27 September 2020 -- Gosh Darnit....

So I'm a bit tired and taking it easy after the Jeep run to Vermont yesterday.


Hey...this part of Old Griffin Road, Hampton used to be dirt! Like within the last couple months it was dirt!


So much yellow! Mostly ash trees, with a few maples mixed in.




I've wanted to go down this road for a long time, but the very beginning always look a bit wet so I never tried before.


So...I even have the big 372XP saw in the back of the Jeep from yesterday's run...perfect. Except I jsut slipped on the old sneakers that offer zero support for my feet. Definitely not prepared to use the saw :/





Holy smokes the water is low!

30 September 2020

Get the impression I've spent all my time and money this month on the Mistress? 'Cause I sure do.

Tuesday was put all my tools away, sweep the floor, and have some garage Crown and Sprite after work.


End caps put back on, too.


Wednesday I picked up a set of BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KMs on nice Rubicon rims. One new spare, two in good shape with 50%+ life left, and two that are cupped. Hoping to pickup another new spare cheap then I'll use the two new tires to replace the cupped ones, and a cupped one can go on as the spare (since it has a nicer rim than what I have now).



Gave her a wash, and mounted the inclinometer...pretty sure I'll be re-arranging stuff some more.


Look how shiny the clean hood is :D


So...pulled off the anti-flicker harness because I thought it wasn't working right since the LED fog lights would randomly "fire" like a camera flash...turns out they were actually reducing it. With a straight wiring harness the LEDs strobe every 5-6 seconds. :/

28 September 2020 -- 78 degrees

78 degrees...not going to have many more of these! Top down and up to Thompson/Burrillville/Glocester.

Thought to bring a bucket with me this time, guess I need to also bring a bag to empty it...I swear this wasn't five minutes and three stops in...


How the hell did I never notice the pole before? I noticed the weatherhead on the building nearby, and best I could previously figure they moved it there leaving it from the old location...but I guess it actually was wired. I presume the line went straight east through the woods to the main scout camp.




Haven't gone down the south end of Olney Keach Road in decades.

25 September 2020 -- Had to see Norm...

Picked up a screw (and pretty sure from my own garage :/) ... anyway Norm checked it and it was just barely, barely leaking so he put a plug in.


I think I sharpened the chain this spring :). Anyway, no time tonight to do it...but did fuel up and take the files with me. Jeep is all set for the morning except for me grabbing chow from the house before I head out in the morning for a group trip to "Class IV roads in Vermont, listed as impassable."

23-24 September 2020 Shocks & Oil

Lunchtime got the anti-flicker/wiring adapter installed from the fog lights.



My garage looking like a Chicago ER a 3am on a summer holiday weekend.



Front shocks I could easily compress by hand...so I went and cut the straps off the rears so they wouldn't be in the way...


That was a mistake. Fine, I'll put on my own giant zip ties...except it was so strong it stripped out a giant wire tie o_O


Passenger side I could use a ratchet strap to compress it once the bottom was bolted hand tight.


The ratchet wasn't going to get enough to clear the muffler on the driver side. Loosely bolted the top and used a jack and pry bar on the bottom.


TWO effing hours just to get those shocks on.

To avoid the shower of rust use they pry bar to knock the loose stuff off. Then when I was done sprayed with Fluid Film.


All I did was replace the shocks...and the perpetual check engine line turns off #JeepLife


Thursday morning warmed the car up, worked till 11, went out and pulled the drain while it was still...well warmish. Came back at noon time to finish the oil change. Definitely easiest to replace the oil filter from up top even standing on a stool.


Mental note: Need to grease zerks before I change the oil :D


I...I just don't know how I did this.

Drought Continues

22 September 2020 -- Buttoning up

Not much today -- did a bit at lunch and coffee break in the afternoon.

Happy with the wiring. One more big wire tie of the bundle off to the bumper should eliminate any movement.



Hrrrrmpppph...couldn't fit the grill back on. Had to cut off two clips and an alignment pin with the Dremel. There are still clips on each side; the driver side needs some care to work the wire to a (outside temperature?) sensor around it. Everything seems solid though.



Thought of removing the control head, but the bolts in the front are blocked by the light brackets, and I'm afraid those are held in my nuts I would lose and not be able to get back on.



I think if I take the bumper off, I'd add another 1/2" of bar stock as a spacer to push it out a bit. I'd also like to put some bar stock on the backside; sounds like the Maximus-3 directions relocated some plates from behind to the in front of the part beams the bumper bolts too. Probably good to spread the load a bit.

21 September 2020 -- Bumper is on

Studs look pretty dirty...


Hmmm, it's too tight to use the round wire brush on the drill...wait...I have a stud cleaner set :)


LOL...guess the former owner liked shooting. Found in the pile of "stuff" under the radiator that I need to vacuum out before buttoning up.


And all that is left is buttoning up the front and putting the wings back on the bumper for daily use.

Oh, and I have an adapter kit coming for the factory-to-fog-light wiring...the one that came with it had been cut off so I was missing the appropriate plugs.