<On-going updates>
Please bear with me... more pics soon.
Offroad season starts end of September :)
Current Status (updated as Status changes):
The right rear axle (after days of malfunctioning seals then ballbearings) had a catastrophic failure and broke the c-clip and FELL OUT while driving. I was going slow after hearing some noises. I was actually on my way to the garage :(
It split the right rear plastic fender, bent the corner of the fender, and took out the right brake light. Perfect excuse to upgrade to some corner body armor and exo-cage type fender protection and those LiteDot Led brake lights I wanted :)
Hey, at least it broke on the highway and not on the trail in the middle of nowhere and ruined an offroad session.
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2" spacer lift & 31" Dunlop AT2s (NOT a current picture)
Vehicle: 1997 Jeep Sahara Wrangler (TJ)
Current Specs:
-2" Spacer lift
-35" Mastercraft C/T Tires (rubs like hell but just couldn't wait for the lift to arrive :))
-Black Steel "D spoke" Rims / 15X8
-Disconnected anti-roll bar
-High-lift hood mounted
-External transmission-oil-intercooler
-Momentum recovery strap, shovel, & recovery gear
-Bikini Top
-Mirror relocating brackets
Local terrain: DESSERT with some sand dunes and hill climbs and some rocks here and there
Me: -Car fanatic into everything that is cars. History, mechanics, electronics, car audio, Drag Racing, etc.
-First love has always been sports cars and classic muscle cars
-I'm a Chevy man!
-But it turns out that I'm an offroader at heart all along and just didn't know it :)
Other interests: Horse back riding and long walks on the beach... LOOOOL NOT! :P
At the Begining...
Dead Stock but really clean when I bought it June 07
(I don't like stock vehicles!)
One of the places I offroad...
Yeah... that says "DANGER! LIVE FIRING! KEEP OUT!"
...so I cruised on in for a souvaneir
(military exercise area north of Kuwait but not too close to Iraq :))
BIGGEST OFFROADING MISHAP
Got to a local offroad location before the other guys so while waiting I decided to go to the coastline that I always see in the distance but never drove to (or through). Got there drove through the water with no problem till the Jeep dove in head first like there was no ground under me! No use in whatever I did. I hit QUICK SAND! the Wrangler while still was actually sinking down but only got to a certain depth and stopped. Thank God. Got out and could not stand in one spot so not sink myself! No one around. Remote area. Walked till I found fishermen with a beater Jeep Cherokee and got them to help me. By this time the TIDE is now coming in! And kept on coming in while the tow truck came along with a 300 meter (!) long cable and winched me out after the waterline was upto the steering wheel(!). Sorry no pictures... kinda had my hands full.
Did what I could to save what could be saved but lost the ECU, some wiring, starter, pullies, and got salt water in above and below the pistons, into the tranny, both axles, and gas tank and lines. Flushed everythhing but eventually the tranny and rear axles gave up. If the engine dies I'm swapping in a damn LSI from a Caprice SS (same as engine as in the last model Camaro)!
... I'm upgrading the TJ to specifically hit the same spot this season! but I will have a winch, recovery straps, and my buddies standing by in case the quick sand wins :) Can't afford all those repairs again.
_____ SHOPPING LIST for this season __________________________
- 4” short-arm Rough Country Lift
- 1” Rough Country body lift
- Slip Yoke Eliminator
- Ring & Pinion 4.56 gear sets
- Installation kits
- Skyjacker Quick Disconnects
- Trutrac Lockers
- Internal beadlocks
- Rough Country Steering Stabilizer
- ARB Safari Snorkel
- BushRanger recovery strap
- KC Highlites Black Daylighters
- Windshield Light Mounts
- Clinometer
- Motorola TalkAbout T5000R
- VDP KoolBreez Full Top (Mesh)
- ORO LiteDOTs LED rear lights
- 04-06 Side Mirrors
- Jackob's Tune Up kit
- Amplifiers (4-ch & D class) {I submersed the old ones when I sunk the Jeep last season :)}
- Waterproofing everything electrical {same reason as above}
____ Home-made Projects ____________________________
- Xenon Headlights
- Fenders "exo-sckelton" tubes
- Tube doors
- Front Bumper
- Tire Carrier Bumper/Spacer
- Lights under Jeep for rock crawling at night
- Plate steel protection parts
- skid plates
Before & AFTER pictures will be posted when available
(I got a new digital camera & a Handycam just for this)
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Page 1: Main Page [you're here]
Page 2: Jeep Wrangler build ups (Audio System included)
(my '97 TJ Sahara, a friend's '04 TJ Sahara, & another friends '93 YJ Sahara)
Page 3: Off Roadin action
Page 4: "Repairs To Do" list
