Rob707
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- sacramento
...sorry...another build thread...
- Thread starter blondejoncherokee
- Start date
REVROK
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Spring Creek, NV
Is there a thread for a surplus ram based assist build?
REVROK
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Spring Creek, NV
Excellent... thanks
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
I noticed that I forgot to tighten the jam nut on one of the hiems on the track bar. that helped a ton. I swapped the spare tire on, which is brand new, that helped even more. after airing up, I rechecked toe and it was still toed in. I toed it back out to 0 and slapped the rubicon stabilizer on. no DW and it steers fine but i already knew it would. I noticed that just off idle the steering struggles, might need to do the redneck ram mod to the pump and drill out that fitting. ill take the tires in if I ever actually have a day off when a tire place is open that will actually balance 36s….
- Location
- San Diego
yea... loose jam nuts will give bad DW. I had that issue once.
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
Ya for now its more than drivable. which is nice. I didn't want to put a stabilizer on it until I got rid of most causes. at this point I'm just gonna run it and when I actually get time get the tires balanced. I do plan on doing hydro assist . I need way more wheeling time and way less wrenching time. This has been the worst ratio year for me in a long time to seat time versus wrench time.
I am going to be looking for a waggy drop pitman arm soon to try to drop the drag link a little more , and ill eventually take the driver side knuckle into parts mike to see if we can fix the high steer arm and keep the drag link even flatter.
My 3 main projects for the next year or so are to maybe grab some RCVs and the 300m hubs to run the 30 spline outers, an atlas 2 speed, and a reman motor. but none of that is needed asap.
I am going to be looking for a waggy drop pitman arm soon to try to drop the drag link a little more , and ill eventually take the driver side knuckle into parts mike to see if we can fix the high steer arm and keep the drag link even flatter.
My 3 main projects for the next year or so are to maybe grab some RCVs and the 300m hubs to run the 30 spline outers, an atlas 2 speed, and a reman motor. but none of that is needed asap.
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
So after some research , WJ Pitman arms drop about 1.5", instead of the 1/2" of less from the saggy arm. A lot less than an XJ arm, and they are only like 1/4" shorter in length than a saggy arm, and they are dirt cheap. very cheap. like 20$ brand new, so not only way cheaper than saggy arm, way way cheaper than saggy DROP arms, and I cant find a 1-2" saggy drop arm, only like massive 4" drop arms. very cool.
XJensen
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Sacramento
You are the master of parts research Jon.
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
Haha thanks Josh!
waggy not saggy arm in that last post. Haha. Damn autocorrect!
waggy not saggy arm in that last post. Haha. Damn autocorrect!
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
so I swapped in a new caliper on the passenger since it was pulling hard to the passenger side. I also had the pass side tire balanced and took the air soft out. And the driver side is now running that brand new tire with airsoft. Thing rides way better. Doesn't seem to be puling hard passenger anymore, and no sign of odd steering wheel feedback and no sign of death wobble. Im calling it done for now. It is driving great.
Got my WJ pitman arm in and drilled it out for 3/4. The hole is a bit sloppy on one side, so I might weld it up and order a new one and do a better job which means ill need a new drill press. POS harbor freight drill press is pretty much dead and had to finish it off with a hand drill.
Ordered another WJ pitman arm and planning on looking for a new drill press.
Anyone want to sell a stand alone or bench top drill press that doesn't suck? Ive killed 2 bench tops this year. And looking at bigger band saws.
Got my WJ pitman arm in and drilled it out for 3/4. The hole is a bit sloppy on one side, so I might weld it up and order a new one and do a better job which means ill need a new drill press. POS harbor freight drill press is pretty much dead and had to finish it off with a hand drill.
Ordered another WJ pitman arm and planning on looking for a new drill press.
Anyone want to sell a stand alone or bench top drill press that doesn't suck? Ive killed 2 bench tops this year. And looking at bigger band saws.
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blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
So after searching and searching for a good drill press I finally got one. I was hoping for a 3/4 HP , 6-8 AMP, 10 speed for around 200, non HF.
I got even better. A 1 1/2 HP craftsman, 17", 16 speed, 13 AMP stand alone . The thing is freaking huge and weighs 230lbs.
Next will be a decent metal cutting band saw.
going to be building some front pass side frame stiffeners tomorrow, and also modify my track bar across brace to clear the new track bar. all of that should be fun for the new drill press. and slap the across frame steering box brace. I eventually want to build a sector shaft brace.
I got even better. A 1 1/2 HP craftsman, 17", 16 speed, 13 AMP stand alone . The thing is freaking huge and weighs 230lbs.
Next will be a decent metal cutting band saw.
going to be building some front pass side frame stiffeners tomorrow, and also modify my track bar across brace to clear the new track bar. all of that should be fun for the new drill press. and slap the across frame steering box brace. I eventually want to build a sector shaft brace.
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blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
modifed a RE trackbar to frame across brace to go on the outside of the mount instead of the inside.
made most of a pass side front frame stiffener since the driver side is priced together. only real reason to make was to use my blue point hole saws in the new drill press. man 200 RPMs rocks.
did some quick welding of the thing tonight. popped off coil, brake line, and shock to get in there, covered everything with a few welding blankets, after dinner tonight.
I am going to finish welding the thing some other time
made most of a pass side front frame stiffener since the driver side is priced together. only real reason to make was to use my blue point hole saws in the new drill press. man 200 RPMs rocks.
did some quick welding of the thing tonight. popped off coil, brake line, and shock to get in there, covered everything with a few welding blankets, after dinner tonight.
I am going to finish welding the thing some other time
- Location
- San Juan Ridge, CA
Looks like you are enjoying your new tool Jon.
