Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

Wildman · Jan 13, 2026

Zorba said:
No? What am I missing?

Why would I want to add something to the bottom on my radiator that could then be damaged while off-road? And what would be the purpose of the air dam if I was to even think of adding one? It's a fan so what's it gunna do?

Zorba · Jan 13, 2026

Wildman said:
Why would I want to add something to the bottom on my radiator that could then be damaged while off-road? And what would be the purpose of the air dam if I was to even think of adding one? It's a fan so what's it gunna do?

Ok, my thought was - rightly or wrongly - was to put a block of some sort on the backside of the fan where it projects beyond the radiator. I would think that would keep air from being wasted blowing through a low impedance area (past the radiator), and force it to go through the radiator instead. (??)

Wildman · Jan 13, 2026

Zorba said:
Ok, my thought was - rightly or wrongly - was to put a block of some sort on the backside of the fan where it projects beyond the radiator. I would think that would keep air from being wasted blowing through a low impedance area (past the radiator), and force it to go through the radiator instead. (??)

I guess if I had room for it... Which I haven't even looked at and since my Jeep is 95% a trail Jeep I'm not sure how it would benefit anything at trail speeds. If it was a face rig then maybe.

But at this point I'm going back to a mechanical fan instead of an electrical fan. So it doesn't matter.

Wildman · Jan 13, 2026

Crazy ass winter so far....

2 days ago I had snow. Today when I left for Seattle it was raining.

Now

lBasket · Jan 13, 2026

Wildman said:
Crazy ass winter so far....

2 days ago I had snow. Today when I left for Seattle it was raining.

Now

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So warm. I think it's supposed to be 50 all week here. Going to be a dry summer...

mudmaster · Jan 14, 2026

Wildman said:
So today was in the lab only because they want to cast me for a new socket due to my weight loss & my limb shrinkage which they'll do once I get my new socket. So I'll go back in about 4 weeks and they'll do a 3D scan of my new socket & my limb then while I'm gone on my trip they'll build me a new socket and when I get back I'll go back in and then get to wear it home for 3 weeks... Then I wear my regular socket for 2 weeks and then wear this test socket again for another 3 weeks.

These 3 panels move in or out depending on how much it senses if the socket isn't tight enough or too tight. How they do this is Black Magic to me but this is some of the COOL shit our universities are turning out now days.

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It's actually pretty COOL too... It has an auto/manual mode so you can either just make adjustments manually or set it on auto and it does it for you. Again this will most likely never come to market before I'm dead & gone but it's still an honor to get to be part of the development.

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That's pretty bad ass!

Wildman · Jan 14, 2026

mudmaster said:
That's pretty bad ass!

Yes it is. These young people ( not all were young) are pretty amazing in what they are trying to do... And it's fun to talk with them and discuss ideas and then brainstorm about ideas. We were discussing things we'd like to possibly see in the future.
So once I return from the trip I'll be wearing this study socket for a total of 6 weeks once I we make sure the new socket is fitting properly.

It's like fabing stuff for the Jeep.

Paparock1 · Thursday at 7:04 AM

Wildman said:
So today was in the lab only because they want to cast me for a new socket due to my weight loss & my limb shrinkage which they'll do once I get my new socket. So I'll go back in about 4 weeks and they'll do a 3D scan of my new socket & my limb then while I'm gone on my trip they'll build me a new socket and when I get back I'll go back in and then get to wear it home for 3 weeks... Then I wear my regular socket for 2 weeks and then wear this test socket again for another 3 weeks.

These 3 panels move in or out depending on how much it senses if the socket isn't tight enough or too tight. How they do this is Black Magic to me but this is some of the COOL shit our universities are turning out now days.

View attachment 666397

View attachment 666398

View attachment 666399

It's actually pretty COOL too... It has an auto/manual mode so you can either just make adjustments manually or set it on auto and it does it for you. Again this will most likely never come to market before I'm dead & gone but it's still an honor to get to be part of the development.

View attachment 666400

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bionics!

Wildman · Sunday at 1:22 PM

At my sister's place for the weekend. Picked up a new drill press from them.
And of course like always if I was home waiting for parts they wouldn't have arrived until Monday. But instead they arrived Friday.
Fan shroud and fan clutch.

17" fan arrived late Friday.

Hopefully will be picking up my new chompers Tuesday. Then my new socket Wednesday morning.

Then back to working on the Jeep.

Wildman · Sunday at 5:20 PM

Wildman · 2026-01-20T12:08:27-0700

I know not Jeep related but DAMN it's been 8 months waiting on them....

lBasket · 2026-01-20T12:09:31-0700

Wildman said:
I know not Jeep related but DAMN it's been 8 months waiting on them....

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Hell yeah man go get a big steak!! How do they feel?

Wildman · 2026-01-20T12:13:32-0700

lBasket said:
Hell yeah man go get a big steak!! How do they feel?

Honestly it's weird right now. Dentist said to take it slow and don't try really hard to chew foods yet.
Thinking a grilled ham and cheese sandwich or maybe a hamburger tonight...
Steak in a week or two.

Like learning how to walk again.

bbaldwin237 · 2026-01-20T12:16:06-0700

Heck yea man! Super happy for you! Next stop, new socket/leg. You'll be like a new man!

NashvilleTJ · 2026-01-20T13:47:36-0700

Great news, Rick.

Wildman · 2026-01-20T20:22:19-0700

Got the new fan blade assembly...

17" as opposed to the 20"

It fits and I have a idea of trying to use part of the old shroud to mount the new shroud on but have to try fitting it a little more.

I'll mess with it more tomorrow after my appointment to get my new socket.

If it doesn't work I'll just mount it to the radiator. But I'd like to not if I can.

macleanflood · 2026-01-20T20:33:36-0700

Good thing about fans is they're self clearancing. =)

-Mac

Wildman · 2026-01-20T21:00:57-0700

macleanflood said:
Good thing about fans is they're self clearancing. =)

-Mac

Fingers too..... So I'd like to put that shroud over the top so I don't clip my finger tips...

Wildman · 2026-01-21T13:24:51-0700

OK some amputee stuff to start the day... I really enjoy going to see my prosthesis since Andy and I have a good time talking and just comparing ideas.

So my new socket has an older design that I had used a few years ago. The Desert camo as opposed to the Digi camo is the main thing and then some of the logos.