Field Trip to see Jack Kesler Customs

[JackKeslerCustoms]

looks good jack! if you need any help tonight let me know. i have a little free time tonight. how are the spatter burns today?

The ol' nutsack is recovering nicely. Thanks for asking.

 

[Tacoma]

OOOOOH I like that kit. I hope Von DOES post up some info about it.

Looks like installation went well.

 

[Gravy]

Looks nice Jack
I dig work on the YJ, what's that color called?

Darwin: you're a stud

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I ran to BHR yesterday afternoon to get all new heims, and Von litterally searched the shop top to bottom, to find me exactly what I needed. (Much Thanks, due to the tight timing of this) All of the guys over there have been more than helpful, can't thank them enough for not only getting the stuff, but not getting irritated with my questions either.(as i have mentioned, I'm not a fab guy.)

Ok, so I had to go home early last night, 6:00pm, so we finished tacking the brackets good enough to cycle it through without springs. It hits the gas tank skid a little, we are going to porta power it out of the way (3/8in.) when we have the axle out to finish the welding. Lots of welding to do today, we still need to cut the brackets to box in the custom mounts for the lowers, too. And I had no choice but to sawzall the muffler out, and will have to reconfigure that today. The cage is not going to get painted, we had to modify the seat mounting to accommodate the power seats, which took up all of our cage prep time yesterday. After all,this thing will be on a trailer tonight.

And: Tacoma, the installation is going well.

GraveDiggerxj: The color is actually a Kawasaki factory color, which is extremely transparent. We used it as a midcoat over a 1 off base, then a 2 coat clear. I wanted it to be easily duplicatible, for repairs, but unique enough to not see another the same color. It has a fine, gold pearl flake in it when you get it in the light. We really did do the intire body and paint in just a couple of days before EJS this year. The master plan is to do an over the top ghost flame job over the entire thing the next time we terar it down. And Darwin is a stud.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

Now I have to get some work done in the office here for a few, and I'll be back out on it.

 

[Darwin]

i'm flattered guys thanks :greg:

 

[Greg]

Looks like you have some good projects going on at the shop Jack! I have a lot of respect for bodymen and automotive painters. I attended UVSC's Collision Repair program for 2 yrs and I can't stand that type of work. The guys who do it for a living are a special breed. Looks like high quality stuff too, I hope the members on here keep you in mind when they need repairs or paint.

The 4 link looks great too, is that an actual universal kit that BHR is selling? Seems to make the job of linking up a rig just plain simple.

i'm flattered guys thanks :greg:

Good to see you back up North Darwin.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I told BHR what I wanted and they put it all together for me. I think they can do it for any axle, but they had it all in memory for the 9" and together real quick.

 

[Tacoma]

Hmmm. I do believe I will have to call them. That kit would save so much time it's ridiculous. I'd imagine they're all set up for Jeep-sized vehicles though.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

We are close.... Chasis is rolling got to hook everything back up....will post pictures soon.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

Ok, so at about 4:00 this afternoon, we started to put everything back on. Paul had the welding finished, so we rolled the axle back underneath and installed the new links. Then we rolled it forward and set in the cage, and bolted it in.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

We did have to rearrange the exhast, but it wasn't that bad. We flipped the muffler so it would tuck up in between the Rt upper link and the driveline and it fit perfectly so we welded it back in. Then we gently bent the tailpipe up at the back to keep it from hanging lower than the gas tank.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

Then the seats were re-connected and installed, and the top bolted on.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

Of course by now I've been working on it alone for a few hours, So i pulled it out to go for a ride but had no one to take pictures of that. But it's ready to go. So I pulled the truck up front, then rally'd it up on the trailer, and tied it down. So far so good, but the only wheeling it's done so far is up on to the trailer.

 

[kjswensen]

Always gettin it done in the nic of time..... hope your trip was fun. make sure to post some pics when you get back

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I'm still catching up from work last week, but the trip was awesome. Will post up pics and report later today.

 

[rockdog]

Jack, I was thinking of having you paint the rock troll. But I don't have $70,000, so I think I'll just stick to rattle cans.
I love the paint on your rig. Hope you had as much fun in Moab as we did. Ben and his guys do some over the top fab. Looks like their kit worked out well.
See ya, Phil

 

[NoTrax]

I just called down there to talk to you I am wanting to get my Zuk painted in a few months. Well, actually it might end up being... quite awhile I would just like to get some info and some questions answered on prices.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

I just called down there to talk to you I am wanting to get my Zuk painted in a few months. Well, actually it might end up being... quite awhile I would just like to get some info and some questions answered on prices.

I think I was at BHR checking on the cruiser when you called. Try me back tomarrow, or send me your # and I'll get back to you. I'd be happy to tell you what i can.

 

[JackKeslerCustoms]

So we ran Moab Rim on Friday afternoon, and Pritchett Canyon on Saturday. It was an awesome trip, but not without carnage. Saturday morning I tried to wash the windshield, and this happened.