Update your rig status here!

[ajpthng]

I didn't feel like starting a new thread just for this little tid bit. I won TOTM on www.monterosportonline.com.

I see they updated their front page with your rig! Congrats Michael! Too bad it's a once in a life time thing, because I know in a cople of years that thing is going to be bad!

[michaeljr5]

Thanks Tom. I really appreciate it. We are talking about a Montero of the Year too. But the majority of the guys on that forum lean toward the street scene. But we are slowly convincing them other wise. I hope I can get this truck as far as I am dreaming.

[AKLJ8]

The CJ8... Going back to a stock with 31" BFG AT's and a small lift. Also need to do the stroker install.

The YJ... Getting a 4.0 transplant with the 5 speed and t case. Will eventually get a 3550 installed. Staying stock hight for awhile while I work on other projects.

The Pacer... Needs rear axle work, exhaust and an IM test.

Diesel Gulf... Not sure what it needs but would like to get it running. Any VW experts out there...

The Amphicar.... Need to get it in the hanger and start in on the body work.

[AKMark]

When we are more settled I can help with just about all but the pacer's axle, and the body on the amphicar. I can trim, but that's about it.

I used to play with the VW rabbit diesels so the golf can't be much different.

[AKLJ8]

Thanks Woody...

I know next to nothing about VW diesel cars. Would like to have that running with the cost of gas these days.

[AKMark]

I liked the 48 mpg the rabbit got.

[TJVigilante]

i'd kill for 48 mpg.....that would be sweet. But, I'm not sure if I want to drive around a car not much bigger than a casket.

[AKMark]

In the winter we didn't turn it off, except for refueling at a public station (we had a 500 gal tank at the house, but when we were on road trips we had to sometimes fill it up out of town.) It had a 12 gallon tank, but we never drained it past 9 gallons.

Even running it all the time, it would use about 1/2 of a gallon of fuel a day idling. Gutless POS, but it was economic. Only foreign car I had a partial ownership of and only one I would want to own.

The other part owner had two others. We cannibalized one to get the other two perfect. The green one I shared with him had been eithered once and never ran right again. His other one had a bad tranny, that we swapped with.

I should mention I was only part owner for about six months. He decided to sell them all, (I got a pretty good penny out of it) and now he's into older diesel Mercedes sedans. The guy is crazy.

[akdsmer]

Took advantage of the cast finally being removed and finally removed the right front axle (broken birfield) as well as removing the broken left transfercase mounting bracket. Now to get the parts up here before the weekend!

[ChevyKev]

Skitzo had what seemed to be a binding issue - so I took the front axle apart to find nothing wrong internally. Hubs, bearings, lockouts, R&P all checked out ok. Went ahead and replaced the axle seals I knew were bad. Put it back together and with the t-case in 2wd, and the hubs unlocked, it seemed to have a binding issue still??? So I had Kris drive it while I rode sitting on the stiner/front bumper and watched everything. Found that when we hit a bump the entire drivers side wheel would shake and wobble around. after she stopped I checked some things and found that the ptiman arm was so loose it was about to fall off. I tightened that up but ran out of time to test it out to see if that cured the ills. If that cures the issue, then I'll try 4 wheel drive next. Hopefully she's good to go.

On the Blazer, I ran a higher presure line for my PS return lines and see how long that lasts. PS is agin nice and easy to turn. I did order some Amsoil tractor hydraulic Transmition oil from NAPA that a lot of Monster style trucks use in their hyrdaulic steering systems. Once it gets here, I plan to use the parts numbers from Ryans thread and do a hydro-assist running the amsoil fluid - hopefully everything will work better after that.

[Fix_It]

i droped the front diff on the taco with a 1 in drop kit ,helped the cv angle alot and looks to have lessen the stress on cv as well at full extension .

but the skid plate now dont fit ...errr oh well get to use my bender it seems .

also just replaced the rear axle seal and cleaned all the gear oil off my brand new pads .......

if i would have known how easy it was to replace i would have done it alot sooner ...live and learn , i just had to get under there and do it .

also got to play around with the 67 scout in the yard .. what fun that thing is in 4 lo ..

[ajpthng]

Airmanwoody had a new T-case chain. That thing was bad! It was starting to ware a grove in the housing and metal shavings everyware! He just left about 20 min ago, only took about 1 1/2 hrs maybe 2 at the most of work and lots of time BSin. Hope that cured your problem with the T-Case.

[AKMark]

The T-case works great. I just need to adjust the linkage slightly, but that's easy. The chain was probably about 3/4" too long. Wow that's a stretched out chain.

Tom is the man when it comes to these puppies. I was going to pull the whole case out and do it on a bench, we did it while installed on the Jeep and it was so easy it was scary.

