What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (61 Viewers)
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Rear bumper all tacked together and removed from the LC . Now to a couple more braces and all the finishing welds and cleanup before primer and paint.
ExpoGeorgia is the king of understatement. What "got stuck" really means is I went down the slope first, started sliding, and then with the assistance of a medium-size shrub, finally stopped, sideways, on the trail. It's kind of a blur now, but I think the sequence from that point forward was: try to get straightened up, slide down the trail backward; try to go back up, slide down the trail backwards again; drive up on the edge of the trail (over several pine saplings), slide backwards a little, to a final stop.
What "[e]ventually" means is: at my request, we spent about three exhausting hours slipping up and down the slope, as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, to move my cruiser about 15 feet, using my recovery strap, a tow chain, and my hi-lift jack. When we couldn't reach the next tree, I finally admitted that it was time to try and call for help. Expo had stopped on a small ledge toward the top of the incline, where he thought he could easily turn around and drive back up the trail. That is, until he tried to turn around and drive back up the trail.
So, we walked up the trail instead until Expo's girlfriend's phone had a signal (our phones were useless), and I started calling everyone I could think of, including people in Georgia Offroad Ministries (formerly Georgia Jeepers). They have an Emergency Response Team (ERT), and a couple of hours later help arrived.
The yellow arrow is Jeep#1, which was anchored to a tree with a recovery strap. Jeep #1 has his winch cable attached to Jeep#2. Jeep#2 has a recovery strap attached to Expo's Lexus.
Expo and Jeep#2 being pulled up from the very top of the slope.
I was too far down for a cable and straps to reach from the top. So, the plan was that Jeep#2, a JK with one-ton axles, lockers, and 40" tires, was going to come down to me. Then, he'd turn around, I'd strap up to him, and he'd winch both of us back up. However, they wanted me to back (slide) all the way to the bottom just in case Jeep#2 started sliding on the way down.
The last thing I wanted to do was tempt fate with a 3rd backward trip down the trail, but it ended up being the least sphincter-tightening one of the day. When Jeep#2 started down, he didn't go more than 15' before he started sliding. He slid past where I would have been if I hadn't moved, but was able to stop without hitting me at the bottom. He turned around, and then we both drove as far back up the trail as we could, which wasn't very far. From there we strapped up and he had to do five full pulls with his 75' winch cable to get up to where we finally had real traction.
Close-up
As is always the case, the angle was steeper than it appears in the photos. However, the real factor that day was the slickness of the dirt. If you stepped on a bare tire rut (no leaves, sticks, etc.), your feet would slip. Period.
Sheesh Randy, where were you guys? Charlies Creek? I'm sorry I wasn't there. If you'd've called I would have been there in 8 hours, but that's better than letting that jeep thing pull you out. And I could've went wheeling... You gotta get a winch bro! Do you even work out?
Installed new OEM Starter. Ordered rebuild kit for the one I took out. Then I'll have it for next time or for friend in need.
Washed all the cruisers on Saturday. Then it poured rain on Sunday.
Washed all the cruisers on Saturday. Then it poured rain on Sunday.
Little bit more progress on the double triangulated 3/4 link rear. Upper wishbone mount. Note that uniball is not centered in this pic. Found it easier to tack in the arms at the right width then center the uniball afterwards vs the other way around:
More uptravel than I can use
With the tire maxed out into the fender
More uptravel than I can use
With the tire maxed out into the fender
Kevin LeClaire
Ridge Runner
Flushed the power steering and filed with atf, shackie mirror fix.
