A.J.'s Runner - "Please Stand-by"...Product Review

[CTENG in KS]

The oval tube got a little dented and I would recommend not strapping off your hi-lift...it WILL bend!

[CTENG in KS]

As for my rockers and the cage, they got some rash, I came down HARD on them quite a few times...they never flinched.

[Willy Mammoth]

The oval tube got a little dented and I would recommend not strapping off your hi-lift...it WILL bend!

My fault here as the D rigs just plain suck for hooking a strap to. I have the same thing going on. I guess we should try to straginten it out before we part ways huh? 

BTW, you did really good for the first time on that trail, even if you wouldn't follow directions.

[Doof]

not to shabby, at least you made it out

[CTENG in KS]

I like to do it "My Way"!


Quick product reviews:
Boggers on rocks:  Love em.  They climb like champs.  I will continue to run the fronts backwards for now, they worked well.
Tru-Trac: with stock suspension I was carrying tires and the limited slip was disappointing. With larger tires and a proper suspension, 90% of the time the front acted like it was locked, but even when I was hammering on it at full lock the stock birfs survived unscathed.  I believe I will continue to run it for a while and upgrade the rear to selectable locker before I lock the front.  I would def recommend this if you have enough articulation to keep both front tires on the ground most of the time.

[Duffil]

did you get a pic of where it died on the ledge? I should take a pic of the maglite that got your ass out of it.

[CTENG in KS]

Autopsy report:
Subject: IFS CV driveshaft
Cause of death:  snap ring failure.

[Shamb]

I really didn't think that driveshaft was going to work... but


you live and learn right?

sounds like you had fun at MCR this year, hope to see you next year. I looked out for the rig but never saw it.. we crossed The Mammoths, Duffil and Wermz @ the decent after Big Sluice.

[CTENG in KS]

I thought that was you, but I wasn't sure.  I was walking cause the truck was broken down with bad ECU and sitting at Buck till the next day.

[CTENG in KS]

Since I had such a great time I wanted to get right to making the truck wheelable again.  I think the only thing that is critical to fix for that is the steering box mount.  It was a bit loose on the frame and tightening the bolts wasn't really fixing it.  I figured I should go ahead and move it forward as well so I can redrill my spring perches on the axle.

So out I go to start cleaning up the mount area and cutting out the core support for clearance.  I am usually really careful but the grinder took off like a rabid squirrel on me.
Ouch.
I put a gash in my finger and in the front tire.  It doesn't look too bad...the tire I mean.  Anyone know any good ways to seal it to keep it from being a weak point when the tire flexes?  Or is it prob not a problem anyway?  The boggers do have pretty thick sidewalls.

Oh, and my finger is all better now.  I would like to send a shout out to my gloves who sacrificed themselves that I might not have to go to the hospital!

[CTENG in KS]

It was a beautiful day for working on the truck.  Until the power went out at the apt complex that is.
Least I got a few things done.  New plate cut, old plate cut down, lined up for the new mount position, much better clearance now for moving the axle forward.

[*** YELLER ***]

AJ looks good thats not a grinder injury I HAD A GRINDER INJURY 

ANYWAY RIG LOOKS GOOD BUD KEEP THE PICS COMIN'

[Lady Di]

AJ looks good thats not a grinder injury I HAD A GRINDER INJURY 

ANYWAY RIG LOOKS GOOD BUD KEEP THE PICS COMIN'

If SOMEONE was wearing proper clothing to be doing such work, and if SOMEONE had replaced the guard on the grinder, SOMEONE might have still been working on their junk instead of spending time slacking off in the emergency room.

Good job on wearing proper gloves AJ

[CTENG in KS]

I had the guard on my grinder too.  And eye protection, and hearing protection...but the grinder still nipped me.  Wiley little bastid.

[CTENG in KS]

Getting there...double plated.  Beefy.

[CTENG in KS]

Something strange happened out in the garage this afternoon.  First I found myself with a flap disk on the grinder, deburring everything.

Then I did something I have never done on this truck before...used primer!

I'm scared Mommy!  Hold me!   

[DTB]

Then I did something I have never done on this truck before...used primer!

I'm scared Mommy!  Hold me!  

Please, say it isn't so!!! 

why didn't you use a full piece of plate on the inside of the framerail? or, it's already plated there?

[CTENG in KS]

Inside is kinda a mess.  I still need to cut off the torque bar bracket and clean it up.  I may plate it later, but the object was to get it back working again asap. 

[CTENG in KS]

 
Box fit like a glove.
Got everything all hookeded back up, just gotta bleed it out tomorrow.  I think I even got the steering wheel lined back up properly so the turn signals will click off at the right times!

[FATTshack]

Looking good!... I wish you did't live so far away.. I would love to work on that thing with you!

[CTENG in KS]

Steering is bled, everything is back to nice and tight the way it should be.

I am bushed.  4 hours, 4 bags of trash, 2 boxes of trash, and plenty of kitty litter later...the post MCR garage cleaning is done.

PHEW!  Now that I have some room, who has ideas for a mini flatbed for the Runner!?

[CTENG in KS]

I decided to go for it.  Does the little rubber black puck have a bolt thru it?

[CTENG in KS]

Looks like some cleaning is in order.

[Willy Mammoth]

Does the little rubber black puck have a bolt thru it?

How is the gas tank these days? Did you ever get any pictures of it?

Are you going to make a stake side for the back?

[CTENG in KS]

No stake bed.  Small flatbed, haven't decided what I am going to do about the tank.  I need to get some measurements now that things are a little more "open".

[DTB]

 

[CTENG in KS]

North East rust.  All that is getting cut out.

[CTENG in KS]

Pretty happy with this so far.  I figured that before I started cutting everything off the frame, I oughta get the rear crossmember on there to keep it all aligned properly.
Took a lot of grinding to get the rear bumper into something useable, but there she be.  Fit perfect the first time.  might be because, don't tell anyone, I measured and marked my cuts with a square.  I feel so dirty.

[CTENG in KS]

Got to cutting and there IS a frame under there!!!

[CTENG in KS]

This is slow going...
I have been looking for a while at frame plating technique so here is where I am starting.  Pretty thick plates at the ends, I will rop down to 1/8th inch for the larger frame plates.  Try to get some strength without making it too too heavy.