[BRKLYN1]

Who

One day, on a fiendish wave of inspiration incited by this very forum, I singed up for ROTW week 4/10/06. Have you ever mailed a love letter, only to find out ten minuets after you have put your soul in the mail box, that you girl is cheating on you? You can’t get the letter back and reality has hit you with a bucket of ice water. I’m a rookie, a native New Yorker, a city mouse, no a Central Park squirrel trying to get a nut. Why did I sign up for ROTW?


After the shock wore off, I shifted gears to the realization that my rig cannot compete with the heavy hitters of past ROTWs, such as Manrigdude, NorCalDoug, White Shark and many, many others! Oh and lets not forget “Tired Iron GBR.” OUCH…holy shee-ites… his truck hurt us all. And all in good time maybe I will sign up for the “where are they now ROTWs.” Then I will have the portals, the sub tanks, hot and cold water and cable TV.


For now I will work the theory of relativity angle.In New York City my 33s look like 35s-maybe even 37s on some streets. My 3” OME like a Slee 6” kit.

I am a city slicker who has always played on the dirt, from my first BMX bike in 1979 to my mountain bike in 1983. Mountain biking brought me to my first off road experience at the 24 hour team endurance race held in Davis West Virginia (24 hours of Canaan). Good fun if you like being wet and cold, and you want to ride 2 hours in the stickiest mud in world in the middle of the night ( I did 6 years in a row). While down there, I was invited to sit in the back of a Jeep Cherokee that had no seats, two dogs, four other friends (also first timers, except for the driver), a cooler full of Coors Light and a big bag of ammo. The tales of that first day of wheeling the Black Water area of WV (before it was closed) are many and worth telling, but for now I will leave that for later, only to say I was hooked.


Hooked Bad! All I saw in my future were plans and schemes on how to get a 4X4. It took from June1992 till August 10th 1:30 PM 2004 until I got a 4X4(the day I got my locked ‘96). Now some may be crying for (or laughing at) me as it took 12 years to have a vehicle capable of off road exploration. But I think all in all I did good in that time. I read every 4x4 rag article I could and logged every mod in to a dream list of mods for my vehicle. With 20/20 hind site (that I did not use when I backed into a tree… more on that later), I realized I might have gotten myself into a Jeep earlier. But I think of all the misery, expense and time(in repairs) that it would have taken to get to a point where I would have gotten an 80. Even though I have been keen on 80’s forever, only recently have they become affordable.


I was ready for 4 months to make a move on an 80. In NYC and surrounding areas, buying a used car is well like buying a mail-order bride. You know what you want, but can’t think about what you are getting. From dealerships to private-party sellers, the hunt is one run around after another. Finally, after hovering over the internet for months, appears “1996 LC 101k $10,500 dark blue” 10-5 w 101k and lockers. Yeah right. What’s the catch? Despite suspicions of the price, I called, and to my surprise, I was the first to call. With a bag of cash I was off to CT to take a look at LC #12. Two hours later, a shiny, blue and new looking 96 with lockers rolls up. Can this be happening? I don’t see any smoke or dripping oil or hear any weird noises. Inside it looks 3days old. I stay calm. I access my photographic memory and read the Slee newbie guide in my head for the 365th time so I don’t make any major blunders. It looked too good to be true. Time for the test drive. Smooth, quiet and smells new (compared to my previous stinky 91 Jimmy 164k). Now with the owner in my clutches, and with all native New Yorker suspicions, I ask, “Why are you selling her?” (I already new she would be mine). “We are moving to Nashville.” (a good answer) Then the trip-up question: “How did you come up with the price?” (Listening with my spider senses on 11), he said his wife looked up the price on Kelly Blue book and then she subtracted a few hundred for the few minor dings and scratches(she must have blue booked the wholesale value and not the retail, as this was way under Galvis at the time). The test drive included a low range and locker test, both of which he said his wife never used (hence the stuck rear locker). With a hand shake I said Yes- $10,500.

