profdlp's 2007 Liberty Project

[profdlp]

I'm thinking with that olive paint, plasti-dipping the wheels black would give your KJ a military look.

I'm giving serious thought to doing just that to the wheels.

Stencil your social security number in white along the edges of the front fenders and you could probably roll onto any base without a credentials check LOL.

And the rest of the world could roll right into my bank account! :Big Laugh:

 

[profdlp]

Going out tomorrow to see if my Scosche Double-DIN adapter will do me any good. I'll probably have a thread up tomorrow afternoon about the best place to buy a replacement dash bezel... :hmm:

In the meantime, the word of the day is "Fog Lights".

Link:

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/fog-lights-2007-liberty-sport-54403/

(OK, that's TWO words - one for each light.) :Wedgie:

Added: Just checked the UPS tracking on my roof rack and it's sitting about fifteen miles away from me. Oh, please be here tomorrow!

 

[profdlp]

No luck on the UPS delivery. I even checked to see if I could come and pick it up in person; No dice. (banghead)

I also decided against any Double-DIN dash mods at this time. It's doable, and I can pretty much see which way I'd go with it. The bottom line is that there is nothing I really need a Double-DIN unit for that a Single-DIN can't do. I can't see myself sitting in the Jeep watching DVDs, (isn't the point of going out in your Jeep to get away from that stuff?), and I can get all the other stuff I want in a smaller unit. I mainly wanted the bigger screen for a GPS. The decision-maker for me was that I've been driving around for about two weeks now pretending that I had the GPS built in to the radio. After borrowing my friend's GPS a few weeks ago and having it on the lower part of the windshield I think I like that location better. Maybe in a couple years I'll feel differently and do the dash mod at that time.

I'm really leaning toward that JVC KD-AVX77, but $320 is a lot to spend if you find out that you really don't like using a touchscreen while moving. Most of the other units I've looked at seem a little too gaudy for the rest of the dashboard components. It would be like dropping a casino into an elegant residential neighborhood.

I'm looking at this one as well:

Sony DSX-S310BTX Digital media receiver at Crutchfield.com

And this:

JVC KD-X80BT Digital media receiver at Crutchfield.com

Least they got a volume knob! :icon_razz:

 

[Snail Farmer]

Ok sorry it took so long to get back to you on this, but I've been doing a lot of research. Based on what you've said you wanted, I believe this is the best choice for you:

JVC Mobile Entertainment \ KD-AHD75BT CD Receiver - KD-AHD75BT \ Features

And I checked around for pricing, and it turns out the best price is on ebay here:

JVC Arsenal KD AHD75BT AM FM CD MP3 WMA HD Radio Bluetooth NEW IN BOX Free S H | eBay

 

[profdlp]

I've looked at the KD-AHD75BT and liked it a lot. Besides the station preset buttons, how do you think it compares to the two I linked in Post #23?

 

[Snail Farmer]

Well in exception to the cool little ipod tray on the sony, the KD-AHD75BT has a higher rms power rating, hd radio, it has more color options than just two, has a front and a rear usb input. The JVC deck from post 23, it's pretty close to the same as the KD-AHD75BT, but you're paying more for the slightly fancier screen, and it doesn't have the usb on the front. That one is rear usb only. And it doesn't have hd radio either.

 

[profdlp]

I have never used HD radio but had Googled it. There didn't seem to be much in the Cleveland area in the way of stations. Is this a "coming thing" which is expected to improve? I don't know much of anything about it at this point. What's your opinion of it?

You've got a sharp eye - the iPod tray on the Sony was its biggest plus, the two-color limit (neither of which matches the Jeep instrument panel) its biggest minus.

Rear USB works, since I'd probably run an extension into the glove box for a thumbdrive.

 

[profdlp]

Rack is here! Rack Extension is here! Rack Fairing is here! Roof Rails are here! :signs1:

...and today was my first day of class, plus a full day tomorrow... :icon_frown:

It's like Santa finally gets here and then gets stuck halfway down the chimney. :fca5278e:

 

[Dave]

Rack is here! Rack Extension is here! Rack Fairing is here! Roof Rails are here! :signs1:

...and today was my first day of class, plus a full day tomorrow... :icon_frown:

It's like Santa finally gets here and then gets stuck halfway down the chimney. :fca5278e:

Timing.......it's all timing...LOL

At least you got it all though.

