my wife says the same kind of stuff when it comes to me, she gets a little frustrated sometimes but shes always ok with it. Im sure Ive had us on the path to crackers for dinner more than once but we always seem to get thru. Im probablly more mad about this than she is, Ive been trying to not spend big money that I couldnt justify because I was planning on getting a winch and building a front bumper but that has been back burnered for a good while now.

 

spent most of the day yesterday working on the 86 trying to get it road worthy, Im gaining on slowly. Today I dug into this one tried to get the rear 3rd out and coulnt manage to get that done but after alittle research I discovered what I eas doing wrong so I should be able to drop it out the next time Im home. Im a little frustrated that none of the parts Ive ordered have shown up yet not sure what the deal is with that but I will give it a couple more days with christmas and all. I was just looking things over today and reminding myself of other things that need fixing while Ive got it in the shop I knew the lower link on the driver side was bent but I noticed the one on the pasenger side is bent as well.

driver side


pasenger side


I will be pulling both these and doing somthing to beef them up, I thought about makeing new ones out of DOM tube but Im not sure yet might just press them straight and weld some angle iron skids to them.
I also notice a while back my front skid plate seemed twisted and when I pulled it off I discovered why.

not a great pic but the area that the plate mounts to is bent up and back towards the driver side so I will be figureing out how to staighten that out as well and figure a way to beef it up.
another thing my lower shock mount bushing on the front are shot, I plan to replace them the shocks I meen but I cant afford it at the moment has anybody replaced just the bushings?
thats it for this time at home thanks checking in.

 

I wouldn't see why not..

 

Yes on the bushing, I just spent 10 minutes without luck looking for the thread that had some pics (no how-to though) of someone's freshly pressed new bushings. Did it himself, 3rd gen even.

Addicted had a bolt in cross member of which some pics are on the bumper page, looks like not available separate from the bumper as I thought. Maybe there's a few ideas to be had there....

Those arms aren't bent, just clearanced.

 

I've done a little checking on line for the bushings haven't really found anything 100% but changing them shouldn't be to bad I wouldn't think. It will all be a good excuse to invest in the shop press I've been wanting lol.
I really enjoy wheeling this rig it fast becoming one of my favorites. I really did think I had been wheeling that hard, and I don't want y'all to think I'm the kinda guy that just beats the crap out of his rig and doesn't care. From the bent up stuff pictured if anybody has suggestion of other things I should be looking at please throw it out there, I did notice and didnt get a pic of it but the brake line going to the driverside rear wheel is smashed almost flat in one spot that will be getting changed and rerouted. Honestly I'm a little ashamed of how beat up I have let this thing get.

 

Its ok man we know ˟˟˟˟˟ happens lol just focus on your rig and dont worry bout anyone else

 

No more beating yourself up over some consequential damage when you're dealing with it when you can. Bumps, dents and scratches are part of the game, you know that. Now go fix those (when you get a chance) and post up lots of pics and then go out and give yourself some more to do! With more pics! LOTS more pics!

 

Thanks racer and hab, I appreciate the kind words. I guess I'm just really bummed about missing my new years trip its been planed for awhile but life is such. This rig has served me well over the last year or so it just needs a little TLC at the moment. I would love to take it on a long trip like hab did this past summer or like I've seen other do, so its just time to fix the old girl back up. Trust me hab lots more wheeling pics on the way lol.:

 

WHOO HOOOOOO!!!! PICS!!!!!

I only take mine on long trips because it's my daily driver and if we take the hubby's I won't get to hog the driving and the kid won't be able to kiddicize the seats. There's a reason I've pulled out, scrubbed and hosed the rear seats off.

 

Haha, I drive all day everyday so I gladly pass that off. I understand the kiddo thing too, I can always tell when the wife has had the grand kids in a vehicle.

 

I'm not home yet but I understand a few parts have showed up. Yea.

 

the rear diff is on the bench. really agrivated I had took all the bolts out of the rear diff last time home and couldnt get it to budge so I just left it, only to come home to a huge pudlle of 90 weight all over the floor ugh any way its out. started on the rack bushings only to find I need and dont have a 20mm deep socket again ugh. pulled the front shocks and got the old bushings pressed out got the new ones ordered from energy suspention. I was really hopeing to get more done but progress is progress so I will take it LOL. hope every one had a merry christmas.

 

LOL..Your 90 weight oil experience sounds just like what I just got done cleaning up a few days ago. Still have to get the 85 out of the way to clean up under it as well. Urghhhh!! I know your frustrations. Of course they dont start leaking while you are in there. They start when you walk out. But still progress is progress.

 

This is the 2nd time something like this has happened, the first time my shop was only a couple months old, I was so freaking mad but there has been many spills on it now it likes well just clean it up and move on lol.

 

We I got the rack bushings from wheelers installed, pretty straight forward. I was surprised at how soft the original bushings where. The front end in this thing never seemed to bad to me but it will be really nice to see how much better it will be with the new parts. Not getting much else done its just to cold to be out in the shop but I will be back at it soon.

 

Wait, this thing isn't SAS'd, 5.7 LS1'd and Hovercraft Capable yet?????? hahahahaha..... Jk, this thing is BA, nice work on all the stuff I'd missed, man. It is a trip how some bushings seem to do fine and others just turn to powdered sugar, dyed black, of course, haha.

Call me, homie, k?

 

Hey mark thanks for checking in buddy, I'm really frustrated with my lack of progress on this thing I just have to many fires to put out at the moment. Solid axle hmm research tells me way way way out of my budget but maybe someday.

 

Well with the holidays and all the past few weeks I haven't got any work done on the runner. Spent the past weekend camping and wheeling with some friends in the LC club, my first time camping in the winter, had a great time. This coming weekend I'm heading up to the mountains in east Tn for a little more wheeling with another group of friends, I actually enjoy riding on these trips almost as much as driving, oh who am I kidding I miss the crap out of my runner and can't wait to get it back on the trails. Hopefully some real updates on the runner soon thanks for checking in.

 

At least the repairs are cheaper this way

 

It'd be tough to sit in that passenger seat, but better than not being there especially when camping is involved! On thinking about it, watching someone else's wheeling style's prolly a good thing. Maybe pick up some how to and not for yous along the way.