crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Oh gotcha so must suffered door damage as well. Now it makes sense.
The Nail Salon
- Thread starter TORX
- Start date
This.
Correct. Nail Salon got three new good sized dents on the drivers side. Both doors and the rear hatch. No regrets though, it was an awesome trip. This is what I built this Jeep for... to wheel.
Friday I got home from work and started reinstalling the interior. After two days in 90 degree heat my carpet was nice and dry.
Everything went back together nice and quick.
Before.
After.
I'm really pleased with the results, and it's no longer disgusting to drive anymore. I even gave it the Febreze treatment.
With the interior back together, I cruised out to TSF today to lend a hand with Piston's Wild "Life is a Journey" Poker Run. I helped run a checkpoint most of the morning, and then helped sweep part of the course over Cedar Tree and FB5. It was gorgeous out there.
With the temps in the 90's today, I was once again reminded of why I bought the Nail Salon, because of it's ice cold AC.
LJ dude
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
With the temps in the 90's today, I was once again reminded of why I bought the Nail Salon, because of it's ice cold AC.
It wasnt that long ago that we were in Moab and you were looking at me in disgust for going down the trail with the windows rolled up and the A/C on. Welcome to the wheeling in comfort club! :wave:
Over the past two weekends I've slowly been getting the Nail Salon fixed up after NWF, and prepping it for my upcoming trip down to the Sierra Chapter's SierraFest / Rubicon.
Last weekend I flushed out the rear diff fluid. The fluid wasn't a total "chocolate milkshake" but there was evidence water had gotten in. In addition to the rear diff I also changed the t-case and transmission fluid just to be safe.
With the fluids all checked, I moved onto re-greasing the chassis after all the TRE's and u-joints had been submerged. While re-torquing the suspension I noticed the steering box bolts were a bit loose. Upon further examination, I found that the uni-body was cracked beneath the steering box.
For a temporary fix to hopefully get through summer, I used a die grinder to cut into the crack, and then welded it up. Since the uni-body is double layered in this section, the crack was only through the outer layer, and extended from the end to the lower sway-bar bolt.
To add some additional strength to the area I decided to tie the sway-bar bolts into the bumper mounting bracket.
Burned it home. I hope I can get the bumper off when the times comes.
Lastly, my final effort to minimize the movement around the steering box was to fab up a quick steering box brace using a 2.25" exhaust clamp.
Extended to the passenger side, and tied it into the cross-member bracket for the bumper. Turned out pretty slick.
I'm thinking my winter project is going to be adding some front frame plating (sides and bottom), moving the winch behind the cross-member, adding some mid frame plating, using that as a foundation for a mid arm three-link, and then end it all with some shock hoops through the cargo area for some more up-travel. Yay.
The Nail Salon has never really had any cooling problems (knock on wood), but in an effort to reduce underhood temps while crawling I made some hood spacers. They space the hood up 3/4", and of course I had to color match them.
I'll yank them when monsoon season begins.
After some fab time I decided to switch gears today, and dust off my carpentry skills (I hate woodwork). SierraFest is going to require me to carry a weeks worth of camping supplies, wheeling gear, spare parts, and beer, all while on the trail for three days. Needless to say, my cargo situation had to be addressed.
I decided the back seat would be deleted for this trip, and in its place would be a cargo "deck." Beginning framework.
Made some brackets to tie the deck into the rear seat bolts.
Semi-finished product. I still need to add some eye-bolts for straps, and secure the front framework to the seat cross-member. If this was going to be a permanent thing I would have done a lot of things different. However, for one trip it'll work fine. I'll probably throw some paint at it as well, or maybe some tile work.
The top decking is not hinged, so I left a little space on the sides to fish stuff underneath. With the front seats moved forward it also gives a lot of room from the front as well.
Feels good to be crossing things off the list. Two more weekends to go, and I'll be wheeling it again one of those.
Last weekend I flushed out the rear diff fluid. The fluid wasn't a total "chocolate milkshake" but there was evidence water had gotten in. In addition to the rear diff I also changed the t-case and transmission fluid just to be safe.
With the fluids all checked, I moved onto re-greasing the chassis after all the TRE's and u-joints had been submerged. While re-torquing the suspension I noticed the steering box bolts were a bit loose. Upon further examination, I found that the uni-body was cracked beneath the steering box.
