Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Just.Thorne's Tank Green LJ Build

Most of the parts order showed up today, I’m still waiting on the reman Bosch starter from summit, but that’s not even going to ship until July 1st (my birthday) which means that the Jeep is gonna be down indefinitely until at least the 14th when I get back from vacation.

I tried to pull a newish better condition steering wheel from a grand Cherokee, and a Gentex 177 from a Silverado, but the junkyard gods were not on my side, and the mirror housing broke in removal, and my puller didn’t work on the later style wheel. But I did find a set of the door surround gaskets, which my Jeep never had, and a new hood prop since my dad broke the old one.

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Quick side by side of the new turn signals compared to the cloudy old ones, I’m probably gonna pick up a set of LEDs to round off the jeep and make every light LED

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Alright, so I was planning on buying a set of axles this summer or fall, however due to the jeep being temperamental (I'll explain later) and a fire taking out my uncles barn, which held the boat my cousin and I fished off, and the other boat we duck hunt from, I decided to pick up a boat.

Meet my new money pit, a 1987 Bass Tracker MV-16, with a 1978 Johnson 25, which was ever so wonderfully converted to a duck boat by the previous owner.

The plan is to repaint the boat and trailer (learning on a boat where the stakes are lower than a car) clean up the carpet, and switch the seats back to a more normal position. I also was fortunate enough to find the transom completely rotten, but my cousin is friends with a really good aluminum welder, since i have to cut some welds to pull the old wood out.

Back on the Jeep front, I'm going to throw back on my old Smittybilt bumper that has a hitch, and 4-pin adapter, to tow with for now. I want to eventually order a UCF rear bumper to match the front. I don't fully trust the Smittybilt bumper, but with the frame tie ins I have, and how light this boat is I'm not very worried (considering we towed it home with a Chevy Cruze)

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I lied, got the jeep all back together today, however it ran really bad, very loud screeching which I'm 90% sure is the starter, luckily my new starter is coming tomorrow, so I'll just be working on the boat until it shows up and i get the new one swapped in. I really liked the BMB Skid plate nutserts, very good quality and packaging. Also put 4 new Walker o2 sensors in it.

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Just.Thorne71 said:
I lied, got the jeep all back together today, however it ran really bad, very loud screeching which I'm 90% sure is the starter, luckily my new starter is coming tomorrow, so I'll just be working on the boat until it shows up and i get the new one swapped in. I really liked the BMB Skid plate nutserts, very good quality and packaging. Also put 4 new Walker o2 sensors in it.

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Tossing on a coat of Rustoleum to protect that frame any (or something better)? Looks like it needs some help to at least continue extending its life, especially in NY.
 
FarFire70 said:
Tossing on a coat of Rustoleum to protect that frame any (or something better)? Looks like it needs some help to at least continue extending its life, especially in NY.
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I normally take a wire wheel to the whole frame at the start and end of winter, and get a fresh coat of paint on everything I can reach. Ill probably slap some on again soon just to touch up the parts that got scuffed up while working on it. its definitely a up hill battle with the NY salt and rust.
 
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I’ve hated my destroyed steering wheel for a bit, planned on getting a new old one off of a grand Cherokee to replace it, but a targeted ad on Instagram recommended “Texas custom interiors” and they’re customizable steering wheel covers. A bit steep at $50 for a cover, but they are custom fit to the vehicle and are the sew on type.

Came out really good, feels very good quality, the only complains I have are with my stitching.

I like the little green stripe option, it makes it feel like I’m driving a GT3RS





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After hating my Jeep for most of July and August, Ive been drawn back to loving it and want to spend copious amounts of money on it again. I have a big charity trail ride with my dad this weekend so I’ve been forced to work on it again. I put a ZJ tie rod assembly on it after having it on my list since I bought the Jeep, and stripped out the interior so it doesn’t get destroyed by the mud. (I’m wheeling muddy trails with half doors and a bikini top, this might not be my brightest idea)

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In the time I spent loathing my LJ I did a tad bit of research, and tossed around the idea of picking up a 72-75 CJ5 with a 304 to learn body work on. I still might, but I also might put that into axles (which I stupidly spent that money on a boat, I won’t make that mistake again) and into 35’s with potentially new wheels and some new suspension, ie, anti rock, control arms, etc.
 
Just.Thorne71 said:
After hating my Jeep for most of July and August, Ive been drawn back to loving it and want to spend copious amounts of money on it again. I have a big charity trail ride with my dad this weekend so I’ve been forced to work on it again. I put a ZJ tie rod assembly on it after having it on my list since I bought the Jeep, and stripped out the interior so it doesn’t get destroyed by the mud. (I’m wheeling muddy trails with half doors and a bikini top, this might not be my brightest idea)

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Did you paint the Moog parts? Surprised they look so gloss black - My replacement a few years back surface rusted but they didn't look as gloss as yours.

Upgrade looks great! It's a big improvement over stock.
 
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FarFire70 said:
Did you paint the Moog parts? Surprised they look so gloss black - My replacement a few years back surface rusted but they didn't look as gloss as yours.

Upgrade looks great! It's a big improvement over stock.
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Yeah, I painted them, I thought that they came with some kind of factory powder coat or something until I pulled them out of the box.
 
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The ZJ parts come bare metal and more than one person has installed them like that only to have them rust out instantly. Spray bombing the threads, the clamps, the ball joints, castle nuts etc is the way to go. The threads are large enough anyways that they won't jam up.
 
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97' 4 Popper said:
The ZJ parts come bare metal and more than one person has installed them like that only to have them rust out instantly. Spray bombing the threads, the clamps, the ball joints, castle nuts etc is the way to go. The threads are large enough anyways that they won't jam up.
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That was my thinking, I probably put 5-6 coats on, the clamp actually came with paint, everything else was bare steel though.
 
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A few pics from Saturday's trail ride out in Tug hill. I pulled the sway bar off completely as it kept sagging down with the end links disconnected, I’ve left it off until I get the jeep washed but it honestly feels like my ride is better without it. I’ll probably be adding a Anti-rock or similar to my wishlist soon.

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97' 4 Popper said:
The ZJ parts come bare metal and more than one person has installed them like that only to have them rust out instantly. Spray bombing the threads, the clamps, the ball joints, castle nuts etc is the way to go. The threads are large enough anyways that they won't jam up.
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Mine came out looking pretty good - not bare metal. A decent gray. Must have been a weak primer that would have been better to know to hit with any spray paint to protect.

Was asking if I wasn't alone in that coating.

Paying it forward for anyone else putting one on to spray before they install it.
 
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I pulled my whole sway bar off when wheeling back in September and have been driving without the front since then. For a daily commuter its been a little sketchy at times and with snow and ice fast approaching I wanted a sway bar again. The one I had was seized in place so I couldn't adjust it properly, and I never quite liked running quick disco's, so Anti-rock it is.

Really happy with the ride so far with the quick test drive I gave it, I'm running it on the middle setting, but might switch to the tightest just for how much road driving I do. Also, super easy install, not sure what I was expecting but everything went smooth. Would recommend for sure.

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