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Well. Jeep is on the wheels above and 31" duratracs. No pics because my camera is mia.
SYE isnt installed yet... lack of funds. Spent my money on plane tickets to go home on leave instead.
My E-4 pay kicks in this coming paycheck so maybe in the next mont I should have that installed. Well see.
So... Update.
I bought a '14 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road while I was still stationed in NY. I kept the Jeep and planned to slowly turn it into less and less of a dd and more into a trail toy. I had applied for orders to Groton.....
So they sent me to Hawaii instead.
Great place but the military will only ship one vehicle on their dime, and as I wasnt going to make payments on a vehicle I cant regularly drive I elected to ship my new truck. So my Jeep now rests at my dad's house, where I use it on leave or he uses for fun.
Bad news: I cant work on it.
Good news: Its not a dd anymore.
So additions/events before my move: Added trucklite LED headlights (great light output) , installed the tires and wheels mentioned above, replaced radiator hoses with silicones from HPS (after the upper blew on the interstate), have the SYE kit and an adjustable tracbar.....both sitting in the back. Along with the reese hitch mount that I managed to rip off the jeep (combination of rust and a double axle uhaul with all my possessions; frame wlls welded and stronger than ever). Bought floor liners from Rugged Ridge IIRC (recommend fronts but rears are not one piece), and managed to rip off a bumper cap again when hunting on my transfer leave.
And when my dad took it for a spin the other week.
Where he would eventually get stuck on the beach. Thankfully someone else was putting along and he got their attention.
Which brings me to my plans. First install the small parts store in the back of my jeep. And second and more expensively I will be purchasing an ARB rear locker and small air actuator. Already have earmarked the fuund just got to talk to my dad about contacting my friendly neighborhood mechanic.
If you wanted a selectable locker I would suggest putting that in the front, and something like a Detroit in the rear, or even a cheaper auto locker. Having the front locked will help you the best off road I think. Just a suggestion and my opinion.
The jeep looks great, I like the looks of the visor.
Also my opinion, be glad you're in Hawaii instead of Groton... There is a reason the whole Navy calls it "Rotten Groton". Although you would have been closer to your home.
I dont want to put an auto locker in because of all the negative side effects especially when driving in snow on the road. And as I have the C8.29 rear the only option I have for select-able is ARB. I have plans for a front but I gotta do one thing at a time.
I know how crappy groton is I just had planned the next four years living there, really didnt expect to get HI.
Talked to my dad about looking into pricing for the locker install, after I get an estimate and back from my underway Im thinking Ill pull the trigger on the locker.
Well. It’s been a while.
I just separated from the Navy and moved back to Maine and I’ll start fixing the Jeep. It’s no longer my primary vehicle so I can take my time. As it’s winter here already and my garage is filled with my temperamental tractor,the work is going to be slow and sporadic. But here are my short term plans:
install a sye (which I’ve had for the last 5 yrs in a box) and then remove the transfer case drop
pull a driveshaft that will work (curious if anyone’s tried a front shaft from a Grand Cherokee)
install an an adjustable track bar ( also sitting gathering dust)
change out the the wiper fluid pump motor
And fix/ upkeep some outstanding problems ( electrical problems, change the differential oil etc)
Biggest long term goal will be tackled in the summer and that is addressing the cancer that is rust.
Well. I’ve begun removing my transfer case to install the sye kit.
Unfortunately I live in the rust belt so it’s going fairly miserably. I’ve gotten all the way to actually unbolting the transfer case from the transmission, with only seven bolts/studs sheared off.
I can’t seem to get the top three nuts off the transfer case as there isn’t much room to turn a wrench, can’t even fit a socket on one. Any suggestions from someone who has done it?
Sye install is complete with the exception of a new rear driveshaft. Had to replace almost all the hardware holding the transfer case up but it is done.
And the wiper motors are replaced. They weren’t only falling apart but tank was frozen solid.
Last edited by ivantheigor; 12-14-2018 at 01:16 PM.
well great to see your back . thank you for your service keep us updated with the progress on your build . I know how painful it can be to work on anything from the rust belt I have lived in NE OHIO my whole life lol
Weather has warmed up, but the rain has slowed me down.
Pulled the interior and headliner. And have begun to address the floor.
I will be installing a fender flare kit to address rust around the rear wheel wells and minimize the bondo magic there. Already pulled new front fenders from another as mine were less than pristine.
Biggest road bump is the rear frame rails especially around the rear shackle mount. It isn’t pretty. I’m thinking I can use frame stiffeners and a shackle relocation kit and that should be sufficient. Any thoughts?
I plan on getting a full set of frame stiffeners as I’m attacking all the rust underneath. I’d like to install a long arm kit directly following as half of the work would be done (ie removing all the old junk) Additionally I could cut off the old lower control arm mounts and plate then. I’d be going to 4.5 inches of lift, and with the fender flare kit previously mentioned, run no larger than 33’s
However I could instead invest in a re-gearing and a selectable locker. I’d go up maybe a tire size but maintain
my current stock short arm lift.
That rear unibody rust looks bad. Plating it should work okay if there's enough clean metal, to me it looks like you'll have to patch it before welding on frame stiffeners. Looks too far gone to simply weld over.
I'd rather re-gear and lockers. You'll get more flex with long arms, but with the locker and regear you gain more power, and traction.
11-13-2012, 12:11 AM
