Spanky's YJ

BTW. Holy Schnikeys. SUCH an improvement. I forget I'm doing 70mph in a lifted YJ. So glad I did it, even if it's not my final setup.


AB4BF156-E649-45C1-9943-79D0E1CD8F53.jpeg


383AEA1C-A8F0-4921-AC1E-D9C7F41A8555.jpeg


B0C2DB5D-035E-49D3-83F6-524C4721B551.jpeg


6974AE3B-CD9F-4EEE-BED2-DBDCD6755D1D.jpeg


CD877647-55EC-4F67-93AF-35058BD31496.jpeg


C5E929EA-6008-458C-8C08-73ABB6A5B729.jpeg


93E30C1E-0BAA-4DA9-A2C7-BAE148A31FC9.jpeg
 
Had a security box behind the rear seat that seemed to always be in the way. I removed it, but then lost my secure location for my Co2 tank. Received a nutzert kit as an early bday present and decided to put it to use.

C21EAA29-AEE9-4F0A-AC95-2E0CCA20F708.jpeg


020B2130-A127-4C4B-AE60-A60006E182D5.jpeg


D04383B3-88F4-442F-A0F5-26F9CC96102D.jpeg
 
I cannot even begin to explain how happy I am with her performance at Rausch on Friday. Those new tires and fender clearance is a complete game changer.

First thing I noticed was how fluffy she rides now air downed. All of the random green trail stuff that is kinda washboard, doesn't want to rattle the glasses off my face now. Second thing I noticed, can we say GRIP. It rained last week up there. A lot. Most of the trails we went on literally had water running on them. We went down and played on the purple 13A and 13B which runs parallel to Rock Creek and Beaver Creek. I would have my tires in running water, to the middle of the hub and then pushed up against a rock 18-20" tall. I could let the clutch out and she would crawl up and over without a single tire slipping. Third was the steering. I knew it was flexing before when pushed hard against a rock, but I didn't know how much it was affecting normal driving around too. The new 1-ton solid stuff made the steering box feel like it took some steroids. Steering was significantly easier.

I was amazed. Still can't put into words how giddy I am. Love me some cause and effect.

When we came off the trail I asked my buddy to climb the ramp for me so that I could take pictures of the suspension articulation. I had just the slightest rear rub. The fronts are on the bump stops and could probably have them cut down just a little. The rears, I am on the bump stops too, but I think I need about 1/4" more stop to keep it from digging into the rear and at least allow the tire to keep pushing her forward. May try trimming a bit out of the fender but there isn't much room where the bottom bolt is on the fender. Maybe I'll just abbreviate that one bolt.

As far as I'm concerned, 2022 is going to be a year of some maintenance stuff and just enjoying the drive. Not looking to change much more right now, which is a weird concept for the guy that always wants to tweak. Just have to get through about mid June so I can find some time to do it. lol

As a side note, how many people do you know that air UP to go wheeling and air DOWN after wheeling to put her away. lol Still can't believe she fits in the trailer after airing down to 1-2 psi.


DFF049FE-A85D-4457-AE33-A4CDC16F3983.jpeg


F4342985-737F-436F-A083-E31419DFA7B4.jpeg


4B9A3913-CE78-420C-8939-E01D7DC77FCA.jpeg


DBA83339-F719-43AA-91B5-22DD055ECB85.jpeg


BA8537CD-C5BE-414B-978D-FF9140D08AE2.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: R3
Love it when the light bulb come on. Come join the crew at windrock.
 
I had been watching that trip, I just could not make it work this time unfortunately.
Then we will have to plan a shake down run for Red Jeep 2.0...Rausch and AOAA?
 
My last post in April, I said that I wasn't going to do anymore to her during the year. I lied. Ton of stuff done. I really need to check in somewhere, as I have a problem.

First was more of a maintenance thing. Front drive shaft had a ton of play in it when I grabbed it during some routine shake everything test. The Tom Woods driveshaft is significantly more stout then the stock piece. Had to change out the front yoke on the transfer case, which stunk doing without dropping the transfer case skid. However, I got to play with my new dewalt 700ftlb gun. Made loosening the nut a heck of a lot easier.


2022-07-22 15.42.08.jpg


2022-07-22 19.11.43.jpg


2022-07-22 19.11.57.jpg
 
Last edited:
I had some money free up unexpectedly which pushed a few things into motion that was a nice surprise. First was finishing up the skid plates. The last major one I needed was the gas tank skid. I decided to do this one in 3/6" aluminum instead of steel like the rest of them. The front skids I use on purpose. In all the wheeling of done I haven't hit the gas tank yet, so I felt I could save the weight and go with some weight savings here. 20lbs vs the 60lb steel counterpart. Gave it the same paint treatment as the rest of the skids.

While I was in there, I replaced the fuel pump and all of the hoses.

2022-06-24 13.30.40.jpg


2022-06-26 09.00.08.jpg


2022-06-26 09.00.16.jpg


2022-06-26 09.59.10.jpg


2022-06-26 09.59.15.jpg


2022-07-13 17.30.27-1.jpg


2022-07-13 20.01.30.jpg


2022-07-13 21.30.53.jpg
 
The last piece of the suspension that I wanted to do was the M.O.R.E. Greasable bushing bolts. I was surprised at how much binding was happening without the greasable ones. Noticeable difference in ride quality. Quality products. Body side KJ02023. Shackle side KJ02020. Had one strip during install of the new year. The replaced it free of charge. Was happy to work with them.
 
