I should be finishing it up this evening. All that is left is to finish weld the upper bar to the lower and the support tube and then the axle side brackets. The axle side brackets will be done at a local club members shop since he a welder far better than my little 110V

 

Sold the 15's or the calipers?

 

15's. I can't go smaller on the calipers.

 

I here you finished this beast of a traction bar.
Too bad your photographer wasn't there to help

 

Well Adam still may not have posted pictures for ya'll to see but I rode in this thing over the weekend. A traction bar does make for a sweet ride, especially when you lock them up and the rear slides side ways a little bit. Still felt totally stable.

 

Yea I've been a little busy lately. The traction bar, as stated already, is complete and working great. Rear does rise under acceleration but it sucks it down under braking. With the 1 ton chevy calipers and the dodge 2500 master cylinder I am able to lock up the rear. Not too shabby for some heavy 38s. I've got pics but have to go searching for them because I recently switched phones and have to figure out where the pics ended up.

 

Couldnt find the pics of the finished traction bar but I did find a couple pics of some final flex testing. What I have found is:

-Rear shock has .5" of travel left once rear tire hits rear of fender
-Front bumper still needs to be trimmed
-Front bump stops are perfect once bumper is trimmed
-At full lock and stuffed front tire hits front of slider
-I look like a goofball standing next to it to give a size perspective haha


I also took out the RC crawler yesterday morning. Went to a new spot we were tipped off about. Really cool crawling at the edge of a lake. Only pic I was able to find was just some tire flex.

 

Finished pics of the traction bar

 

Got out for a shake down run this past weekend. A few issues came up. First, I threw a bead off the passenger front tire but was able to get that set with the help of others in the group and its currently still holding air just fine. Next, steering...hydroassist is now a must. I have priced out everything I need and will hopefully be ordering all of that sometime this week or next. Finally, overheating...for the first time since I've owned this jeep it got up to about 220-230 on a long, steep, rocky hill climb. Once at the top it cooled itself down without issue. I have come to the conclusion that a larger and better placed tranny cooler is needed.

Other than the small items mentioned above, the shakedown run was a complete success. I was able to walk up and over everything I attempted whereas when I was on my old set up I had to really work at it on some obstacles.

Also, my newest shotgun rider did great the whole trip. I believe she enjoyed it just as much as I did. On the way there she rode just like this...


On to the wheeling pics....








Here are two of the videos from the trip. You'll have to click on each to watch them in a new tab. First is a failed attempt at setting the bead. Second is a large rock face and then short, steep climb. Filming started just after I came up the rock face so that part is missing.

 

I should have more pics and videos coming.

 

Dude, that thing did awesome this weekend.

 

Well I stopped by autozone and picked up a tranny cooler. Got it installed after work. No leaks so far. I'll keep an eye on temps to see if it's really helping or not. I decided to keep the stock cooler I removed and when I do the hydro assist I'll use it for a steering cooler.

 

Headed down to Charlotte Saturday morning to pick up the starting points for a hybrid cage.

 

Nice rig! Its came a long way. Did you ever address the rms? I dig the scale crawlers! I need to get me another one. They sure were fun! Couldnt help but notice your kappa sigma sticker?

 

Thanks! I never did replace the rms. It doesn't leak very much so I've just let it go. Once I start seeing a significant change in oil loss I'll replace it. The rc crawlers are a blast. I just got done building another one. I was a Kappa Sig at UNC Charlotte, Kappa Omega chapter. Pledged back in fall '08 and was active until graduating in spring '14.