Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: June 03, 2010, 07:07:32 pm »

After Monday's bee-atch of a storm (3 1/2" of rain here in Columbia), I was greeted by an inch of rainwater on my passenger floor. My guess is that the PO (from many years ago) laid the windsheild over and it leaked around the cowl someswheres...the side-window and door gaskets are fine. Got the bilge sponge out of my kayak and sopped it up, peeled back the carpet, and discovered some surface rust on the pan. I wirebrushed the rusty areas and treated it with some-kinda rust converter goop.  Now I'm thinking...yeah, I know, playing with tools that I don't know how to use properly...should I peel all of the carpet and lay down some Rhinoliner or some comparable coating? Or should I just throw some paint on it and call it "done"? Floorpan is solid, carpet is in excellent shape. Any idears?

17

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: TJ steering linkage

« on: May 21, 2010, 08:00:34 pm »

Thanks for the input Rick...the old linkage was shot to hell. I added some unengineered bends that kelled the geometry of the linkage. Got a new set-up and everything is back in order. There are even more bends in the new HD linkage, but they're SUPPOSED to be there. Thanks again.

18

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: May 21, 2010, 02:48:51 pm »

After yet another trip to Hoak's, my steering linkage is FINALLY squared away. I returned the previous "new" OEM drag link that I bought last Friday and went for the HEAVY DUTY steering linkage...the Crown "Rugged Trail" set-up. It's quite beefy and it only cost $174 for the new HD drag link and tie rod, and took about 2 hours to install/adjust/grease. A new HD steering stabilizer was also installed, and I straightened out my steering wheel alignment...thanks to Mike @ Hoak's. According to my steering wheel, I was doing a constant left turn...even when I was going straight down the road. My Jeep now tracks straight-n-true, and there's no more clanking when the drag link used to hit the trackbar and mount.

19

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: TJ steering linkage

« on: May 16, 2010, 07:53:42 pm »

It's an ever-so-slight bend, and I'm finding that out as I delve deeper into the 'net. After a couple days of searching, I finally found some pics that showed the true geometry of the steering linkage. And I can fully deduce that my drag link is f***ed-up beyond all repair...in other words, a FUBAR.

20

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: May 16, 2010, 07:47:55 pm »

   So Call Eric knowwhere2jeep.com/catalog/ 739-8029 and see if you can just get the Drag Link (or any other brand HD Drag Link) and I'll sell ya the Crown T.R. for $55. I just ran it a very short time and then swapped back to the other one.

   Tattoo

Thanks Jack. That's what I need first and foremost...the drag link. I don't think I've ever seen a bent drag link without the tie rod being tweaked...it's usually both of 'em that end up getting bent.

Sweet deal Scott...did you get hammered with shipping? That was the only thing holding me back from getting one on eBay...massive shippping charges.

21

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: May 16, 2010, 03:48:27 pm »

I'm hoping my M8000 cuts the mustard...shouldn't be a problem. I was eye-ballin' the XD, but my Xmas gift certifs didn't cover the cost. So I went with the M8000. Where did you get your winch from?

Sounds good...I'm thinking that will be the route to go. Cool demo on their website. But I'm still "up the creek" as for my drag link...that's the one that has some issues.  I'll locate a new one, and then I'll snap-up a Big Daddy tie rod...I can keep my stock t-rod for a trail spare.

22

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: May 16, 2010, 12:34:53 am »

Looks good Scott! Glad to see you put another stinger on your rig...your old one looks pretty good on the front of mine. Went with the XD instead of the M8000, huh? Good choice...

As for "What did I do to my Jeep today?" I determined that I need to swap out my bent-up stock drag-link/tie-rod for a beefier unit. Suggestions? I'm going the "cheapest" route since my work is unsteady at this time.   

23

Technical Advice and Questions / TJ steering linkage

« on: May 15, 2010, 11:17:16 am »

I'm looking at my steering linkage on my TJ, and I'm wondering how "flat" or straight the actual tubes are on a TJ. I never really took notice as to whether they are supposed to be totally straight or if there are engineered bends in the linkage. As it stands now, there is a kink in the drag link at the coupler. So much so that it's now contacting the track bar and the right-side tie rod end brushes over the track bar mount. Knowing that I slipped into a rather gnarly rut while 'wheeling on a friend's property might have something to do with this situation, so I am now trying to figure out what I need to replace. The ultimate solution would be an upgrade.

24

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 24, 2010, 01:12:35 pm »

Scott,

Get your order in early...it took me 4 weeks to get my M8000, unless they are "in-stock" and on the shelf. From what I hear, the M8000's production run may be coming to an end. The price is nice, and it pulls like a team of mules.

25

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 15, 2010, 06:56:40 pm »

Likewise Charlie...it was nice to meet you as well. Those guys at Hoak's are top-notch. I count on Mike to make sure that I have what I need for what I'm trying to accomplish. That can interpreted into this: Mike reaches DEEP into my wallet and yanks out anything that closely resembles money. 

I re-spooled the winch, bought a snatch block and a tree saver. All I need to do is mount a "D" ring or two, and I'll be set...recovery-wise.

One of these days, I'll find myself with some FREE time on a Sunday so that I can go 'wheel.

26

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 06, 2010, 11:43:18 pm »

Thanks again for the pic posting lesson, Charlie.

Thanks for the compliment...'preciate it!

I'll be doing the re-spool this weekend...my co-pilot (aka, my soon to be 16 year-old daughter) will help me with the task. Mike at Hoak's was adamant about making sure that I was aware of the re-spool thing.

Going back to Hoak's tomorrow after work to get a cover for the winch.

27

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 05, 2010, 11:28:10 pm »

Thanks Charlie!

28

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 04, 2010, 09:17:47 pm »

Winch is installed and works perfectly. I forget how to post pics on here...   

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General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: April 04, 2010, 01:34:14 am »

Hey...that stinger bumper looks familiar! Looks just like the one on my TJ. Oh wait...that's 'cuz it is! 

Painted the winch mount today and I'll try to get the winch mounted tomorrow after dinner. Did I mention that I got a Warn M8000 with my '09 tax refund? Well, I got a Warn M8000 with my tax refund...

30

General Discussion / Re: What did you do to your Jeep today?

« on: March 11, 2010, 11:57:22 pm »

Called Hoak's and ordered a brand-spank-me-new Warn M8000...only downside, it won't be here until the end of the month. Scored a mounting plate a couple weeks ago (thanks, Keith!) and will start cleaning/prepping it for paint next week. Ordered a Daystar Isolator Block from 4 Wheel Parts, and stopped at Harbor Freight for a Tree Saver and Snatch Block only to discover that they had none.

Also finished wiring a pair of those Sound Pod thingamajigs...the ones that mount around the base of the 'cage on TJs. Added a pair of 6 1/2" woofs and a pair of tweeters. Scavenged them off of eBay for $30 new...Scratch-n-Dent kinda deal. Should be a tad better than those cheesy soundbar 5 1/4" junkers.