Wow that was $4500 less than I had planned to spend, and I got me a genuine Connecticut soccer mom car. So I took the left over money and bought a T bill. Yeah right! On the way home I ordered my OME kit and BFGs, and I kept saying, “Now I am a Made man.”

I would say that since then, two things don’t add up. It seems to me that every time I get my next modification done, I am still always just halfway through the list. I will start with mods that are done and then I will talk of the day I get to drive my own car in Moab (I have rented Jeeps from Slick Rock Jeep a few times and done all the tourist spots, Fins and Things, Hell Revenge etc…) That said, from NYC to Moab and back will cost me $997 in gas alone. How to talk the misses into that one? For now with a great tip and tour from Lovey and Cruiserhead, now I at least have one decent spot just 35 minuets from Manhattan. Not that I haven’t found all sorts of things to throw a wheel up and over (unattended car carrier trailers, loading docks and even the occasional construction site).

I started with the standard OME 3” Js & Ls and steering, with SS lines and castor correction bushings

BFG AT 295/75-16s on the stock rims that I will soon have anodized or Powder coated black (it would have already been done had I not been distracted in the last five minuets of the EBay auction that let a set of 5 go for $102.95 !thanks guys for dropping by just then, really thanks)

Did my own drop block for the front and the rear sway bar drops. The rears have held up well
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/57426-mcmaster-rear-sway-bar-drops.html


Welded in the Slee front and rear DIY weld in panhard adjusters

Plugged in a CDL switch from Slee

I picked up a used XD9000 for a song and started my bumper that I fabed up, in a long weekend http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/57222-new-bumper.html

Installed my oem toy aux light switch ($70 ouch, since that pain in the wallet I have gotten hip to the Hella switch $7.50) and the Pia’s that my good friend Bluemax

Then after an incident on a pile of construction barricades I bent my rear control arms. So I fabed up this set up as seen on this thread (a thread that turned into a cat fight)
http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/60801-4130-beef-mod-lower-controle-arm.html
and while I was at it I made a exhaust pipe guard – future slider mount http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/63113-pancakes-breakfast.html

for my birth day last fall some great friends got me a Iron Pig skid plate. A great piece of mind to be had with that addition.

Then it was time to get my rear bumper and hopefully my sliders before the looming ROTW day. But then this happened http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/78334-best-time-2-back-into-tree.html
A four weekend set back and big shot to the ego. I went for a 2 piece rear bumper it is fabed from 3/16 as is the front bumper.


I had a Stink Bug problem that I corrected with a little help from My CNC mill (brag, brag boast, boast. but really don’t get too jealous I still have to do all my work on the sidewalk, in Brooklyn). I ended up going with a 1” spacer. I may try to use a 1.5” some day, when I have the cash for a front drive shaft. I also have made my fair lead on the mill in both plastic and aluminum. I am using the plastic at the moment, but I may one day get one of the three extra aluminium fair leads I have, anodized to match my LC

The list of projects to be done as soon as I can,
1 Fix sticky rear locker, I am being a chicken shit about this one because I have to do it on the street in front of my shop
2 breather extensions for the transmition and TC (already did the axles)
3 Slee DIY upper control arm adjusters
4 sliders, that are some what under way
5 hard mount my compressor


Well now that I have made Charls Dickins sound short winded, I will get ready for a pelting of all the pro’s ?

[BRKLYN1]

some pics

[Romer]

Nice story. Thanks for contributing

[topend yobbo]

I dont think there are to many ''PRO'S'' on here , just people with the same interests.
I think thats a perfectly good wagon for your needs.My budget will never stretch to my imagination.
Looks good keep it up.

[Mickldo]

Looks good. Nice and clean and straight(compared to my POS). At least you've got lockers.Sensible mods for your needs, not over the top.

Good work

[TiredIronGRB]

Very good write-up, I still love that bumper.

[BRKLYN1]

I will post pictures tonight of the rear bumper that is half done

[Walking Eagle]

Originally Posted by TiredIronGRB

Very good write-up, I still love that bumper.