For a temporary fix to hopefully get through summer, I used a die grinder to cut into the crack, and then welded it up. Since the uni-body is double layered in this section, the crack was only through the outer layer, and extended from the end to the lower sway-bar bolt.
To add some additional strength to the area I decided to tie the sway-bar bolts into the bumper mounting bracket.
Burned it home. I hope I can get the bumper off when the times comes.
Lastly, my final effort to minimize the movement around the steering box was to fab up a quick steering box brace using a 2.25" exhaust clamp.
Extended to the passenger side, and tied it into the cross-member bracket for the bumper. Turned out pretty slick.
I'm thinking my winter project is going to be adding some front frame plating (sides and bottom), moving the winch behind the cross-member, adding some mid frame plating, using that as a foundation for a mid arm three-link, and then end it all with some shock hoops through the cargo area for some more up-travel. Yay.
The Nail Salon has never really had any cooling problems (knock on wood), but in an effort to reduce underhood temps while crawling I made some hood spacers. They space the hood up 3/4", and of course I had to color match them.
I'll yank them when monsoon season begins.
After some fab time I decided to switch gears today, and dust off my carpentry skills (I hate woodwork). SierraFest is going to require me to carry a weeks worth of camping supplies, wheeling gear, spare parts, and beer, all while on the trail for three days. Needless to say, my cargo situation had to be addressed.
I decided the back seat would be deleted for this trip, and in its place would be a cargo "deck." Beginning framework.
Made some brackets to tie the deck into the rear seat bolts.
Semi-finished product. I still need to add some eye-bolts for straps, and secure the front framework to the seat cross-member. If this was going to be a permanent thing I would have done a lot of things different. However, for one trip it'll work fine. I'll probably throw some paint at it as well, or maybe some tile work.
The top decking is not hinged, so I left a little space on the sides to fish stuff underneath. With the front seats moved forward it also gives a lot of room from the front as well.
Feels good to be crossing things off the list. Two more weekends to go, and I'll be wheeling it again one of those.
Last edited:
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Are you copying my build Dustin? Or am I copying yours? I'm three linking my long arm, and shock hoops threw cargo floor.
BoringDave
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Boring
You have to love them unit-body jeeps. I thought the late models were suppose to be a bit more ridged then the older designs? Just a couple years and your already finding cracks? I think it's coming time you move on to something with an actual frame.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
You said what I thought Dave. How are those frame stiffeners looking now? You know the ones people were making fun of me for wanting to install on the Torx's run two years ago. 
Meh, we all know the weakness of the uni-body design. I'm a sucker for these wagons so the potential for cracks is just part of the game. I can honestly say I have zero interest in building a Wrangler. I think I was telling someone the other day that when the Nail Salon gets retired (recycled into a Maytag), the WJ platform (still unibody) is looking pretty good these days.
Have you wheeled it since?You said what I thought Dave. How are those frame stiffeners looking now? You know the ones people were making fun of me for wanting to install on the Torx's run two years ago.
Just kidding Jason, I admire your dedication in building things right the first time. I just wish we saw you out on the trails more often.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Uhhhhh I think once since then. At least at TSF, a few times on the sand. But see if I don't wheel it I won't have cracks.
kenny811
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Damascus, OR
Torx, that's a great looking steering box brace!!
Decided to get one last trip in to TSF before SierraFest. Headed down on Saturday for Noobfest. Ran the usual trails, and the Nail Salon did great. Nothing really got added to the to-do list which is a great feeling.
Decided to hit the scales on the way back. This is loaded for a typical day run, and 3/4 of a tank of gas. She's chubby for sure.
ig:
Also, that homeless dude came running toward me with his thumb up. Must have really liked my Jeep.
Decided to hit the scales on the way back. This is loaded for a typical day run, and 3/4 of a tank of gas. She's chubby for sure.
ig:
Also, that homeless dude came running toward me with his thumb up. Must have really liked my Jeep.
kndrewa
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver British Columbia
lol! dang, that's heavy!
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Last time I weighed mine it was 4,800 lbs. I did have some gear. But I bet mine is a little over what Dustin's weighs.