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
Ya I've been putting it to good use. Pretty happy with it. Now I need a HF band saw and a cheap plasma, and to wire 220v in the garage somewhere and then get a better welder. .
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
Alright so 3 easy projects done this week:
make a pass side front frame stiffener to tie into the ruffstuff stiffeners. check.
Modify trackbar bar cross brace to clear the track bar by going on the outside of the mount. check. Had to re drill a hole tonight that just wouldn't align.
grind down the 4 master splines from the WJ arm so I can clock it anyway I want to center the steering wheel and get some drop with a 1/4" less longer pitman arm. check/.
did the WJ arm tonight. Hacksaw to the master splines. then a series of files to get it so it looks like regular old splines. can clock the WJ pitman arm any way I want.
Just an FYI, the WJ pitman arm with its 4 master splines has super weird clocking on a 4 bolt, large piston/large bore (3.5") j20 box. super crazy. like a side ways pitman arm. so you have to shave the master splines down.
WJ arm all splined out
a bunch of files and 2 different type hacksaws:
waggy arm and WJ arm
also, the WJ arm perfectly aligned (parallel) the drag link and track bar, with the waggy arm, the drag link was higher. also reduced the angle on the hiems on the drag link.
thing feels really firm on the road.
trackbar, with a piece of 1/4" plate welded to it on the other side, holes opened up a bit
make a pass side front frame stiffener to tie into the ruffstuff stiffeners. check.
Modify trackbar bar cross brace to clear the track bar by going on the outside of the mount. check. Had to re drill a hole tonight that just wouldn't align.
grind down the 4 master splines from the WJ arm so I can clock it anyway I want to center the steering wheel and get some drop with a 1/4" less longer pitman arm. check/.
did the WJ arm tonight. Hacksaw to the master splines. then a series of files to get it so it looks like regular old splines. can clock the WJ pitman arm any way I want.
Just an FYI, the WJ pitman arm with its 4 master splines has super weird clocking on a 4 bolt, large piston/large bore (3.5") j20 box. super crazy. like a side ways pitman arm. so you have to shave the master splines down.
WJ arm all splined out
a bunch of files and 2 different type hacksaws:
waggy arm and WJ arm
also, the WJ arm perfectly aligned (parallel) the drag link and track bar, with the waggy arm, the drag link was higher. also reduced the angle on the hiems on the drag link.
thing feels really firm on the road.
trackbar, with a piece of 1/4" plate welded to it on the other side, holes opened up a bit
blondejoncherokee
NAXJA Member
- Location
- sacramento
So I had a buddy/uncle/dads best friend bring over his very built MJ on saturday and my new ,old, 1965 Honda trail 90 that I got as part of the deal for basically finding him the coolest MJ ever and helping negotiate and front cash . The trail 90 used to be my dads in the early 80s. He used to use it to hunt Mule Deer in Oregon (18 point Buck is hanging over his fireplace-Bucky) . So it has some nostalgia for sure. This trail 90 used to sit on the back of his Blazer on the way to Modock and would bring back bucks from the Blind on the back...
The MJ needed work. has a SOA in the rear. Stock shocks in the rear with raised aftermarket shock mounts about 3" above axle. Cut those off, threw the stock shocks away
and welded them flush with the axle tubes and then installed some 5150s I had lying around. then messed with castor and coils ,then slapped on some sway bars. went from not being able to drive 55 MPH due to scary squirrelly-ness to being able to go 80MPH no problem. castor was at 0*, dialed in the front rock crawler 3 link to 6* positivee castor and got some old school JKS quick discos.
SO anyway, here is the trial 90 with the gas tank off:
to start, it needs fuel lines, carb rebuilt, plug, new fluids, new tires. After that I will go from there. It will be street legal when I am done.
it will be hanging off the back of the XJ for most runs , i will build a motorcycle trailer hitch holder for it.
gas tank:
in between all of that this weekend I also helped my brother and his GF move into a new place downtown and all of his heavy stuff.
all new trail 90 parts will be here in the next week or so. I plan to register it street legal and drive it around town a bunch to0. Has the really low geared rear sprocket.
The MJ needed work. has a SOA in the rear. Stock shocks in the rear with raised aftermarket shock mounts about 3" above axle. Cut those off, threw the stock shocks away
and welded them flush with the axle tubes and then installed some 5150s I had lying around. then messed with castor and coils ,then slapped on some sway bars. went from not being able to drive 55 MPH due to scary squirrelly-ness to being able to go 80MPH no problem. castor was at 0*, dialed in the front rock crawler 3 link to 6* positivee castor and got some old school JKS quick discos.
SO anyway, here is the trial 90 with the gas tank off:
to start, it needs fuel lines, carb rebuilt, plug, new fluids, new tires. After that I will go from there. It will be street legal when I am done.
it will be hanging off the back of the XJ for most runs , i will build a motorcycle trailer hitch holder for it.
gas tank:
in between all of that this weekend I also helped my brother and his GF move into a new place downtown and all of his heavy stuff.
all new trail 90 parts will be here in the next week or so. I plan to register it street legal and drive it around town a bunch to0. Has the really low geared rear sprocket.
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- Location
- San Juan Ridge, CA
So a long, long time ago, the summer after I graduated from High School, a friend and I rode a Honda trail 90 all the way around Lake Tahoe. A feat never matched by anyone and one I don't recommend to anyone. :chef:
Should be a good grid rider for you and camp scrambler. :cheers:
Should be a good grid rider for you and camp scrambler. :cheers:
Rob D
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Pittsburg CA
Very cool Trail 90 Jon. Back when I was young, and I lived in an area where it actually rained (Oregon) I thought those 90's where pretty fun to play around on. My uncle had a pair of the Trail 50's that was the first motorcycle I ever rode. Even when I advanced to my racing days I still liked the trail 50's and 90's just for messing around. :worship:
