My "Hero" Blog

[Rob D]

Did you get rid of your fan clutch?

How many rows is the stock cherokee radiator. I've been eyeing a fair priced 2 row recently.

Stock can be a 1-row but most likely a 2-row. You can get 3 row "upgrade" radiators from 1-800-radiator or Auto Radiator Outlet (1-800-252-0333) pretty cheep, around $100+tax, and they usually ship for free. They are all metal and can even get to you the same day, if you're close to one of thier warehouses. There are probably others that may be just as cheep too. Some of the 3-rows use small tubes tho. You may get 3 rows of 1/2" tubes for example, which might not be an improvement over stock. I'm running a 2-row, but it's got 2 1" tubes and seems to be doing pretty good for me now that I put a good thermostat in that opens all the way (my last "new" one didn't open all the way, it kept getting hot at highway speeds). So see if you can get the spec's on whatever you are going to get to make sure it's not something that might actually have less tube surface area (cooling power)than what you already have. Also, if you go to OEM Tech forum and just search "radiator" or "overheating" you'll find plenty of info to digest. Good luck.

 

[Jeep450r]

I've heard that with the 3-row radiators being so thick, their cooling is similar to that of a two row. Apparently that is because with three rows, it is hard to get enough air flow through to keep it cool enough. Wether that is typical internet BS or not, Im not sure. Anybody have input on that?

Thanks for the radiator shop info, ill give them a call.

 

[Rob D]

From what I've been able to figure out, it's mostly the small tube size of some of the 3 rows that's the issue. Since the tubes are small they offer less surface area for the heat transfer. The 3 row radiators I've had, 2 different ones, didn't appear to be any thicker than the stock 2 row. They also didn't make much difference in my operating temps. If my "new" (at the time, anyway) thermostat had been opening all the way as it should have, either of those would probably have worked out fine. But because I had the new thermostat installed I kept thinking it was a radiator problem,which is why I had more than one aftermarket radiator.

 

[srmitchell]

Did you get rid of your fan clutch?

How many rows is the stock cherokee radiator. I've been eyeing a fair priced 2 row recently.

Well it's obviously off the jeep, but I still have it.

Its the high performance hayden model from kragen, and I also have the stock one. You want it? I'll sell it.

 

[Jeep450r]

Well it's obviously off the jeep, but I still have it.

Its the high performance hayden model from kragen, and I also have the stock one. You want it? I'll sell it.

Il have to check out the kragens one. Ive seen a few online for pretty cheap though.

So this past weekend I got my shackle relocation brackets installed. It took longer than expected because I had to drop my hitch to get the brackets on, but I finished it up in one night.

Heres some finished pics.

These ones show the shackle angle fairly well.. Its angled a little too much for my liking at the moment.

I had to chop off the end of my exhaust to clear my shackle bolt.

Im very surprised that the rear sits only a little bit higher than it was. I guess the angle of the shackle is flattening the spring out a bit.

So this next weekend if I make it home, I need to fine tune my shackle angle, and cut the back half of the bracket off so the shackle doesn't hit it during compression.

Next, I will have to find someone with a fork lift so I can cycle the suspension and measure for shocks and see if I will need an SYE or not.

Once I'm done with that, the plan is to install my T&T cutsom's frame stiffeners that I won at the sierrafest raffle, and then build a crossmember for the long arms I bought off of Tim. I guess I should fix my overheating problem too... but I wont be driving it much until winter anyways.

Thanks for all the helpful comments guys!

 

[Jeep450r]

Not much of an update.. Other than Im having a bunch of gear issues, but I dont feel like writing about that right now lol.

I drove (limped) it up to college this morning so I could bring it in to the shop that messed up my gears. Bought a day pass, parked it, and went to class. Came back and had something pink on my window.

I got a $43 ticket for "not being parked in the designated area". The school just wants my money.

 

[Jeep450r]

Not much of an update.. Other than Im having a bunch of gear issues, but I dont feel like writing about that right now lol.

I drove (limped) it up to college this morning so I could bring it in to the shop that messed up my gears. Bought a day pass, parked it, and went to class. Came back and had something pink on my window.

I got a $43 ticket for "not being parked in the designated area". The school just wants my money.

 

[Jeep450r]

Been a while since I've updated this.

Heres a video I never posted of a run up the steps on slick rock from october.



Also, I was able to pull a nice 18.83 MPG on my way home the other week!

