My "Hero" Blog

[Jeep450r]

Also forgot to mention that I bought Josh's tires (thanks for the hookup Josh!)

33x12.5R15 Goodyear MTR Kevlar's with solid tread. Figured I'd stay 33s because I can do most of what I point the jeep at already and I dig the challenge.





I guess this pic also shows my most recent toy. Bought an 08 CRF250r for a freaking steal. Sold my old 01 YZ250f for enough to cover the cost of the honda. I love it.

 

[831_xj]

Nice bike bud! What are some details?? See you got some nice renthal bars? I need to get me another bike.. Miss riding

Can't go wrong with spicers! My old stocks(new spares) have the 760x tacked in. I never had a problem spitting caps before. But I am 99% sure your ears are wallowed out a bit. Maybe put 760s in your spares and run them not tacked. Then tack in some napa joints in the current ones that are spitting caps

 

[Jeep450r]

Not a whole lot done to the bike, mostly stock. Rental bars, suspension, excel rims. Factory dual pipes are sexy as all hell. I love the bike. Buy a new one and let's ride!

I'm just gonna do tacked 760s all around. Effffff those napa joints lol. I'll likely order or buy them tomorrow. Wheeling the con the weekend after halloween and my wrenching days are limited, so I need to hammer down!

 

[Goose_XJ88]

lmk if you need someone to help wrench or ride shotgun...lol

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

lets see if Fordyce will leave you wanting 35's

I dig the kevlars a lot. especially on road/ freeway speed. I didn't even balance mine

 

[Johnnie Walker]

lets see if Fordyce will leave you wanting 35's

I dig the kevlars a lot. especially on road/ freeway speed. I didn't even balance mine

I really like my MTR-k's, Have about 30k on them and still have 10/32's. Not as tall as any of you "big boys", haha, only running 31's. But I like that they run true to their advertised size.
Have not checked the metric sizes, but I dislike how the 33 MTR-k's weight practically just as much as the 35's.

 

[Forceful Llama]

Be sure to check rockauto for joints, I've gotten spicers as low as $9 each.

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

I really like my MTR-k's, Have about 30k on them and still have 10/32's. Not as tall as any of you "big boys", haha, only running 31's. But I like that they run true to their advertised size.
Have not checked the metric sizes, but I dislike how the 33 MTR-k's weight practically just as much as the 35's.

aren't they both a 12.5 wide? is your 31 a 10.5 wide? that's probably the weight difference you're seeing

 

[Jeep450r]

Well I wheeled the Rubicon the other weekend. Went from Loon to Spider. Spent the whole day at spider Sunday and didn't see another person the whole day. Had the lake to ourselves. I stayed late and didn't see a soul on my way out.

It was awesome.

Did soup bowl while it was all wet and soupy and broke my tail light at the top.



Caught the sunset on the way out Sunday



Overall it was a great trip and I'd love to get out there one more time before it's too late.

The new tires did great too! I'm a huge fan of them.



Also picked up some Synergy Ball Joints for a steal through a hookup at PolyPerformance. Should be installing those bad boys soon.

Then when I'm done wheeling for the season I'll be tearing the jeep apart/pulling the axles out, going through them, painting them and cleaning up the underside and maybe even the body of the jeep. I want this thing solid for next season.

Anyways. That's the latest.

 

[twinhauler]

Sounds awesome. Thats a great sunset pic

 

[Jeep450r]

Wheeled around at slick rock a few weekends ago.



Bent both upper control arms into an "S" shape.


Stopped by Boards Crossing on the way up.




It brought me out shooting too




And the roof leaks somewhere too so it's getting pampered with garage parking.

Jeep is done for the season. Needs a ton of work, full rebuild essentially along with a mid-arm 3-link rather than replacing the uppers. It's gonna be a busy winter!

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Dude Kevin, I am so jealous. I wish I could have gone man. Thats a blast. I think I might buy a second rig so when the silver back is down I have a backup.

