[boots4]

Nope, all they really care about here is sticking it up your tail pipe or plugging in to your computer (96 and newer) and then collecting their fee.

I do understand this isn't a legal parking brake (not a separate system). This is going to be the easiest way to pass the tech inspection for a TLCA event.

Things to get done before Rubithon include:

• upgrade to PP rear axles - ordered this week
• rear locker - ordered this week
• parking brake for tech inspection - researching line locks now
• finish rear quarter protection - tube bending on the 17th
• front bumper and fender protection -tube bending on the 17th
• skid plate - started cutting scrap
• wiring for ready welder - got the cable just need some clamps and a connector
• CB radio and antenna - researching
• build rear platform for sleeping in the rig
• 16" rims for spare tire - searching
• replace front shocks - ordered this week
• build anti wrap bar - research done and ready to build, just need to order a JJoint (ordered today), bushings ordered last week, copy brokenparts wrap brackets using his plasma

Plus of course my own maintenance inspection for the trip. I'm loosing a week (vacation) this month and have family moving to the area in two weeks so I hope to get this all done.

[brokenparts]

Originally Posted by Drofen

Here in TX we have to have a working parking brake to pass safety inspection to be street legal, and line locks don't count.

Do you guys have the same issue?

nope.

[Tapage]

This brake valve means you need to route your brake line in to the cabin .. I wanna get some ideas about it.

[boots4]

Originally Posted by Tapage

This brake valve means you need to route your brake line in to the cabin .. I wanna get some ideas about it.

I've got my location for the valve picked out and it will go on the tranny hump next to my shifter on the driver side. Basically ~8" away from the ebrake handle. Probably the only trick to it will be allowing some give/flexibility between body and frame from where I tie it in. I'll splice the line going to the rear brakes close to mid frame and run those lines under the body to where I put the valve. If this doesn't make much sense it will in the next couple of weeks when I get pics during the install.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by boots4

I've got my location for the valve picked out and it will go on the tranny hump next to my shifter on the driver side. Basically ~8" away from the ebrake handle. Probably the only trick to it will be allowing some give/flexibility between body and frame from where I tie it in. I'll splice the line going to the rear brakes close to mid frame and run those lines under the body to where I put the valve. If this doesn't make much sense it will in the next couple of weeks when I get pics during the install.

To get that necessary flex between the body and the frame, have you thought about using some old rubber brake lines or some short SS lines? The SS lines would be for bling factor of course.

[boots4]

I've been prepping my for another round of spending on Dora so she was ready for me to place a couple orders as noted up above.

Started on the frame mounts for the skid plate. I decided how long I wanted it and cut some pieces out from the stepvan frame. Yup, I'm still nibbling on that thing. Then I shaped them to the frame and clearanced for existing frame obstructions. There is a bend in the frame that I needed to follow so I notched the pieces and got the angle. I welded on a piece to keep my angle while I filled the gap with weld.



I filled in the gap and checked my fitment. I grabbed a piece of cardboard to get bolt hole locations so I could transfer those to the pieces I shaped.



After I drilled out one side I noticed that the other side was the same so I used my drilled side to transfer holes to the other side.



Here's the driver side



And the passenger side



From here I can make crossmembers to attach the plates to. I like the access so I won't be making a soild plate from one side to the other.

[boots4]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

To get that necessary flex between the body and the frame, have you thought about using some old rubber brake lines or some short SS lines? The SS lines would be for bling factor of course.

I was just going to put a coil in them like the body to frame junction under the hood. If I can I'd like to have just four connections, two at the valve and two at the splice.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by boots4

I was just going to put a coil in them like the body to frame junction under the hood. If I can I'd like to have just four connections, two at the valve and two at the splice.

Gotcha. Probably makes more sense that way with less places for fluid to leak.

Using a frame to make a skidplate Definitely a great idea.

[CruisinGA]

I'll be interested to see what you come up with for the skidplate. Are you doing a solid plate, or using tube and just plating to protect the lowest and most vulnerable parts?

I built a skid few years back for my 40 using the same style frame mounts you did. The skidplate (not the mounts) wasn't great, and I've never liked it and now it is about bent up enough that I need to redo it.

[boots4]

Originally Posted by CruisinGA

I'll be interested to see what you come up with for the skidplate. Are you doing a solid plate, or using tube and just plating to protect the lowest and most vulnerable parts?

The initial plan is to plate the areas that would do damage which will definitely be the lowest parts and maybe just a little more. I plan to make the frame first and then plate that. Not sure if I'll use square or round tube.

[CreeperSleeper]

I need to do that too... along with fixing my driveshafts...

