Post up if you're going to the Gearfest Feb 4th

Avanteone said:
I'm working on getting the shop cleaned/organized.

Matt, your rig is done.... went fairly smoothly other than one minor hitch, I'll call you shortly.

TrainWrexj (Walter), your parts showed up and are here waiting for you.

J

thanks john!!
you're a pleasure to deal with :)
 
I don't know (or remember) what's planned for lunch. There's pizza that will deliver, there's every fast food restauraunt within a mile, etc.

I have a barbecue down at the shop. I will make sure and grab my propane bottle and we can run and grab burgers/dogs, etc. and cook up lunch on the spot too.

J
 
It was nice meeting you all for the first time. Learned how to set up some Jeep axles, now I just got to do my own.

Mark, Phil, John, nice meeting you at Dennys.

Matt, thanks a million for breakfast.

John, thanks for letting all of us use your place to set up gears and learn how to do it and for lunch.

Walter, Hans, Mike, and all others, nice to meet you all also.

Hope to be wheelin with you guys sometime soon.
 
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I don't think anybody's recovered yet...............................

I'd like to thank everybody who showed up for their patience.... and Joe for showing up and putting in 12 hours working on everybody ELSE'S rigs.

J
 
Thank John, for letting the guys use the shop. Felt like a good atmosphere to be getting the job done. If there is a next time, I will sneak out without my boys.

Sucked. Working my way home, looks like a blew a fuel pump or something.

Engine gave out on the way through Puyallup. Have power and everything. Engine turns over but won't kick in. Towed it to a shop close by. To far away to get her home.

Later
Jason
 
Huge Thanks to Jim, John, John, John, Joe, Mike, and everone else, most who I didn't have a chance to talk/meet

I couldn't have done it without your help. And Joe stays till 8:30 and not one to complain. Huge thumbs up

Where's Walter??? Must still be on his way home :)

Thanks Again
Hans
 
Huge thanks to Avanteone and Jimbar for making this happen. As always I had a great time, and learned a bunch.

As far as the rest of the crew that attended...you know who you are...what can I say. I haven't met a better group of folks so willing to help each other.

Glad to be here,

John
 
first i'd like to thank my sponsors....

John Avant, other John, XJoe, Hans, Michael and anyone else who turned a wrench on my junk yesterday - i owe you guys a huge debt of gratitude. i really appreciate the way people pulled together to get stuff done in a somewhat-reasonable amount of time. if i had done it myself, it would've taken me a week and left me w/o a vehicle!! so, thanks guys.

as to my trip over the pass back home, it was uneventful. we stopped every 15 minutes or so for 20 minutes until the 100 mile mark, then stretched it to every 20 minutes w/10 minute or so breaks. the diff covers were really hot the first couple of times, then with each subsequent stop they were much more reasonable. i didn't exceed 50-55 the whole way home, and with the breaks and such we pulled in at almost exactly 2 am, 21 hours on the nose after we left yakima. i'm at 150 miles now, so i will probably change my gear oil on friday afternoon.

i noticed pretty significant driveline vibes around 55 (65 indicated - we timed it with milemarkers), but below that it wasn't too bad. they diminished as the night wore on, so i think that the gears are probably settling in nicely. i think a sye/ds will be the next thing i do, so hopefully i won't have to deal with that for much longer. this expedition broke my bank for a while so it may BE a while until it gets done.

now, i have to finish studying for an anatomy test i have to take tomorrow morning, as well as finish a chemistry lab report that is due tomorrow afternoon. such is life.

thanks again NAXJA for further solidifying your reputation as a (generally) good group of people!! ha :)
 
JMotorsport, sucks your rig broke, why didn't you call US? My trailer was there, I would have come and got it. And crank sensor is also a common suspect.

TrainWrexj... I mentioned you had a wasted front ujoint on your front driveline, that could cause some vibes too.

J
 
Good to see everyone had fun on quite a long day! I did warn you it would be an all day'er. Thanks to John M. for the shop, No way could I have kept a handle on all that was going on without the quality help we had there. Take care and remember to change the gear lube! -jim
 
I really enjoyed the day!!

Jim, Thank you VERY much for all of your experience, I really enjoyed working with you.

John, Thank you VERY much for the use of your shop, it made a huge difference in being able to get all the axles done that we did!!

The guys that lent a hand and didn't even work on your own rigs, I hope that you all enjoyed and learned something. We really appreciate the help!!

I can not wait to try out my new locker!! John, thanks again, I would be Open without you :)

Michael
PS. Just for the record, I didn't end up buying the Commander. I did purchase a '05 Grand Limited with HEMI instead.

See you all on the trail soon!!
 
Avanteone said:
JMotorsport, sucks your rig broke, why didn't you call US? My trailer was there, I would have come and got it. And crank sensor is also a common suspect.

TrainWrexj... I mentioned you had a wasted front ujoint on your front driveline, that could cause some vibes too.

J

yes, new u-joints are in order this weekend probably. thanks again for all your sage wisdom, and for putting up with my retarded questions.

i also found the CORRECT lock-right for the rear on ebay, and i am currently high bidder @ $122.50 (ending in 5 hrs) so WE WILL SEE what happens there. at least i know how to install them now, thanks to everyone there...

i put it in 4lo at my dad's place and slowly crawled up on this rockpile he has, and was amazed at what a difference just the front locker makes. i may be imagining things, but it seems like having the front locked up makes the jeep track straighter on the road, even in 2WD.
 
jimbar said:
Good to see everyone had fun on quite a long day! I did warn you it would be an all day'er. Thanks to John M. for the shop, No way could I have kept a handle on all that was going on without the quality help we had there. Take care and remember to change the gear lube! -jim

also before i forget, there is NO possible way i would have been able to do this project without jim to set me straight about 17 dozen times. thank you wholeheartedly for your input. you're a solid dude!!
 
What happened to the Commander?

I only had a couple number plugged into my phone, and no one answered or called back. I had got a hold of a friend who referred me to a shop in Tacoma.

Jason
 
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