Build 2000UZJ's Build
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Between Sam, Onur, and the folks at ACC the Peach State is very lucky. Making me regret my move to NC
Truck is done and runs like a top. Probably better than it has ever run before.
Nick learned a lot too which is an added bonus. He know what to look for, what sounds to listen to, and how to change things now.
Nick learned a lot too which is an added bonus. He know what to look for, what sounds to listen to, and how to change things now.
Truck is done and runs like a top. Probably better than it has ever run before.
Nick learned a lot too which is an added bonus. He know what to look for, what sounds to listen to, and how to change things now.
Awesome of you to lend him a hand! Good for you guys. Although working in that Georgia heat is about as appealing as repacking wheel bea....... Oh wait, nevermind.
Wow. That is some impressive trickeration to get in there! Stan beat me to the punch on ATRAC. That had to have some negative affect on it's function, although I would be pretty ignorant on the topic as a collector of 99's 
Reminds me of what I probably looked like working on my Super Duty's FICM last weekend. Probably nothing but my feet hanging out of the engine bay!!!
Reminds me of what I probably looked like working on my Super Duty's FICM last weekend. Probably nothing but my feet hanging out of the engine bay!!!
Glad to see your drivers side cv is still holding up. Not the most perfect conditions for that install. Keep in mind that one has about 150k on it. Also glad to see you took care of those upper ball joints. Would not have been fun to have any front end problems on the side of a mountain.
What did your old Timing belt look like? I need to do the 90K sevice soon
- Thread starter
- #50
The ball joint was in horrible shape! I'm glad we swapped that axle out and you noticed that. I still need to rebuild one of the axles I have and send one to you.
Honestly, I had 136K on the timing belt, I have overheated 6 times (Coolant issues, lack of proper cooling system maintenance, and drive it extremely hard). I would not hesitate to drive another 40K on the old belt. It looked pretty fresh.
Doesn't surprise me. I have 245K miles on mine.
Nick, have you figured why your truck runs so hot? In Ouray, you were running at 198 and I was at 185 and we were driving the exact same trail!
- Thread starter
- #53
I have found the issues. My radiator was a block of mud. This resulted in a false reading of coolant, when we drained the engine there was a gallon or so. I was several gallons low. I have not seen temps over 194*F yet. There is something to be said about the mud in the south...
- Thread starter
- #54
So the 180K service is competed, the brakes are completed, and new CV Axle. The truck drives fabulous, better than it has ever before. I owe Onur (Beno) a huge thanks for helping with the service. It was a lot more work than I imagined, and I mean a LOT of work!
So continuing my build thread and evolution...
I started wheeling a bit more, since I had a lift and tires I went further. Now the 100 stock bumper is short, and sits up high (compared to most SUVs now days), but I still found myself sliding and bumping it on climbs. So instead of saving for a new front bumper, I bought some more lights.
Lights... oh I love lights. I added two more IPF's. They were shaweet at night. So back to the bumper, I started wheeling more. Which meant my bumper got pretty banged up. It was missing several tabs holding it on, and was scratched up. I saved for about a year and had my eyes (and wallet) set on a 03+ ARB Combo Bar. I finally ordered it and was so anxious to get it I called the shop every day to see where it was. It was shipped from the ARB distributor in Seattle,WA and was on there truck. 7 days they said...7 long, tiring, anxious days. I dreamed about installing it, i dreamed about how awesome it would look. But I was concerned about the weight. You see, I still had a lift... but I had factory torsion bars that had already seen (at the time) 105K. I wasn't sure how they would hold up with the added weight of the ARB dangling over the front end. I guess I would see. I called the shop on the 7th day and they said it was in Orlando, FL. WTF??? I had to go through Atlanta to get the Orlando! Apparently the shop didn't unload it and it would take another 2 days to get here. I was so pissed.
2 days later they call. I was so excited I sped off and went to the shop. I pulled in and there was a sweet looking 80 there. The owner had bought a brushgaurd (i removed mine the month before because I whacked it and bent it a little, and hated the way it looked) and said he was getting it installed. I said with a cocky voice, "geez, thats great. I just bought an ARB". He had never seen or heard of one so I showed it to him. It was still on the crate and all boxed up but I destroyed the box in excitement. I was thrilled and he was shocked at how well built and nice it was. He then proceeded to the front counter and said he didn't want the brushgaurd installed. And ordered an ARB lol. I drove home and installed it.
the ARB had 2 light mounts on the bottom and 2 on the upper bar work. I thought it looked stupid having them on the upper bar work, so I fabbed up a custom light bar that held the 2 lights.
