Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

The Saga Continues…

It appears that whether it's a house or a Jeep , the application of the build clearly needs to be stated . After that the project scope becomes definable .
Presuppositions run wild , and will be used to judge the projects application .

An example would be : Are you using your pickup to drive offroad at 145 m.p.h in Mexico , or are you using it to haul 4500 lbs. of 10 ft. logs 30 miles out of the forest 3 times a week?

We all have bias , and judge others with it . A Trophy truck doesn't haul 4500 lbs. of logs , and logging pickup doesn't run 145 m.p.h on a highway , let alone offroad.

Or another example is someone decides to move a wall and get out a sawzall.

A real Pro looks at it and says man I would not have done that because it was bearing a load.

Or someone walks in a house and says boy this wiring looks neat…

And a Pro walks in and says why in the world did they use the wrong gauge wire?

What guys like me see when they look at a rig like that is big tires, name brands, and aluminum.

What Blaine sees is much different.

He will see things that are there that should not be and things that should be that are not.

He will see things dimensionally that we wouldn’t even begin to guess at the why of.

Real top professionals in every game are at a different level.
 
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This is what I’m trying to learn. That day on the trail was where I figured out I really wasn’t satisfied with how my Jeep (and I) performed. I made 4 trips to Moab this year, and cruised a lot things - but once it got a little spicier like Pritchett, I was pulling line or finding myself not completing obstacles.

The hot tubs, big ledges, and some other obstacles convinced me that I wanted to stretch the wheelbase. I was still running that wishbone suspension in the rear from Full Traction. My uptravel was less than ideal using the PO’s hoops in the front - which prompted the thought process of redoing things with the front half kit. I also had a few limitations with my steering, which was on the list to upgrade.

So I set out to find something that was mildly stretched, had hydro steering, 37’s+ and axles equipped to handle those - to me, this answers a lot of what I was wishing I had with some bonus stuff thrown in like tons and 40’s vs JK and 37’s, a cage. Lack of power is probably the biggest concern I have here.

What do you see about this build in question that is a repeat issue? This is an honest question - because I’m 100% not certain of any of this. The brutal honesty is the kind I need.

I know enough to know that I really don’t know all that much.

I'm curious about the full hydro steering and how it feels on the road... Like return to center and stuff.

As others have said you couldn't build it for that price. And as far as your ability & the rigs ability the only way to learn is to get out on the trail and learn... It'll take time.
 
I have wheeled with a lot of people and a lot of different rigs. Many of them built in a manner that you all would have the same complaints about and they are out there making obstacles and smiling.

If your goal is to have the perfect rig, then have fun taking the time to build it that way. To some the perfect build is the fun. Some people just want to get out there and wheel in a rig that keeps up with their friends, maybe even make an obstacle that their friends can't. Me, I just want to wheel.

I am not saying not to share knowledge, that is what the forum is about, and I have learned a lot and so have others. But sometimes it is OK to just give a nod and high five to someone who bought a pretty bad ass rig.
 
Alright… I appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to diagnose my life choices.

I hear the concerns and genuinely respect the amount of knowledge that lives on this forum. I wouldn’t still be reading or posting here if I didn’t.

This build philosophy clearly isn’t the dominant one here, and that’s fine, I knew that going into the post.

For clarity, money came up because @Chris asked. It wasn’t a flex and I wasn’t trying to talk the seller down, contrary to what some might speculate. It was simply me running numbers to see if this moved me closer to a goal more efficiently. One personal rule I try to stick to is not losing money on vehicles, which helps keep this hobby tolerated at home. I've done fairly well in this regard.

Maybe this proves to be a step forward, maybe a step back and a learning experience. Either way, that part’s already done.

The Jeep hasn’t made it to my driveway yet (hopefully it does), so there’s still plenty left to see once it does and I can actually dig into it. Worst case, I keep providing entertainment four you all and someone to rag on. Best case, I end up with something I really enjoy. Who know's, maybe I decide to just keep the black one. Maybe both? Maybe neither?

I’m here to have fun and hopefully wheel with other TJs and maybe learn something, eventually...
 
Alright… I appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to diagnose my life choices.

I hear the concerns and genuinely respect the amount of knowledge that lives on this forum. I wouldn’t still be reading or posting here if I didn’t.

This build philosophy clearly isn’t the dominant one here, and that’s fine, I knew that going into the post.

For clarity, money came up because @Chris asked. It wasn’t a flex and I wasn’t trying to talk the seller down, contrary to what some might speculate. It was simply me running numbers to see if this moved me closer to a goal more efficiently. One personal rule I try to stick to is not losing money on vehicles, which helps keep this hobby tolerated at home. I've done fairly well in this regard.

Maybe this proves to be a step forward, maybe a step back and a learning experience. Either way, that part’s already done.

The Jeep hasn’t made it to my driveway yet (hopefully it does), so there’s still plenty left to see once it does and I can actually dig into it. Worst case, I keep providing entertainment four you all and someone to rag on. Best case, I end up with something I really enjoy. Who know's, maybe I decide to just keep the black one. Maybe both? Maybe neither?

I’m here to have fun and hopefully wheel with other TJs and maybe learn something, eventually...

Look forward to you getting it home and some real seat time in it and then your report on what you think... And those little things you might change & the things you like & don't like.
 
If your goal is to have the perfect rig, then have fun taking the time to build it that way. To some the perfect build is the fun. Some people just want to get out there and wheel in a rig that keeps up with their friends, maybe even make an obstacle that their friends can't. Me, I just want to wheel.

I am not saying not to share knowledge, that is what the forum is about, and I have learned a lot and so have others. But sometimes it is OK to just give a nod and high five to someone who bought a pretty bad ass rig.

No one said anything about building a perfect rig. However, if you read OP's own words (below), you'll clearly see that he repeatedly asked for honestly...brutal honestly even! (OMG)

Post #1 "What do you guys think about this?"

Post #4 "What red flags do you guys see?"

Post #10 "I also don’t want to just buy someone else’s problem, like I’ve done previously. I think that’s more over what I’m looking for advice on - if there’s anything jumping out as a problem."

Post #13 "What do you see about this build in question that is a repeat issue? This is an honest question - because I’m 100% not certain of any of this. The brutal honesty is the kind I need. I know enough to know that I really don’t know all that much."


Playing captain save-a-ho and chastising others would make way more sense if OP asked for everyone to provide him the opposite of what he instructed us to tell him.
 
No one said anything about building a perfect rig. However, if you read OP's own words (below), you'll clearly see that he repeatedly asked for honestly...brutal honestly even! (OMG)

Post #1 "What do you guys think about this?"

Post #4 "What red flags do you guys see?"

Post #10 "I also don’t want to just buy someone else’s problem, like I’ve done previously. I think that’s more over what I’m looking for advice on - if there’s anything jumping out as a problem."

Post #13 "What do you see about this build in question that is a repeat issue? This is an honest question - because I’m 100% not certain of any of this. The brutal honesty is the kind I need. I know enough to know that I really don’t know all that much."


Playing captain save-a-ho and chastising others would make way more sense if OP asked for everyone to provide him the opposite of what he instructed us to tell him.

Chastising others? Pot/kettle? Did you even read gasiorv’s post? He said nothing chastising of the sort, just giving examples of people’s goals. You and a few others are the only ones making personal accusations and assumptions about his intent that has nothing to do with the build or his questions. Might need to look up the definition of chastising and look in the mirror.
 
Alright… I appreciate everyone taking time out of their day to diagnose my life choices.

I hear the concerns and genuinely respect the amount of knowledge that lives on this forum. I wouldn’t still be reading or posting here if I didn’t.

This build philosophy clearly isn’t the dominant one here, and that’s fine, I knew that going into the post.

For clarity, money came up because @Chris asked. It wasn’t a flex and I wasn’t trying to talk the seller down, contrary to what some might speculate. It was simply me running numbers to see if this moved me closer to a goal more efficiently. One personal rule I try to stick to is not losing money on vehicles, which helps keep this hobby tolerated at home. I've done fairly well in this regard.

Maybe this proves to be a step forward, maybe a step back and a learning experience. Either way, that part’s already done.

The Jeep hasn’t made it to my driveway yet (hopefully it does), so there’s still plenty left to see once it does and I can actually dig into it. Worst case, I keep providing entertainment four you all and someone to rag on. Best case, I end up with something I really enjoy. Who know's, maybe I decide to just keep the black one. Maybe both? Maybe neither?

I’m here to have fun and hopefully wheel with other TJs and maybe learn something, eventually...

Hopefully it is a great Jeep for you! It'll be interesting to hear what you think about it after you get seat time and how it differs from the others you have had.
 
