That sounds awesome Ted, I really appreciate the offer! You guys make some really cool sliders! I'll get a hold of you later to work out all the details and such. Thanks again man!

 

Come on Nate, smashed doors add character.

 

I agree...as long as it's not your DD.

-Ted

 

Believe me, this thing will get its bumps and bruises. I just want to try to keep it functional.

 

Finally got everything put together and went to test it out, only to find out that the transfer case shift linkage was missing. I made my own out of a couple of .50cal cleaning rods that I had laying around and a washer. It isn't pretty, but it works.


Then, I got to go test it out!




Still have a couple of kinks to work out but I'm happy with it.

 

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK! Great pics, and great looking blueberry, bud!

 

Is that axle suppose to rotate that much in the front? The one pic where you the driver side rear wheel up.

Oh....glad to see it rolling out of the driveway.under its own power. How does it track going straight down the road? Put some miles on those gears and post when you're ready to hit woodpecker. I'd like to go with you on your first outing.

-Ted

 

Great work, now do a real test, mud and rocks.

 

Thanks Chef!

Ted, I think the front axle looks more rotated than it is. I'm going to double check, but I know the high pinion kinda throws me off. It feels really floaty on the road. I think its a combination of me not having owned a solid axle for over 10 years, a hasty alignment, and slack in the steering box.

I'll get everything worked out, pick up some new rubber, and hopefully be ready to get it out for a shake down run within the next couple of weeks.

 

These two pics are just downright sexy! There is no other way to sum it up!

 

OR...maybe one spring compressing and the other one isn't? Oh well, I've never ridden in one, so my opinion would be for snot. Either way, I'm super happy for you...I know you've been itching to get it done.

-Ted

 

Well, looks like I'll be running Goodyear MTRs. KM2s are on backorder for at least 8-10 weeks plus nowhere has any in stock, nobody knows when Super Swamper will start making LTBs again, and I decided Iroks just aren't practical for what I need right now. Everything else is either too "all terrain" or just too expensive for something that I plan to thrash on the rocks. So on to choice number 4, MTR Kevlars. My size is supposedly on backorder for the next year, but Discount Tire found a cache of 3 sets in Ohio. I possibly ordered one of the last sets in the world.

 

Wow, I can't believe it was that difficult to find good tires. I thought 35's were such a common tire size that places would stock it. The MTR Kevlars sound like a good tire, hopefully they make it from Ohio.

 

No kidding man! After reading quite a few reviews though, I think they may fit the bill well, even if they do look ridiculous!

 

I've wheeled a jeep with em' (shh! don't tell anyone) and they seemed like solid tires. However this was up in Sedona and the wife didn't want to hit any thing serious....but I pounded em going down the staircase/ steps or whatever its called...made the wife get out for that one. But again, they gripped nicely and weren't to loud getting to the trail head.

-Ted

 

Thanks Ted, that's good to hear. I've wheeled with a jeep rubicon that had them as well. They seemed to hook up well, although the driver was 70 years old and, at the time, I just equated it to his "experience" (read: 6 speeds & 4:1 t-case gears).

 

Well, you may not wanta hear this then... It was a Wrangler Rubi, locked front and rear with the standard (IIRC) 4.0:1 t-case as well. But down hill, that doesn't count....umm does it? No man, even unlocked, cause I wanted to do a "scientific" comparison, up submarine rock, I left it unlocked on the begining portion. That part to me was the worst of it at the time and the tires performed well both ways. Minimal slip unlocked. Hope this helps boost your positive impression with shelling out so much on em.

-Ted

 

Picked up the new tires today. I'm hoping to get it out next weekend for a shake-down run and to form an opinion on this goofy tread pattern.

 

Looking great, brother!

Definitly one of my favorite builds

 

Thank you!