Ditto.... Just wish ya' had some build up pics on the bumper...

[Junk]

Hey BRKLYN1 - those pics look like up where Cruiserhead and Lovey go. Is it the same place?

Cool writeup.

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by topend yobbo

My budget will never stretch to my imagination.

Isn't that the truth!

-B-

[BRKLYN1]

Originally Posted by Junk

Hey BRKLYN1 - those pics look like up where Cruiserhead and Lovey go. Is it the same place?

Cool writeup.

Yes they took me there last fall. I hope to find (or get a lead) for some simaler places to go wheelin near NYC. Paragon ends up being an expensive and long day.

[Turbo Turtle]

sweet ride N.Y. still lotsa cool mods on a way gnarly rig.
maybe, if I ever grow up! I too may one day get to dress one out.
girl-friend type scored a 91' a coupla years ago, so no lack of enthusiasm exists here, just opportunity.
might have to get my own though as she might have issues with where I will want to drive it.
enjoy it while you can, and remember, off road to drive it like you stole it!!

[rockclmbr]

First off, you have a "Blue" FZJ80, that beats all the mods out there IMHO

Second, you fab'd your own front bumper, not too many people can say that. Nice work!

[BRKLYN1]

My rear bumper is only half done. Due to an incident with a rude tree, I got delayed. When done it will wrap around to the wheel well and bolt to the frame. The side mounted receiver hitches are for my bike rack for carrying me and my Down hill buddy’s rigs to the mountain.

[BRKLYN1]

Originally Posted by Walking Eagle

Ditto.... Just wish ya' had some build up pics on the bumper...

Here are some bumper build up pictures. Unfortunately I did not take more to document the steps. Next time it will do it on a water jet from a cad file instead of a jigsaw file.

[BRKLYN1]

Also before I get slack from my copilot here is a picture of him and his fastback 80 and pickup 70. I got him hooked on the top truck challenge series and he is no newbie to off-road facts and lingo.

[notyourmomslx450]

Nice write up. I like the front bumper as well. BTW, how do those last two rigs do on the RTI?

[BRKLYN1]

Funny you should ask, my son and I have been making Lego 4x4s for some time, we have been working on a set of playing cards much like top trumps playing cards (our British IH8MUD’ers will know what these are). One of the stats is lean angle, we actually have taken measurements. So to almost answer your question the black one can do 45 deg. and the red one 43 deg. We have 23 rigs so far, I think when we finish the set of cards we will post them for sale on the forum for all to play.

[reffug]

Excellent write up, really enjoyed the story.

Thanks for contributing.

Oh and wheelin with cruiserhead, you better watch out he's not sane.......

[NorCalDoug]

Sweet write up and a very nice rig!

I like the work you've done -- keep it coming

[desmocruiser]

Sweet pics and I had never thought about wheelin in Central Park! My wife occassionally drags me up there (her office is located there) and I always wondered what the he** I would do if we lived there, now I feel much better. Seriously, I would love to see the looks of most New Yorker's as you pass by. Cool rig!

[MoJ]

Originally Posted by BRKLYN1

My rear bumper is only half done. Due to an incident with a rude tree, I got delayed. When done it will wrap around to the wheel well and bolt to the frame. The side mounted receiver hitches are for my bike rack for carrying me and my Down hill buddy’s rigs to the mountain.

BRKLYN1 -

I like your rear bumper wings. I've thought about doing the same - not that I'm talented enough to do it myself. I like the look of the exposed cross member and have always thought it was a shame so many cover it up. Be sure to do a write up when you get finished with it.


Jason

[SamB]

Originally Posted by BRKLYN1

After the shock wore off, I shifted gears to the realization that my rig cannot compete with the heavy hitters of past ROTWs

I like reading about the story behind peoples rigs as much as, if not more than even, the mods done, top effort

[NorCalSam]

New York City!!!

Nice looking rig for a city slicker.

Nice looking front bumper too.

Sam