I ran several trips, some easy, some hard. I blew the driver rear shock at RiverRock ORV in GA. That was a nice touch, especially since I had HD springs in the back. Then the following month I had a seized shock from over extension and encountering 2" thick ice (shown in the video below). I replaced the with 4X Bilstein HD shocks while keeping the factory torsion bars and they ride wonderful. Of course anything rides better than shocks that have 130K on them, one seized and another blown. It was a rough ride for the week of busted shocks. They HAD to go.
So continuing my build thread and evolution...
I started wheeling a bit more, since I had a lift and tires I went further. Now the 100 stock bumper is short, and sits up high (compared to most SUVs now days), but I still found myself sliding and bumping it on climbs. So instead of saving for a new front bumper, I bought some more lights.
Lights... oh I love lights. I added two more IPF's. They were shaweet at night. So back to the bumper, I started wheeling more. Which meant my bumper got pretty banged up. It was missing several tabs holding it on, and was scratched up. I saved for about a year and had my eyes (and wallet) set on a 03+ ARB Combo Bar. I finally ordered it and was so anxious to get it I called the shop every day to see where it was. It was shipped from the ARB distributor in Seattle,WA and was on there truck. 7 days they said...7 long, tiring, anxious days. I dreamed about installing it, i dreamed about how awesome it would look. But I was concerned about the weight. You see, I still had a lift... but I had factory torsion bars that had already seen (at the time) 105K. I wasn't sure how they would hold up with the added weight of the ARB dangling over the front end. I guess I would see. I called the shop on the 7th day and they said it was in Orlando, FL. WTF??? I had to go through Atlanta to get the Orlando! Apparently the shop didn't unload it and it would take another 2 days to get here. I was so pissed.
2 days later they call. I was so excited I sped off and went to the shop. I pulled in and there was a sweet looking 80 there. The owner had bought a brushgaurd (i removed mine the month before because I whacked it and bent it a little, and hated the way it looked) and said he was getting it installed. I said with a cocky voice, "geez, thats great. I just bought an ARB". He had never seen or heard of one so I showed it to him. It was still on the crate and all boxed up but I destroyed the box in excitement. I was thrilled and he was shocked at how well built and nice it was. He then proceeded to the front counter and said he didn't want the brushgaurd installed. And ordered an ARB lol. I drove home and installed it.
the ARB had 2 light mounts on the bottom and 2 on the upper bar work. I thought it looked stupid having them on the upper bar work, so I fabbed up a custom light bar that held the 2 lights.
I ran several trips, some easy, some hard. I blew the driver rear shock at RiverRock ORV in GA. That was a nice touch, especially since I had HD springs in the back. Then the following month I had a seized shock from over extension and encountering 2" thick ice (shown in the video below). I replaced the with 4X Bilstein HD shocks while keeping the factory torsion bars and they ride wonderful. Of course anything rides better than shocks that have 130K on them, one seized and another blown. It was a rough ride for the week of busted shocks. They HAD to go.
Your write up is coming along very nicely, Nick. Great job. Also, I just wish that I was ad adamant at getting pictures as you are. Keep it coming...
Fwiw, the upper mounts on the ARB bars are for aerials, not lights 
While one could put lights there, it would be about as practical as mounting your hi-lift there 
While one could put lights there, it would be about as practical as mounting your hi-lift there - Thread starter
- #58
Thanks! I've always taken a billion pictures at events. It's always fun to rewind a few years and look at the trips.
Fwiw, the upper mounts on the ARB bars are for aerials, not lights
I never mounted lights on top of the bar. I didn't want the high lift inside (no barrier). They have antennas on them now
10-4, I was just pointing out their use as many assume they are light mounts. Great looking build
- Thread starter
- #60
10-4, I was just pointing out their use as many assume they are light mounts. Great looking build
Thanks! Way back in the day I mounted the IPF 968's on the upper tabs for a night, it was horrible. It's the only thing you can focus on while driving.