Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

RED02TJ 2.0

After a few more miles, the trans is much less a box of marbles on idle and I haven’t had the sticking in 2nd or 3rd but too soon to declare victory on that issue.

Next up is figuring out the clutch pedal rattle. Sometimes when I’ve got the clutch in and I go over a speed bump or coming to a stop on a rough road, I’ll feel the pedal rattle. No issues shifting and don’t think it’s an issue with the clutch (done the ebrake/uphill and clutch in on level road) so I think I’m good on the clutch engage and release and the pedal to push rod connection looks good as well. Something to keep an eye on.

3 weeks post lift, shocks haven’t fallen off and the rear clunk has gone away. Need to check tourq and mark bolts this weekend but I’m calling this done.

One last try before I give up and bring it in for the RMS and oil pan. Got my 1/4 to 3/8 adapter, so I cleaned everything off again, tightened a number of oil pan bolts I had left too loose since I was worried about over tightening without my IN LB torque wrench, found out the PO had stripped one of the front oil pan bolts in the timing cover, got that replaced, tightened the valve cover to the correct spec, and now it’s wait and see.
 
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One week update post torque check on the new VC gasket, I think this is success.
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Ordered the 1in aluminum body lift.

Bonus shot of finally getting my garage back in order now that the lift parts are actually on the Jeep.
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BL and impact wrench delivered and picked up a pair of HF rubber mallets so I can extend the spare tire snubbers. Just need a break in the weather so I can get it installed.
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Plugged my new KO2 and after blowing my cig fuse trying to inflate it was a good excuse to upgrade to a VIAIR 88P
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RMS holding strong (and dry) post valve cover and actually using the correct torque specs.
 
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Hard to say no for “used” at $85. I’m a big fan of Amazon warehouse, most of the time everything is like new (I don’t care about scratches on a tool) and on the rare occasion it’s DOA or been abused, they take it back.



DEWALT 20V MAX* Cordless Impact Wrench with Detent Pin, 1/2-Inch, Tool Only (DCF880B) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092RUPXO/?tag=wranglerorg-20

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Odds and ends this week.
  • Got my @Claytone backup lights installed
  • While there are many OEM parts I like, lug nuts are not one of them. The lugs with cheap chrome caps suck so replacing those.
  • Steamed my seats to “rehydrate” the foam. Worth the $30 steamer and kicks the reupholstering can a few more months.
  • Waiting for a break in the weather and work schedule so I can install the BL.
  • Need to pickup a cargo hitch rack for the Class daddy daughter camping trip in May
 
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Body lift kicked my ass. It’s not hard but no one talks about what a pain it is to drill the lower holes in the fan shroud or to make sure you raise the body in the rear corners, higher than you expect to get in those pucks, or to make sure you use a long screwdriver to line up the floating nuts.

On the plus side, impact wrench plus southern living means no issues with any bolts and looks like I got away without having to mess with the shift bezel or do a tcase bracket drop.

Tomorrow I’ve got to be in the office which means chopping up my rubber mallets for tire snubbers will be later in the week.

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Really need to start using my paint pen to mark bolts after I put them back on. Woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't remember if I'd actually tightened the body mounts by the rear shocks after I had such a hard time getting them up an over. Turns out I hadn't.
 
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So much for my RMS victory. Was re-checking bolts after the BL and this is ~two weeks of accumulation.
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I’m generally not a fan of leaks, but the thought of doing it solo or paying $7-800 before it actually hits the ground isn’t appealing
 
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2nd grade Daddy/Daughter camping trip is in less than two months away, Daughter would like to take the Jeep and I’d like to not get stuck on the side of the road.

While only 90min each way, it will be the longest ride since I brought it home and the first chance to get it on some dirt after the lift and tires were installed.

