Made it to AZ...finally!

[alia176]

After three days of driving, I made it to Phoenix! According to my wife, couple of hours after I left, the weather in the Midwest turned to the crapper! Hails, rain, wind, etc.. Luckily, I had clear sailing all the way. It was great having tail wind through the Midwest but that turned into a side wind and then finally head wind past Amarillo, TX.

This is my first time driving with the roof top tent and the Bistein 7100s. The valving (360/80) in these shocks aren't equipped to handle the higher COG, IMO. I noticed some sway with the cross wind but this became intolerable when I came through Payson. The cross wind and the winding roads made me feel like I was driving my old Range Rover again Glad I brought my OME shocks just in case.

Anyway, if I can borrow someone's driveway/garage floor space for a couple of hours, I'd like to switch back to my OME shocks to do a head to head comparison. I'm hoping that my sway will be diminished somewhat with the N73/N74E shocks. Let me know if I can work on someone's driveway and what beer you like to drink Due to the roof top tent, I'll need a 8' garage door opening; otherwise, a driveway will do just fine!

I'm staying at the Crown Plaza on Peoria and I-17 and my work is in Glendale (Camelback and N 51st ave). I'll be picking up the trail book from the bookstore today and look for some short trails to run on.

Give me a call/PM and we'll meet up.

Ali
312-286-4020 cell
hotel 602-943-2341, room 130

 

[Tools R Us]

Your welcome to use my shop, but it's in central Mesa.

 

[-Spike-]

Damn, my power is down in the shop so I can finish construction. Like, I ripped out the temporary supply lines. Otherwise I'd be able to help you. I can offer a dark shop with no air...

-Spike

 

[alia176]

Thanks guys for the kind offers. Kevin, I'll PM you for you shop info.

Looking forward to wrenching...

Ali

 

[clarkrw3]

you can use my drive way but my garage is only 7'. I am on the west side but maybe as far as Kevin from you, don't know. I work at indian school and 51st Ave and it took and it takes 30 min to get home. I live off of estrella pkwy.

 

[Project FJ80]

I am located at 37th ave and the 101. (101 and I-17) I dont think youll fit in the garage, but the work can be done right out side. If your only changing shocks.. It should'nt take more than an hour.
Your about 10min south of Yorkshire 15 from the house.. This will give you a few options depending on how far you want to drive.

-Ron

 

[Tools R Us]

...If your only changing shocks.. It should'nt take more than an hour...

-Ron

That would depend on how much you BS!

 

[-Spike-]

Yeah, people rarely leave my shop before midnight.

-Spike

 

[DSRTRDR]

I thought the BSing was the most important part, am I wrong?

 

[Tools R Us]

I thought the BSing was the most important part, am I wrong?

Nope!

 

[RHINO]

sounds like my driveway will work out good for ya. i'll give you a call.

 

[alia176]

Well it depends on how much you BS and partake on #6 Anyway, I got the shocks swapped at Kevin's. It took more than an hour due to the fact that I had the Blings and needed to "switch" back to OME shock mode. Thanks a lot Kevin for the use of shop. It felt great knowing that I had access to 30 or so air tools at my disposal

I did meet up with Ron for a late dinner before heading to the hotel for the night. You guys are giving me a freaking size complex Ron's rig is very tall and I'd imagine that will be the common thing at the Sonic meet The Cummins engine looks at home in that massive engine bay and I'm looking forward to the finished product on my return trip here in July.

Anyway, the ride back was a little bit more controlled and way firmer. Once I go through the mountains, I'll know for sure what kind of sway improvements the OME shocks have over the 360/80 valved Blings. Does anyone know what valving Phil has on his rig? It'd be nice to compare to another vehicle with similar weight/mods.

Looking forward to meeting up with y'all at Sonic. Hopefully, some of you will be join me on a trail ride or two this weekend. I'll be done wtih work probably today and will have thursday and friday to just mess around. The plan is to visit a gun shop or two to pickup couple of extended clips and auto loader for the 10-22 and then going to waste some ammo.

On another note, does anyone have a set of air lift helper bags laying around for the 80 in their garage? I'd like to slip a set inside of the rear coils to bring the ass up a bit but 4wheel parts can't get them in this week. Any other ideas?


Thanks.

Ali

 

[clarkrw3]

Ali

I know his valving has been posted on here somewhere but was unsuccessful in finding it. So I guess you will just have to wait for phil to answer that. Glad you got things set. I wish I could wheel with you all this weekend but we are having a family party for my son on Sat. and I have a billion things to get done on my dad's cruiser before moab so Sunday will be full as well. I will see you at Sonic, however.

later
Rob

 

[-Spike-]

Hopefully, some of you will be join me on a trail ride or two this weekend.
Ali

Where ya going? I'm getting cabin fever myself, it's been 2 weeks since I saw dirt.

-Spike

 

[alia176]

Spike,

I was thinking that we'll come up with couple of trails during the Sonic meet on friday eve. It seems that the favorites are Crown King, Box canyon and Martinez trail. We'll be doing a quickie run on Friday through Bulldog or Apache trail before the meet. If interested, call my cell. Like to do some target shooting too if possible. I need to lighten my load before heading home!

Ali
312-286-4020

 

[-Spike-]

Crown King is the opposite direction from Box and Martinez. I may make the meet, if not post up.

-Spike

 

[alia176]

Back way to CK:

It looks like we'll be going to Crown King on saturday. The plan is to meet at the Quickie Mart gas station at the Carefree exit off I-17. Let's meet between 0830-0900 hrs.

Ali
312-286-4020 cell

 

[Project FJ80]

Hey there Ali, I donno if I am going to beable to make it to CK. Being that I just got in at 3:15. ... If Im not there by 8:15am, im probably still sleeping. IF I dont see you again this weekend, then i look forward to seeing you again in July. By then then my rig should be done.
-Ron

 

[alia176]

3:15, Wow! You guys really know how to party at Sonics!!! LOL.. No problem dude, sorry about the last minute thing but I appreciate everything.

Good luck with the killer mods if I don't see you.

Ali

 

[desertdude]

Ali - great to meet you last night at the sonic - Have fun on the CK trail - When you get to the town of CK you can always find the senator trail and keep going to Prescott...