LJ dude
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
Dang! Your getting up into LJ territory!
The few weekends leading up to SierraFest I was slowly making sure the Nail Salon was ready for the adventure. I had over a year of wheeling on stock shafts, which means in my book they're ready to be retired. In my opinion, a year of good wheeling will stretch the ears on stock shafts. Stock shafts are a consumable, just like a brake pad. Welding the caps in helps, but oftentimes the u-joint is on it's way out too.
So I journeyed to Pick-N-Pull one day, and loaded up on some spare parts. One thing being a "new" set of 297X shafts. I also picked up some fresh Spicer 5-760X joints to swap in as well. I also copied Curtis, and added my own "almost alloy kit." Basically, I welded some SAE washers over the caps to get a better weld, and keep the heat off the caps.
I brought a lot of $hit, but you know how the saying goes, "If you bring it, you won't need it."
Cargo deck and tie-downs worked great. I was able to strap down the heavy items while on the trail. I will say wheeling fully loaded make the Jeep handle way different.
You can read my trip report for the Rubicon and SierraFest, HERE.
Here's some pics of the trip.
It was a great trip, and I'm stoked to cross the Rubicon off the bucket list. The Nail Salon performed flawlessly. I didn't have to turn a wrench on it after ~1600 miles and a weeks worth of wheeling. This is exactly what I built this for, something reliable, capable, and comfortable to drive to and from the trail... even if the trail is 700 miles away.
I finally had a chance to do a once over, and get it cleaned up this weekend. I feared the crack in my frame had spread since I was getting a popping noise being transmitted through the floors when turning. However, that turned out to be loose track bar bracket. I applied some new thread locker, re-torqued the bolts, and tack welded the bracket to the frame. Problem solved. Aside from that I mostly just added a hell of a lot of rock rash to my skids and armor. Nothing really is on the to-do list, or upgrade list right now, except just keep on enjoying it.
At this point I think I can say I'm committed to making the trek down to Moab in October for the 30th Anniversary Event. Should be a good good time.
So I journeyed to Pick-N-Pull one day, and loaded up on some spare parts. One thing being a "new" set of 297X shafts. I also picked up some fresh Spicer 5-760X joints to swap in as well. I also copied Curtis, and added my own "almost alloy kit." Basically, I welded some SAE washers over the caps to get a better weld, and keep the heat off the caps.
I brought a lot of $hit, but you know how the saying goes, "If you bring it, you won't need it."
Cargo deck and tie-downs worked great. I was able to strap down the heavy items while on the trail. I will say wheeling fully loaded make the Jeep handle way different.
You can read my trip report for the Rubicon and SierraFest, HERE.
Here's some pics of the trip.
It was a great trip, and I'm stoked to cross the Rubicon off the bucket list. The Nail Salon performed flawlessly. I didn't have to turn a wrench on it after ~1600 miles and a weeks worth of wheeling. This is exactly what I built this for, something reliable, capable, and comfortable to drive to and from the trail... even if the trail is 700 miles away.
I finally had a chance to do a once over, and get it cleaned up this weekend. I feared the crack in my frame had spread since I was getting a popping noise being transmitted through the floors when turning. However, that turned out to be loose track bar bracket. I applied some new thread locker, re-torqued the bolts, and tack welded the bracket to the frame. Problem solved. Aside from that I mostly just added a hell of a lot of rock rash to my skids and armor. Nothing really is on the to-do list, or upgrade list right now, except just keep on enjoying it.
At this point I think I can say I'm committed to making the trek down to Moab in October for the 30th Anniversary Event. Should be a good good time.
NW99XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Gresham, Or.
Hopefully Dustin, in 3 weeks, I'll be saying the same thing.
This gives me a (tiny) bit more confidence in trying to get mine down there.
kndrewa
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver British Columbia
nice. I wish mine was like yours!
- Location
- Virginia City, NV
Sup Dustin. Good meeting you at SF. Just read through your whole build man. Nice work. Definitely got some wheels turning for some projects on the vanilla gorilla. I think Ill be taking a holiday up north in early spring. Ill hit you up for some wheeling if I bring the heep
90xjblue
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Yakima, Washington
holy crap, i never noticed how big that red jeep is until i saw it next to yours.
