NoColoradoGT

Hey guys, so I'm getting ready to paint the Jeep and do a mini build here in the next couple weeks. I'm shooting for a start date of between December 1-11. I need to find a good 7-8 days of sunshine because I'm going to be driving my Mustang that entire time and obviously: Mustangs+Summer Performance Tires+Snow=Fail.

Here's my to do list:
Full Paint
Shampoo Bucket seats and Rear Bench
Rip out all the old carpet and put in new carpet (the good cheap stuff from Lowes for like $.50 a Square Yard)
Replace My Broken Dash (I'll show you guys in a bit)
Replace my U-Joints
Replace my Rusted out Muffler and give her new exhaust.
New Tires
(And crossing my fingers on possibly installing some new leaf springs.)
AND...be under $600 I'm going to be making some scrapyard trips no doubt.

Anyways, I've seen some guys using between 10-18 quarts of Rustoleum and having really good results so that's what I'm probably going to use. My clearcoat is gone and the hood is down to bare metal already; it's really just time for new paint.

Here's my first question. My Jeep is missing the lower rocker panels




Can I just pull those off and sand that sucker smooth on the sides and get some decent looking results?

I'm also looking at using Rustoleum's AutoBody Primer and then between 10-16 quarts of Smoke Gray (http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct....30&sid=7786402). I would like to keep the Jeep close to its original color, because I like it.

Does anyone have any pictures of older XJ's like mine with fresh or good looking Gray paint without those rocker panels? hahaha Really specific question I know, but I'd like to gauge some stuff before I spend $150 on everything paint wise.

Next Question:
About 3-4 years ago according to the previous owner, someone broke into the Jeep and stole the radio. Therefore I've now got two pretty ugly things that haven't been fixed.




When it comes to the Dash piece, can i just remove the bottom plastic underneath the steering wheel and then have the whole thing pop out to replace it with a new one?

Also, the wedge window, how the hell do I go about installing that one? hahahaha.

And lastly, does anyone have any links to a thread on How-To install new carpet (not pre-fabbed automotive carpet) in one of our XJ's? I have painted, done motor rebuilds, and lots of electrical work, but I've never carpeted a car before.

Thanks for the help guys!

I'll make a build thread with tons of pictures once I begin tackling my 7 days of hell build.

THENNING

looks like you got your work cut out for you

NoColoradoGT

Yeah I'm probably going to be titling my build thread when I start "My 7 Days of Hell" But it'll be worth it.

phoenix901223

If your talking about that rubber side paneling when you say rocker panels, than yes you can take it off, but theres a **** ton of glue residue that your gonna have to peel off by hand or buy this tool that i used to get all my pin striping and old decals off

Astro Smart Eraser Pad


http://www.mytoolstore.com/astro/astmat06.html

I got one on ebay pretty cheap maybe like 6 or 7 dollars, your gonna need 2 or three of them though.

Now when you pull those things off, there's going to be a line in the paint where those side panels were. Since I went midnight black with no gloss, you cant tell. But i have a feeling if you do a good job sanding you can make that edge flush with the paint. If your really interested, PM me and ill send you some pictures of the little edge tommorow when its light out.

phoenix901223

And that dash looks exactly like mine, i have a 94 country, WOODGRAIN

Go rip one from a jy its only 2 or three screws and the whole face plate pops out, prob only cost you a couple bucks. If you have a dremel tool you surely can make it fit if there's any differences

NoColoradoGT

Yeah I had no idea what to specifically refer to those panels as. hahahaha. Thanks for the information bud. I am new to Jeeps. I intend on sanding the body down and stripping all the old paint off completely, so hopefully I can get those places flush. I'll shoot you a PM though because I'd be interested to see what that looks like, also what a paint job without the gloss paint looks like. Thanks again man.

Anyone else on any of the other things above? Any and all input is helpful! Including the "You're a crazy mother****** for trying to even attempt all this in 7 days." hahahaha

NoColoradoGT

Thanks, I was hoping that was the case! I'm probably heading to a salvage yard nearby hear this coming week to pull a dash, muffler, and hopefully some leaf springs if in they're in the budget.

phoenix901223

I run flowmaster but my buddy runs a cherry bomb on his 4.0 V6 ranger which has a nice roar to it. 27 shipped is better than a used muffler for around the same price plus you will sound like the boss on the road

NoColoradoGT

Wow, that's not bad!

I'm used to my neighbors hating me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrVjjtGHXnA

NoColoradoGT

anyone have anything on the carpet? That is something I've never done before.

88Cherokee4x4

Iv done some carpet work on some other cars.
Of coarse your gana have to take everything out of the inside, (Front seats, back seats, all the side panels, the center console, then just unbolt the screw or tight bins that go around the side of the carbet, usally the plastic covers, cover them. rip the carpet off, measure how much carpet your gana need, buy the carpet you want, place the carpet inside the car and measure, Cut, draw, all that stuff your gana have to do to make it fit perfect, after it fits in perfect, your going to have to mark where you bolts for screws go from under the carpet then just make a little hole where each screws go, place carpet, then place everything else back on,
if you have any question let me know.

Radar

when i got my waggy the pivot pin for the drivers side vent was gone, so i stuck a bolt up through a hole in the vent's bottom bracket thats in the door and put a nut on it to keep in place, so the bolt goes up into the hole in metal part on the bottom of the vent glass.

phoenix901223

rule with carpets...Over measure, once you come up short in one spot your whole job is ruined

NoColoradoGT

Alright, so the build begins the 17th! I did some work today as we were closing up shop and I got a good amount done!

*I went into the steering column and tightened the bolts that was causing my column to feel like it was broken as all hell (good God that was time consuming! But a serious thank you to huntingman2706217 for his write-up on how to do this)
*I replaced both U-Joints in the rear drive shaft, the rear one was snapped in half...
*I put on four brand new tires. Not the most aggressive tread in the world, but we had four Goodyear Wrangler Radials in-stock that I could get for $60 a piece at cost.
*I also had a buddy help me do a full alignment.

It drives like a totally different car than it did this morning.

I did all of this for $296. =] I love working at a Dealership. hahaha!

The 17th I start her on paint.

I'm going to sand her down with 250 grit first, to get everything off. Then a good wash. Then a coat of Gray Rustoleum Automotive Primer. Then a wetsand of 320 grit. Then starts 6-10 coats of Rustoleum Gloss Black with a few wet-sands at increasing grit in between coats, then a rattle can clear coat with 1500 then 2000 grit sand paper followed by an good polish.

Has anyone out there painted with Rustoleum before that can tell me about how many quarts i'm going to need of Gloss Black? Or how many rattle cans of clear coat?

Brando26

I would like to advise against the rattle can clear coat. I did that on my mirrors and the clear cracked like a broken window and now i have to completely strip it and redo them .

When you say fix the steering column, mine wags back and forth like a fat guy hung on it for 20 years (its a 91 and i just bought it last week) Would this bolt thing you mentioned fix that? If so, I would be very happy.

The radio and cluster trim just pops off very easily. remove the two screws above the cluster and start pulling. You'll eventually get the whole thing off.