Project BOHICA: AllAmericanInfidel's Mojave Sand build

AllAmericanInfidel

Caught the Bug
Well, it looks like Ill be starting over again with a 2016 Mojave Sand JKU Sport S. I plan to build it a little different from my last build, but more on that later.

About the name: I have had a history with Jeeps dating back almost 15 years. Not all of it has been fun, but in hindsight, all of the memories have been great. It all started with a 1978 Jeep Wagoneer. I purchased it from a guy in Phoenix. It was primered up, ready for paint and up on 35's. Just one little fuel issue and it would be on the road. In all, I spent about 4500 bucks on that thing replacing the entire fuel system, including the tank, only to find out that it was haunted by another gremlin. I could never quite figure it out. After about a year, it still couldn't make it to the end on my street without braking down. I ended up selling it just to get out of the headache.

Then comes along a 1977 Cherokee Chief. While I did not have any issues with this one, it was terrible on gas. Being that it was my daily driver and I was young and broke, I decided to sell it as well.

Fast forward about a decade and I get the Jeep itch again. My buddies are all cruising around in TJs and JKs, but as usual, I have to be different. I want a CJ. After searching for about 6 months, I find a 1983 CJ7 with the 258 I6. I immediately start dumping money into it. Lift kit with Deaver springs, wheels, tires, interior, the works. Keep in mind I am driving this thing 64 miles per day minimum on my commute from New Mexico to Texas 5 days a week. I start having carburetor issues. After 3 carbs and several trips to a mechanics shop (who still couldn't figure it out), I decided to upgrade to fuel injection. I order a Howell fuel injection kit and coincidentally, use an installation write up Eddie (Wayalife) did many years ago. After install, It started up like a champ. I drove it around locally for several days and decided it was ready for the commute again. I get down the road and it dies on me. Wont restart. I let it cool down all the way, and it starts again..... until it reaches operating temperature, and then it dies again. To make a long story short, it ended up being an incorrect wire in the harness that came with the kit. Howell displayed excellent customer service and rushed me out another harness, which fixed the problem.

In the mean time, while on an extended vacation to Afghanistan, I find out I am on orders to go to Ft. Jackson, SC. We tow the CJ behind my wife Commander from NM to SC. I was using it as my daily driver, but then strikes life again. I had to have several surgeries upon my return from Astan (rough vacation) and the last one does me in. I can barely make it to work without being in excruciating pain from depressing the clutch and shifting. We decide it was best to part with it and return to the Jeep scene at a later time.

While recovering from the last surgery, I was moping around and complaining about having to sell my beloved CJ. I loved that Jeep, and had a lot of time and money into it. I guess my attitude was pretty bad, because my wife couldn't take it anymore. She surprised me while I was in bed and came home with a True Blue 2013 JK Sport. It was almost the exact same color as my CJ. It was like my CJ reincarnated. While recovering, I had already ordered about 4K worth of wheels, tires and parts for it. I hadn't even been able to drive it yet. That JK lasted about a year. 3 water pumps in that year, as well as a pinion seal, front drive shaft and a recall on the transmission tubes. I still loved it. The issue was, the kids always wanted to go with me everywhere in it and there wasn't enough room for all of us to go, so the wife and I decide we want a 4 door Wrangler.

We head to the dealership and search the lot. I decided in the mean time that I wanted half doors. This is really my only requirement in a new Jeep. No half doors to be found, so we inquire about ordering one. The dealership finds an Anvil JKU Sport S on a lot in Virginia. We buy it sight unseen. Contracts all signed, down payment and trade in complete. All we have to do is wait for them to go get it. The delivery date comes and goes, and I hear nothing. I call them, only to find out that they forgot to report it as sold. When the driver went to pick it up from the dealership in Virginia, it was gone. Already in someone else's driveway. Here I am with a contract stating I own a vehicle which was sold to someone else. The dealership really goes out of their way to make the situation right, offering anything on their lot to me at cost. Only one problem... no half doors. I talk with them for several days and they make me another offer. When all was said and done, I got to order a 2014 JKU in Granite Crystal with all of the options I wanted, at cost. The dealership also put the dealership incentive they get from Chrysler for selling a Wrangler (2500 bucks) towards my order. In addition, they gave me several thousand more for my trade in than I paid for it new. lastly, they give me a 7 year bumper to bumper warranty and service contract free of charge. How can I pass this deal up?

