High2by is back!

[PacificEd]

Mark just bought a new ride.

 

[PacificEd]

Mark talked extensively with Cabz at the Crawl and really liked what he saw in the Wrangler YJ. There was also a TJ there and it was very similar as far as the drivetrain was set up. Both performed really well and I think that tipped him into looking for a ride. Besides, I think he was tired of riding in the backseat.

The specs are as follows:

2.5L 4 cylinder
AX5 5 speed manual transmission
NP231 Transfer case with SYE
D30 front 4.88 gears with lunchbox locker
D35 rear 4.88 gears with lunchbox but the ring gear has two broken teeth.
Body and frame are super clean and rust free
Spring over lift
35/1250R15 Cooper STT Pro Mud tires

I'm really excited for Mark to be back in the game. Plans are to build a Ford 8.8 from an Explorer with 4.88 gears and a lunchbox locker and get on the trail.

Hopefully we can get some rides planned for Coalmont, Golden Mountain and AOP as soon as he can get the axle built and installed.

 

[High2by]

Well, Ed's not lying. I found the Jeep in North Georgia on Craigslist. It seemed like a good price for what I saw, so I went and looked at it. Of course I took my trailer when I went.... I brought it home and went to work on it. The spring over swap is great but the stock steering was not good. The drag link ran under the leaf spring and when I cut passenger, the link rubbed the leaf spring. I did some reading and decided the best option for me was to do the WJ knuckle swap. So, I did. Me and Ed went to a local junkyard and pulled the parts I needed, we also pulled a full set of parts for him if he ever wanted to do the swap, and the work began. I got the spacers needed and had them welded on then put it together. I decided I would make my own steering links and with the help of Ed's father-in-law, I got the 1-1/4" DOM tube drilled and tapped for the TRE's I used. Then it was a matter of putting the puzzle pieces together. I got the front put together then I took it to Tyler at Rock Solid and he and his crew put an 8.8 in the rear. I got it back today, and it looks great. I'm off to get tags for it in the morning so I can finally drive it myself.

I'm gonna work on getting some pictures to post up.

 

[High2by]

When I picked it up

 

[High2by]

The reason it was priced good. Dana 35 with a super 35 kit in it. Gears didn’t look good but it moved and loaded on the trailer under its own power.

 

[High2by]

Thanks to the Rock Solid crew, I shouldn’t have that problem any time soon! Matt and Tyler and the guys, did what they do best.