 

[twinhauler]

Thats such a nice camp spot on boards crossing by the river.Good luck
with all your winter projects. I just started my hybrid cage

 

[98jeepster]

New to this forum, but I just got done reading your entire blog took me a bit. Nice build so far love what you have done. I'm currently building my jeep with same type of goals. DAily drive mine 60 miles round trip to work. Just because I can

I'm glad you powered through all the issues you had with the Trans and stuck with it. The crazy hack in tap is what I was thinking before I got to the part where you fixed it. Could catch I had same issue. I went to an auto and real SYE

I just wanted to add my 2 cents, I say good buy on the Kevlar that is amazing tire. As for the death wobble I rember you mentioning the same issue when you messed with your leaf packs in the past. I'm sure you have thought of this but how short are your front links?

If they are not long arms and with the lift your running if you hit an uneven crack in the road or even reach a certain speed you will get death wobble.

It like taking a shopping cart and pushing it fast. The front wheels start to shake... After the long arms my death wobble went away and the RS joints might be making it less noticeable and taking the beating, why they are wearing out so fast.

As for ujoints I had good luck running Napa none grease able since they have a solid center unlike the greens able ones....

Now for my 2 cents on axle swap... I'm running a 44/9 combo and love it. Width is just right and having lock outs makes it super street able. I say keep the 44.. I did a crossover steering with 60 outers just drilled my knuckles and have 1/4 wall Dom tubing for steering and ran the factory pump with a cooler and drilled my factory p/s box for hydro assist works amazing and still street legal.

As for the set up I'm running 35km2 with 513 gears puts ratio around stock if I put the 37in on in future also I say run the 2in 1/4 wall Dom for links makes getting Johnny joints easy with left and right inserts and are adjustable as for a Polly bushing side on jeep side is what you want, but as hard as I wheeled it didn't last so I have all Johnny and ride is amazing.

I am using a tent truss and a Clayton three link cross member and made my own links... Found all these parts on Craigslist Also running a Detroit locker rear and eaton e locker up front

But I say keep ther axles since you got the free can't beat that and build them I thought 60 was too big for back for what I wanted but you seem to have few more fab skills than me ha also factory e brake works for a 9 ha easy swap

As for the crack up front you meet to plate the front JCR makes plates and many other places and my front end made popping noise so I thought but after the frame stiffeners and plates up front it went away my body was creaking and popping like crazy single best up grade

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading about your build and I can share pics of mine if your interested I didnt wanna post them unless you wanted to see it

Have fun out there and watch out for the deer man glad your okay

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

awesome shots man, my work computer is now fitted with a new desk top background. definitely interested to see your take on a 3 link. mine works awesome but I am just about sick of the lower frame side mounts. I really thought it wouldn't be a big problem mounting them off the bottom but I've been hung up on them 3 times now and that's 3 too many.

 

[98jeepster]

What three link you running or where did you mount them?

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

What three link you running or where did you mount them?

ruffstuff, bottom of the frame rail

 

[knucklehead 61]

ruffstuff, bottom of the frame rail

that is a definite rock anchor.
when i built my 3 link & crossmember i moved the mounts just above the bottom of the frame rail so they wont get caught on rocks. same with the rear 4 link front mounts. also mounted the axle end mounts to axle centerline for more clearance. seems to work pretty swell for my driving style. :confused1

 

[CAJJ93XJ]

that is a definite rock anchor.
when i built my 3 link & crossmember i moved the mounts just above the bottom of the frame rail so they wont get caught on rocks. same with the rear 4 link front mounts. also mounted the axle end mounts to axle centerline for more clearance. seems to work pretty swell for my driving style. :confused1

yeah love your build man, as always. I think I've got some ideas on how I want to re-do mine. all just a matter of down time available

 

[Jeep450r]

Thanks Jon, Ive always wanted to meet up with you guys out at Boards.. Let me know whenever you go. I love that area.

Twinhauler, that's easily my favorite place out there! Let me know how the cage goes. Feel free to post pics of it in here.

98jeepster thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed the build and thanks for the input. As far as the death wobble goes, I'm planning on it being gone after the new ball joints and the 3 link. I'm running short arms right now and I bet you're right about that being a part of the problem. Can't wait to go to a real mans suspension setup. Its about time.. And I'm 98% sure I'm not doing the axle swap. This setup just works too well as it is now. And I'm definitely plating the front frame.

Jake and Tim, I'll definitely be looking at both of your build threads. I was thinking of just welding a ruffstuff mount under the "frame" rail, but I would be more than happy with a crossmember mounted setup. Depends on how much time I have, really.