[brokenparts]

hey mike to you mind measuring how far that Hydroboost set up extends out from the firewall?

[brokenparts]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

hey mike to you mind measuring how far that Hydroboost set up extends out from the firewall?

nevermind...

[boots4]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

nevermind...

Glad I could help out.

[brokenparts]

....

[esh]

Originally Posted by boots4

• CB radio and antenna - researching
• build rear platform for sleeping in the rig

I don't know what you've been looking at. The Unidens are nice, big or small. The 520Pro little one is cheap and has an RF gain knob that comes in handy. The big ones have an SWM built in to let you tune your antenna live (could be detrimental to your CBs health too). Finally the Cobra with the front-firing mic is nearly DIN-sized and a nice package (can find on CL with patience).

Antennas- firestick makes a very cool box to split out signals from your CB antenna to CB and FM. Also has tuner for each signal type built into the box (use after SWM calibration).

I also found a 3-channel 12V mixer at parts express to mix in CB/HAM/Ipod to my aux stereo input and allows level adjustment per channel. Nice unit but the cables are kind of rare to find (ins/outs are mono 1/4" female so you need things like dual mono 1/4" male to mini stereo kinds of cables). Hope to try it out in a couple weeks to see how the sound quality works out.


My rough draft platform is really basic, but I like it a lot. I think you've seen it before, but if not we could meet up if you wanted to get an idea of what issues exist.

aside-
I've been watching my EGTs and they drop below 350 without any waiting. I'm guessing a good push up to Roger's camp might be a different story but they seem to drop really fast after the load is gone. fwiw

[GLTHFJ60]

Cobra 75 WX ST. This is one of the units with all of the controls in the hand microphone and a small remote mount box to be mounted somewhere discreet. They're cheap at about $80 on fleabay and can be hidden pretty well. I'm planning on mounting my remote box under the dash with my AR1A Matchmaker splitter ( the one esh was talking about ) as soon as kevinmrowland gets his antenna mounts from his laser cutter. Good reception, hidden installation and if you want more volume, you can mount a cheap remote speaker under the stock amp location on the dash ( looks like a speaker hole in the dash pad ). For the antenna, get a Firestick flexible Firefly with tunable tip. Lots of signal adjust ability with the tunable tip. For the length, they say that for best reception, the top 1/3 of the antenna should be above the roof line.

[boots4]

Thanks Esh and GLTHFJ60 for chiming in on CBs. Eveything you both said coincides with the research I've been doing so it's great to have that confirmed without asking yet!

For the antenna I really do like the flexible ones even if they're not as powerful as the more solid ones so I've looked at Firestik, Wilson, and KD40s. Each has a flexible antenna that I like. I plan on mounting a 3' one where my broken FM antenna was on the passenger front fender. I'll need to make a base to support the antenna but I've already got some plans for that. I did read about the vital importance of tuning. Esh do you have an SWM tuner and would you be willing to help me tune mine when I get a setup?

I will get an AM/FM/CB splitter.

As for a radio I'm just looking at basic models; however, I do like the front firing boxes and am interesting in the weather channels so I'll probably go with the next level up from basic. I've read that the difference in radios is not the power since that's regulated but the features are what you are buying. It's the antenna that plays a bigger factor on transmitting and receiving. So far I've been looking at Uniden Bearcat Pro 538W and Cobra 18 WX ST II but am open to other suggestions. I'm still sitting on the fence about the all-in-ones, can they get as loud as the boxes? With a loud diesel I'll need a little more volumn.

[boots4]

Originally Posted by esh

aside-
I've been watching my EGTs and they drop below 350 without any waiting. I'm guessing a good push up to Roger's camp might be a different story but they seem to drop really fast after the load is gone. fwiw

That's nice, sounds like you've got good flow from your intake and exhaust. I bet cool down times will lengthen a little if you decide to give it more fuel. Mine will cool down to 400F fast but the last 50F takes longer. Since my gauge sits above 0 with no power I suspect that I'm cooling it lower than 350F before I shut it down. If it's normal driving it usually takes close to a minute to cool down but when I work it the cool down time goes up, however, I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes to shut down.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by boots4

I plan on mounting a 3' one where my broken FM antenna was on the passenger front fender. I'll need to make a base to support the antenna but I've already got some plans for that.

I'm still sitting on the fence about the all-in-ones, can they get as loud as the boxes? With a loud diesel I'll need a little more volumn.

As for the mount, kevinmrowland is setting up a kit to do just that with a stainless bracket and walcottcb.com components and I'll be getting his first "production" kit shortly. That will be a slick install.

For the volume issue, why not set up a remote mount speaker?