Got really tired of trying to cover the Jeep before a rain during the summer. The cover I had was a full Jeep cover. Started to get a small tear in it too. Swapped out for a BESTop cab and door cover for when I have the bimi top up. Love the quality and very happy with the fit. Easy to do solo. Figured out after those pictures were installed that it sits much nicer once you fold the mirrors in.

2022-08-09 16.24.19.jpg


2022-08-09 16.24.28.jpg
 
The YJ has quite a few rusty pieces that need to be addressed. Working on it bit by bit. The major one was the windshield. It was in really bad shape. Water comes in through the frame, through the dash, and onto the floor. I bought a kit from Quadratec a year ago, if not more, that includes everything from frame, glass, glue, and weather stripping. I had heard horrors of frames being slightly off, which really stinks if it were as I waited too long to get it replaced, but I test fit before painting. Luckily, everything lined up nicely. I then pulled it back off and painted it. Found a company that aerosol cans factory paint codes. Being what it is, I am very pleased with the turn out. My caulk gun was not strong enough to squeeze out the caulk in enough time to do anything with. Talk about a mess. However, once I walked away (steaming) I came back later and was pleasantly surprised at how easy the dried caulk cleaned up. I then took the glass and frame over to a glass shop and paid them to install it. Well worth the time.

Last thing I did was replaced the factory worn out visors with some new ones. Couldn't put the old ones back on against the pretty new windshield.

2022-06-25 14.09.54.jpg


2022-06-25 14.15.39.jpg


2022-06-25 14.21.20.jpg


2022-06-25 14.21.31.jpg


2022-07-11 16.05.13-1.jpg


2022-07-11 16.40.33.jpg


2022-07-11 17.11.29.jpg


2022-07-11 19.51.56.jpg
 
My 24' Haulmark trailer continued to plague me with various hub and axle issues. For whatever reason, I though the trailer, empty, weighed ~2200lbs. Come to find out, it actually weight 3200lbs. Add 4000lb of Jeep, 1000lbs of tools and stuff, it all started to make sense as teh cause of my problems. The trailer axles were good to 7000lbs. Well, one of my racing buddies was getting rid of his 24' Nexhaul V-Nose at a price I couldn't pass up. It is a significant upgrade to what I have in quality. Comes with 2 - 6000lb axles, and is 6-8" taller. I can now fit the YJ in, on 35s, without airing down at all. I can also open the hood 100% with about 1/4" of clearance, meaning I could work on it inside if needed.

Having used it a couple times now, it is quite the stark upgrade. Very happy.

2022-08-13 12.28.15.jpg
2022-08-23 18.00.36.jpg


2022-08-23 18.00.56.jpg


2022-08-23 18.01.16.jpg


2022-09-24 14.20.08.jpg
 
Just when I think I've done too much on the year, I decide to go one step further. I order my East Coast Gear Supplies Dana 489. Those unfamiliar, the 489 is ECGS own fabricated Dana 44 using the guts of the new 44 in their own cast center section and 3.5" tubes that are 1/2" thick. It's a fairly stout difference. I went 35 spline, Ox Locker, 4.56s, and Rear disc. Awesome company to work with. Quality from beginning to end. So purdy. Packaging was quite the shocker.

2022-09-14 10.43.56.jpg


2022-09-14 10.44.01.jpg


2022-09-14 10.56.17.jpg


2022-09-14 10.56.19.jpg


2022-09-14 10.56.29.jpg


2022-09-25 09.50.28.jpg


2022-09-25 10.46.28.jpg


2022-09-25 11.42.03.jpg


2022-09-25 13.48.54.jpg


2022-09-25 15.49.17.jpg
 
@R3 was in the middle of his 40's swap, and I taxi'd his old wheels to a new owner. Well, they were 37s on 17s. I had to see what they would look like on the YJ with a little stretch. :devilish:

17 and stretch 2022-07-23 17.07.37.jpg
 
  • Love
Reactions: R3
I have a fabrication buddy up in Vancouver that I try to get up to see every year. It's been a few since Covid, but I got up there this year. One of the things I was excited to see was his homemade plasma table. He let me use it to design and cut U-Bolt skid plates for the large Dana 489 and the front Dana 30. His home shop is so much fun. I could see getting into this as more than a hobby. The skids turned out awesome, but you should have seen all the looks at the airport coming through security with 20lbs of skid plates. lol

They work like a champ. I can't tell you howmany times I got hung up on 1 of those bolts. Most of the time it's quite a big stuck requiring lifting. So dumb. Now, I glide right over.

2022-09-25 13.25.37.jpg


2022-09-25 13.27.11.jpg


2022-10-09 14.59.56.jpg


2022-10-09 15.53.28.jpg


2022-10-09 15.53.32.jpg


2022-10-09 19.39.19.jpg


2022-10-09 16.07.46.jpg


2022-10-11 14.07.22.jpg


2022-10-11 15.08.18.jpg
 
Back
Top