Running todo list:
  1. I took the fan shroud short cut when I did the BL and was only able to get 3 of the 4 bolts back on. While the fan spins freely, makes me a bit nervous on a long trip. It’s also not level by a good inch…
  2. Speedo gear still oozing even after new O ring and reseating 3 times.
  3. Called the shop and figured for an hour of labor they could fix 1-2, they said yes and I let them talk me into doing a MML, putting the shroud back to stock, and making any adjustments to the Tcase shifting. They of course (and rightly) added more shop time + selling the MML. Between work and family, sometimes it makes more sense to drop it off than spend an entire Saturday tinkering.
  4. AC wasn’t blowing as cold as it should be and I could hear the compressor cycling every ~5 seconds. Low pressure side was in the low 20s and temp at the vent was low 50s. I had an extra recharge kit, charged it to mid 30s and was able to get the vent temps down to 38 on my meat thermometer. Figured it was worth a try before going to an AC shop.
  5. Would like to get a good drive in to sanity check the plug I had to put in my BRAND NEW KO2
  6. Will probably push my every 6mo oil change to after the trip, I tend to drip and don’t want any leak false alarms.
  7. Still need to get a cargo hitch carrier.
 
My son is itching to go camping too. Between the softball, soccer and swim meets its hard to find the time. Glad you're making memories with her in the Jeep.

Which cargo hitch carrier are you looking at? Just a bolt on unit under the bumper?
 
I hear ya on the kids activities, I think ours are about the same age. 10,7,3 (weekend taxi service). I try to get them in a tent at least twice a year and we’re only an hour away from the AT which makes for some great day hikes.

For the cargo carrier, I’ll probably end up with the HF one. There’s a thread somewhere where people said it was decent. I’ve got the Quadratec 2in hitch with frame tie ins. For what I do, it was worth losing the departure angle to run the hitch accessories like bike rack, cargo, and recovery shackle.
 
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More Odds and Ends:
Foam Baffles and rings for the F/R kickers
extended snubbers for the spare
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TODO: raise the third tail light
To Overanalyze: Oil change now so I can use the upcoming camping trip to get some good miles on a different high mileage oil and see if that helps my seepage OR wait until after knowing I'll see a few drips at the bottom of the bellhousing.
 
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PRNDL said:
For the speaker rings, did you go with something like this from Amazon? Did it make a noticeable difference? What did you use for baffles?
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I got these F/R
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_237XT52/XTC-5-1-4-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-1-2-depth.htmlhttps://www.crutchfield.com/p_237XT462/XTC-4-x6-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-depth.html
and only rings for the front
https://www.walmart.com/ip/NVX-FRIN...x6-Drivers-with-Egg-Crate-Foam-Base/908351225
It's not life changing, especially with softtop but the baffles helped with the hollowness and the rings have helped in directing the sound forward and not getting lost in the dash. All in all, it was worth the 30min and $30
 
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red02tj said:
I got these F/R
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_237XT52/XTC-5-1-4-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-1-2-depth.htmlhttps://www.crutchfield.com/p_237XT462/XTC-4-x6-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-depth.html
and only rings for the front
https://www.walmart.com/ip/NVX-FRIN...x6-Drivers-with-Egg-Crate-Foam-Base/908351225
It's not life changing, especially with softtop but the baffles helped with the hollowness and the rings have helped in directing the sound forward and not getting lost in the dash. All in all, it was worth the 30min and $30
Click to expand...
Thanks you just answered what I was gonna ask.

Also, I just bought oil today and I could only find one high mileage oil that wasn’t a full synthetic.
 
TRE3TOP said:
Thanks you just answered what I was gonna ask.

Also, I just bought oil today and I could only find one high mileage oil that wasn’t a full synthetic.
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Where in ATL are you. I’m in Dunwoody and have had pretty good luck at O’Rileys and Napaa. I’ve been running the O’Rileys conventional high mileage for about 6mo and want to try something else. What did you go with?
 
red02tj said:
Where in ATL are you. I’m in Dunwoody and have had pretty good luck at O’Rileys and Napaa. I’ve been running the O’Rileys conventional high mileage for about 6mo and want to try something else. What did you go with?
Click to expand...
Powers ferry off 285. Sandy springs area. I was at the advance by the big chicken in Marietta since I had just left school.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts
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