Builds Moonshine - A Build Thread (16 Viewers)

[boots4]

Oh No! Do the doors still open? If you have to jump in the window you're going to need to paint this thing orange and put a number on it. How about the rear hatch and gate, those look a little pinched.

Watched the video, looks like you're running a pretty clean tune. Nice job on the crawling.

 

[sentient schmoo]

Chaos. Muppetry.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Oh No! Do the doors still open? If you have to jump in the window you're going to need to paint this thing orange and put a number on it. How about the rear hatch and gate, those look a little pinched.

Watched the video, looks like you're running a pretty clean tune. Nice job on the crawling.

Front door no issues, rear door had to be kicked open, then the quarter/door kicked out and striker spaced out with a washer, but now it operates as it should.

It was a hell of a fun line!!!!

 

[UZJ105]

Went up to Fall Crawl near Gore, VA this past weekend with @Fort Knox @AJR @SFROMAN @jamesurq and @mwalls54 to hit some trails. We played in a SICK rock garden for about 4 hours the first day, then some greens/blues/blacks/reds the second day until we encountered some technical difficulties

Thanks to @Stumpalama, @afgman786 and others for putting on Fall Crawl!! Killer event boys, and epic park. We'll be back for sure.

Sometimes you just gotta send it.

Video courtesy of @mwalls54

Looks like someone could use a set of sticky Treps

 

[GLTHFJ60]

It's clear that it's time to develop some serious quarter panel protection. I have a dilemma, and need some input.

Should I come up with a plate style quarter panel system like @jcardona1 and @actionjackson 's 80s, or should I do a tube style quarter protection like @VCCruzr?

Plate style:

Rear quarter panel armor - FINALLY!

This is not going to be everybody's cup of tea so purists might wanna turn back now. For the past few years I've been wanting some rear quarter panel armor similar to what you see on the various Jeep platforms. Anybody who wheels their 80 will probably have a few scars and dents on her big ass...

forum.ih8mud.com

Rear quarter panel armor? (Idea)

Hey gang, I'd like input and potential vendors for some rear quarter panel armor. I have managed to drag my 80's a$$ on the Golden Crack in Moab (right side) and the Holy Cross gatekeeper (left side), and nearly took out my taillight on the left side. Photos of my current damage: I'm...

forum.ih8mud.com

Tube style:

Rear Quarter Panel Protection

After my recurring rear quarter panel damage (seen below), I finally decided to fab-up (with help from a great friend) some protection to prevent it, or at least minimize it in the future.

forum.ih8mud.com

I think I'm leaning towards the plate style. What say you mud?

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Plate with some bead-work in it will give some stiffness and slipperyness you're after - although a direct shot will fold it. Tubes are gonna snag on stuff and leave spots unprotected. What about a little of both? Skin the tube work and get the best of both.

 

[40LandCruising]

What park was fall crawl at? I see the video says the cove but the cove I’m familiar with is in Tennessee.

 

[Comet]

Plate with internal reinforcement. Replace the sheet metal quarters completely. Tie into the frame like a roll cage.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

What park was fall crawl at? I see the video says the cove but the cove I’m familiar with is in Tennessee.

The Cove in Gore, VA

The Cove Campground

The Cove is a family owned private campgound for the true outdoor enthusiast.

covecampground.com

 

[boots4]

Which ever you end up deciding on (I like tube work myself) make sure it will slide on stuff and not have sharp points like the first 80 pictured where those stick outs could get caught up on stuff. I have used my rear tube protection probably the most since we've got real estate back there.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The action jackson style is more visually appealing to me, but the 60 lower quarter panel sticks out more.

How about this. Plated/reinforced on the inside down to the 60 lower body line, then tubing from the (soon to come) rear bumper up to protect the lowest portion of the quarter:

 

[J Mack]

I have a dilemma, and need some input.

I have knocked the quarters off my pig more times than I care to mention so after the last time I just built a trail pig. I bobbed and in-boarded the quarters on the trail pig and so far they are staying reasonably dent free.

My input would be
A) Build a trail Moonshine
B) BOB those long rear quarters to get them out of harms way.
C) Stop caring and embrace the trail damage like every Cherokee you see on the trail

 

[mr jits]

The action jackson style is more visually appealing to me, but the 60 lower quarter panel sticks out more.

How about this. Plated/reinforced on the inside down to the 60 lower body line, then tubing from the (soon to come) rear bumper up to protect the lowest portion of the quarter:

View attachment 2822830

I like the plate style for asthetics, and also the tube coming from the bumper. On my first 80 series, I had the tube style to protect the rear quarter and it worked great. One thing I would suggest, which I had on that first truck, was a bit of a kick out

to the tube work. Mine was minor, but it really helped to kick the rear away from trees and rocks when I needed it most.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I have knocked the quarters off my pig more times than I care to mention so after the last time I just built a trail pig. I bobbed and in-boarded the quarters on the trail pig and so far they are staying reasonably dent free.

My input would be
A) Build a trail Moonshine
B) BOB those long rear quarters to get them out of harms way.
C) Stop caring and embrace the trail damage like every Cherokee you see on the trail

I just can't bring myself to build a trail moonshine yet. This truck works too well. The damage doesn't bother me, but I'd like to keep the quarters away from hitting the hatch

Some day I will build a buggy.

 

[87CRUSR]

Moonshine is accustomed to after trail cosmetic work....it wouldn’t be the same rig without its repair history..

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Another weekend in the books with @AJR @Fort Knox @ceby @aquatech3 @neslrac and @IcutYourCruiser . Got some more body damage, broke both side view mirrors (a first for me), ripped off my winch line by overextending it, and absolutely detonated my rear driveshaft while towing @AJR back to camp on the street by accelerating too hard

Picked up a pretty good size limb at one point:

While flat towing my buddy @AJR back on the roads, we pulled over on the shoulder of a 55mph road to let some cars pass, since we were going slow. While merging back on, I matted it, and when I hit second gear, the truck loaded up, then spit out the rear driveshaft

Me taking out the lower half of my now two piece rear driveshaft on the side of the aforementioned road

 

[cruisermatt]

glad to see the mounting still holding up well.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

glad to see the mounting still holding up well.

Oh yeah, major success. I can hammer on this and put enough power through the drivetrain to rip apart a 1350CV, I'd say the driveline mounts are more than sufficient.

 

[mwalls54]

Looks like you all had fun. I hate that I missed it.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Looks like you all had fun. I hate that I missed it.

It was so good. We had the whole of group camp to ourselves at windrock more or less. We all camped in front of the pavilion (pic below).

Full tally of carnage:
- 2x 80 birfields (same truck, different times)
- 1x 80 front diff R&P
- 1x set of 80 rear axle hub studs
- 1x 80 front lunchbox locker stuck locked
- 1x 80 cherry bomb exhaust broke off (straight pipes ftw)
- 1x 4runner tcase shift rails broken (stuck in high range)
- 1x moonshine rear driveshaft
- 1x winch line ripped off the drum (mine)
- many new dents, lost side view mirrors
- 1x atv rolled 11 times (driver bruised but otherwise healthy)

Crazy weekend for sure. Next time someone suggests that a group of full body rigs run Atomic Ridge, just say no