I've been rustproofing the **** out of my undercarriage, but I think I finally got all the ATF leaks stopped after replacing all the hose clamps with a smaller size. My new issue is determining if the oil filter loosened a little or if it's time to do the OFA. I cranked down a little on the filter after adding two quarts tonight, so I'll clean it all up Monday and see if it continues leaking.

Still waiting on the Metalcloak fenders to ship, and I haven't installed the new shackles yet.

 

I'll be home next weekend!

 

I just found these big boxes...

 

Fenders!!!

 

oh good you got my gift i sent

spoiler alert:

 

Still gotta paint the fenders before I can install them, so there won't be pics any time soon.

 

I kinda lied. Here are some bare metal pics of the driver side fender for you.













And a friendly letter:

 

Sweet. Looking good. Gonna have Alex powdercoat them?

 

Black paint for now. They'll get repainted (or maybe PC) when the whole Jeep gets painted.

 

Sweet. Can't wait to see them installed.

 

SHACKLES!

Got my damaged right front leaf spring replaced with a purdy new one tonight with the help of my89xj and his lovely lady friend who I'm in the process of stealing. To ensure it doesn't invert again, we got the new M.O.R.E. boomerang shackles installed on the front. 5/8" lift boom shackles, made from 3/8" zinc plated steel, with greasable 9/16" bolts. We didn't get the rears done tonight, so we'll be meeting back up later this week to continue.

Old vs New










(Yes, I desperately need new front tires)

Rides much nicer now, as I think the shackles were overtightened before.

For those wondering, the boomerang shackles are shaped so the center cross-pin will contact the frame-side shackle hanger before the spring is able to invert (get pinned back against the frame). That spring had inverted twice in collisions, and I don't want it to happen again to the new one.
On the rear, the long end of the boom shackle is on top, and the short end attaches to the leaf. This allows the shackle more room to move before contacting the rear crossmember, similar to how bent LCAs in a Cherokee allow more travel before contacting the shock plate.

Now I need to sleep cause my alarm goes off in three hours.

 

Got the rear shakes done last night. Same stuff, but the shackle is flipped upside down compared to the front to allow it to 'reach' around the rear crossmember.




Jack at full height with a block of wood between it and the axle:



I'm a happy camper.

 

Lookin good there. She's coming Along

 

Thanks, she certainly is. I'm looking forward to getting the fenders on there.


Also, I finally got my revenge today!

I was doing 60 on a 2-lane on the way home from work this evening, and a deer leaped across the road in front of me. The ****er didn't make it this time. My left front tire hit its hind legs, and I laughed my *** off as I watched it in the mirror, tumbling to the side of the road.

 

One time these Mexicans hit a deer in front of my house, drove back by with all their heads out the windows, drove back by again and put it in the back of a suburban and took off.

Jeep is looking good!