Ill be heading back from college next week for a good 6 weeks or so of break. Between work and social life, I plan on getting a lot done on my hero.

- New steering/track bar made of 1.5" .25 wall DOM w/hiems, OTK.
- Build new crossmember
- Install long arms (on new crossmember^)
- Weld on T&T Customs frame stiffeners
- Fine tune shackle angle (or if I have enough time... :shhh
- New shocks
- SYE

I will also be freshening up the paint underneath (long arms, steering), possibly with powdercoat. My question for you all is, what color? I cant seem to decide between red (which seems to fade to pink) or switch it up to orange. If I were to choose orange, I would remove the red pin stripe at the bottom of the doors, clean it up, and shoot it with a coat of flat black.

Opinions?

 

[connor0770]

I cant wait to go back to slickrock (without the turdy five)

Jeep is looking good Kevin. I kinda like your green and red theme. I think I may build a new front bumper for my Jeep. If so ill go in on some tube with you (if i can use your tube bender :laugh3: )

So when is it gonna be on 35's?

 

[Jeep450r]

Thanks Connor. Order up some tube and come spend a weekend at my place, maybe we can whip together some sort of bumper, and then go wheel at Hollister hills or Carnegay

35's eh? Idk when that'll be. Probably after I wear these guys out, unless I can find a killer deal on some big-uns.

 

[connor0770]

Thanks Connor. Order up some tube and come spend a weekend at my place, maybe we can whip together some sort of bumper, and then go wheel at Hollister hills or Carnegay

35's eh? Idk when that'll be. Probably after I wear these guys out, unless I can find a killer deal on some big-uns.

sounds good to me. I just want to plate the front and do a small stinger for now. havent wheeled Hollister yet, this could be fun.. No mud though! lol

 

[Jeep450r]

Well I went red! (thanks Jeremy)

Started on my T&T frame stiffeners yesterday and just about got one all welded up, but ran out of wire. Welding to the unibody sure is tricky! I picked up some more wire this morning and I'm heading out now to get as much done as I can before work.

 

[Jeep450r]

Well, break has been over for a little while now... Its about time I update this.

Here is my to-do list from over break:
- New steering/track bar made of 1.5" .25 wall DOM w/hiems, OTK.
- Build new crossmember
- Install long arms (on new crossmember^)
- Weld on T&T Customs frame stiffeners
- Fine tune shackle angle (or if I have enough time... )
- New shocks
- SYE

I wasn't able to get nearly as much done as I had hoped. I ended up working many many more hours than I had originally estimated, which isn't entirely a bad thing.

First, I threw the stock shackles back into my relocation brackets to lower the rear a bit and get rid of some driveline vibes. I plan on putting the longer shackles back on soon, but I have to pull a leaf spring or two out first.

Then I was able to get my steering buttoned up, however I will be changing it up as soon as I can. With the drag link mounted directly onto the tie rod, the drag link rotates the tie rod front and back when I turn left and right (even when the jam nuts are well... jammed). I am also battling tie rod roll issues (leading to death wobble), and my current fix keeps my steering from naturally returning to center while on the road.

Heres the best shot I can find of the steering as it is now. Thanks to Josh for the photo:

To fix my issues, I will be moving the tie rod under the knuckle, and running my drag link all the way out to the top of the knuckle.

I would like to give a big thanks to my new friends at J&J Welding in Pleasanton. They do great work, are very flexible on their hours, and are fellow wheelers themselves. They helped button my steering up the night before I left to wheel at Hollister. They flexed it out and aligned it as well. Top notch work, service, and very reasonable pricing.

Speaking of wheeling at Hollister, I met up with Tim, Josh, and his brother Nate and tested it all out. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so all photo courtesy goes to Josh and Tim:

Jungle Trail:

Eating at the top:

Truck hill (in reverse) muahahaha:

And the White Rock climb:

I had a great time out there and cant wait to go back again!


So that brings this back up to speed. I have a hack-n-tap SYE sitting in the garage, as well as Tim's old long arms and crossmember. Frame stiffeners will be finish welded ASAP, and then I will try to figure out the shock situation.

Lastly, I was able to make it out to Tim's fun factory for a meet and greet. I had a great time out there, and it was great meeting so many new people! I hope to see you all again soon!