Dave

 

[bmrrwolfe]

It's a Double-Din adapter which every online retailer assures me won't fit in my Jeep. I might be willing to do the Double-Din mod if I had a more attractive way to frame it. One of my classmates did something similar to his Liberty, though he was happy just using a hacksaw and leaving a slight gap around the radio.

I finally got a chance to modify the trim plate although my measurements were off by about 1/32" so pressing the clips in for the first time the top right edge of the radio caught the edge of the trim and cracked the bondo. Oh well an easy fix for some other time. I could of done it nicer, but went with just two layers of bondo and only sanding down to a 320 grit then two coats of primer and two coat of cheapy semi-gloss black spray.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Luke]

Looks good.... what did you need the bondo for? strength?


EDIT:
duh ... to fill in the gaps on the sides ... I think I see what you did now.

 

[profdlp]

Timing.......it's all timing...LOL

At least you got it all though.

Dave

Definitely. Much better having it here than to be still waiting. It's driving me nuts, though. :freak3:

I finally got a chance to modify the trim plate...

Really nice job you did there. :worthy:

 

[profdlp]

Nuts no longer! (Or at least not as much as I was yesterday...)

I'm working on a little "How-To" to document the process and review the rack, but here's a sneak preview:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Luke]

Why didn't you get the BIG one .... :joke:

looks good ... but now you have to lift it ... to get the proportions right

 

[profdlp]

bmrrwolfe - you're not the guy I spoke with in WG at CSU last summer are you? :icon_biggrin:

Why didn't you get the BIG one .... :joke:

looks good ... but now you have to lift it ... to get the proportions right

Getting my proportions right has been a lifelong struggle. :icon_wink:

I am giving the lift serious consideration. The major issues are the 60,000 mile warranty I have from Carmax (I would not trust any company not to welch if they found an excuse), along with the fact that I like the way it rides so much right now I would be afraid of screwing it up.

It's kind of like when you get a new girlfriend and fall madly in love. Everything is perfect about her and you don't want her to change. On the other hand, a new hairdo or whatever at some point down the road might throw a fresh spark into the relationship. (And at my age, a fresh spark might be enough to do me in...) :icon_eek:

By the way, I'm looking at something like this...

Off Road Light Bars (The roof rack bars)

...to sit right in front of the rack. I think that might actually balance things out somewhat.

Then there remains the ---> http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/fog-lights-2007-liberty-sport-54403/ <--- issue.

 

[Snail Farmer]

I have never used HD radio but had Googled it. There didn't seem to be much in the Cleveland area in the way of stations. Is this a "coming thing" which is expected to improve? I don't know much of anything about it at this point. What's your opinion of it?

You've got a sharp eye - the iPod tray on the Sony was its biggest plus, the two-color limit (neither of which matches the Jeep instrument panel) its biggest minus.

Rear USB works, since I'd probably run an extension into the glove box for a thumbdrive.

Some people like it and some people don't. Basically it's just another option for listening to music. I don't have any stations near me worth listening to, but it looks like you actually do have quite a few around you. I did some searching, check out this link: HD Radio | Stations | More Music. More Stations. More Features. Digital Sound. No Subscription.

 

[Luke]

HD radio looked interesting to me .. for about 5 seconds. Maybe in 20 years :happy175: ... they have a hard enough time just getting everyone internet access up here!

 

[bmrrwolfe]

bmrrwolfe - you're not the guy I spoke with in WG at CSU last summer are you? :icon_biggrin:

Yupp that would be me.
I have to say the rack looks good!

 

[profdlp]

What do you all think of these?

Tuff LED Lights 4 X 4" Inch Round

For as much as I'd use them, cheap is better at this point. I'd mount them on the front rail of the roof rack for when I'm down at my Aunt's farm, etc. There are seventeen reviews and every single one is five-star.

 

[bmrrwolfe]

What do you all think of these?

Tuff LED Lights 4 X 4" Inch Round

For as much as I'd use them, cheap is better at this point. I'd mount them on the front rail of the roof rack for when I'm down at my Aunt's farm, etc. There are seventeen reviews and every single one is five-star.

The lumen outputs seems a little low, and they are floods so they will have a wide very short beam. I am not sure if that is what you are looking for, but ideally I would look for a set of 4, with 2 spot and flood, or a pair of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Power-T...id=1379040386&sr=1-1&keywords=led+spot+lights

Similar, but higher lumen output since they are a spot beam and with good reviews.