Chastising others? Pot/kettle? Did you even read gasiorv’s post? He said nothing chastising of the sort, just giving examples of people’s goals. You and a few others are the only ones making personal accusations and assumptions about his intent that has nothing to do with the build or his questions. Might need to look up the definition of chastising and look in the mirror.

Maybe you missed the part where Victor insinuated that we should nod and high five OP for having a "badass" rig.

Nice try though.
 
Someone’s suggestion to wish someone well some how chastises you? Again, I think you need to look up the definition of what that means.

You seem to be missing the more prominent angle in play.

Victor's attempt to herd me and others in the direction he prefers (nodding and high fiving) sounds real nice on it's face, but it's actually unethical and harmful to lie since OP specifically asked for our honest opinions.

I'm not going to lie to OP by telling him how bad ass his rig is when it isn't.

My response would be much different if OP asked for each of us to share what we liked about the rig...I would have listed the wheels/tires, how clean his frame looks, the Savvy doors (I have the same black knob on the inside), and how the color of his struts look nice with the Jeep's color scheme. He didn't ask that though.
 
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You seem to be missing the more prominent angle in play.

Victor's attempt to herd me and others in the direction he prefers (nodding and high fiving) sounds real nice on it's face, but it's actually unethical and harmful to lie since OP specifically asked for our honest opinions.

I'm not going to lie to OP by telling him how bad ass his rig is when it isn't.

My response would be much different if OP asked for each of us to share what we liked about the rig...I would have listed the wheels/tires, how clean his frame looks, the Savvy doors (I have the same black knob on the inside), and how the color of his struts look nice with the Jeep's color scheme. He didn't ask that though.

No, you seem to be missing the angle at play here. Tell me how all this mindless bantering below lives up to your last paragraph above. Hypocrisy and narcissism have no limits.


Best to just nod and clap like we do in other rose colored build threads.

Tells us he’s flying east, provides us a list of big buzz wordy mods, and shares bunch of cool photos…then tells us to tell him what’s wrong with it.

In addition to sharing his excitement, he was looking for leverage in hopes to buy it for a lower price.

We’ve seen this before where a person claims foul in order to benefit themselves, but then doesn’t fix the problems (pockets the money).

The crowd hasn't been remotely tough
 
Fox Tv Popcorn GIF by The Four
 
Just so we know. since you'd brought it up.....What's the story on the V-8 TJ? And which rig are you wheeling now? Is it the White Rubicon? Or? I've lost track with all the rigs you've owned....

Will follow up in more detail at a better hour on it . The V8 project went so bad.

Short answer- my faithful white one is dedicated for trails, but is a really fun runabout TJ for any situation. I could be totally happy to just have that rig, or the same set up again and again.


My black LJR is likely the best set up rig I may ever own, and so nice I’m wondering if it will ever see the rocks it is soooo well set up to conquer.

I have debated selling the TJ at some point and going further with the LJ….but my impressive track record of messing up good things comes to mind as well.
 
No, you seem to be missing the angle at play here. Tell me how all this mindless bantering below lives up to your last paragraph above. Hypocrisy and narcissism have no limits.

Your words are nothing more than opinions wrapped around a command. Doesn't get much more lazy and pathetic than that.

And commanding me to compare those quotes to my last paragraph is...special.
 
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Save a hoe - that reminds me of a childhood experience, I won't go into details but it ended in the backseat of a 1977 Mercury Monarch which had no shocks installed and very little up travel, it was a valuable experience.
 
I have wheeled with a lot of people and a lot of different rigs. Many of them built in a manner that you all would have the same complaints about and they are out there making obstacles and smiling.

If your goal is to have the perfect rig, then have fun taking the time to build it that way. To some the perfect build is the fun. Some people just want to get out there and wheel in a rig that keeps up with their friends, maybe even make an obstacle that their friends can't. Me, I just want to wheel.

I am not saying not to share knowledge, that is what the forum is about, and I have learned a lot and so have others. But sometimes it is OK to just give a nod and high five to someone who bought a pretty bad ass rig.
Victor, I think you're answering a question not asked. Had he started this with the question of "hey, I want to get this rig and just go have fun with it, do ya'll think it will it do that?" and of course, that is the answer you just gave. That very same answer applies to the black one he has, the red one he sold, and now this one. In fact, it pretty much applies to every single rig I've seen out on the trails, but that really wasn't the question.

I saw an entirely different question based on evaluation, or did I miss something?

I wonder if he understands what you just said though.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator