|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 18, 2016 0:52:41 GMT
I moved to Minnesota 3 weeks ago. I'd had a hankering for one of these for a while, but I'd never get one in the UK due to the 19mpg at best. So this is what I've got:  It's a '97 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport. It has some rust (less than my MX5 in fact), but is mechanically and structurally sound, came with a bunch of goodies for summer and has been well looked after. Plans are to address any immediate bits before winter properly hits (the only bad bit is the driver's wheel arch... which just bolts on), and get some snow tyres sorted. Then who knows? I know very little about these, so I'll keep it as is for now and see where my fancy takes me. |
|
|
|
Post by Horney on Oct 18, 2016 6:30:26 GMT
Nice! These things are proper capabale off road.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 18, 2016 14:23:18 GMT
I'm really looking forward to getting out and about! Ordered the replacement panel for the driver's wing today as it has a rust hole in. $88 brand new.
|
|
|
|
Post by atlex on Oct 18, 2016 21:16:17 GMT
murika, socheap.
my $1400 trip to hospital to get something removed from my ear canal (took 60 seconds) is amusing though.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 19, 2016 1:51:35 GMT
murika, socheap. my $1400 trip to hospital to get something removed from my ear ccanoe (took 60 seconds) is amusing though. Do tell, what was removed? Thankfully my job has decent coverage 😆 Now I've started looking at replacement fenders, do I just upgrade to something a bit meatier? |
|
|
|
Post by atlex on Oct 19, 2016 8:59:37 GMT
A stuck earplug.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 25, 2016 15:04:42 GMT
Jeep is going in for a service tomorrow. After driving back last night, I also ordered some LED headlights, because the sealed units on it right now are roughly the same as the stock MX5 lights when they're turned off.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 26, 2016 14:44:08 GMT
The service and inspection threw up a few things. Some that I was going to change anyway, and some unexpected ones. I paid $3000 less than I budgeted for the car, so I was expecting to replace a few bits and pieces anyway.
The car's in the shop right now getting:
* Two new front u-joints
* Rocker gasket
* New tyres (the old ones had done 12k - I even have the receipt) and were pretty bad, so I'm guessing they're a cheapo brand
* Oil changes (engine, trans, diff)
So a few things, but I got a good look underneath and it's in decent nick (especially for Minnesota). Engine is in great condition, brakes are really good, and all the suspension parts are solid (if not a little old). I'd have liked to do a few bits myself, but I don't have the tools or anything yet.
I'm going to get some underseal and do the underside before they start salting the roads.
I'll add a photo of the loaner I got later. It's a red-velvet Buick ashtray. Incredible.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 26, 2016 23:27:26 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Fizbne on Oct 27, 2016 3:33:59 GMT
Holy fock that Buick is awesome.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Oct 27, 2016 13:01:55 GMT
It smelled as bad as it looked. In other news, I used my first tank of fuel today, and got a whopping 249.4 miles out of it. That means I got 21mpg (UK gallons), or 17.5mpg (US gallons). So about what I expected. I put 54L of petrol back in, at the whopping cost of... £23.99. That's easily less than half of what it would cost in the UK, and we're not on winter fuel prices here yet.  In terms of the service, the car feels great now. They even cleaned and serviced the brakes for free, and readjusted the handbrake. The alignment, tyres and UV joint was definitely the most noticeable change - car feels rock solid at 60mph+ now. This weekend I'm hoping to get the LED lamps fitted, and head up to a state park. The weather is meant to be 21C in the afternoons, so it should be a nice day. |
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Nov 8, 2016 17:30:54 GMT
Will post some updates soon. Got a replacement wing to fit for the rusty one, so there'll be some more pictures once that's on.
In other news, I just passed my US driving test.
|
|
|
|
Post by wannabe on Nov 8, 2016 17:40:48 GMT
If the LED headlights are just the 7" round ones, I've been much pleased with mine - you will notice a definite improvement! I can't imagine paying £25 to fill up, it'd be like travelling back 20 years. The Buick is so bad, though  |
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Nov 8, 2016 21:42:22 GMT
Oh yeah, the headlights are a great improvement. I also fitted an induction kit because... well, I don't really have a reason, I just wanted to tinker.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeytalent on Dec 12, 2016 16:55:26 GMT
Finally got the replacement "fender" fitted. There's 14 bolts that hold it to the body of the car, and every one of them came out easy as pie with a liberal application of what can only be described as magical fluid:  I don't know what's in that stuff, but it made 19 year old bolts that were road-facing come out with very little effort.   The biggest pain was getting the plastic arch off. Got there in the end, broke most of the fasteners. We got 2 feet of snow this weekend, and it's -18°C today, so you can imagine what driving to work was like. The Jeep was very solid, didn't slip around much at all and didn't get stuck on any hills (unlike all the FWD saloons stuck on the highway this morning :confused: ) |
|
le sigh