After 2 1/2 years of ownership, my wife is no longer embarrased of her!

[DudeAbides]

I've had some requests for more info on my Monstaliner job, so I thought I would do a quick up to speed.

Bought her at the beginning of 2011- one owner, 193k, traded in to dealer it was always serviced at. The PO actually had all the maintenance performed-fluid changes, coolant flushes, axle seals, etc, etc. Basically it was completely "baselined" when I bought it, with a print out of prior work to prove it.


[URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-TZjdpCN/0/M/smugshot_7343455-M.jpg"][URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-TZjdpCN/0/M/smugshot_7343455-M.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

Fast forward to last summer. Needed new tires-convinced my awesome wife that some military baja's I found on CL would be perfect. They still had the labels on the tread.
To fit them I bought some OME 850j/863 springs and everyone's favorites-control arm drop brackets (I like them for now and know the drawbacks, so don't need a lecture). I'm still running OEM shocks with spacers added, they ride great and I'm having trouble deciding on replacements.
Running them right now on steelies, but am considering beadlocks and spacers.

[URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-tfp76ZC/0/M/smugshot_5489840-M.jpg"][URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-tfp76ZC/0/M/smugshot_5489840-M.jpg"][/URL][/URL]
[URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-vkzDL2k/0/M/smugshot_6784930-M.jpg"][URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-vkzDL2k/0/M/smugshot_6784930-M.jpg"][/URL][/URL]

Found some rust when doing the lift and decided to pull the flares to inspect everywhere.

[URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-wXHmtpS/0/M/smugshot_2569745-M.jpg"][URL="http://bellotti.smugmug.com/2011/iPhone/i-wXHmtpS/0/M/smugshot_2569745-M.jpg"][/URL][/URL]


At this point, my wife (who loves lifts and big tires) was a bit embarrassed to have the 80 in the driveway. She was not a fan of exposed holes, or the scotch tape I had over them.

 

[DudeAbides]

Fast forward to this summer. I had trouble finding the time to do the rust repairs before winter and don't have a heated work space, so I didn't get the rust work done until now. I had rot in both rear quarters, so I decided to learn how to weld (badly) and go to town.

 

[DudeAbides]

I had decided a long time ago that I wanted to bedline my truck, then once I saw pics of VCCruzer's LX I knew how high I wanted to take it.

Deciding on a color was tough, but after much photoshopping I decided on Sans Panties Monstaliner (Jeep Commando green).

I decided to tape the flare holes with metal tape and gave them a coat of epoxy primer left over from the rear quarters, then went to town rolling on the Monstaliner.

Pretty happy with how it turned out.

Overall it turned out great, there are some flaws I'm not happy about but they are from my own stupidity and excitement to get it done. The day I set aside to line it ended up having a chance of storms, so I had to do it in my garage. I thought I had good lighting, but it wasn't good enough to line a rig in there. A couple areas had a little too thick a coat and look like they just almost started to sag, noticeable to me but not sure if it would be to someone not looking for it. Oh well, I think it looks pretty bad ass and am happy overall.

 

[DudeAbides]

What finally kicked my ass in to gear to get work done was my wife's request for side steps. I decided to go with BIOR sliders, and well....one thing let to another.

I had Mike at BIOR give me some shipping quotes on different combos. It ended up being not much more to get two pallets shipped than it would for just the sliders. I had been planning on getting everything in the near future and saving a few hundred on shipping was all the convincing the boss needed. In this pic are front and rear bumpers, sliders, and a skid plate.

So far I've only prepped and painted the front bumper, here is my little mechanic helping turn a wrench.

That's where I'm at now. Next step will be to prep and paint everything else.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Looks great! Im waiting on my colour samples to come in from mosterliner too. That is one colour I requested, I think it looks great!! Nice job on the quater chop, i grafted new ones into mine if it starts again im doing what you have done.

 

[1973Guppie]

nice work man, so you are running 37's with the j springs? any spring spacers?

 

[DudeAbides]

Thanks! I have the regular heavies in back-863 and the J's in front. Seems pretty level right now, but it's about to get a bit heavier.

 

[devildogcruiser25]

Will you post a pic if the ac condenser protection that bumper offers? TIA.

 

[floridan surfer]

Looks great. Tha same line I will use. 1 gallon, right?

What roller did you use? The one in the kit? Did you roll a second time after it began to get tacky?

I'm thinking I may try a regular soft roller, like you'd use In your house, for a smoother finish.

Pat

 

[arndog123]

Nice job.

 

[Aggiesdm]

Great job

Great looking truck! I had to read the thread when I saw the title! My is not too impressed with my toy. To her credit, it was a POS when I brought it home, but I saw the potential and now the truck is clean (albeit old) and running pretty well. I actually talked her into riding in it last night to Target to get a few things and she seemed pretty content. The kids and the dog love it, but Momma is a little harder sell. Need to get a few more creature comforts and do some aesthetic changes and she should be happy!

I really like the BIOR bumper and I'm thinking hard about ordering one soon. How long did it take to get?

 

[DudeAbides]

Will you post a pic if the ac condenser protection that bumper offers? TIA.

I had Mike leave it off. I planned on bending the condenser up sideways and remounting. Now looking at it, not sure it will work with this bumper and kind of wish I would have just had him put on the skid.

 

[DudeAbides]

Looks great. Tha same line I will use. 1 gallon, right?

What roller did you use? The one in the kit? Did you roll a second time after it began to get tacky?

I'm thinking I may try a regular soft roller, like you'd use In your house, for a smoother finish.

Pat

Yep, used just under one gallon doing two coats.

I used the supplied rollers and bought an extra in case it started to disintegrate. I did not roll back over.

Not sure if normal rollers will work. I think I read something from magnetman about them just pushing around and not actually rolling because of the thickness of the liner.

 

[DudeAbides]

Great looking truck! I had to read the thread when I saw the title! My is not too impressed with my toy.

I really like the BIOR bumper and I'm thinking hard about ordering one soon. How long did it take to get?

Yeah, my wife had every right to be embarrassed. Not too many women are going to like a truck with scotch tape over fender holes and a rusty mess on the rear quarters. But she LOVES it now, so there's hope for yours too.

Mike was about 2 months out when I put my order in, but he started the week he said he should be able to and finished when he said he would. Awesome guy to deal with and quality work.

 

[ericbirk]

That colour combo looks fantastic! Really nice job, shes a good looking rig.

 

[jcardona1]

I love this truck, one of my new favorites! I need to get my ass in gear too and finish the paint job. Tired of looking at my truck all sanded down. I was almost set on using the WWII OD Green color but there was nothing green about it. It always looked brown at every angle. Glad I decided to wait a bit now that they came out with this Commando color. It looks great, and is what I'll be using too.

I wish they had a true "Army green" color though.

 

[bobthebuilder]

Looks slick man! Very nice

 

[Tapage]

Recruit your wife for worldwide wife training .. they all should love lift and big tires on Cruisers ..

 

[DudeAbides]

LOL...she would be an ideal candidate. For Father's day this year she bought me a beer brewing kit, did research and got me an all grain kit...because she loves good beer and wants it around at all times. Also bought the first recipe, a clone of Bell's Two Hearted IPA.

I am a lucky man.

 

[magnetman]

Can I please quote your thread title

Very nice job!