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Wrenchfest - COMPLETED!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:28 am
by ASauer17
Looking for volunteers! Please let me know if you are able to help.

My truck got totaled (I think we all know that by now- haha). However, it’s all body work that was damaged (and a little delay on starting the engine, but that can wait a bit...)

I have 3 weeks off from work starting Monday December 19th and I would like to get started. If anyone else is free and wants to help is more than welcome to help. Even though I have 3 weeks off, I won't bother working on it if I'm alone (this includes the hubby not being there). Who knows what kind of mayhem I could get myself into.

However, the most important thing I am looking for is…
1) I need a place to store/work on my truck. I live in a condo with no garage. I can’t even fit into my parents garage (truck is too tall). I can pay you!


After getting a place to work.. I need to pull apart my truck to see the damage.
It could go 2 ways:

1)
Bang out the dents in the tub and weld on metal supports on the inside. Remove the interior carpet. Spray rustoleum and truck bed armor coating (rhino) on top to ensure that it will not rust for a long time. On the outside, I have external body armor that goes over the rear panels (I just never installed… doh!). The body of the truck is in good condition, just not the huge dent and there is like a "bubble" under the drive side door.

2)Replace the WHOLE tub with a new tub (either brand new or used with minimal rust). This would mean that I would have to strip the entire truck, and then have some volunteers to replace the tub (I’m no superwomen!). Re-drill a bunch of holes and I may want to put truck bed armor coating (rhino) through the whole interior instead of carpet. Re-install everything.

Things to consider:

1)The gas tank hose is squished. I can’t put more gas into the truck. I have between ¼ and ½ tank.
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2)The roll cage may need to be replaced. I haven’t really looked at it since its dark by the time I get home from work, and pretty cold outside! I am looking into doing a custom cage (as I posted before on the forum).

3)The soft top is ripped, but still usable if it gets patched.

4)I cannot open the tailgate.

5)Back light works, but the reverse light doesn’t, not big deal.

6)Perfect opportunity to install a rear tire carrier for my 35 spare and take off the dinky little tire.

7)Need to swap my spare for the front driver side tire. The rim has dents in it.
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8)I do have a bunch of replacement hinges/brackets in black that can be used. I know that the roll-cage moved the windshield forward and those hinges should be replaced. ( I have those)
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Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:36 am
by Northshore Jeeper
I dont mind helping out but I do not have a location to work on it (I live in an apartment) but once you find a location let me know and I can help. Also if you need the jeep moved anywhere let me know, I just picked up a new tow rig and am looking for something to tow ( my jeep needs some work before I do anything with it). (you would need to pay the 50 bucks for a trailer rental (I havent purchased one yet) but I am dying to use my new tow rig for what I actaully purchased it for LOL

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:17 pm
by beaker
Tubs for sale, all
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/pts/2750343848.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/pts/2745842442.html (with rollbar)
http://worcester.craigslist.org/pts/2747525049.html (sounds fairly complete, maybe not as much swapping of interior components)

My opinion, do it right, you'll likely regret it otherwise. Unless you have someone who's really good @ bodywork (and has the tools), I think you could spend as much time mucking around trying to get the body straightened out as swapping it.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:25 pm
by ASauer17
I am ALL for swapping out the tub. Seriously.

The only thing is.. if I swap the tub, do I need to re-register the truck? I honestly don't know.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:39 pm
by schwalby
Wish I had a location for you. Definitly would be intrested in helping / learning when this gets rolling though.

My 2 cents on the tub / cage thing. If you can save some money and get just a tub I would still go with a custom cage. Factory cages are fairly safe but they leave a lot to be desired. A well built cage will be 10x safer and will last. IMO you can never overbuild a cage.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:33 pm
by ASauer17
beaker wrote:Tubs for sale, all
http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/pts/2750343848.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/pts/2745842442.html (with rollbar)
http://worcester.craigslist.org/pts/2747525049.html (sounds fairly complete, maybe not as much swapping of interior components)

My opinion, do it right, you'll likely regret it otherwise. Unless you have someone who's really good @ bodywork (and has the tools), I think you could spend as much time mucking around trying to get the body straightened out as swapping it.
Thanks, I emailed them to see if they could send me a picture of their tubs..

If worst comes to worst, I still have my eye on this and starting from ground up
http://www.ntwonline.com/9706_JEEP_TJ_B ... 0C1317.cfm

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:00 pm
by Kurt
I believe Joe O. (ZAEDOCK) has a 2000 tub available too.
He offered it up in your original thread about black ice.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:10 pm
by ASauer17
Joe did offer.. then he hasn't checked his PMs to get back to me! YARG JOE YARG!!!

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:12 pm
by beaker
Cool, I hadn't seen they had fiberglass TJ tubs out (although it was only a matter of time...)

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:13 pm
by Kurt
asauer17 wrote:Joe did offer.. then he hasn't checked his PMs to get back to me! YARG JOE YARG!!!
That's odd... he was on the forum around 12:30 today :shock:

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:28 pm
by johnsxj
The problems with fiberglass tubs are having to run grounds to everything and that it likes to crack instead of dent when too close to a rock or tree.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:31 pm
by Kurt
Amanda, I have a truck and trailer so I can help with moving your Jeep and/or pickup up a used tub.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:29 pm
by Northshore Jeeper
I will be dropping my jeep of in Marlboro this weekend for some repairs so if you have a location secured by then let me know and I can drop your jeep off after I drop mine off

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:34 pm
by ASauer17
Kurt wrote:Amanda, I have a truck and trailer so I can help with moving your Jeep and/or pickup up a used tub.
Kurt,
I will take you up on that offer.

Re: Wrenchfest - Volunteers needed!!!

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:35 pm
by ASauer17
Northshore Jeeper wrote:I will be dropping my jeep of in Marlboro this weekend for some repairs so if you have a location secured by then let me know and I can drop your jeep off after I drop mine off
Awesome, Thanks!

Hopefully I can find someplace.