That is my current rig. With lots of time, money and effort going in to it, I almost have it complete. Axles, 37's and a few other goodies were coming in a few months. While all of this is going on, I develop a drip from one of the half doors, which didn't really bother me. The dealership sees the drip when I take it in for a service and offer to fix it. I get it back, and the next time it rains, all 4 doors are leaking. 8 trips later for warranty work, several sets of half doors and 7 seal kits later, I get a call from a specialist from Jeep who has flown in to fix the issue once and for all. "Your Jeep cannot be fixed. I have contacted FCA on your behalf and they have offered 2 solutions." The solutions were to give up my half doors, now considered a defective part, and they will replace them with full doors. The caveat to that is that they are unsure if that will fix the issue, and we may have to start the process all over again of trying to fix the leak. The other solution is that Chrysler has offered to do a full MSRP swap into a new FCA vehicle, plus pay for 100% of the modifications I have done to my Jeep. After much deliberation, the wife and I have decided it would be best to start over. Wanting to do something different this time, I decided I wanted the new Mojave Sand color to start with. I have always wanted a Tan Jeep ever since I saw Sahara tan a while back. After much searching, over the weekend the vehicle we selected arrived at the dealership. A 2016 JKU Sport S in Mojave Sand. It will still be another week or 2 before we can finalize the swap with Chrysler, but it is ours.

And so it begins; a new chapter in my little Jeep story. All the while, in the back of my mind, an acronym we use in the military keeps popping up. BOHICA! Bend Over, Here It Comes Again! Pics to follow, as well as future plans, which will take place after our move to Hawaii in June (and after I get the Jeep inspected and registered there!)
 

crowrb29

New member
Glad they got you taken care of. Sucks that it was in such a roundabout way it seems though. Good luck with the new build, that's half the fun!!
 

Eezybreezy08

New member
Good luck with all that. I hate you have to start all over. Great color by the way. Wish I could've gotten mine in the same color. That color takes me back to a time that I will always be a part of me forever. Once again, good luck and I look forward to seeing your progress
 

USMC Wrangler

New member
Congrats man! You have definitely put up with your share of issues and clearly are terminal with the Jeep disease. Can't wait for the build to start!
 

AllAmericanInfidel

Caught the Bug
Thanks everyone. As mentioned, the new rig arrived at the dealership over the weekend. Here are a few pics of it they text over to me.
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1458045856.450770.jpg
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1458045870.507666.jpg
ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1458045881.410634.jpg

It is a 2016 Unlimited Sport 24S package. I got the premium twill soft top, power everything and connectivity as the only options. Everything else will be replaced, including seats, audio, etc. My plan is to keep it as LCG as possible while still fitting a 35" tire. When the tires I have wear, I will bump up to a 37. More to come!
 

Napalm

New member
Sad to see your other rig go, it has always been one of my favorites. But I'm very excited to see your new build :) I've recently just started over and while it is a little unfortunate, it's always fun. I'm subscribing!
 

Napalm

New member
Thanks everyone. As mentioned, the new rig arrived at the dealership over the weekend. Here are a few pics of it they text over to me.

It is a 2016 Unlimited Sport 24S package. I got the premium twill soft top, power everything and connectivity as the only options. Everything else will be replaced, including seats, audio, etc. My plan is to keep it as LCG as possible while still fitting a 35" tire. When the tires I have wear, I will bump up to a 37. More to come!

I have to say, the more I look at these pictures of your new rig, the more I wish I would have went with a premium soft top! Looking great!
 

boardsurfer

Active Member
Sounds like a lot of stress and hassle but it seems they really went to bat for you. That's awesome. That tan would be my color of choice also. Looking forward to the upgrades!
 

AllAmericanInfidel

Caught the Bug
Gonna a sweet build. That color is sweet too. BOHICA! lolololol

Sad to see your other rig go, it has always been one of my favorites. But I'm very excited to see your new build :) I've recently just started over and while it is a little unfortunate, it's always fun. I'm subscribing!

Definitely going to miss your old one, but I have a feeling this one will be even better! Congrats!

Nice color. Good luck with the new build.

That'll be a fun name to explain to other people lol. Congrats on the new rig!

:cheesy: "Bend Over Here It Comes Again" :thumb::yup::clap2:

Looks good. Awesome name!:thumb:
Have fun with the new build!

Congrats on the new rig! I like the color and the name :cheesy:

Thanks Gentlemen. Although I will miss this rig, I'm looking forward to starting over with another. Building a rig is like my therapy lol.
 

AllAmericanInfidel

Caught the Bug
I have to say, the more I look at these pictures of your new rig, the more I wish I would have went with a premium soft top! Looking great!

I have the regular vinyl soft top on my current rig. I drove my rig, a hard top and then a premium soft top back to back. I was amazed at the difference. So much quieter and I like that it's double layered.
 
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