Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Washington Washington members that live to wheel

@bbaldwin237 @Wildman If I am remembering correctly, the later model '97 TJs that came with the disconnect were delivered, from the factory, without the rear seat so they "had to have" the disconnect. As for the child safety seat in the front, according to the WASP officer that used to be in the club I ran with in WA, it's only legal if there is no back seat "in" the vehicle. They had to make that distinction mainly for trucks, vans, sports cars, and suvs that didn't come with a back seat.

It's why I took the back seat out of my Jeep. At the time I just figured I'd use the argument that it didn't have a back seat. Now granted I was never stopped for that. Even when I was pulled over the stater never said anything about her being in the front seat.

Enjoy your new Jeep and all the memories you are going to make with your son. I have tons from when my daughter was growing up.
 
I usually don’t have the back seat in for this reason. So much better when my daughter can ride up front with me.

It’s a recommendation here that they ride in back and I do know someone who was ticketed for it in a car but they didn’t fight the ticket to see if a recommendation was enough to get it thrown out. I wanted them to go to court and fight. I would have. The police officer was apparently convinced it was a law.

When I had the rear seat in for whatever reason and wasn’t using it. I ran a Bestop duster cover so you can’t see the seat when it’s folded and tied down.

Like below.

1688768697320.jpeg
 
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How's this for suck? (@B00mb00m here's your pic).

Didn't get very far... upper control arm + track bar bracket broke off the axle... these are after I ratched strapped the axle back into alignment, removed the upper control arm and levered it back in place before welding...

1689463043306.png


1689463061832.png
 
How's this for suck? (@B00mb00m here's your pic).

Didn't get very far... upper control arm + track bar bracket broke off the axle... these are after I ratched strapped the axle back into alignment, removed the upper control arm and levered it back in place before welding...

View attachment 441679

View attachment 441680

Wowza that is a good one!! Got a story to go with? If you’re looking for a good midarm excuse this could be it. You’re getting some great trail repair experience. Did you consider busting out your trail welder?
 
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How's this for suck? (@B00mb00m here's your pic).

Didn't get very far... upper control arm + track bar bracket broke off the axle... these are after I ratched strapped the axle back into alignment, removed the upper control arm and levered it back in place before welding...

View attachment 441679

View attachment 441680

Raised track bar mount? Somebody did the same in Moab this year. They added gussets after welding it back on in order to take the additional moment of the height increase.
 
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Ya let’s see the trail welds!

Hard to even get my phone in there to get a good pic. So here is one look, mind you I couldn't get into a position I could reach or see what I was welding very well at all and I couldn't get a grinder or anything in there so just cleaned with wire brush before welding, definitely a dirty weld.

It held though, the welder did it's job with no fuss, connect the ground, Loosen spool drag (they have you tighten it so it doesn't unspool during transport/storage), flip a switch, set dial to 6 and go. Could adjust dial to higher/lower if needed but seemed to have a good sound to it (for a dirty weld) at 6 in this case.

I took it to welding class and we burnt through the entire battery... 49" of weld on 1/4" plate before battery was drained. I have .035 flux core wire in it.

You can plug it into 2 car batteries if the onboard batteries are flat, and charge with either a car charger or 12v port in vehicle, though that is understandably slow.


1689547875654.png
 
Hey Dave, It was good to get out, if even it was a short day. I was definitely impressed by the Karnage welder and how you handled the trail repair.

On the way home my wife asked if we would be prepared for a similar trail repair. I replied no. She said we should be, which I took that as permission to buy more tools to carry in the jeep.
 
Hey Dave, It was good to get out, if even it was a short day. I was definitely impressed by the Karnage welder and how you handled the trail repair.

On the way home my wife asked if we would be prepared for a similar trail repair. I replied no. She said we should be, which I took that as permission to buy more tools to carry in the jeep.

Lol nice, any chance to buy tools... :)
 
Quiet in here again

Heading up to Liberty next weekend to do some wheeling and to watch the Perseids Meteor shower. Not sure where we will be camping yet. Either Willams creek or my friends cabin near Reecer. But will be on Table Mt just past Lion Rock definitely on Saturday night and probably Friday night. There are some great views of the shower from there.
 
Quiet in here again

Heading up to Liberty next weekend to do some wheeling and to watch the Perseids Meteor shower. Not sure where we will be camping yet. Either Willams creek or my friends cabin near Reecer. But will be on Table Mt just past Lion Rock definitely on Saturday night and probably Friday night. There are some great views of the shower from there.

We're hoping to get up to Liberty weekend after next, depending on if I get the Jeep back together by then.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts