Do you do your own work

[DubaiMarauder]

All mods and maintenance (so far) except this. I paid a tint shop knowing that if I did it myself, every flaw or bubble would be there, just silently mocking me, every time I looked at it.

I did one of these distressed flags on either side myself in about 30 minutes, dry install, not a wet application. Its not as hard as people make it seem, you just need to go really slow, work at a downward angle and use a credit card or other small flat tool to press it out onto the glass slowly. All i had was a loyalty card for some gas station, so thats what i used. I did it in the parking lot of the place I work at on my lunch break.

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[DubaiMarauder]

I bought my 2023 JLUR diesel in late October 2023 after years of wanting one for several reasons. I wanted to go off-roading and camping or overlanding, and I know Jeeps are easier to work on than most modern cars. I find the rare occasion to modify my Jeep therapeutic and relaxing. I do all my work myself for what my fiancée calls "sad reasons." I don't have any friends currently as I'm in a new city and didn't have a father or mentor growing up or anyone to teach me how to work on cars. My dad, while physically present was never truly there, either off at work 98% of the time or drunk and zoned out in front of the TV when he wasn't beating us or mom. I would love to restore an old 1967 Impala or Chevelle one day.

The cars I've had I've bought myself and kept running. From my first 1990 Honda Accord DX to my current 2023 JLUR diesel. I've learned the basics out of necessity, like oil and filter changes, component swaps due to failures, like alternators and belts, brakes, batteries, lights and headlamp and tail lamp assemblies. I've done a carbureted motor rebuild on a 1987 Honda CBR750 Custom Cafe Racer motorcycle I restored out of boredom and a ton of free time. I put 1200 miles on it as my reward and sold it. I use it as a learning experience to push myself and learn. I'm currently educating myself on the intricacies of final drive ratio in relation to tire size as it impacts RPM's, fuel economy and component wear.

I've done all of what precious few mods I have on my Jeep, front and rear bumper, winch install and wiring, minor electrical wiring, license plate relocation and plate light rewiring. I'm currently saving up for some off-road lights and I'll do those myself too. When it comes time for a lift and suspension, I plan on doing those over a long weekend as I have no help and very limited tools, I don't even have a rolling floor jack. I'll figure it out like I always do. Maybe I'll go buy one and a few jack-stands at some point. I'd even like to learn welding at some point.

That being said, there are certain things I will not attempt for the time being. These include any warrantied items, transmission guts, engine and transmission swaps, ECM, PCM or any other internal control modules, body work or paint as I haven't gotten to that level of confidence and competence yet, and tire mounting and balancing. Mounting and balancing tires is free at most places with the purchase of tires, so I've never seen the point, and I don't have a balancer.

 

[2nd 392]

Father had a commercial garage. Equipment, knowledge, and guidance supplied, with assistance only if needed, I was required to learn by experience. Buddies and I were always working on our vehicles after hours, including my Chevy swapped 63 MD with no part not swapped or upgraded. Getting older, computers have left me behind, dis-functional hands, and the rest of me to varying degrees. I now just do the light work, drink beer and watch the heavy work get done, or at home waiting for the it’s done call ?

 

[sstuner]

I do all my own work on all my vehicles. "Do it right the first time or don't do it all", is what I learned as a Jet Mechanic in the USAF.

 

[PotterJLUR]

You guys are lucky I even have to do my own warranty work!!

 

[Bandit59]

Like the title says, do you do all your own work on the Jeep?

I’m talking about everything. From:

maintenance; oil changes, tire rotations, alignment, fluids, cabin filter, windshield wipers, car washes, etc.

aftermarket upgrades; speakers, electrical, lifts, decals, wheels/tires, etc.

why do you do your own work? If you do your own work, when do you decide to let someone else do something and why? If you don’t do your own work, Why don’t you do it?

just curious.

For me I used to do most all my in work. But closing in on my 65 birthday. I certainly don’t do tire rotations.

Like the title says, do you do all your own work on the Jeep?

I’m talking about everything. From:

maintenance; oil changes, tire rotations, alignment, fluids, cabin filter, windshield wipers, car washes, etc.

aftermarket upgrades; speakers, electrical, lifts, decals, wheels/tires, etc.

why do you do your own work? If you do your own work, when do you decide to let someone else do something and why? If you don’t do your own work, Why don’t you do it?

just curious.

Closing in on my 65 Birthday. I don’t do most maintenance. I used to but with age it is not has ez to do it. So most maintenance on Jeep is a dealership thing. Now my show car I still do all the cleaning and some maintenance on

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Have not had to do much yet for the Jeep but I became an uncertified Audi tech with my old car. I had to remove the engine to replace all 4 timing chains on the backside of the engine.

 

[Heimkehr]

You guys are lucky; I even have to do my own warranty work!!

Tangential:
I purchased the sidecar motorcycle from a dealer in MD. As we were coming to terms on price, etc., I asked if he'd mind mailing any factory-warrantied parts to me, on my dime, if the repair was such that I was willing to do the work myself. He agreed, and the two minor jobs that I've had to attend to during the warranty period worked out exactly as we had planned.

I take these little Wins wherever I can find them. ?

 

[evo8904]

I do my own work. I have always done my own work because it is difficult to find a trustworthy shop. Unfortunately right now, my garage is full and I can’t pull my Jeep into it. My project car is taking up all of the space so if I do I lift here soon I will have to find a shop.

 

[2nd 392]

Have not had to do much yet for the Jeep but I became an uncertified Audi tech with my old car. I had to remove the engine to replace all 4 timing chains on the backside of the engine.

Combined time for 3-SB and 1-BB Chevy Cam and kit upgrades likely completed in less time than you getting to this point. Wow.

 

[evo8904]

Have not had to do much yet for the Jeep but I became an uncertified Audi tech with my old car. I had to remove the engine to replace all 4 timing chains on the backside of the engine.

Nice! I just removed my Camaro’s 305 and 700r4 this week. Getting ready to drop a 383 with AFR heads that I built long with a stage 2 TH350 transmission.

 

[RubiSc0tt]

I do and have done pretty much everything on my Jeep. I've been working on Jeeps since 2005, and did some time as an industrial maintenance technician.
My basic evaluation for a job looks like this:
- Is it sketchier than some of the stuff I had to do at work?
- Will it kill me if it goes wrong?
- What is the likelihood based on my own experience?

The only things I don't do is major component rebuilds or replacements: engine, transmission, etc. And that's only because it is my daily driver and if it goes down- i need it back up, ASAP. If we had a bigger garage and I had a daily driver, and I could just work on it bit by bit, I would totally do that as well. That's the goal in the next few years though. I would do axles and gearing if I had someone with experience teaching me. Electrical and computer stuff, I'm willing to give a shot but may need to call in some friends to help.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I do everything, lifts, engine replacement, brakes, paint and bodywork, fabrication, all of it. Grew up on small block Chevys and learned from there. I have my A6, A8, and L1 ASE certifications and at one point had my smog license. SBC will always be my favorite to work on

 

[XtremeRetard]

I just wanna find a tire balancer for big tires then everything will be self done, kinda tired of the cali balancing where they just throw on 50 pounds of weights and call it good

I have a balancing machine. Those big tires eat tons of weights. IMO just use balance beads. WAY easier, faster, cheaper and no machine required.

 

[JINO]

Oils I don't do. But I'll change air filter, separate water/oil, and other minor stuff.
My suspension/driveshaft was installed at a shop.
I did my own lights, roofrack, tire relocation, doing tie rod and drag link in a few days.

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