[esh]

I have an SWM when you're ready to tune it.

For the antenna mount, just went with a standard stainless antenna bracket over the oem antenna location. I was joking with Kevin last winter in Canada telling him I setup my antenna just like his. He was disappointed when he saw I didn't quite go to the same lengths as he did.

Good to know about the 1/3 above the roof thing. Most people have commented my radio seems to get out really far, and I think it might be partly due to just that factor, and probably that it was tuned. I have a pretty stiff firestick tunable and the 520 Pro little Uniden right now. I'd like to move it forward to the bull bar and put a stiff spring on it because the bracket mounts just suck.. keeps loosening up. Might try a mount to the rear tire carrier.

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by esh

I have an SWM when you're ready to tune it.

For the antenna mount, just went with a standard stainless antenna bracket over the oem antenna location. I was joking with Kevin last winter in Canada telling him I setup my antenna just like his. He was disappointed when he saw I didn't quite go to the same lengths as he did.

Good to know about the 1/3 above the roof thing. Most people have commented my radio seems to get out really far, and I think it might be partly due to just that factor, and probably that it was tuned. I have a pretty stiff firestick tunable and the 520 Pro little Uniden right now. I'd like to move it forward to the bull bar and put a stiff spring on it because the bracket mounts just suck.. keeps loosening up. Might try a mount to the rear tire carrier.

Hahaha, leave it to kevin to over-engineer just about everything. That's alright though, I really like how his design mounts and he's never told me about it loosening up.

I can't remember for the life of me where I read it, but that seems to be the rule of thumb. Maybe I read it on the forum somewhere or on one of the many CB sites I've been reading lately. Either way, results tell the story.

[boots4]

I forgot about the footage I grabbed of wheeling after the clean-up event so I threw it together and uploaded it. Creepersleeper is in there along with other local club members. Only a small clip of myself but I thought I'd include it here.

Wheeling TSF 4-09

[brokenparts]

I think you have some new pics too dont cha?

[boots4]

Originally Posted by brokenparts

I think you have some new pics too dont cha?

Yup, I'll get those here soon. I'm also working on another video from this week's trip too, that one will have to be in 2 parts.

[Tapage]

Originally Posted by boots4

I forgot about the footage I grabbed of wheeling after the clean-up event so I threw it together and uploaded it. Creepersleeper is in there along with other local club members. Only a small clip of myself but I thought I'd include it here.

Wheeling TSF 4-09

thanks for the Vid Mike .. we still need more .. ( well at least me . )

[CreeperSleeper]

Nice Vid, Mike! I always like seeing my 80 in action! LOL

[boots4]

I went wheeling with Dirtgypsy to test out his SOA. We made it a family day and kept it mostly mellow. We hit some local trails out in Brown's camp.

There were just three in the group





I like how this one turned out







Posing, but it's on the trail so that alright.













Found a little mud hole



My little girl kept telling me "One more time Dad"



Looking for the hole



This one is called the Waterfall



Tried the far right side but no rear locker kept me from climbing. Ended up on the far left side needing a little "assistance"



My son was inside the whole time sleeping but finally woke up when my butt slid down hill. We fried some contacts on the Fj40's winch so they doubled up and easily pulled me up the hill.



After that it was time to head back. The winch was the only casuality and it ended up be some inexpensive contacts and is now working again.

Aside from the trip I retubed my front driveshaft the next day for more spline engagement. I got my Poly axles but they were for a FJ40 and one wasn't painted so I send them back and should get my size next week-ish. I got my Johnny Joint but it was missing the bolt so I called them up and they'll send it out. I got my aussies locker for the rear so I tried installing it in my spare third to swap over the whole thing (it's in better condition than my current rear 3rd in the axle) but it failed the first clearance test so I'm looking for thinner thrust washers or may just hit them with the sanding disc. So I had a few set backs but it'll all get worked out soon. I did start on my anti-wrap bar bird-mouthing some tube and cutting the lower link to size.

[FF LC FREAK]

Nice pics! Let me know when you're ready to test the latest updates to your rig! I'm always up for another run.

[brokenparts]

bumper...

getting started:



first couple Bends



nice lines:



bottom bent and mock up with top piece:



Different angle



cheater way to notch:



Dirtgypsy showed up to start his rear bumper... Mike is taking a nap:



Boots bumper tacked:



me taking a picture of mike taking a picture of his bumper:



Dirtgypsy still cursing at the rivots:



Mike decided that the vertical pieces were too long... this is the way to properly secure a bumper "in progress" while grinding:



Clint still cursing at the rivots....



Mike has more pics to come later....