MiniSimp's 1985

[MiniSimp]

Well, I got a bit done before it started HAILING! WTF is that about?

Seatbelts fixed (cab pushed them in to roll cage causing no recoil)
Cab widened (with hammer)
Cab floor cleaned (hollister mud sucks)
Sheet metal edging put on fenders (tired of cutting myself)

[toywthbdydmge]

looking good bro 

[Wermz84]

Cab floor cleaned (hollister mud sucks)

Amen to that brother.  I still get chunks falling into my eye every time i'm under my truck.


Making some good progress man. 

[MiniSimp]

looking good bro 

Thanks!

Amen to that brother.  I still get chunks falling into my eye every time i'm under my truck.

I know! It never leaves you....

Making some good progress man. 

Have to, sometimes I have months where I can get nothing done, so I'm trying to get as much done as possible now so I can deffinetly make the HH run in April.

[All_Set]

OH, I gots some questions! 

On your TRE's since you had them out.  Did you notice if any were *loose*? (If you were to grab the TRE that the castle nut threads, was that loose in the ball socket?)   When you switched over to the sky arms, were the TRE's tapers *loose* in the new arms? (or overly tight?)  How long have you had those TRE's in?   I ask because I've had 2 of four break on me in the last year, and 1 was *loose*.  Org TRE's installed some 4-5 years ago.   

I've got the sky arms, Your springs shouldn't hit anymore, but do have someone turn the wheel lock to lock and see if the TRE comes close to hitting your u-bolt plate.   (I had to clearance mine)
Also, depending on lift, you may be more likely to touch the oil pan with the TRE.  (Mine did until I put a marlin front hanger in.)

[MiniSimp]

Did you notice if any were *loose*? (If you were to grab the TRE that the castle nut threads, was that loose in the ball socket?)

No, not loose, but it did spin due to f'ed up threads on the castle nut.

When you switched over to the sky arms, were the TRE's tapers *loose* in the new arms? (or overly tight?)

Nope, fit well.

How long have you had those TRE's in?

Since 95? or around there somewhere.

I ask because I've had 2 of four break on me in the last year, and 1 was *loose*.  Org TRE's installed some 4-5 years ago.

Sweet, I'll have to keep an eye out for that, I plan on carrying a spare of each, already have the RHT, just need the LHT.

I've got the sky arms, Your springs shouldn't hit anymore, but do have someone turn the wheel lock to lock and see if the TRE comes close to hitting your u-bolt plate.   (I had to clearance mine) Also, depending on lift, you may be more likely to touch the oil pan with the TRE.  (Mine did until I put a marlin front hanger in.)

Hit the pan with the TRE? I don't see how that is possible, maybe you ment with the Tie Rod since the Sky arms bring the Tie Rod back about an inch from the MC arms. I'll deffinetly be checking all clearances though before and during test drive. Thanks for the heads up!

[MiniSimp]

Only work tonight was fixing the slider on my DS seat. That was deffinetly a priority.

[MiniSimp]

CJ is the man!

MC customer service rocks!

[Duffil]

CJ is the man!

MC customer service rocks!

pics or it didn't happen.

[MiniSimp]

pics or it didn't happen.

Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it'll happen.
I'll have pics up when it does.

[MiniSimp]

New sticker for the hood, and new castle nuts (longer nut, deeper slot!), also David worn out, and the truck guardian.

[THK Matt]

Nice new avatar Mini.
and the new sticker sets off the hood well.

[MiniSimp]

Got the alignment done today (1/4" toe in) and the tires mounted and torqued (90ftlbs) and took it for a test drive.

I made it about a mile before all power cut out, guages dropped, no lights, no clock.
So I'm sitting on the main drag blocking traffic in the right lane, call my wife and tell her to bring the tow strap. While I'm waiting a black 2007 Dodge Charger pulls up and says, "nice truck, do you drive it on the street like this often?" I say "no, just taking it out for a test drive...and yes, I know, I don't have any mud flaps." he says "can I help you get it off the road?" I say "sure, feel like pushing?" so me and the cop push it about a 1/4 block to the first side street and he tells me to have a nice day. Gotta love Tracy PD!

