Build Fugly's Yota

[FuglyYota]

Also started to address my front clip. At Fall Crawl we found that once the fenders are moved up, the next limiting factor is the front bib. Repairs were needed and why put it back the same when you can maybe give a little more room……. Need to move the bump stops too for safety and limit it somewhere reasonable to keep the springs alive. Shocks are 14” and do not appear to be the weak link.

 

[FuglyYota]

Addressing underhood temps. Have lots of airflow in, this should help get it out.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Did you buy those louvered panels from somewhere? They look well made.

 

[clrussell]

Noice

 

[FuglyYota]

Did you buy those louvered panels from somewhere? They look well made.

Yes, Jungle website. For XJ’s.

Also yes, good thick aluminum, louvers are formed nice and consistent, good edges and stamping work. I had to shave the last small row off to fit the 40 hood, and didn't come with hardware, but I have SS hw of my own that I was going to use anyway.

ECOTRIC Aluminum Louver Hood Vent Compatible with 1984-2001 Jeep XJ Cherokee/ 1986-1992 Jeep Comanche Cooling Panels Pair Kit Bolt On
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8D1P6F?tag=ihco-20

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I wonder how they'd look on a 60

 

[peesalot]

Thats it, I'm getting some. Has it helped with temps ?

 

[FuglyYota]

Thats it, I'm getting some. Has it helped with temps ?

I’ll let you know this weekend, it’s supposed to be stoopid hot the rest of this week. Plus hood isn’t on yet, I needed to paint the louvers and some of the hood after rouging everything in. Of course I went the quick route, did no prep, gave it a quick wipe with some lint free cloth and proceeded to hit it with the old touch up paint I had. I got what I deserved, it must have had some contaminants in there so bunch of crinkles, runs and orange peel. I let it cure a day in the heat, then last night sanded down the bad and scuffed the whole thing with scotch brite and washed it all off. Going to try to spray it again tonite.

 

[FuglyYota]

 

[FuglyYota]

Also this showed up, finally bit the bullet and got a real properly built shaft to replace the homemade unit I ran for years. I did have mine balanced by a shop, it was kinda good up to 50 or so, then things just unraveled and shook like mad. Flange nut to the transfer case was finger tight taking the old shaft off

Also, after taking old shaft off, I wiped off some grease and found its problem. It had a case of the Mondays, gets ya every time.

 

[FuglyYota]

Ugh. Hood done for now but was a serious PIA. Ended us stripping off the old paint and all of what I tried to do new to get to a decent staring point. Primed and painted now. It should be wet sanded and hit again, but it’s a half nice rat rod crawler more than a show truck so it’s good enough. Will get it mounted tomorrow and see how temps make out.

 

[FuglyYota]

Update: Hood louvers definitely helped, drove around yesterday with temps in the 90’s and underhood temps were about 10 degrees higher than ambient. Before it used to be about 20 degrees, though this is anecdotally as my memory isn’t perfect. Could definitely feel the heat escaping, and the coolant temps never went above 185-190. Which makes me wonder if it’s also helping in that way.

Will know more this weekend. Heading to AAOA and running trails, will see how things work with low speed crawling.

In other notes, new driveshaft does the job, I got up to 65 on local surface highways with no vibes except the tires. 60 mph is like 2100-2200 RPM in 4th which is great. Really hoping the rear springs settle with some use this weekend, 65 mph on the road feels like 100 mph with the rear sitting high and 30 psi in the tires