Thanks again Tom.

[ajpthng]

Anytime mark! I was glad to help!

[Fix_It]

went out to eureka last night for a late night recovery for 2p2p guys . i didnt break and the steering and front end mods made the truck feel new again .. the added b&m tranny cooler inline on the power steering really seemed to help alot ..

i cleaned the truck today and caught my electric pressure washer on fire ..lol

but i started bending tube for the skid plate .. shall see how this turns out ..
found out my math sucks when trying to figure out how little material i can use on a 240 * die ..usually too much and once too short lol . i just hate wasting metal at these prices ! ouch .. but got alot of it mocked up tonight
and i really love the pro-tools HD notcher .sure wish i had this when I bent up my toy bed !

[TJVigilante]

Well by some strange turn of events, Gene's just called me and said my Jeep was finished. Turns out there was just silt in the clutch that was making it slip or some craziness...I don't know. He said they just blew the silt out and it's fine....and they're not voiding my warranty, it's just a diagnostic fee that they're charging.

[TJVigilante]

AAAAAAAAND the problem is still there. I got to thinking, and it feels like something is out of balance, as it only happens when I start from a stop, is there a harmonic balancer on the clutch or an output shaft somewhere? The clutch shouldn't be out of balance from a stop because when I have the tranny in neutral, it's still spinning with the pedal out, the tranny is just spinning the input shaft with no gears attached. What about inside the tranny, are there balancers in there that could be out of whack?

[AKMark]

Could your flywheel be out of whack? I had one go bad on an old Chevy. It wore funny (it was an aftermarket piece of crap) and wore down unevenly for some off reason. We didn't think much of it and drove it till the clutch wore out. When I pulled the clutch, WHOA, the flywheel was shot. It was new only 90K before, but it was definately bad, and after replacement the vehicle ran so smooth, it was scary. Especially since it ran another 150K before we sold it without anyother issues, and it had almost 190K when I found the bad flywheel.

Get that thing fixed, your tranny isn't quite as strong as the Chevy's was.

[Bulldog]

Finally got a chance to work on the Comanche this afternoon. Changed the differential fluids. Also found out that I only have 3.07 gears Drained the transfer case, but will have to pick up the fluid tomorrow to refill it. The drain plug on the Peugeot BA 10/5 has a small square recess that my 3/8" drive won't fit in. I have to find something to back out the plug so I can change the fluids in it also.

Hope to get the front bumper fabricated this weekend. Also going to pick up another Comanche for parts. Hope to have it trail worthy before the snow flies.

[sevenslats]

Well, besides putting on Julie's studded tires next month, I hope I'm done with tire swaps for a while. I've got the ZJ on 31s, the TJ on 35s, and my 33s sold. Eric has his 6-lug wheels back, Ron will be by to pick up his spare tire this week, and as soon as I sell my Canyons, I'll be done with that all for a while.

I've got to pull the 8 adjustable control arms off the ZJ and return it to a 3" lift.
I've got to put the 8 adjustable control arms on the TJ. Along with the 6" rear springs I'm bringing back from CA.
My front 4.88s will be installed real soon, so I will be ready for 4wd when the snow hits.
When the 500 mile break-in is complete on my rear axle, I'll install the EZ locker when I change the fluid and inspect the gears.

My winch is not working at the moment (go figure), so I'll want to dig into that before any big trails.

[ChevyKev]

My bellhousing on the Blazer has needed replaced for some time. I am hoping to do that one of the next 2 mondays. No sense in fixing and re-installing the rear drive shaft until that is done.

Skitzo had something break in the front axle I need to dig into before too long - as well, I need to drain the cooling system which is 100% water and 0% antifreeze. At the same time I refill it, if I want to be able to start it easier this winter, I'll need to put some heating elements into it.

Plow truck - I first need to figure out which vehicle I will be using, then make it right.

[TJVigilante]

Just have to pick up the Jeep from Holeski's and re-learn how to drive it with POWER....3.07's to 4.10's I'm sure makes a heck of a difference.

[TJVigilante]

Well after driving home at 90 mph according to the speedo, seems I need larger tires and a speedo gear...will a rubicon gear work for me?

[holeski]

The gears feel good?

[TJVigilante]

feels like when I dropped it off, just revs higher. I'm happy.

[Ronster]

I finally got 33's under the heep. I picked up Geoffs tires before he took off. Looks and rides good, coudlnt be happier. I thought I would loose more power with the stock 3.73's but I can still start in 2nd, so Im happy so far. We will see what its like when I need to crawl in 4lo, I would imagine tahts where my problems might pop up.