of the front end if you want to confirm.
I thought when I climbed in, it was a bit soft. I can bounce the car easily when on the step up. Fortunately, my daughtet doesn't drive it on the highway and the few times she has, it is a straight shot (very straight hiways up here in Kern County).
How much would a new sway bar be? May as well get one with quick discos on it.
-Paul
What could have happened is that the previous owner had stiffer shocks and/or springs installed and thought the sway bar to be unnecessary.
If the suspension is stiff enough, the body lean is minimized, and the effect of the sway bar is lessened. That's not to say that you really should run without one, though.
Not sure what they would charge for a sway bar. Wish you could ask the previous owner about it. It might be just lying around somewhere, and he might just give it to ya.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Thanks to all of you for your support!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Feel free to send me some pics, but I am on dial up, so they need to be pretty small files.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Rich
I don't know if you guys realize how big of a factor you all are in here. I know that if I fail, I am going to be letting all of you guys down. You have been so good to me and so supportive, that I will feel real bad if I let you all down.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Paul - feel free to send me pics of the Jeep if you want. I have a few shots showing the swaybar from when I installed poly bushings. The first three pictures in this link show the sway bar.
http://www.ewylie.com/jeep/other.htm#swaybush
If you need me to draw arrows on them, just let me know. Also, if it turns out you have the front sway bar, but need end links, let me know and I'll send you my stock links that are sitting in the basement. I pulled mine when I installed the JKS discos.
-twylie
So, I had one puff today. By accident.
I'm still on the wagon.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
There is no sign of a lift on this, except for the larger tires/wheels I put on a few months ago. I'm checking to see if there is any on the rear.
The suspension is not very stiff and when I get in the TJ, the things leans. I definitely need to add one. Anybody recommend a good manufacturer for sway bars? I was thinking about doing this for my WJ (Grand Cherokee) as well. There are some Addco ones for it.
Do I need to upgrade front and rear at the same time? I'll probably put quick disco's on it while I'm at it. Do it all at the same time I guess.
-Paul
The only thing I do know is that a 2002 Blazing Yellow Mica Miata SE is in my future....but probably not for a couple of years.
Glen - congrats on getting that new TJ! Glad it all worked out - funny how that happens. If you don't mind the ride on the 91 you shouldn't mind it anywhere. The only place that sort of drives me nuts in the northbound 405 at the 101 interchange. The expansion joints on that one stretch are set just far apart to get the Wrangler really rocking. The first time I drove it I thought something was wrong, then realized it was probably because of the shorter than normal wheelbase and a stiffer suspension.
I have a '98 Sport that I bought new that now has something like 114,000 miles on the odometer. I did have the exhaust manifold problem (expensive to fix) and the dash gauge problem. That turned out to be the easiest thing to fix - it wasn't really electrical, just a contact problem. I haven't had a problem with it since. I've replaced the brakes and rotors and it has a new battery, but I haven't had to replace the clutch. I also need to replace the rubber seals around the passenger door and back tailgate, but that is due to the fact I live in a very dry climate. I didn't realize the passenger side was leaking until today - it poured all day yesterday and there was quite a bit of water on the passenger side. That tells you something about the difference between high elevation SoCal and low elevation NorCal.
Paul - glad you had a good time up at Mammoth. I know what you mean about the snow banks driving down the road. We went up to Bear Valley on Tuesday and saw the same thing. I was glad we were staying below the snow level.
I am now thinking of taking up a new sport. I tried out cross country skiing while I was gone this week and loved it! This from someone who has been on skis exactly twice in their life, many years ago. So now I'm wondering about carrying skis in/on the Wrangler. Any suggestions?
Tom - hang in there. Remember, you only have to avoid smoking one cigarette - the first one. It isn't that hard to not smoke one cigarette, is it?
The stabilizer bar doesn't sit in a tube, it's secured to the frame by two rubber isolation bushes. I think that the tube you may be referring to is the crossmember at the front of the chassis?
Your can wire your driving lights to come on only when the headlights are also illuminated, but you should also include a switch so that you can control them independently.
The power to your lights should be run via a fused connection through a relay. Your switch will operate the relay which will then send power to the lights. Obviously, you'll use correctly sized wire for the power feed.
Haven't been here for a while (wow, there sure are a lot of posts!) - enjoying my sweet new ride. Yes, she's here and I have spent all day yesterday breaking her in (gently of course). Racked up over 125 Km in the City and (as per manual) got onto a freeway after the first 100 Km to push her a little faster. Sweeet.
Came up with a name to boot. She's cute, has her quirks and definitely kicks some booty... henceforth she shall be called Buffy! lol. This way I can even come up with some really lame-o things, like she's the off-road trail slayer. ;-)
Will post some pics when I can... once I've actually taken some. Too busy enjoying the ride. :-)
Really cold out here (last evening it was hitting -27 C and colder (approaching 0 F I believe). Plenty of snow, can't believe how incredibly grippy she is, I almost haven't bothered with 4WD except to test it and the roads are plenty slick (quite glazed to say the least).
Anyway, won't gush any more.. time to go for another drive!!
Tom, hang in there. As per what so many others have been saying - dump anything to do with cigarettes from your house, cars, etc. They only create a reminder for you. One day at a time, the big picture can wait...
Andrew