Pylon ressurects the Captains Jeep. A tale of redemption...

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Ha! So true. I've heard some guys had all 8 snap and wind up with a $1000+ bill for plugs.

I did mine a few weeks ago, bought the extraction tool and everything. Ran 3 cans of seafoam in the days leading up to it, cracked each plug a quarter turn, filled each plug hole with carb cleaner, let it sit two days, and then went for it. Didn't break a single one. But I got lucky. Next I'll tackle that 'sweet' VCT system they have.

Oh Ford and their better ideas

Just got mine done at a shop.

They broke 6 of the 8 - $$750 for plugs

Also had a cracked passenger exhaust manifold they replaced - $1200 - they broke 3 studs and had to use torch to heat it to get them out.

brutal labour costs but I didn't have time to have my buddy do it at his leisure and I wasn't tackling it myself.

$2000 for that but truck runs smooth and I don't sound like a hilbilly driving around town anymore.

2004 F150 5.4L - 130,000kms - going to replace the exhaust and muffler myself.

[btimbit]

I'm doing the exhaust manifold soon as well. At least it's not like the Explorers where the studs tend to warp at the front where they're harder to get too, on these it's the back ones.

[pylon]

Couple money shots. Took it out for it's first "real" off road trials, and managed to snap the 4wd shift linkage. Lol. Frikkin Chrysler. Right btmbit? Thankfully I had my socket set to remove the centre skid plate, and was able to manually pop it back into 2wd by coaxing the arm on the transfer case when I got back to the highway.

When I staged it on this rock, I could hear it gently whisper, "Thank you." Then it shed a Jeeply man tear. But after closer inspection, it was actually just a differential leak, and I think I mistook the optional factory engine tick for "thank you."





BFFs!

[btimbit]

Looking good!

And yes, lol, frikkin Chrysler (Even though I'm currently looking at getting a Dodge)

[pylon]

Well... I think I'm done. Was just kinda standing there looking at it today and said, "Yep, that's it."

So what else is new? Well, the big addition was a backup camera. The Pioneer head unit CC put in it was pretty good, and supported a backup camera. But I actually wanted more of "Rear-view on demand." Where I could switch it on and off whenever I want. I think in a situation where you are on sketchy terrain, having it on all the time makes the most sense. Also, this solves the "doors off no mirrors" problem. So I ordered an ultra wide angle 170 degree button camera off amazon for $30 and this was my ingenious mounting spot:

Right in the middle of the spare tire hub cover. Lol. It's pretty stealth:



Already had this cool switch panel installed for my lights on the A-pillar, and I still had 2 switch buckets left to fill, so the bottom lit up one, is my 'camera on demand switch'. Flick it and you have rearview as long as you like.



After an couple hours of running wires, a couple relays, and a very sketchy powered ground I found, Voila! Rear view camera on demand. Not just when in reverse. (I may or may not have taken a photo while driving.)



Other than that, I basically just got rid of a couple decals and had my 3M guy cut me some new ones. The Wrangler 'X' thing was really bugging me..... a lot. First off, this isn't even remotely an X model anymore, which was the base trim for the year. I'm pretty much in rubicon territory now. But anything with an 'X' seems so dooshy and late 90s. Like forced. "Look how extreme I am! With an X model. X. For X-treme!" Yeah......no. so I put on some classic Jeep logos in their place:




And one above the windshield, since the one one the grill was removed during the spray line process. Figured I should have some forward facing badging. Simple, classic:



And lastly, I finally made my decision regarding the windshield frame and hinge covers. I just opted to grind the rust spots off the existing hinge covers, and give em a coat in rattle can bedliner. Came out awesome (oh, the AEV decal is strategically covering a little unintentional damage, lol. But it's allowed, I have their snorkel on the other side):




Anyway, some time next week, it's gonna get a mega detail, and when it's done, I'm gonna take some really good inside and out photos. Thanks for following!

[rayne008]

Well done.
It would have taken me 7 years to make the progress you did over a few months.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by rayne008

Well done.
It would have taken me 7 years to make the progress you did over a few months.

I've waited 10 years for the right Jeep to come along for this project. So I already knew exactly what I wanted to do, the minute I got it. That was a huge help. I had parts ordered the day before I even took it. CC probaly remembers me chiming off this entire project to him when he was signing it over to me.

It was just a matter of putting aside some time to futz around with it, and get it done. Also, I consider this type of thing fun. Which a lot of people don't. So it didn't feel like work.

[btimbit]

Love it! Serious props for the camera, that's very well done

[bc-chris]

great job pylon!!!

looks fantastic

[CaptainCrunch]

Man, its beautiful, I'm glad I sold it to you and you let us see the project in action. I think all parties are happy with what's happened to the old girl.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

So what do you do for anti-theft on something like that? It's awesomeness would unfortunately also scream, steal me.

[Fuzz]

You put a pink Barbie sticker on it.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

So what do you do for anti-theft on something like that? It's awesomeness would unfortunately also scream, steal me.

Get a independent appraisal, and make sure it's true value is accounted for. I had one done last week, and if it gets stolen, I'll be upset all my work is lost, but I'll certainly be happy with the cheque.

[pylon]

A little rushed, but for posterity:







No more fitting post to end my CP career on. I hope this thread can be preserved so I can lurk it going forward. It was a truly fun experience to share.

Cheers,
Trevor.

[Dion]