Anyway, the wife shows up with the tow strap and pulls my ass home. I don't know what went wrong yet, but I'll post up when I find out.

Here are some pics just for fun:

[*** YELLER ***]

POSER

[fordh8r]

Got the alignment done today (1/4" toe in) and the tires mounted and torqued (90ftlbs) and took it for a test drive.

I made it about a mile before all power cut out, guages dropped, no lights, no clock.
So I'm sitting on the main drag blocking traffic in the right lane, call my wife and tell her to bring the tow strap. While I'm waiting a black 2007 Dodge Charger pulls up and says, "nice truck, do you drive it on the street like this often?" I say "no, just taking it out for a test drive...and yes, I know, I don't have any mud flaps." he says "can I help you get it off the road?" I say "sure, feel like pushing?" so me and the cop push it about a 1/4 block to the first side street and he tells me to have a nice day. Gotta love Tracy PD!

Anyway, the wife shows up with the tow strap and pulls my ass home. I don't know what went wrong yet, but I'll post up when I find out.

Here are some pics just for fun:

We had this same thing happen to my buddy's 4Runner when we went to MCR6 only 20 minutes after hitting the trail on the way in  . Turns out the battery had slid over towards the engine and yanked one of the fusible link wires apart from the postive lead on the battery.  We moved the battery back to where it belonged and reconnected the wire and it worked.    We musta did a good fix cause I don't think it had another problem since. 

[Rocksurfer]

  Now you know why hold-downs are so important.

[fordh8r]

Now you know why hold-downs are so important.

I've always known, the battery hold down was there but I guess somehow with all the bumps it came loose and then it shifted.    We were just glad it wasn't worse. 

[Rocksurfer]

Yeah I had one come loose once, things got a little hot under the hood.

[Wermz84]

Sorry to hear that man.   

cool story about the cop though.   

[*** YELLER ***]

DUDE COULD YOU STOP ALL THE DRAMA AND DRIVE THAT pregnant dog ..... 

[brockbuilt85]

thats totally what happend with blue, all the sudden, no power, no anything. turns out there was a wire that came off the battery going to the fuse box under the hood was old, and came off.

[Ramrod]

could you measure how high the bottom of your headlight is off the ground

[*** YELLER ***]

im gonna guess 36 1/2"


what do i win   

[MiniSimp]

could you measure how high the bottom of your headlight is off the ground

37.75 What is yours? I've gotta be lower right? You're running 40's?

im gonna guess 36 1/2"
what do i win   

Close Dave, as soon as you man up on your tires you'll be there too.

[Ramrod]

damn thats low, im gonna have to recheck mine.  I know your truck is low but I couldnt imagine it being that much lower than mine there is no way

[MiniSimp]

damn thats low, im gonna have to recheck mine.  I know your truck is low but I couldnt imagine it being that much lower than mine there is no way

Yeah, It's pretty low. I've dropped the back end about 1.75" with the shackle through the frame. The front is just RUF on a stock hanger with 5.5" shackles (that needs to be lowered also, but I'm worried about tie rod/oil pan clearance).

You should be able to keep yours as low as mine being linked right?

What tire size are you going with?

[Ramrod]

should but the 3rz oilpan hangs down farther and the frame has no hump, already notched the frame and am in the process of lifting the engine a small amount.  also flipped the draglink under neath the high steer arm.  Probably just stick with the 40s for now since thats what I have

[Ramrod]

also at 24" to the frame with 40s ill have 5" of full verticle uptravel in the front still

[MiniSimp]

also at 24" to the frame with 40s ill have 5" of full verticle uptravel in the front still

I'm sitting at about 25" to frame, so that's about right.

[Ramrod]

alright