McGard Wheel Locks
Got a nice set of wheels on your Jeep? If you want to keep them yours you might install a set of McGard wheel locks. Read more
Reader Question: Hydraulic Clutch Sticks
Question: I Have a 1994 Jeep with a hydraulic clutch and I am wondering if you can help to diagnose what the problem is. The clutch basically has dead air at the top of the pedal and only about 2 inch towards the floor that is clutch. Pedal will sometimes stick down a bit but eventually will return to normal. Want to know where to start trouble shooting this problem. Tracy
Answer: Did you check the fluid? If it’s full maybe there is some air in the system, bleed it out with the help of someone. How to bleed the clutch: Have someone hold down the clutch 
pedal and open the bleeder valve (which I am pretty sure is on the slave cylinder or outside of the bell housing – see the note below). The helper should keep the pedal down until you close the valve or air will be pulled back in. Listen for air bubbles coming out the bleeder. Close the valve and repeat until no more air is released. Make sure you have something handy to catch the fluid in and check the master cylinder level as you go. The clutch system typically uses regular brake fluid. NOTE: On some 94-96 Jeeps the entire clutch slave/master assembly is not serviceable and the entire unit needs to be replaced together. If you can’t find a bleeder you may have a non-serviceable type.
If that doesn’t work you may have contaminants or rust in the system somewhere that is causing the binding or lack of pedal. If this is the case you will need to start replacing components. I would suspect the slave cylinder first since it is exposed to the elements more than the master cylinder. Probably your slave cylinder is inside the bell housing making replacement a larger job. If this is the case the transmission would need to be removed.
More on the Chrysler Future
Talks and rumors are still flying around about the sale of the Chrysler Group from Daimler. In a good CNN Money article written by Fortune senior editor Alex Taylor he discusses what should be going on between Daimler and potential buyers.
“The Jeep Brand. Although Chrysler has done its best to dilute the value of this American icon by building vehicles that are challenged in quality and functionality, the Jeep name still resonates with buyers. GM hopes that Hummer can some day challenge it, but in-your-face Hummer represents only a subset of the whole off-roading culture that Jeep can lay claim to. Taking on Jeep, and leaving Hummer to the X-games people, would be a smart move.”
In another CNN Money article it states that The Financial Times reported Friday that Apollo Management, Blackstone Group, the Carlyle Group and Cerebus Capital, as well as several European firms, have all been contacted about their potential interest in the troubled North American automaker.
It will be interesting to see where this all goes. I think I speak for most Jeepers that we only have an interest in seeing the Jeep stay a Jeep! It is a scary time 
JK Trivia – Some cool findings in the first few days
NICE
- The radio stays on even after the ignition is off and the key is out until someone opens the door.
- Locker operation and sway bar are fun.
- SPACE
- Tight turning radius even for the long wheel base.
ANNOYING
- You can’t have the key on accessory with the driver door open without BONG BONG BONG, etc.. the key alarm continues.
- Lockers only work in low range and below 18 mph, I am sure this will be rig-able.
- The engine could use about 50 more HP, but it’s still not too bad.
Haven’t felt like this in a while
1st official day driving the new Rubicon and it was certainly a pleasure. The new JK could be defined as the 21st century Jeep that remembers it’s roots. 3 times I got the “looks like a Hummer” but I have already trained myself to accept the ignorance of others.
It been a while since I have driven something that looks very different and I find myself wondering – what’s he lookin at?, and I realize it’s the Jeep. When I drive the CJ I still get looks but not like I used to, ya know, 33′s aren’t very big anymore.
Being immersed in the subject of Jeeps I quickly forget that others (I can’t imagine why) are not Jeep people and don’t even seem to notice. A woman I work with said to me today as I was coming in, “Did you get a new car, what the heck is that?” I say a Jeep Wrangler. She says but it has 4 doors. I give her the look-like-shes-from-outer-space and say didn’t you know that they make a 4 door now? Then she give me the look-like-hes-from-outer-space stare and I realize the truth about non-Jeep people. I forgive them.
I’ll enjoy the looks while they last, and I will take the time to educate the non-Jeep types out there.
Spilling over with ideas
I am tormenting myself already with lift kits, tires, accessories, yada, yada. I am trying to take it slow. I think a 2″ ish lift is good for now. I like the full out Skyjacker lift 2.5″ lift that includes new springs, arms, and shocks. X-Treme 4X4 just did a 4 door buildup and it looked good. Jesse is OK in my book;)Chrysler Group for SALE? Maybe GM? YEEESH!
A Chevy powered Jeep has always been a favorite of mine but this way? I don’t know. News around town is DCX is planning on cutting jobs and considering all options regarding the poor performance of the Chrysler brand. There were mentions of meetings with the GM folks but it’s hard to believe that GM is in that kind of position to make that kind of move.
Other speculations point to Renault or one of the Japanese manufacturers. Remember what Renault did to the AMC line back in the 80′s.
It’s not 100% clear if the above would be the entire Chrysler group including Jeep or whether DCX is going to split things up? Maybe we are getting excited for nothing, Stay tuned…
Cool little Jeep CJ facts – Mini Spotters Guide
In 1972 the CJ was lengthened 3″ to accommodate the AMC 6cyl and V8 engines. The length was added behind the front fenderwell and before the cowl. It adds 3″ to the fenders and hood.
The 1976 year CJ’s did not have fully boxed frames. The boxing stopped at the 1st rear cross member.
The 1976 & 1977 had rear roll bars that were 90 degrees from the inner rear fender. 1978 and some 1979 had slanted rollbars that mounted to the top of the rear inner fender. 1979 and later had slanted roll bars that mounted to the floor behind the front seats and to the top of the rear inner fender.
In 1976 there were major changes to the CJ.
- The frames widened under the front seat and kept that width all the way to the back.
- Disc brakes were available
- The CJ-7
- The body floor layout changed to make room for the automatic.
- 2.5″ rear springs
- AMC Model 20 rear axle
- Automatic and quadratrac in the CJ-7
- Front sway bar
- Truck type rear tail lights.
More to come…
Related article Jeep Spotters Guide.
Pole Buildings, Pole Barns, Post Frame Buildings – The perfect garage for a Jeep
The pole building is my favorite type of garage to keep and/or work on my Jeep. Pole buildings are versatile and relatively inexpensive structures that have a million different variations to fit anyone’s needs.
The pole building varies from traditional framed structures in that the entire structure is supported by a series of posts that are secured into the ground. The floor is usually floating and supports only the weight of what is sitting on it.
Some day, when I finally bite the bullet and have one of these build in my own back yard I will have the following…28X24X10 building, full electric, some sort of heat system, side door with 6X28 porch, perimeter shelves high enough to walk under for storage. Maybe a high enough roof for some loft storage.
I wish I had a bigger yard for a bigger building, I suppose if I did I would just be more likely to fill it.
We did a section about these buildings, check it out. Pole Buildings
Paragon Adventure Park Closing Links
We have compiled a list of articles that outline the closing of Paragon Adventure Park. Read more
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