Draining and putting 10000 cst silicon fluid in Eaton clutch fan...put in about 50ml...and doing a rear heater delete while waiting for my new Koyorad a1918...glad im doing it now before the 100deg temps show up 
Just bypassed my rear heater a few weeks ago too. Not sure when I’ll finally pull it out though.Draining and putting 10000 cst silicon fluid in Eaton clutch fan...put in about 50ml...and doing a rear heater delete while waiting for my new Koyorad a1918...glad im doing it now before the 100deg temps show up
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Draining and putting 10000 cst silicon fluid in Eaton clutch fan...put in about 50ml...and doing a rear heater delete while waiting for my new Koyorad a1918...glad im doing it now before the 100deg temps show up
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View attachment 1678398
Do your self a favor and get the modded blue clutch or mod a blue clutch on your own. I must of taken my Eaton clutch in and out of the cruiser 7-8 time and finally gave up and ordered a blue hub fan clutch. Only thing the Eaton is good for is the recycling bin!
Only silver lining is that I can take one out in less than 10 minutes now.
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I backed my 80 out of the garage...to roll my son's 2004 Dodge Dakota in to replace ball joints...6 hours and only made it through the passenger side...I didn't think I'd ever miss doing a birf job! Good times spent with my boy though. 
That is some serious get R done...
Sorry to hear about the broken wheel studs after all this work.
I feel inferior to say I installed a new power steering pump & swappd out a leaking fuel tank. But it took me 4 Days to do just those 2 items.
Congratulations, like is said "Half your life is ruined by your parents and the other half by your children"....enjoy the time in between
Dirty Koala
SILVER Star
I work well umder pressure...If I didn't have a trip planned that list might take me a year to complete
I put another 710 miles under the rig yesterday, Lincoln, NE to Rock Spring, WY...almost to SLC!
Fuel tanks are a PIA to R&R...but at least Mr T was gratious enough to give us a drain plug.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
Its amazing right, same happens here install new shocks control arms breaks. Put in new calipers the hilift mount snaps off. keeps ya busy. lolMy truck has decided that it is a believer in equilibrium. A few weeks back when I did the rear axle overhaul, the gas vapor canister gave up the ghost. Then when I did the front axle, the starter motor checked out. Last week I finished the brake system overhaul and today I find 2 busted U-joints on the rear prop shaft... I don't have any spares so had to pull the rear shaft and lock out the CDL - front wheel drive is a weird thing on a cruiser. Least I know what I am doing next weekend.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
so that 2 members that i know of that tied the know this weekend one at ouray and yourself. well done.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
your ears might have been ringing as myslef and another member were talking at length about your work and here it is. your a mad scientist jose.
Box Rocket
SILVER Star
Had a busy weekend. Have been helping a buddy (new cruiser owner) with a front end rebuild. He busted it a few weeks back and I helped him tear it apart expecting a busted diff, but it ended up being just a broken cage in the birf. We got it all put back together on Saturday and hopefully he learned a bit so he can tackle the front end work on his own in the future.
Also, swapped out the 4 main gauge cluster lights for white LEDs, along with all the shift indicator and HVAC control lights. So much better! and guess what? I have a D light again.
Also, swapped out the 4 main gauge cluster lights for white LEDs, along with all the shift indicator and HVAC control lights. So much better! and guess what? I have a D light again.
Not so recently, but within the last 3-4 weeks I discovered the source of my exhaust leak. I know it was because the exhaust is only supported by the tailpipe hanger and the manifolds.
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I threw a patch and a clamp on for now until I can take the pipe off and repair it proper. Also did a quick hanger fix with some metal bar stock, but need a more permanent solution. Seems my only choice is to replace that section with OEM, $$$, or aftermarket, AUS/CX Racing - either one $$.
View media item 68002
I threw a patch and a clamp on for now until I can take the pipe off and repair it proper. Also did a quick hanger fix with some metal bar stock, but need a more permanent solution. Seems my only choice is to replace that section with OEM, $$$, or aftermarket, AUS/CX Racing - either one $$.
If you talk to the fan clutch expert the Eaton is to go to clutch. With that said I run a modded Eaton and rarely see 200° even pulling 7% grade in the our 115° summers.
If you choose to go blue send me your Eaton
