Project "Big Red Jeep"

[Sudz]

Correct - I can't rotate the axle far enough back to engage the upper CAs.

why not?

[fpkites]

Top of the arm hits the bracket.

[ArloGuthroJeep]

Well what is preventing it from rotating? Sounds like you need some of that energy drink

[fpkites]

Rotation toward the rear is stopped by the arm hitting the top of the mount/shock tower. I think I have an idea though. Might be able to get everything but the uppers put together, then put the tires on and let the weight of the front end help with the rest.

[it usually runs fine]

you need to jack the body of the vehicle up higher. and i put my tires on my axle made it a lil easier. with height guestiments.

[fpkites]

Yeah, I have the lowers connected, so I'll get the shocks pretty much in the perches and get the tires on. Should let me maneuver a little better.

Tomorrow's another day

[K2]

96 ZJ, 4" inch lift (all Teraflex)

Is this still accurate? GSW is only a month away.

[fpkites]

Well...now it's part Claytons

Hoping to finish that up this weekend. Clayton skid gets here tomorrow.

My right rear wheel is goobered as shit with gear oil. Guess what I thought was pinion bearing going out was actually wheel bearing and seal. Score! Much cheaper to do a wheel bearing than a full bearing/seal job!

[fpkites]

The man in brown showed up! Woot! Om nom nom...



Hope to have the rear all buttoned up by this weekend, the skid will be drilled and tapped, ready for the support bar to be welded to the stiffeners before then.

[dp96zj]

Sweet! Just in time for GSW

[fpkites]

Yuppers!

[Kauzi Zj]

Are you done yet?

[fpkites]

Is it Sunday yet???

[fpkites]

Claytons were done on Sunday - now to decide what to do with the exhaust.

I got a Flowmaster 50 from Scott, but I'm wondering if I should just run pipe from the cat all the way back. It's not a DD, so noise wouldn't be an issue. The cat is pretty much resting on the crossmember for the Clayton skid, so might have to do something about that. In-cab vibes aren't bad at all though.

A HUGE thanks to Colorado 5.9 (Scott) and JPRanger (Corey) for helping with the wrenching and welding last weekend. I'm glad to have the kit put in. Claytons make all the difference in drivability. I wish I could have gotten them done sooner!

[1ABrian]

Got any pics of the Clays installed?

[fpkites]

Not yet. It's been shitty and rainy the past couple days.

[fpkites]

Nice and flexy on Twin Cone last Sunday. Claytons are freaking awesome!



I think I'd still like to move the rear axle another inch back. I rub a bit when I stuff the rear. Front trackbar can use some tweaking too.

[Jeeptech01]

I rub a bit when I get stuffed in the rear.

[biggoofy]

rofl +rep

[Kauzi Zj]

Originally Posted by fpkites
I rub a bit when I get stuffed in the rear.

+Rep as soon as I can!

[fpkites]

Ouch, baby, very ouch

[fpkites]

Oops. 2 years since I updated this. Good thing nothing huge has been done since the Claytons.

Broke an ear off my steering box at GSW 2012, so I was rocking K2's spare waggy box for a while. Got a reman from Advance and drilled the 4th hole, so that's good.

Got my rock lights in today, just mocked up wired to the battery, not the switch. I should have stuck the front LED strip facing further back. Got a bit of a dead spot



Still effective though. Not sure what I'll do with the back.



Put an extra bit of LED strip on the bottom of the hood for engine compartment lighting to replace what I blew up with the hose a few years back.

[fluxcap]

Me likes the lights. With the number of times I've been stuck on the trail after dark, I really need to address lighting at some point.

Very nice in deed!

Word on the bumper?

[BigDaveZJ]

I've got a little bit of my LED's left, might do the underhood light too. I thought about it, but didn't want to take the time to wire it up. The 300 LED strip looks sufficiently bright too.

[fpkites]

I was disappointed to find out that the switch for the OEM underhood light must be in the socket (which I cut off to tie in the LEDs). For now, I have a well-taped craptastic switch that I had laying around installed, but eventually I'll throw in a push button that turns it off when the hood is closed.

I put in a couple small ~6" lengths facing inward behind the skid plate today, but I won't be able to see if they're effective until nightfall.

I stared at the rear trying to think of a way to light it with my current rear bumper situation, and I'm drawing a blank. That's going to have to wait until the KOR back bumper is in.

The wife and I are still stewing over the front bumper. I have a feeling I'll be grabbing it though, especially since the seller is coming to GSW