My Memorial Weekend Project
 

I thought to share this here. While not on the level of Tim's Monaco project, a big project none-the-less.

This is my wife's DD; 2007 Jeep GC / SRT8 that we've owned since @2011. Bought with less than 29K on the clock just under market price of @$30K at the time. Over the years I have kept the maintenance / repairs up ahead of schedule but now with @175K on the clock, it has various components in states of disrepair. That thing runs 6 sometimes 7 days a week so really shouldn't complain.

We both love it, could not imagine selling it except for replacing it with a newer version. But the newer GC's are downright...…... fugly and good late model used ones are in the $40-50K range. With the uncertainty of the current economy I cannot see spending that kind of dough.........so that's out.

The current market value is @$7K. and it's been paid off for a while now, taxes are relatively low. So we tallied up the cost of parts and decided to keep it spreading the repairs out over a few months. This is "Stage II". The A/C evap and heater core had both started to leak, the NAV screen was out and the back-up camera was inop. All the leather interior was faded, steering wheel leather was delaminating and the carpet was threadbare in places.

In this step - I R&R the complete interior, dash, Steering column, HVAC unit, carpet, etc.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590607785.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590607785.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590607785.jpg

Here I disassembled the HVAC unit, replaced the leaking evap and heater core with new OE stuff, clean and re-install. After vacuuming the inside floor I added some additional jute padding in the critical areas for sound deadening.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590607949.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590607949.jpg

While I'm doing this my wife is feverishly reconditioning all the leather using Leatherique products - of which I highly recommend - I cannot say enough good things about their stuff, no comparison really to anything else on the market.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608098.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608098.jpg

After tightening some found loose fasteners causing rattles, I start the re-assembly including an replacement OE NAV unit, new molded carpet, and after 2-1/2 days of working the seat leather - going back together.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608229.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608229.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608229.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608264.jpg

The last part was restoring the leather on the steering wheel - I used Leatherique's kit for that - it was very time consuming with adding filler, multiple steps of sanding and finally 4 coats of dye / filler and then top coat finish. The first pic is before, it really looked worse in person than what shows here, then after.

The top coat / last step leaves it a little bit shiny but that dulls after a few days back to what it should look like.

Now the A/C is charged and working, no leaks anywhere, all the rattles (inside) fixed, new NAV unit and all the leather restored!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608556.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1590608556.jpg

Wow. Impressive. I'm not normally shy about fixing cars, but going that deep into a DD is intimidating.

I'm speechless.
I once took the dash out of my '85 Mustang GT convert to replace the heater core.
You are a much braver man than me.
That is incredible.
You must really love that car.

Westfailia.

That's such a great deal of work. Very impressed. Great thread.

Wow.

Hey I replaced the fan relay for the AC system in my EL Camino. It is right there on top in the engine compartment and took me almost two minutes. Phew.

Nice work ! I just did a heater core on a GC a few weeks back . I used eat up under dash work. At 50 years old, I could take it or leave it . I bet having the seats out, and not having to worry about getting the old carpet dirty made a big difference in the comfort of doing that job .
You a wild man ! The seats look very nice .

Now if you will just tell us how many screws were left over:)

Very nice job...and even more impressive is you did it outdoors!

Very nicely done. I agree that Leatherique is amazing, my SL63 is in the garage soaking in Rejuvenator Oil now. I probably buy 4 big bottles per year of the cleaner, my wife uses it all the time including inside the house.

okay. i feel pretty stupid for complaining about a single fastener i could not reach.

wow!!! major kudos for taking the time to snap a few photos!!

Thanks all! - We do love it and does everything we want and then some. When you pull into a shopping center full of SUV's not too many are sporting 475 HP and Brembo brakes!

To answer the question of working on it outside is because my other projects; Rat Rod, Porsche and JD mower deck refab - is taking the space currently.

I'll tell you I was not excited about doing this but it makes the most sense all way 'round. My wife and I hit that thing hard for 6-7 hrs each day, no breaks. I had everything organized and pop-up card tables to set stuff on.

And to answer Fred's question "0" stuff left over. I disassemble in groups along with the fasteners in order, placed separately for large projects like this. Once it's time to go back together just follow the last group pulled - work yo way backwards

Next step (phase III) is replacing the wheels ( 2 are tweaked) with OE copies, new tires, lug nuts, TPMS sensors, front and rear diff service.

Phase 1 was two weeks ago, fluid / filter services, drive belt, idler and tensioner pulley assy's

Out of pocket so far with all OEM parts is @$1300 with shipping total.

Oh, and while it looks very difficult - it really is just common sense, a soft touch and some patience and a s**t load of tools!

Which BTW - many years ago I was complaining to a much older experienced tech and said "I don't know how I'm going to do that, looks too complicated...….. beyond my ability" He replied "Hey some dumb*ss union labor guy put that in while it was moving down the assembly line...…………….you think you're not better than him with it sittin still?"

……………...'nuff said. I've never looked back.

You know better than that what it's worth.

You won't lose a dime with these fixes.

I'm impressed. You've got to love a car to go through all that. Nice work.

I admire your ambition..........AND, don't take this wrong, but:

I would have sold for $7K and spent 10K on an 08-09 Lexus RX350 and did nothing for the next 8 years...........

Those seats look great. Brilliant project.