I did have a little drama last weekend wheeling. Nothing major but is has shown another problem as a result.
You may recall me going on about engine mounts back on page 2 or 3. After we fixed a number of things the engine mounts took a back burner. On top of this I don't want to weld in new mounts on my 84 frame. I will be replacing the frame with the 88 so what is the point!? Any ways, I heard the fan contact the shroud a few times last weekend and also the weekend before while wheeling. There is no visable damage to the fan or shroud, none to speak of anyways. It is really minor and only under a heavy throttle when I am bouncing in the rough. Yet, I noticed today this has caused me to get an exhaust leak, where my header flange is and it dumps to the Y-pipe.
My engine mounts are shot, it is obviously causing to much movement in the motor. Don't want to weld in new ones but have to do something. So I may just buy some new AA doughnuts to hold me over until frame swap time.
Besides this (and any new little dramas that come up!) I have a small list of things to do...
-replace my Hella relay for my 550 driving lights. It seems shot, power coming in but not going out no matter what I do.
-Leaking ARB solenoid, spits oil out the solenoid into engine compartment. This is for my rear locker, thought maybe the breather was plugged causing it. Cleaned the breather and still have problem, however seems less. Need to look closer at the rear ARB, I checked the lines and they are all good. Maybe the o-ring?
-Buy and build onboard air system. I bought the box to hold my compressor and wiring. Going to use my Viair portable compressor, just going to take it apart and hard wire it to a pressure switch, switch on dash and plumb it to a 2gallon tank. Also thinking I will dump my ARB compressor and run my lockers off my on-board air system.
-Upgrade a few switches to these...
OTRATTW I will eventually go to an in cab winch controlls and at least one large pannel for switches. Will be using the OTRATTW switches only, may use a 12v Guy pannel for the winch.
-bolt down my console and install new stereo with iPod port. I have the stereo already but need to install it in my console and remove the one form the dash.
-Fix my back up lights, I have none. I think it may be the switch on the tranny. Cut a hole or two in my Kaymar rear bumper and install some aux back up lights.
-Replace my Kaymar brake/turn signal lights with some LEDs. The Hella lights in my Kaymar suck, replaced bulbs several times and they keep falling out. All corroded inside and just plain shot. No problem to cut and weld for new light brackets or whatever.
-Have CBI Off-Road build me a tire carrier kit that will suit my Kaymar. Not paying the outrageous price for the Kaymar carrier. Have spoken to CBI who has done much work for me in the past. They can build a kit that I will weld up and install myself. Only going for a carrier, I don't like to carry anything other then the tire outside my truck.
-Have CBI make me a new RHS lower leaf spring plate. I need one that is about 1/2-3/4" longer so my u-bolts are not doing this \ / and I also want to rotate the shock pin 90 degrees. CBI will be cheaper than RuffStuff.
-Have CBI make me a few new axle to sway bar mounts. I want to beef these up, the ones that go over the rubber bushing and are slotted on one side. I think we will just do something that bolts on top and bottom.
-Upgrade my sway bar links to a 1/2" grade 8 bolt and sleeve. I am running a 3/8" grade 5 and it is already tweaked.
-Start on my air intake system. First thing to do is buy a couple silicone fittings and move my air filter. I am also really considering using this....
Poly Performance JEEP/TRUCK & BUGGY*::*Engine & Performance*::*Air Intake Systems & Parts*::*River Raider Air Box (Universal) - 4X4 Off-Road Parts, JK Synergy Suspension Systems, Fox Racing Shox, Beard, CNC Brakes, Johnny Joints®, Currie Enterprises, and then eventually running from that to a Safari snorkel. Won't have the cash for the Safari anytime soon, they are pretty damn expensive! May look into a custom snorkel using silicone and stainless, if it reasonably cheaper to make my own I will go that route.
-Have CBI make me a mount for my high rise jack that will hold it on one side of my rear cargo area. Should be a very simple mount, that is all I need.
-Replace or upgrade my headlights. I have a dead high beam.
-Upgrade my windshield washer nozzles. I don't like mine now that it is winter.
There is more but for now this is what I have found I need to focus on. Two or three trips wheeling and driving the truck around town plus on the HWY in winter conditions has shown me what I need to do. Cargo space needs to be freed up and I need things bolted down so if I roll my truck I won't die! Back up lights are really needed and so on and so forth. In no big hurry for things like in cab winch controls, when I have cash to do it I will. My heater stopped leaking so not worrying about that right now. Truck runs cool now that it is winter, only gotten hot twice in the last 6 weeks. So for right now shroud will be done sometime in the next 4 months.
Most all this stuff is pretty cheap to do. A few hundred bucks here and there as I have spare cash. I need to buy a soldering station and plan to do that soon. I want all my wiring to be soldered and then shrink wrapped. Might as well start on that now since I have wiring to do!
My rims are in route, delivered from M/T to 4Wheelparts in Colorado. So I should see them in a few days. Then I will mount them up and get them balanced. My tire siper is in route too so once it is all here I will go at siping my tires. Already have a plan on that as far as what direction and lugs to sipe.
