I WANT YOUR XJ

 

lol... that almost makes you sound like the Uncle Sam of Jeeps

 

Haha! I hope to have a 2 door like yours someday

 

haha I appreciate it man. It's been a long work in progress. I'm still laid up from my work injury but once the settlement comes in from the insurance company, I believe I'll have a lot of stuff to get done

 

Well nothing to really report with work on the rig. I started physical therapy on my hand last week and I'll have to do 2-3 months of it according to the doctor. But, I do have a grinding feeling in the floor board around the 20-25 mph range. I believe the TC is about done. I replaced the rear output seal and the front is leaking now. I keep adding fluid just to limp it along until I get full use of my hand back and can really work on it. I've been debating buying a jy TC and rebuilding that while I still DD the rig. Thoughts?

I did go to a meet and greet at my university. We had a good turn out of about 15 rigs or so, all forms of 4x4's from the stock XJ all the way up to a Cummins on 40's. It was a good time talking with the guys and then grabbing a beer with them after.

 

I vote build a D300 lol jk, if you need a hand with it let me know and I'll be glad to drop by

 

Well it has been some time hasn't it?

I'm happy to report that I am done with physical therapy after getting my hand caught in a lathe at work back in July. I have 95% movement and 100% feeling back. But, pain is still there so I'm limited on what I can do. Guy in the white coat says it'll be 6-8 months before the pain should be completely gone. I'm perfectly fine with that because I could be sitting here typing without a thumb.

So, now that that report is over, let's move to the rig. Nothing has really been done because of my injury and my senior design project. I did remove the roof rack. The lights are also gone. The rack is going to be stripped down and repainted. The lights are going to be rewired with heavier gauge wire for better output. All this is happening in my spare time which is extremely limited at the moment. Hopefully after Nov 15th the design stages of my senior design project will be done and I can breathe. At that time everything will be completed.

 

Glad everything with your hand is getting better.

Can't wait to see some more Jeep mods.

 

Jeep looks good!! Jealous of the 2 door for sure. Just curious as to how u got ur hand stuck in a lathe? Being a toolmaker myself, I instantly assume u mean manual lathe..

 

It was an old Milltronics CNC machine. A long stock of material was used to make multiple parts. We were using graphite and there was no parts catcher so you have to catch the part by hand after the cut off tool makes it's pass. I had my hand around the part when I looked up at the screen to make sure everything was smooth there. Before I knew it the cut off tool caught my glove and went straight through my thumb as it was pitched against the rotating part.

I know your next question is going to be why wear gloves around that? Well the parts being made go into a super high heat furnace and if the oils from your hands gets on the part, it ruins it because it changes it's thermal properties.

 

I've got photos of everything except the machine. I don't think yall wanna see that gory stuff but if ya do, I can post them up.

 

Ouch. That sounds painfull.... I can only imagine. I've seen 3/4 shanks be sheared off so I know that ain't goin to stop for ur thumb. Its good to hear u have a pretty close to full recovery!

U can pm them if u want.

 

Dang dude im glad your hand is recovering. Any Uwharrie plans before they close next month?

 

Unfortunately no. My senior design project has taken all of my time this semester. My final package is due Dec. 6th and the weekend of the 14th I have to work so I wont be able to make it before it closes. Come April though, I'll be out there. Next semester of school should be a cake walk as I'm only taking 2 classes before I graduate.

 

Well the first real work on the Jeep since July will start tomorrow. I've got an axle seal that decided it doesnt want to be a seal anymore. Got a couple buddies that are gonna come by and give me a hand. Oddly, I'm looking forward to the smell of gear oil. It's been way too long.