Samurai rescue project UPDATED!

[Christoff]

Massive overdue update please get ready...

Too long spent without my SJ but its al worth it in the end, good things come to those who are impatient and sulk for months

So this is the result of new arches, repairs to bodywork, boot floor and footwells and new paint down each side

I spent hours detailing it to replenish the old paint on the roof, tailgate and bonnet. Wash & wax, clay bar detail to remove all the fallout in the paint. Everyone should do this trust me its silky smooth. Then 2 stage GardeX polish and sealer.










First day off roading around Castleton, Peak District








Pretty pleased with the results then, i suppose its time that shows a difference between a good job and a poor one.

We had a day of heavy rain the other day and when i came to drive home after work it seems that my sills have filled with water. He assures me that the sills are very water tight and i do believe him. He said the only possible way of getting water in there is from the A pillars, which makes sense if it was after the heavy rain. Its going back for sorting at the weekend

[Christoff]

Time to take care of a few service items and general repair work.

I found a bit of excessive play in the OSF wheel. Stripping it down it turned out to be the wheel bearing nut was loose. I stripped it all down, repacked with new grease and tightened up as per the manual.

The freewheeling hubs were becoming difficult to move so it gave me a chance to clean these up too. Iv also cleaned the whole area up around the steering knuckle seals. I need to find out if their leaking, one of them seems to have grease build up so if i clean them i can keep rechecking them see how bad it is.







Doing routine stripping and inspecting parts like this shows you just how much maintenance these cars need especially when used regular off road. Iv used it twice off road since the respray and been through deep mud and water. I need to keep making sure that i clean the mud off the important bits before it causes future problems.

For example i found one of the dust seals adrift on the calliper sliders. The slider had become stiff and covered in a thick sticky gunge. Dirt mixed with copper grease that i applied last year when my first callipers failed. Many more miles like this would have caused me problems no doubt. I need to check inside the drums at some stage and give them a clean out..

At the same time iv changed the oil for this year, i usually give my cars an oil change every year





Also getting changed is the fuel filter, front diff oil, transmission oil and transfer box oil. Rear diff was done along with the rear shaft bearings last year



Fitted some yellow tint covers to the headlamp bulbs because im fashionable like that. Looks old skool retro.

[Edweird]

Speaking of lenses, is there any way to re-silver the inside of lights units. My headlights are good but my fog, front and rear clusters are jiggered. If the suns out you just can't see them.

[Christoff]

Yes they all come to bits. Defo the rears anyway you can carry out a pretty decent overhaul with the right tools

Spray the inside with chrome paint, works a treat

[Christoff]

Carrying out a few cosmetic improvements while I wait for new callipers to arrive

Repainting the bumpers and adding some matt black details

[Edweird]

Are those badges metal? I've never really looked into it but I've just thought, if I eventually save up enough to get mine restored I might get some bits chromed, like the raised letters on the badge, get the mirrors re-done, maybe the bumpers.

Pie in the sky like, but one day.....

[dazerede]

i used to have them on my truck but they are plastic as my truck has been debadged

[Christoff]

Yeah just plastic. They were a bit shabby, the raised letters are supposed to be white or silver. I just rubbed it down, applied plastic primer and then matt black. Just looks neater I think

[turbo-tom]

i think any colour looks better then white so i sprayed mine good olde yellow

[Christoff]

Haha. Not bad. Extra points for masking the letters. How did u do that?