I have to admit I have been jumping around allot the past two weeks. As this build is done in our free-time I jump around depending on space in the shop, time, tools available etc. So lets get you caught up.
Image 1. We finally got the 2k Primer on the hood, looks as if I may need to build up a few layers but for now they are protected from the air as I had them raw metal for almost 2 months. I know you could not get away with this in other parts of the world but in Southern California I am comfortable leaving raw metal out for up to three months, were at 6 weeks with the tub since it came back from sand blast. Just prior to apply
LINE-X Ultra we will be sending the hood, hardtop and doors to our friend
Killer Dave to have him make sure they are smooth as glass.
Image 2. Next I have a photo of a
Artec Shock Tower clamped in place. Although we will be fabricating our own towers this is the idea. Earlier someone mentioned cutting into the tub, we will not be doing that.
Image 3. and 4 are a small rust repair in seem of the driver door a-pillar.
Image 5. Rust repair in bottom of a-pillar both driver and passenger side.
Image 6. Took some poster board and and taped it in the windows. Based on the old windows there was a 3/8" gap around the window and the edge of the fiberglass top. Using a protractor were ran a 3/8" line around the edge, cut out the template and sent it over to our glass company All Star Glass who cut out the windows and sent it out to get tempered. Due to the original glass having a bend in it we went with 5mm glass which when tempered can be bent "slightly." We will see how it works, if all else fails we will go with an acrylic window.
Image 7. The valve covers were using have an old time muscle car look to them and with the rounded edges I though they complemented the Jeep CJ lines nicely. So we took them over to
ECP Powder Coating to have wrinkle powder put on them. Next we took some 220 grit sand paper on an orbital along with a Dremel to sand away the powder revealing the nice silver fins. We will alson have the top of the RamJet intake CNC'd, powered, and sanded as well. More to come on that.
Image 8. Using PEX Tubing, a heat gun and several custom brackets we created conduit which will latter be foamed over and then LINE-X'd. This will allow is to not only sound deaden and insulate the sides of the Jeep, it gives us a conduit to hide the wires in. In the rear section in front of the "future" roll bar we have two what were calling are "flux capacitors" allowing us to run some 1/0 Gauge down the passenger side for an Inverter as well as the Warn 9.0 RC winch in the rear bumper. On the driver side we will run two 8 gauge cables to the ARB air compressor as well as the inputs for the solar panel which will be on the hardtop rack. See Image 10 as we frame it out.
Image 9. Started with 220 Grit then 320, 400, 800, Scotch Pad w/WD40, Dremel Polisher with several grits of rubbing compound finally ending it with a soft cloth and Never Dull. The problem with cast aluminum is it is not a even and surface so you really have to polish it down. In then end we will match it to the Specter Performance tubing.
Image 10. I cut down some solid red wood to make the internal frame which will not only give us the mounting points for the headliner, but will also act as a backing for the
Rhino Tracks we got for a roof rack system were going to make. We will in time fiberglass the wood to the hardtop which should make the roof stronger.
Hope you guys enjoy and more importantly gives you ideas!