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Haven't had any real updates lately, but I did drop the Heep off with Xero Fab Works in Shaver Lake. I forgot to snap any pics, so I stole one form his IG, but his WJ made mine look tiny: It was nice getting to check out some of his work while I was there. The red WJ in the pic is on tons...

To be honest, I've been impressed with the Vari-Loks. You can feel a tire start to spin a little, then the other-side bites and it goes. I'm not talking about hardcore rock-crawling or deep mudding, but for "trail use" it's a very good system (far better than what you'd get in any other...

Well, that confirms I definitely can't use those brackets on my setup... where they bolt to your crash-bar is totally removed on my rig for the winch-mount. I imagine I could customize them, and I actually got a set just to play around with at some point. -TJ

Thank you for your service! I was never in the service, but did spend considerable time in Afghanistan. It'd be a truly amazing place to Overland (on the ground) if it wasn't what it is (and has been for centuries long before the 'current situation'). -TJ

I think that plan (starting with the TF stubby and adding tubes to 'match' the XeroFab rear) will work out amazingly well. I imagine eventually I'll do something like that up front once I fully destroy the cut-down stock bumper. It's getting harder and harder to find a good deal on JK Rubicon...

Awesome thread, a ton of great info here I plan to go back and reference. Rebuilding the 242HD I have for my '03 w/ the 247 and doing IRO's hack 'n tap SYE is next on my list... then I should have all the pieces in place for the axles/new lift/etc. -TJ

Yeah, those are ~35"s (315/75-16) which is a pretty known commodity for WJs. I'm on a 4.5" lift now, but will be moving to 6-6.5". I'm going to an aftermarket rear bumper, but the fenders/body and front bumper will be more trimming... sort of like this: Try to picture that, but the body will...

Got some of these: Should just bolt-on, right? -TJ

Yeah, I think 35"s are going to work out nicely. Currently it's on a 4" Iron Rock Offroad "Rock Link" front long-arm, with the stock rear arms/wishbone just springs/shocks and a wishbone spacer. I will be swapping to a Trail Forged front/rear full long-arm with full belly-skid, and we'll be...

Low center-of-gravity build? And no, I'm not actually moving the axles that far, I just set the tires there and am too lazy to position them exactly 1" forward/back. -TJ

Yes, the new ones are composite. -TJ

Yeah, on other offroad toys I've had high end Rigid, Baja Designs, etc. LEDs. I've also used eBay ones. Yes, the Rigids and Baja Designs were the brightest... but by a slim margin. And a brand new 2020 eBay one will out-perform a 4-5 year old name brand anyway. -TJ

Nice! Once I get my roof rack on I need to do something like that for camp-lights too. I like the idea of facing them down so when you're across camp looking back at the rig they're not shining as directly in your eyes, but still light up the area. -TJ

Also installed my Panavise mounts, then attached my Rugged radio mount w/ hand-mic mount as well as mocked-up a phone mount (it's not my perm solution): I like how it came out. I thought about swapping sides, but I like how easily the hand-mic comes to hand, and I think on trail trips I'll...

Got the valve covers swapped finally, man I hate that job. So far, so good. The design of the head and drain-backs is a big part of why ALL these 4.7s leak, IMHO. Especially on the passenger side oil is always going to puddle in that back corner to or above the height of the valve cover...

Finally swapped the valve covers yesterday. It is a not-fun job on a 4.7L Jeep WJ. I guess I didn't take an after pic, other than these to show what the issue was: That's a machinist's straight-edge with light behind to show the gaps. Also installed my little hand-held Rugged radio and a...

Installed using some Panavise mounts: And: Not pictured, but I also got a steering box from RedHead Steering Products that is tapped for hydro-assist. -TJ

Nice work, and thanks for the run-down on the AC over-ride. I am leaning towards your way of thinking, and might disconnect my AC over-ride to the controller for a bit and just see how things work... so long as just regular engine fan operation based off of coolant temp, or air moving because...

Great info. -TJ

I have a Stihl 271 Ranch Boss with 20" bar. Overkill for *most* of the places I go. However, we have a family cabin way out in the Payette National Forest (and I mean a real cabin... no electricity, hours and hours from cell signal, etc.). When we go out there, especially at the start of the...