 

[KTMqdracer]

Nice build! I'm wanting to do a similar set-up when the time comes...Thanks for the info

A little off topic but if you are interested in racing your ATVs check out sccsracing.com (sierra cross country series) and also nor-calatv.com. Good people and good times!

 

[Jeep450r]

Awesome man! I never knew about that series. I have previously thought about racing in the WORCS series, but their races are all over the place.

What class do you race in? Judging by the rulebook, Id likely do Novice or Open C class first just to get the hang of things.

 

[KTMqdracer]

I did open B one or two races then moved to expert. I didn't race that much, mostly just went to help out others. I also ran sportsman which is an open class that most of the expert guys race on saturday. I had the speed just not the endurance. I was in terrible shape lol

Its a really fun series, very family friendly, and not nearly as competitive as worcs. If you are a first time racer and have little riding experience I'd say start novice. But if you are good rider start C class and you can always move up.

If you have any other questions let me know

 

[Jeep450r]

Sounds like a ton of fun! Ill look into it some more. Looks pretty darn cheap too!

And if you ever head up to Slick Rock or Deer Valley for some wheeling, let me know and bring your quad. Super fun riding out there!

 

[98XJLongBuild]

Truck hill (in reverse) muahahaha:

And the White Rock climb:

Dam you crazy Truck Hill in reverse. You do now why they make 90% of all differentials in a standard rotation gear pattern. Because there stronger that way. So when you take any standard or Low pinion diff. and put it in reverse all that pressure goes onto the pinion and ring gear. Only thing is that standard rotation only has a tooth maybe two thats full engaged, but then on a High Pinion they have a revers cut allowing more teeth to come in contact at wonce thus creating less chance of ripping your gears apart. So basically I don't like to reverse up a hill unless I have to. Just my TWO CENTS.


White Rock hill, Ugh I remember that one. Sittin on stock axles, HP30 / Turd 35, full open lets say I was on the gas all the way to the top.


,

 

[KTMqdracer]

Sounds like a ton of fun! Ill look into it some more. Looks pretty darn cheap too!

And if you ever head up to Slick Rock or Deer Valley for some wheeling, let me know and bring your quad. Super fun riding out there!

Jeep is still basically stock but I'll be down to do some riding later this spring/summer if I don't sell my quad. I don't know that area real well but I have ridden up by bear valley and blue lakes a few times.

If you like trail riding you will like SCCS. A friend of mine has some gopro vids on youtube from last year. He raced C class and will give you an idea of what the courses are like. Although the videos don't really do it justice

 

[Jeep450r]

Dam you crazy Truck Hill in reverse. You do now why they make 90% of all differentials in a standard rotation gear pattern. Because there stronger that way. So when you take any standard or Low pinion diff. and put it in reverse all that pressure goes onto the pinion and ring gear. Only thing is that standard rotation only has a tooth maybe two thats full engaged, but then on a High Pinion they have a revers cut allowing more teeth to come in contact at wonce thus creating less chance of ripping your gears apart. So basically I don't like to reverse up a hill unless I have to. Just my TWO CENTS.


White Rock hill, Ugh I remember that one. Sittin on stock axles, HP30 / Turd 35, full open lets say I was on the gas all the way to the top.

Yep. I honestly didn't expect to go far up at all. Was just joking around at the bottom and it kept pulling nice and smooth up to the top. If it was all rutted out and bumpy, I wouldn't have even messed with it, but it was nice and smooth all the way to the top so I kept going lol.

Plus, we all know its easier to go forward down hills than to go backwards down hills :gee:

With that said, I dont plan on doing it again lol

And that was my first time up White Rock. And I usually hate hills like that, but I had a good time!

Hopefully Ill see you out there soon enough after you get the tons installed!

Jeep is still basically stock but I'll be down to do some riding later this spring/summer if I don't sell my quad. I don't know that area real well but I have ridden up by bear valley and blue lakes a few times.

If you like trail riding you will like SCCS. A friend of mine has some gopro vids on youtube from last year. He raced C class and will give you an idea of what the courses are like. Although the videos don't really do it justice

If you've ridden near bear valley and blue lakes, then you have probably ridden some of the areas I'm thinking of. Beautiful area.

I'll have to take a look at some videos on youtube. I've been riding dunes and trails for somewhere around 7 years or so but have been plagued with back problems since September/October of 2010. My dad and I have slowly been working our way back into the riding scene, and the April SCCS race looks like a nice goal to shoot for!