Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

What did you do to your TJ today?

Every time I see one of these, the same two thoughts always occur to me. First, these were, and still are, incredibly unique and capable vehicles. Second, they won a war on 6.00 - 16 (28") tires and we complain our 33" or 35" tires aren't big enough. That is why they are the "greatest" generation, and we are not! 🇺🇸
That’s because they weren’t driving down trails that had been torn up and rutted out by assholes on 40s!
 
Added a little noise reducer and insulation to my hardtop. Boom Mat
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Been offline for a bit but the TJ has recently got a new idler pully. Stereo upgrade- Speakers and amp, like the looks of the stock head unit so that stays.

Not the TJ, but daughter's Cherokee got new brakes because I heard a nasty grinding noise. Absolutely coming from the right rear. Surprised when I took the drums off and the shoes weren't on the metal. Checked the bearings-good. Checked the diff-good. Checked the pads-good, front bearings and diff-good. Scratching my head because the grinding noise was definitely right rear brake drum noise. Oh well, I'm here, and already dirty, might as well do a full on brake job.
Cleaned everything and replaced them anyway, adjusted them snug and did what everyone does when they change out brakes- Couple of all out lock-ups and anti-lock actuation just to make sure...Glad I did! The rear main line let go and sent the pedal to the floor. So I redid all her brake lines hard and soft.
Daughter is a pretty new driver and I don't think she would have handled the blow out well. I just eased it back into the garage and did all the lines.
Grinding noise magically disappeared??? Not sure if it was divine intervention, good karma or just plain dumb luck, but I'm convinced someone was looking out for her and needed that line to blow while I was driving it.

As a side note-
This is the easiest, most consistent flaring tool I've ever used-
https://www.titan-us.com/default.aspx?page=item+detail&itemcode=51535&catlist=100
 
Been offline for a bit but the TJ has recently got a new idler pully. Stereo upgrade- Speakers and amp, like the looks of the stock head unit so that stays.

Not the TJ, but daughter's Cherokee got new brakes because I heard a nasty grinding noise. Absolutely coming from the right rear. Surprised when I took the drums off and the shoes weren't on the metal. Checked the bearings-good. Checked the diff-good. Checked the pads-good, front bearings and diff-good. Scratching my head because the grinding noise was definitely right rear brake drum noise. Oh well, I'm here, and already dirty, might as well do a full on brake job.
Cleaned everything and replaced them anyway, adjusted them snug and did what everyone does when they change out brakes- Couple of all out lock-ups and anti-lock actuation just to make sure...Glad I did! The rear main line let go and sent the pedal to the floor. So I redid all her brake lines hard and soft.
Daughter is a pretty new driver and I don't think she would have handled the blow out well. I just eased it back into the garage and did all the lines.
Grinding noise magically disappeared??? Not sure if it was divine intervention, good karma or just plain dumb luck, but I'm convinced someone was looking out for her and needed that line to blow while I was driving it.

As a side note-
This is the easiest, most consistent flaring tool I've ever used-
https://www.titan-us.com/default.aspx?page=item+detail&itemcode=51535&catlist=100

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Over the weekend, pulled off the rock sliders. Tons of sand/dirt/fluid film caked in there. Left them off for now as I haven’t been playing in the rocks much and not a fan of how much crap it collects when it goes off road. Threw some black push pins into the holes in the body and slapped the plastic fender pieces back on and was done. Forgot how heavy those steel sliders were.

Also, ditched the “X” sticker in exchange for a simple “4.0”. Was never a fan of how the X sticker looked.

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Drove it. The new shocks on the front are IMMEDIATELY better than the worn out OEM ones. We have what I call "soft curbs" just about everywhere in this part of Florida. The nice thing about them is that you can drive up over the curb anywhere, the not so nice thing is that there's no difference between a drive way and any other curb - which means there's a bit of a bump when you come off onto the street. The front end is vastly better damped! I went off at an angle, no side to side back and forth rocking!

Should be even better once I get the backs on...
 
Those "soft" curbs are less likely to harm the gators, it's an environmental thing
Always thought it was a cost savings thing. Make all the curbs the same everywhere. No driveway transitions to built in. Just same-same sidewalks for days. Gater-free areas use them too. They prevent a lot of low profile curb rash too.
 
Always thought it was a cost savings thing. Make all the curbs the same everywhere. No driveway transitions to built in. Just same-same sidewalks for days. Gater-free areas use them too. They prevent a lot of low profile curb rash too.
Probably. I'm OK with them, but the ones here are more abrupt than most, I'd rather have a conventional style "pan" driveway, but whatever. I usually angle over so that only one wheel goes over at a time - close to being parallel to the sidewalk.

However, I've been trying for 4 years to get the county out here to fix the gutter portion of it directly at the end of my driveway. The sidewalk, curb, and gutter sank or was pushed down years back. They fixed the sidewalk and curb, but didn't fix the gutter so its REALLY deep. Its "on the list" for them to do, but Goddess only know when they'll actually do it. So in the meantime, we just angle up before we get to that part. Already had to have the wife's car's front end fixed because of it.
 
Probably. I'm OK with them, but the ones here are more abrupt than most, I'd rather have a conventional style "pan" driveway, but whatever. I usually angle over so that only one wheel goes over at a time - close to being parallel to the sidewalk.

However, I've been trying for 4 years to get the county out here to fix the gutter portion of it directly at the end of my driveway. The sidewalk, curb, and gutter sank or was pushed down years back. They fixed the sidewalk and curb, but didn't fix the gutter so its REALLY deep. Its "on the list" for them to do, but Goddess only know when they'll actually do it. So in the meantime, we just angle up before we get to that part. Already had to have the wife's car's front end fixed because of it.
They need to fix = "It's on our list...never"
You need to fix = 30 days or FINES. (A tree root from my yard pushed up the sidewalk 3/4" they act like it's the end of the world. Liability etc...)
 
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They need to fix = "It's on our list...never"
You need to fix = 30 days or FINES. (A tree root from my yard pushed up the sidewalk 3/4" they act like it's the end of the world. Liability etc...)
Here if a pothole is reported to the authorities and they don’t fix it within a reasonable time they can be held liable for subsequent vehicle damage. You have to prove someone told them, though.

So an enterprising citizen set up https://www.fixmystreet.com/ to record and report problems. That way they can never claim they weren’t told…
 
Here if a pothole is reported to the authorities and they don’t fix it within a reasonable time they can be held liable for subsequent vehicle damage. You have to prove someone told them, though.

So an enterprising citizen set up https://www.fixmystreet.com/ to record and report problems. That way they can never claim they weren’t told…
I have an 8 tonne flowcon fixing potholes and edge breaks every day in winter, we have to pay out all tire/ wheel claims when its a deep pothole.
 
Probably. I'm OK with them, but the ones here are more abrupt than most, I'd rather have a conventional style "pan" driveway, but whatever. I usually angle over so that only one wheel goes over at a time - close to being parallel to the sidewalk.

However, I've been trying for 4 years to get the county out here to fix the gutter portion of it directly at the end of my driveway. The sidewalk, curb, and gutter sank or was pushed down years back. They fixed the sidewalk and curb, but didn't fix the gutter so its REALLY deep. Its "on the list" for them to do, but Goddess only know when they'll actually do it. So in the meantime, we just angle up before we get to that part. Already had to have the wife's car's front end fixed because of it.
We dont use gutters any more, kerb goes straight on the road before the wearing course, much easier to repair or add driveways
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts