4X4 members

[Trader Ray]

Hopefully this will turn out to be a good thread to get some news about 4X4's and the thrills and spills and do's and dont's of the great world of four wheeling. Members with newer vehicles could keep others posted on recalls and what to expect. And members with those big mountain moving machines can share if they like the package they designed to get the vehicle they built. And of course two wheel drives that have what it takes to kick dirt everywhere are welcome as well as Ford, Chevy, Dodge and any other dirt trail, hill climbing, creek crossing vehicle you all may have.

[Beefy's Bronco]

Coolness. I'm game

[BuzzV59]

Looks like you have the right idea. I have a 97 Chevy Z71 and always looking for some fun.

[Trader Ray]

With all of us spread out like we are, it would be nice to know who has what. It is unlikely we will all meet up and take on a trial but you never know. My signature says it all, I have a Jeep and with moving and all it is hard to try anything out right now, it does pull good in the few mud holes I had to drive through. I swear honey there was no other way around it,&*^& I am writing the wrong note in the wrong place. Sorry

[Beefy's Bronco]

OK Cool. I have an 84 Bronco II. I have been off roading it extensively in mud and did a couple of high speed blasts through the deep snow (2 and 3 foot drifts) out on the lake. It is pretty much all swamp, lakes and riverbeds here. Lots of mud and we are short on rocks so I have no clue how well it will do on the rocks. Deep mudholes (up to approximately 24 inches) have been no problem and are an awesome amount of FUN. My honey doesn't care anymore. LOL

By the way, We sold the Astro Van today and now that I have some cash to play with I think I can afford to do the V8 swap. I'm just not sure I have the ability.

[Beefy's Bronco]

Ok. I got it stuck today. Bad stuck, all the way up to the framerails. Oooops. LOL

[carsandcycles]

I read in a magazine many years ago that the only difference between two wheel drive and four wheel drive was that with four wheel drive you could get fifty feet deeper into trouble. :) :)

[Trader Ray]

The differance though is when you get a 2WD stuck they say it should not have been there in the first place and the when the 4WD gets stuck they say "awsome wheeling dude!" So Beefys getting stuck to the frame rails is a sure sign he is out there and doing it! Part of having a 4X4 is having fun with it, I know there are other reasons for one, but the trails and mud pits are great when you have some spare time.

[carsandcycles]

Two wheeling or four wheeling; don't forget the winch.

[Trader Ray]

Yea she goes with me alot, oh you meant the winch on the the front lol I think the winch should be included as standard equipment on all 4X4's. I paid 30 buck once to get towed about 2 foot and that was all it took. 2 feet. went fishing in the rain and the trail we were on was washed out..It really sucked, literly lol

[danny]

just remember that the better the four wheel drive the longer the walk out of the woods-lol

[Beefy's Bronco]

Originally posted by danny
just remember that the better the four wheel drive the longer the walk out of the woods-lol

I've been lucky, I have only been stuck twice. Once I was still in town (tried to bust through a snow pile that had turned to ice and got high centered) and the other day while driving through the swamp and I stopped to pee (I take pills that make me) and the truck sank (lesson learned? Dont stop and dont take the pills when ya know ya wont be home!!!).

[Trader Ray]

I got stuck once and when I would jack the front up the rear would sink and when I went to the rear the front would sink, it took about 7 of those little 4 wheelers to tow me out. I was in a Oldsmobile and had stopped for the same reason! haha

[vetteonr]

The lesson here.....don't pee in the woods! That's what 2 liter bottles are for. lol :D

[Trader Ray]

Or dont go in the woods when you got to pee! LOL

[vetteonr]

But when nature calls, you must be prepared! I'd rather be pissed off than pissed on! lol

[Trader Ray]

Just make sure when it does call and you are trailing you step in the bushes you know what poision ivy looks like. That could be bad. LoL

[vetteonr]

Getting the itch would take on a whole new meaning! lol :D

[danny]

make sure that you set the park brake also if you don't have an auto., it might be a little embarrasing chasing the car with your pants down(figuratively speaking) lol

[vetteonr]

Plus it's no fun running with pants around your ankles. Boy, that brings back memories. :(

[danny]

you've done that? must have been difficult to say the least. not good memories-right?

[vetteonr]

Not necessarily chasing a car, but in another situation I'd rather not go into here. It wasn't pretty. lol :eek:

[danny]

it's ok, i don't think i want to know-it makes great humor movies though.

[Trader Ray]

Got to use the front two wheels for pulling last week as I was moving my Mom I pulled into a abandonded house's driveway and loaded the few boxes in the Jeep (3) that would fit haha..Well the house has been empty for a few years, backing in was no big deal, just watch the mirrors on the fence and the house and no sweat, right? Wrong! As I go to pull out the drive way caved in under the back wheel on the drivers side. Not having any room to navigate out of it I had to continue on straight, well the little lever that puts it in 4 low, well it really does make you go. I was out of a three foot cave- in and the drive was caving in as I progressed futher. It seems a water line had busted a few years ago underground and they just turned off the main valve and with the house empty, why fix it. They wont have to dig far HA HA. Check my long standing signature Oh Yea!

[danny]

glad you didn't lose that jeep in the canyons you made-lol :)

[Trader Ray]

Me too! I only had one alternitive, taking the fence down in the back of the house and even then I would have had to back the front wheels through the hole again.

[thecarguy]

WOW, didnt know this was here. Ill join up. Ive got an 81 toyota pickup 2wd with a full downey off-road suspension, 10" of front wheel travel, 16" of rear wheel travel. Its got the stock 22r engine with a toyota preformance supercharger. Ive aslo got a 2002 toyota sequoia 4x4. Soon it will have a cradle lift so it can be my muddin toy on some 38" boggers. Right now it has long travel as well. 15" front wheel travel and 21" rear. 4.5" wider stance on each side and custom axles by www.chaosfab.com to still have all the travel and 4wd.

The race truck ranger died. It lost a seal in the axle and it kicked out the right axle while mid air. It flipped 5 times but its still good, only needs a new cab and body pannels. The toyota race truck is still around but not running to full potential. Its really low on compression in 3 of the 6 holes, I think the TRD s/c is to blame, the head gaskets might also be bad. Thinking about selling both trucks as we no longer have funds to stay racing with them. We have been racing on our personal trucks for the last month so we havent even been using the good trucks.

Believe it or not but its been pouring here for a few days and all the good spots are flooded. They didnt even get a chance to dry up from the last storm.

[Trader Ray]

I knew you had a deep insight to four wheeling, and it sounds like you have some awsome trucks to toy with. We have had some real good weather here and the storms are due tonight and Monday. It is a intense experiance to be in a storm when in a little Jeep, I drove to Michigan last weekend and it stormed for 4 hours of the trip. The flat windshield and soft top really let you know it is raining out, not to forget how the wind blows that thing around.. I still say, "who cares, it's a Jeep!"

[thecarguy]

before all the suspension mods i did to the seq. it would just be a feather in the wind, its now worse with the mods.

A buddy of mine has a jeep and boy you are right. You gotta yell to hear yourself think.

[Trader Ray]

It is a sound I will gladly get used too! The flapping of the soft top is something to get used to though.

[vetteonr]

You could also get a removable hard top and have the best of both worlds!

[Trader Ray]

I got that covered, it came with both tops. It is a duel top design in that the soft top mounts under the hard top and when the hard top is off and it starts to rain the soft top just swings in place. Thing is the hard top is really a two man job to lift off and until I make a lift to hoist it up and off by myself I will leave it off till winter. I can tell you the soft top seals real good as I drove to Michigan and it rained the second half of the trip and it did not leak at 70 MPH. It takes about 5 minutes to take the top down and about 10 to put it all back in place.

[thecarguy]

is the top metal or plastic?

if metal you could get a small tab welded on, about the size of a quarter, and just have some kind of pulley in your garage or in the car-port or whatever. My buddy did that to an old camper shell he had. He would un bolt it, attach the pulley and lift a little then drive away.

[Trader Ray]

Mine is fiber glass. but I have a friend that has a neat hook up and it is just a canvas strap with four leads with little flat type hooks to grab the four corners and lift with come along. Simple to hook up and just need the time to do it.

[vetteonr]

It seems like you're right on "top" of things s10. Sorry, I couldn't resist. :o

[Trader Ray]

I could not have expected any less! LOL

[KA9MOT]

Got another Bronco II today, An 85 model. Was gonna use it for parts but after getting it in the garage I find all it needs is a head gasket. And rust repared. Maybe I'll fix it so I can have fun with it and save my body work on the 84. Best part is, the local Ford dealer took it in on a push, pull or drag sale and has had it for 6 months. He sold it to me for 200 bucks to get it off the lot. The "new" one is Dark Blue over Light blue and rust. Lots of rust. LOL :D My kind of truck


By the way. I'm baaaaaaack.

[Trader Ray]

I have always liked the idea of having a spare parts vehicle. That is the down side kind of though, you buy it for parts and then tinker with it and find out it is better than a parts truck. Have Fun!

[danny]

one wasn't enough? j/k lol sounds like a nice color scheme :) good price though hope the repairs go well. is it a 4x4 also?

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
one wasn't enough? j/k lol sounds like a nice color scheme :) good price though hope the repairs go well. is it a 4x4 also?

Yes, and it all works. I cant believe my good fortune. They told me it was junk and I believed them. LOL :D Couldn't believe they were being so honest. Afterall, it was a dealer. Found water in the tranny fluid, and water in the oil. Changed the tranny fluid and filter on a whim and it doesn't slip like it did. Ran a compression check and it has decent compression (110-115 lbs) on all the cylinders except the back two on the left side (between 60 and 70 lbs) and it overheats. So I'll pull the heads tomorrow and decide if the engine has enough miles left in her to warrant a head gasket replacement. It holds good oil pressure (stock guage) but it does have 190,000 miles. Dealer says it was owned by a kid and I am thinking he must have done some deep water crossings with it. We did have floods here last spring so there may be something there also. I don't see any water damage in the interior so I really don't know what to think there.

I'll learn more tomorrow.

The only reason I bought it was for the trailer hitch and the sunviser. Oh yeah my power steering pump is getting a little noisy too.

[danny]

it does sound like a good deal, you should just replace the gasket and drive it.

[vetteonr]

Good going Beefy, some people have all the luck. Oh, and I'll bet it's good to have your name back. :p

[KA9MOT]

I pulled the heads today and checked out the cylinder walls and everything looks good. I'll order my head gasket kit tomorrow.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by vetteonr
Good going Beefy, some people have all the luck. Oh, and I'll bet it's good to have your name back. :p

Very good to have my name back. I really don't know how I screwed that up but I did. Unless I was being punished for being so good looking. LOL :D

[danny]

let us know how it runs when you finish. i don't think 190 k miles is too many with the newer engines.

[Trader Ray]

[i] Unless I was being punished for being so good looking. LOL :D [/B]


Naw! lol

[KA9MOT]

I got all my pic together and got some of the new Bronco II also.

Thought I would share, and I will get some off road pics this week and more of the Blue one as we do the head gaskets on it. Also you will see pics of my wife, Mellisa, my oldest son Jeff, and my baby boy Stevie. Hope y'all enjoy

http://www.cardomain.com/id/beefysbronco

[danny]

nice pictures, hows the new project coming?

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
nice pictures, hows the new project coming?

It has officially become a parts truck. Just for giggles I pulled the pan and check what bearings I was able to and the prognosis wasn't good at all. So tomorrow, I start parting it. I'll have a garage full I promise. Glad I haven't picked up that gasket kit. LOL :D

[towtrucks]

Can I be a member of the 4 X 4 club?
It's a 4 wheel drive Kabota tractor.....

[danny]

Originally posted by towtrucks
Can I be a member of the 4 X 4 club?
It's a 4 wheel drive Kabota tractor.....

well of course, it's a 4x4 afterall. lol when are you putting in the sbc?

[Trader Ray]

Oh yes, all 4X4's are welcome to join in. And also the pictures look good of the Bronco II that beefy put up. That seemed like a good site for posting pics and I may use it myself. Thanks

[vetteonr]

I can't seem to pull beefy's site up. If it's true we can post pics on there, that would be the thing to do. I'll keep trying. :)

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by vetteonr
I can't seem to pull beefy's site up. If it's true we can post pics on there, that would be the thing to do. I'll keep trying. :)

Try it now---------------> http://www.cardomain.com/id/beefysbronco

The best part is it is free, and we all like that free stuff.

[Trader Ray]

I've always said if it's for free, it's for me!

[vetteonr]

Thanks Beefy, I got it now. A free site to post your cars?......very cool! :D:D

[Trader Ray]

Its going to be a long summer here, the lakes are full and I love riding the emptied lake bottoms in the winters. There are hours of trails and ruts to trec through.

[KA9MOT]

I was out yesterday on one of my favorite trails. I was all alone until a short time later when I came upon a guy in a brand new Toyota SUV. This guy was stopping everytime we came to a spot that had branches hanging over the trail and trimming them back. He would get out into the mud, trim the branches back, go back to his truck, remove his shoes, proceed to the next set of branches and do it over again. I kept having to stop and wait on him and get started again in deep mud (6 inches to a foot probably). It was very slow going. A while later, a guy in a Chebby pickup showed up and we both were put to the Japanese Truck owner Torture. We were both yelling at him and he totally ignored us. Finally, we came to a wide spot, were people had been driving around a very deep hole, and he went for the hole and got stuck. This really upset me because I had done this hole several times, and wanted to do it again. It is 2 or 3 feet deep and has holes in the bottom of it. It was full of water because we have had rain lately. Anyway, he sucked some water into the air intake. We pulled him out and were talking to him and he had never been off roading before and had just bought the truck and heard about the trail. I took him to his house so he could call someone to recover his truck. I started out really upset and the guy turned out to be real cool, just not real smart. Next time I go out I offered to take him with so he could learn the trails.

[danny]

a wonderful human being you are beefy :)

[vetteonr]

About half way through your story, I thought you were going to chew him out the first chance you got. I guess patience is a virtue. Beefy, I salute you! :D

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by vetteonr
About half way through your story, I thought you were going to chew him out the first chance you got. I guess patience is a virtue. Beefy, I salute you! :D

It was funny at first, then maddening. Then it was maddeningly funny.

maddeningly is very hard to spell.

I am sure he will never take that truck off roading again. He was sooooooo afraid he might damage his paint.

[vetteonr]

I'm more astonished you teamed up with a chevy guy. lol

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by vetteonr
I'm more astonished you teamed up with a chevy guy. lol

I don't hate Chevy or it's owners. Seen some I wouldnt mind owning even. I just prefer Fords and love to talk trash about Chevy.

[vetteonr]

Well, like I said before, at least you're honest! ;)

[Trader Ray]

I have seen that type on the trails before, but not with the paint. I have seen them not want to get muddy at all. I love the feeling you get when the only wheels with traction is the front and you are in a rut or a turn and you have warned your friend with you to roll up their window and they dont and get a face full of mud from the tires. lol I have never seen anyone get mad but I really get a kick out of their faces. I have had the top off the jeep every chance I get. I looked at the dash the other day and thought why would it need air conditioning? Have a great day!

[vetteonr]

It sounds like you're having a blast with your new toy! And don't knock the AC, you may love it when it hits the 90's outside, but I get your drift.

[Trader Ray]

Yea, I know I will use it...some day! The Jeep has came a long way since the CJ days. I drove in a very hard rain storm at 70 miles per hour and not one leak in it or around the doors and I was surprised at that. However it is a very light vehicle and the wind can make up your mind as to what lane you drive in if you are not carefull. lol

[Trader Ray]

I went to a family fish fry and they had four wheelers there and said there was no way the Jeep would even pull the hill they were climbing, well after strapping in I crept up the hill with very minimal slipping and the old lady just held on for dear life, I climbed the hillside and, really coming down was the challanging part. I thought for sure she would make me pay when I got her to to bottom but she said..."Can I try" It was 86 out side today and it was a great day to do some climbing, the realitives own the property and encouraged me to come and PLAY any time I want. I was mostly a swamp cruizer but the hill climbing was a blast. And with out the threat of the police or county coming to check it out makes it better. It was a great time.

[vetteonr]

I guess those Jeep commercials are true. Sounds like you had a great time!

[KA9MOT]

Went off roading again today. Took my buddy Eric with me.

We went to an old sand pit that still has lots of huge sandpiles. You see the kids on the 4-wheelers in there playing all the time. Eric, has an 89 Comanche Pick-up (Jeep) 2 wheel drive. I went charging up this one sand pile that is about 30 to 35 feet tall and very steep. (I always gas on her really hard at the bottom in 4 low and I'm usually spinning my tires real good by the time I get to the top. It has a nice gentle downslope to the bottom with about 30 feet of running room to the next sand pile. It is pretty awesome.) I topped the first sand pile, idled to the bottom, and was getting ready to start gassing for the next one, looked in the rear view and saw that Jeep pick-up top the hill. It floored me. I really have to nail the throttle to make it to the top and Eric just moseyed up the dang thing. He got high centered at the top and I had to pull him off, but that truck of his is amazing.

[danny]

if he had more ground clearance he might have passed you. j/k some of the two wheel drive trucks have a good enough gearing to climb.

[Trader Ray]

yes we all had a great time there. Beefy, do you watch the monster garage? Did you see the Bronco build up this week. It was great.

[KA9MOT]

I watch the show when I can figure out what hight it is on. I just watched the other day and it was the hotdog dragster. I would like to see the Bronco one.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
if he had more ground clearance he might have passed you. j/k some of the two wheel drive trucks have a good enough gearing to climb.

Naw, you have to know Eric. He is very passive and is mentally disabled. He works for my wife and has sorta latched on to me. I have no problem with that cause the dude is pretty cool. Just a little weird. LOL I fix his computer for him when he screws it up and he thinks I am a computer whiz. LOL

He just got out of prison for drugs and is getting back on his feet and needs some help. His therapist told my wife I am good therapy for him. LOL :D He is a good friend.

Any way, The last thing Eric would do is pass anyone. He is afraid to offend.

[Trader Ray]

It is on Discovery channel. At or about 8 in the evening here anyways on Mondays at 8 or 9 and again at 11 or 12. Then again on Saturday night it shows again the same way. The new show before it called monster house is good two. The first one was any way, they took a house and made a race mans retreat. It was very good, the wife liked it to. Let my know if you find it, I set mine up on Sunday mornings to be taped all week the way I want. I just got done watching Monster garage..have a great night.

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
Naw, you have to know Eric. He is very passive and is mentally disabled. He works for my wife and has sorta latched on to me. I have no problem with that cause the dude is pretty cool. Just a little weird. LOL I fix his computer for him when he screws it up and he thinks I am a computer whiz. LOL

He just got out of prison for drugs and is getting back on his feet and needs some help. His therapist told my wife I am good therapy for him. LOL :D He is a good friend.

Any way, The last thing Eric would do is pass anyone. He is afraid to offend. Beefy, once again, you are a true humanitarian! :D

[thecarguy]

I keep forgetting about this thread being here. Well I took my new toyota off road on sunday. Its a 2002 toyota sequoia 4x4. It has a custom long travel suspension kit that I made and the rear was done by my buddy who is a genious when it comes to multi link suspensions. 15" front wheel travel, 21" rear (only uses about 12" because I refuse to cut out the floor in the rear) and 4.5" wider on each side. I have only taken it to sand dunes before sunday. Sunday I encountered some trails and other stuff. Well I munched the front lower valence on a berm and smashed in the skid plates. I was really pi$$ed because this wasnt a cheap vehicle. I took a wrong turn and was in a very skinny trail and got a few scratches on her. I stopped and got out and looked and realized $hit happens. Got back in and charged through the trail. Ive got a good weekends worth of buffing ahead of me now.

Im going to be getting rid of my 81 toyota pickup soon and am thinking about my next project. Im thinking either toyota tacoma or ford ranger or f-150 (must be an a-arm truck). Toyota because of it reliability, it will be a dialy driver whatever I get. The fords because they have a hudge aftermarket for off roading. Almost half of the desert trucks out there are fords because they used to have a simple design (i beams) and now that they are a arms people are still buying them. No chevy because they have weak frames (why we sold our old one).

Pics of the sequoia shoud be up on the site within the next few days.

[KA9MOT]

Just wanted to let those who are interested know that I posted some Off-Roading pictures on my Bronco II page. These would be on page 2.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/beefysbronco

[Trader Ray]

Those are some good pictures there. I did not even see the cable pulling you up!! good shots!

[Trader Ray]

The joys of Jeeping, I have trouble getting out of it long enough to even wash it. Tonight is the first night I left the top off and I just hope the weather man is correct. I did my lawn yesterday and now have a rain free forcast for the next two day with temps in the eighties. Have a great weekend everyone!

[vetteonr]

I hope you don't have the clean car curse s10. Every time I wash my cars or leave the top or windows down, it rains, no matter what the weather guys say. :mad:

[Trader Ray]

I have it worse than that, we live in the country and lot's of tree's means lot's of bird's.. I think you know the rest of the crappy story.lol

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
I have it worse than that, we live in the country and lot's of tree's means lot's of bird's.. I think you know the rest of the crappy story.lol

I believe you meant to say "Poopy" didn't you?

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
I have it worse than that, we live in the country and lot's of tree's means lot's of bird's.. I think you know the rest of the crappy story.lol Aarrgh...I know, that's the worst. How can such little creatures poop so much? You'd think they aim for shiny paint jobs. Time to get out the pellet gun. LOL (I used the poop word for you beefy!) LOL

[danny]

and what do they eat to make their poop so acidity?

[Trader Ray]

Laughing my head off at the above 3 post! I have been lucky so far with the top off the Jeep. I just know the first time I see some "poop" on my dash a pellet gun will not do the trick to my satisfaction, C-4 on the hillside. Well maybe some TNT..LoL

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
a pellet gun will not do the trick to my satisfaction, C-4 on the hillside. Well maybe some TNT..LoL Dang, you must have some big birds in Tennessee!

[Trader Ray]

Picture this, I come in for a soda, the ole' lady needs to speak to me and I sit on the couch and then doze off. (what eles did you expect) When I awake, my first thought is NOT did it rain, it is I hope I parked far enough from the trees. And where do they find so many berry's? lol

[vetteonr]

Maybe you live near a paintball range and are getting the shots that missed their target. LOL

[Trader Ray]

if that is the case, they sure are some crappy shots on that range. lol

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
crappy shots He he he.......good one.

[Trader Ray]

Thank you, Thank you! I'll be hear all week! lol

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
Thank you, Thank you! I'll be hear all week! lol ......and don't forget to tip the waitstaff! ;)

[KA9MOT]

Sorry Jeep Fans but I must brag. My buddy called me today, His Jeep got stuck out on the riverbank. Guess who pulled him out. LOL

[Trader Ray]

I hate to even answer! LOL I drove 2 W/D pick-up's forever before I got my first 4X4. It was a 1974 full time four wheel drive Jeep Cherokee. 360 engine. I got stuck every day. I finally realized that just because it was a 4X4 it was not indestructable. I took a long look at the places I was getting stuck and realized the problem. On a differant note, it seems they would have cut up a Bronco for the bronking car on monster garage.

[KA9MOT]

Truth be told, He is new to off roading and chose a very bad line and I mean very bad. Right into the soup all the way up to the frame.

[Trader Ray]

Of course I was not there, but what type of Jeep was it? Some of the CJ types choose the line, the driver just holds the gas peddle down. I had a 78 CJ that would go anywhere, except around a corner at 5 MPH's in the snow. Jeep wrote the book about 4 wheel drive. That was a good slogan. But the wrangler or CJ types just dont have the weight they need to handle some types of trails. Still I had the chance to get what ever I wanted and got the Wrangler I have now. Of course a Humvee was out of the price range. Was the Jeep ready to roll after being pulled out?

[KA9MOT]

No, it was his choice. He was afraid to go near the water and in this particular section you have to go through the water. The Jeep would have been fine had he not cranked his wheel while I was dragging him back. He high centered himself on a boulder and bent something. I was in the mud with him and was not going to stop just because he made a bad choice and kept pulling right over the boulder so now he thinks I broke his Jeep. LOL He drove it home but it has a vibration and we are thinking he may have bent that little short driveshaft. He has a few more.

It is a 75 CJ. Awesome jeep really. He has 35 inch mudders on it and I keep waiting for him to break an axle but he has not broken one yet. By the way, this jeep has a 400 Chevy and a 4 speed with granny low and it runs extremely well, and it can climb some insane hills.

[Trader Ray]

I am getting closer to using my 4X4 the way I like. The lakes are going down now and there are plenty of mud pits already. However with a 4 cylinder one really needs to use the trans and the plus of the 4:11 differentials as a advantage. I already can see where I will be wanting a little more lift and some extra power. The 6 cylinder engine has about 70 more horse power but at almost 4 grand more I just had to take the 4. It still has more power than the V6 Blazer did though.

[KA9MOT]

I havent posted in this thread for awhile. I have been off-road several times but ran across nothing remarkable. I have done some repair and modification work to the BroncoII including new springs (front), removed the clutch fan and installed a electric fan I got off of a 94 Dodge mini van, Managed to finally figure out a way to mount my high lift jack to the spare tire carrier. The mount is very strong also. I tested it on (hit) a tree limb and bent the jack. :(. Guy with a 19 ton press straigtened it back out for me. :).
I am still looking for a hood scoop, and I will be purchasing some James Duff prerunner bumpers the next time I sell a computer. Anybody want to buy a computer? LOL :)

[Trader Ray]

The computer I use now is about 5 months old. I still have my old one and a lap top as well. I have found a 1979 Jeep Honcho that has Dana 44's front and rear and that guy wants a PC. He is just hard to get a hold of. This Honcho started as a 360 engine but has a 6 in it now. It has a homemade brushgaurd that starts in the front of course and goes all the way around the vehicle. It is one tuff truck. I hope I can do a trade with him and get it soon. I think the axle's alone are worth the trade. I like the pics of the Bronco going up that steep hill. I cant imagine being stopped at the bottom of that hill with a automatic trans. The Bronco must have both some good power and some great traction. Good pic's.

[thecarguy]

beefy, im not sure if ive asked before but is the 4x4 with i beams or a arms? if its beams take a look at www.camburg.com he has some really nice 4x4 beams. I could get you a deal if your interested. They also do custom bumpers exactly how you want em. most people dont think so but it ends up costing the same for a fabetch/procomp/duff pre fabbed bumper as it will a custom one that looks different and sets you apart, then again shipping from so cal will be nice and high.

s10, dont stress the fact you have a 4 banger. im sure there are plenty of aftermarket preformance parts, and its a jeep which is very popular. for that small lift your talking about shackles and coil spacers cant be that expensive....can they? (i dont know much about jeeps) www.chaosfab.com has toyota and jeep long travel kits, but that may be far out of your budget and need.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by thecarguy
They also do custom bumpers exactly how you want em. most people dont think so but it ends up costing the same for a fabetch/procomp/duff pre fabbed bumper as it will a custom one that looks different and sets you apart, then again shipping from so cal will be nice and high.



Wow, you must have some big bucks in your pocket. $650 for a Bumper? $300 for the rear. WOW!! James Duff has them for $170 Front and $160 Rear. They are made of 2 inch thick walled steel tubing and came bare so you have to paint them. A local guy here said he could make me a set like Duffs but he wanted 380 dollars.

I really appreciate the effort you have expended to help out tho.

The Bronco has I-Beams also know as Twin Traction Beam (TTB)
Again, thanks for your input.

[thecarguy]

400 is the going rate for a fabtech or pro comp type bumper, so 200-250 more isnt so bad for somthing custom that is welded to the frame (camburg is also high end, there are other custom fab shops that have better prices), not bolted to the existing bumper.

[Trader Ray]

You are right, there is so much aftermarket items for the 4, the Wrangler only came with 2 engines so the aftermarket is very strong. As far as lifting, I can wait till I need tires before I worry about that to much. Like you said, it is a Jeep. I got a convertable with 4 wheel drive and the exact look I wanted at a price I could afford.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by thecarguy
400 is the going rate for a fabtech or pro comp type bumper, so 200-250 more isnt so bad for somthing custom that is welded to the frame (camburg is also high end, there are other custom fab shops that have better prices), not bolted to the existing bumper.

The James Duff bumpers are frame mounted. I guess they are a really good deal. James Duff has been around for a very long time as well and is a Bronco specialist. They have a very good reputation.

[thecarguy]

dont they do other things than broncos? I believe just about every early ford on trucks has james duff products.

Frame mounted is the way to go. If its just bolt on, im sure they supply at least a grade 8 bolt which is fine, but please take the time a the little bit of money it would take to get it welded. Ive seen many that rip the bolts out of the mounts in collisions and do tons of dammage. The one I made for a friend I welded to the frame and cross braced it just about everywhere and we can nerf the slower trucks during the race without any dammage to the bumper at all. One time we were headed up to the mountians for some snowboarding and hit some black ice and lost controll and hit a block wall. no dammage to the truck but had it just been bolted to the frame or existing bumper it would have probobly smashed up the front end of the truck.

Bottom line, please get it welded to the frame. For your saftey and the saftey of the the front of the bronco.

[KA9MOT]

Darn, gotta protect the Bronco. LOL :D
Just Early Broncos, Bronco IIs and Rangers. Thats all they do. Maybe fullsize but I dont remember seeing any.

[thecarguy]

$170 is a darn good price tho. Im guessing it shouldent cost much (no more than $30-40) to get it welded by someone if you dont DIY. And ake sure its either MIG or TIG, sitck welding is old school. Im thinking they have stuff for the older fullsize's. O well.


EDIT: well actually MIG, TIG takes a while to do, at least 4 hours just to mount a bumper.

[KA9MOT]

I got to show off the Bronco II again today. I was driving around on the riverbank when I happened upon a newer Expedition stuck in the mud. He tried to maneuver around a canoe that someone had left tied to a tree and got in the mud up to the frame rails. I got out, MOVED the canoe, went around and yanked him out. Lots of fun. He said he was very surprised my little truck could pull his out. It made me feel good.

[Trader Ray]

I am letting the internet world know, my wife became a member of the 4X4 community today, she is the proud owner of a new 2003 Chevrolet Tracker 4 door. It seems like a rail car compared to the Jeep. She is very happy and now I have to really watch my 4 wheeling bragging around the house as I would sure hate to have to get towed by her in some snow or mud. I dont even want to think about the ribbing I would get if she tows me out. :cool:

[KA9MOT]

Cool!!!

[KA9MOT]

I got the Bronco II Stuck today. Gotta learn to stay outta the swamps. LOL :D


I found an pair of tennis shoes back there in the same spot I was stuck at. That and the depth of the ruts I was stuck in tells me I'm not the only one who has been stuck back there before. I got myself out but it wasn't easy. I figured that high lift jack would have been way more help then it was but it turned out to be pretty useless.
I may have to invest in a winch. And some new tires to boot.


http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0011.JPG

[danny]

about time for some monster mudders? how 'bout some 44's, that will change your ratio

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
about time for some monster mudders? how 'bout some 44's, that will change your ratio

Big time!! Actually, I just bought 4 brand new 265/75-15 Mud and snows. They were very cheap. I wasn't going to use them on this truck but on the F-150, however, I do have the extra axles with 3.73's in DA Garage that I will be installing before the snow flies.
Gotta change the whole axle assembly because opening one of those thing up is Sci-fi for me.

[danny]

it's easier to change the whole thing anyway isn't it?

[KA9MOT]

For me it would be. I have a bunch of people telling me to swap the rings and pinions and I don't know but it seems to me if you used a used set it wouldn't be right. I mean there is going to be a wear pattern. I cant see anything but problems if they are disturbed. That make sense to you?

[danny]

oh yeah that makes plenty of sense, i would change the whole assembly too for that very reason.

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
I got the Bronco II Stuck today. Gotta learn to stay outta the swamps. LOL :D


I found an pair of tennis shoes back there in the same spot I was stuck at. That and the depth of the ruts I was stuck in tells me I'm not the only one who has been stuck back there before. I got myself out but it wasn't easy. I figured that high lift jack would have been way more help then it was but it turned out to be pretty useless.
I may have to invest in a winch. And some new tires to boot.


http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0011.JPG What do you call that color beefy, muddy gray? LOL

[Trader Ray]

That is a good picture to, did you get one while it was buried? I got some of the Jeep in water up over the front bumper and the tires under as well. The high lift is worth millions when it does actually fit the need. I would like to have a winch myself, but money is tight. I do carry a good tow strap and hopefully I dont ever need it. I am sure I will though as it is easy to get in over your head. Glad you got it out with out no axle damage.

[KA9MOT]

No, I didn't get one while it was buried, unfortunately I didn't think about it until I was all muddy. The dang high lift jack had collapsed, my 4 years old was in the truck, I was really getting angry and it would have been an 8 mile walk out of the boonies to the phone because I could get no signal on the cell phone. I always get into trouble when somebody with huge tires has been there before me. I felt it when I went in, the truck went down then came back up and down again. Then I heard the rocks scraping on my frame or undercarriage (I am not sure which). I couldn't see what was under the water but if felt and sounded like a really large rock and thinking about it I think the last guy that got stuck there really dug it out on both sides of the rock.

I was contemplating the long walk and really unhappy about it,not knowing if I could do it with my bad ticker and a 4 year old but knowing because of the 4 year old I was going to have to walk it.

I figured I'd give it one more shot and got lucky, Very lucky. She crawled up on the rock and I kept my foot in it and out she came.

And talk about luck as well, just as I was staring to drive through the brush so I could drive around this hole my buddy Chris showed up because he got worried when I wasn't home when I should be.

The surprising thing is that I made that hole going the other way and hit no rocks that I can recall. I don't have a clue why I couldn't do it on the way out. Just the nature of things I guess.

[thecarguy]

never been in to much mud. Deepest was up to the diff. But I have burried the tires in sand. it turns out that a 33" mudder with a locker digs a big hole when you stomp the pedal. I tried mudding for a while but since I never took a full sized truck off road the biggest tire I had mudded in was a 33" and most people run at least a 38" or 40" when mudding so we would always get stuck or be to timid to go balls out.

s10, dont be to quick to discount the trackers abilities. Its very capeable. My girlfriends mom bought one and her dad wanted to take it off road so he tagged along with us one weekend and he could take turns a lot faster than most (lower center of gravity I assume). It climbed hills pretty good but it deffinatly needs a bigger engine to be taken off road seriously, but I assume it wasnt designed for that purpose.

One time I saw some guys tie a tow strap around a tree than around the tire and as the tire spun it pulled the truck out.

hmmm. tomorow just because of this....im going to make a device like this. But instead of wraping the strap around a tire I will make a plate that will bolt to the wheel lugs and have protruding tongs to which the strap will wrap around. Think of the wheel lugs extended a foot an a half. Thats what it should look like.

[danny]

i think you can buy something like that from jc whitney, anyway i think i saw something like that a while back in some catalog. it bolted up to the wheels and has a drum that cable wraps around-when you put it in gear it winds up the cable pulling you out.

[thecarguy]

I had a hard time just making the flange that will bolt to the wheel lugs. I spent about 2 hours trying to make it fit around the center cap and the shape of the wheel and the lugs arent long enough anyways. At least I had somthing to do this afternoon.

[Trader Ray]

carguy, thanks for the heads up on the Tracker. She loves driving it and I doubt she will ever really use the off road capability that it has. But it is a comfort to know she has it if we get another winter like we had last winter. In reguards to the poor mans winch you are talking about, that would be a good little tool to have in the tool box for those "just in case situations" In realality the only heavy duty winch I will be getting is the real off my deep sea fishing pole that I moved here with from the days of fishing in the Detroit river..:D

[thecarguy]

You know, Ive heard a winch described like air tools...you cant comprehend how you got by with out it. But I cant recall any time it would have been usefull as we always travel in groups. I guess its for the guys that fly solo.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by thecarguy
You know, Ive heard a winch described like air tools...you cant comprehend how you got by with out it. But I cant recall any time it would have been usefull as we always travel in groups. I guess its for the guys that fly solo.

Like me!!!! Everybody I know is scared to get it dirty, break something or scratch the paint. Bunch of little weenies if you were to ask me. LOL :D

I really don't get stuck enough to warrant the bucks taken from the kitchen table.

Just have to stay where I have signal on my cell phone.

[Trader Ray]

I got stuck once in a CJ5 and had to walk about 3 miles in the rain and call my Dad and then walk back to the Jeep and wait for him, it took all of 7 seconds of pulling with his Olds and I was out. There was trees and light poles and I could have got out with a winch in such a short time. But yea, if you are alone on the trail it is your best friend.

[Trader Ray]

I agree about the money thing as well. I wont let the worry of not having one keep me off the trails but it would be something I would buy if I could. I need to make the Jeep payments before I worry about a 300 dollar tool that hopefully dont get used. Try explaining that one to the wife. lol

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
I got stuck once in a CJ5 and had to walk about 3 miles in the rain and call my Dad and then walk back to the Jeep and wait for him, it took all of 7 seconds of pulling with his Olds and I was out. There was trees and light poles and I could have got out with a winch in such a short time. But yea, if you are alone on the trail it is your best friend.

Was that "Your fathers Oldsmobile"? LOL :D

[Trader Ray]

I knew you would get me on that one, yea it was! :D

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
I knew you would get me on that one, yea it was! :D

LOL :D Hopefully it was some kind of truck and not the Olds 98. That wouldn't look to good.

[Trader Ray]

No it really was a Olds, a 1973 Olds 88. I was out after the bars closed and went to a old fishing hole and was really doing some good mudding and when I was leaving I missed a shift and was about 8 feet from pavment, you know how it is. He did not even get out of the car and I gave him twenty bucks.

[KA9MOT]

73 Olds 88? Nice car.

[Trader Ray]

Mind ya it was about 1981 or so, but it was a real car for sure. Them old rocket engines were a true force to rekon with.

[vetteonr]

They had to be to move tanks like those cars. LOL

[Trader Ray]

Those few years were really the last of the big heavy cars. All steel, and riding on old bias ply tires. I drove a Olds 98 once that would burn the tires until you felt guilty. It was silly how that car would spin the tires so long.

[vetteonr]

My father-in-law had a big olds 98. Man that thing would just float down the highway!

[Trader Ray]

What I did not like was the speedo was connected to the front wheels and when I would do the burnouts it read Zero! I liked my 65 Impala that I drove that told how fast the tires were spinning :D

[danny]

man i like the '65's, great cars :)

[vetteonr]

That's one older car on my list I'd like to get ahold of!

[thecarguy]

This was at hot august nights.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/394000-394999/394071_6_full.jpg

see the hot august nights thread for more pics.

[thecarguy]

A while back (im not sure if it was this thread) there as some talk about ivan stewart. I found this interview and thought you guys might be interested in reading it.

http://www.off-road.com/race/drivers/ivanstewart/index.html

I found it in another forum im a member of and every member is a desert racer. It was in a thread where people were asking what the budgets are of the top and bottom nascar teams (many nascar people visit the board, brendan gauhn, robby gordon, and several people who race off road and are involved with sponsoring the nascar teams). One guy said, wanna make a small fortune in motor sports? Start with a big one. One guy works for the parent company of powerstroke and said it costs $8 million to sponsor the NCT for a season. Winston cup is probobly $15-20million to sponsor a year, not to mention all the other sponsors.

[vetteonr]

Very nice Impala. It's refreshing to see a car like that without all the hydralics on it. ;)

[Trader Ray]

That is a great looking car, the old bubble tops are few and far in between these days.

[vetteonr]

That car is a true example of classic American steel. Do you think in 30 years kids of today will look back on their hondas as classics? Doubtful.

[Trader Ray]

You got that right!

[vetteonr]

....that goes for toyota, nissan, and anything else that sounds like a souped up lawn mower also!

[KA9MOT]

The Bronco II is no longer flawless. I hit a deer at 50 MPH last night. It took out the right front and the radiator support and destroyed the awesome radiator from a Explorer that I had installed yesterday. We were 100 miles from home (returning from WalMart) and we got to spend the night in a motel so I could find a radiator today. That radiator mod is something really worth doing for those of you with the Bronco II or Rangers. It requires a very minimum amount fabrication. It cooled my engine down 20 degrees.

[thecarguy]

good to see your still here beefy. Ive heard that most deer/vehicle collisions are fatal for the occupants of the vehicle.

When we first built our ranger it had one from an exploder as well and yes, its a great mod. After coming up on slower traffic in a turn it was toast so we went to one from an excursion and mounted it out back with some be cool fans. What explorer did you get it from beefy? I think ours was from a 4.6 but im not sure if they use the same radiator with all explorer engines.

[KA9MOT]

Fatalities are rare in car deer wrecks in these parts. However, they do happen, especially when you swerve to miss the deer. In a Bronco II you don't swerve to miss anything, as you can imagine.

The radiator came out of a 91 Exploder (with the 4.0) but any from 91 to 94 will work. It was a really nice aluminum one and I'll miss it dearly. :(

We got pretty lucky and just the grill, bumper, panel between the grill and bumper (whatever that thing is called), radiator, radiator support have to be replaced. If I can convince my lovely bride that I need a whole clip I will find all these parts from the 2nd Gen Ranger/Bronco II and make it look newer I think 89-91
I guess I'll learn some body working skills now. LOL :D

I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them.

[Trader Ray]

Lucky indeed! I have heard of a few very terrible injuries right here in town. Glad you and the family are OK and even though you lost time and it will cost you money, you are at least able to tell about it. And the new front end that you will get will make for a good project.

[danny]

thankfully it's auto body damage and not people damage, hope you get to convince her that you need the parts and they fit.

[thecarguy]

There are a lot of fiberglass companies her in so cal that do lots of ford conversion work. You can get any front end you want on any truck and its fits good, unlike most fiberglass replacement parts. If your interested Ill get the links.

The ranger we had was a 4.0 so I assume they put larger radiators with the 4.6 as the 4.6 radiator that we swapped in was much larger.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by thecarguy
There are a lot of fiberglass companies her in so cal that do lots of ford conversion work. You can get any front end you want on any truck and its fits good, unlike most fiberglass replacement parts. If your interested Ill get the links.

The ranger we had was a 4.0 so I assume they put larger radiators with the 4.6 as the 4.6 radiator that we swapped in was much larger.

Hey now, That might be something worth looking into depending on cost I might consider fiberglass to beautify my trusted steed.

[thecarguy]

ok. The glass makers websites dont have price info, but this place I do a lot of business with does and they are cheaper than direct because they buy like 400 sets of fenders at a time. The place is www.bajaconcepts.com but im not sure if they do shipping.

The fiberglass conversion section is here:
http://www.bajaconcepts.com/conversionkits.htm

Fiberglass section contd:
http://www.bajaconcepts.com/fiberglass.htm

And their entire catalog if your bored:
http://www.bajaconcepts.com/OnlineCatalog.htm

[vetteonr]

Glad to hear your'e ok beefy. So, here's my next question. Will you and the family be eating venison this winter, or did the deer get away? Hard to imagine it surviving at 50 mph.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by vetteonr
Glad to hear your'e ok beefy. So, here's my next question. Will you and the family be eating venison this winter, or did the deer get away? Hard to imagine it surviving at 50 mph.

We will be eating venison this year but only because I have a freezer full of venison.
The deer was a young doe and she got mangled very badly. We checked to make sure she was dead and not suffering and it was more then my wife wanted to see. I wouldn't have loaded her up anyway. Too much damage. She was gone yesterday after I got the truck rigged well enough to get me home. Somebody will be eating her this winter.
Every body hunts up here, except me. I am not against it, I just can't see sitting in a tree stand for 12 hours a day when it is ten below. I have had so much venison given to me that I really have no reason to hunt. Bear too. I have a freezer full of bear and venison. I do hunt grouse in the fall.

thecarguy, Thanks for the links. I'll be checking them shortly.

[KA9MOT]

This is the bumper I intend to use. Also, my front end (84) is the one on the left. What I would like to change to is the one on the right (89-90). Mellisa says she prefers the older style. What do you guys think?

http://www.jamesduff.com/images/broncoII/bump_recov/airD7930.jpghttp://www.jamesduff.com/images/broncoII/bump_recov/AirD7931.jpg


These things cost $170 for the front and $160 for the rear. They come unpainted with all the hardware. That is a pretty unbeatable deal.
http://www.jamesduff.com/images/broncoII/bump_recov/airD7901.jpg

Oh yeah these are by James Duff Enterprises. James Duff (http://www.jamesduff.com)

[KA9MOT]

Hey guys I started a new MSN Group for us off road fans. Check it out and feel free to participate.

4x4 and Off Road (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad)

[vetteonr]

The one on the right looks, ah, er, shall we say.....beefier?! LOL :D

[thecarguy]

If it were my rig it would get a front end from a 98 ranger. I really dig that look and expecially blue in the link to the conversion kits that I posted.

[danny]

i like the newer one better-just my opinion though

[Trader Ray]

I agree also, the one on the right looks good. Thanks for the comparo shots.

[KA9MOT]

OK That is what I was thinking and since that grill is cheaper then the other one I am sure I can convince Mellisa that this is the way to go. LOL :D

Maybe I have been married to long. LOL :D.

[Trader Ray]

Naw, there is nothing wrong with working with your other half and making decisions together. ;)

[danny]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
Naw, there is nothing wrong with working with your other half and making decisions together. ;)

negotiations are what makes the world go around. :)

[Trader Ray]

That is for sure! It really needs to go both ways for it to work. I am surprised at myself when I sit back and really think about how I look to others and try to change that outlook. Some times if things are not going your way it pays to see if you are going the right way.

[danny]

you are once again correct my friend. :)

[vetteonr]

We're going to have to add "philosopher" to the moderator tag under s10's name. ;)

[Trader Ray]

I just get carried away sometimes lol

[thecarguy]

THe house across the street from mine has been torn down as they are going to do a 100% rebuild. My buddies and I decided on some urban off roading. My driveway is about 150 feet long and is up hill from the garage to the street. If you go fast enough its a jump. I was going about 45 and jumped halfway across the street. I hit the curb and jump about 10 feet into the dirt lot. On landing the truck instantly sat on its nose. It turns out I riped the upper a arms out of their mounts, bent the shafts on my new shocks, and ripped the resivor line on the passenger shock. At least it was my old junker truck that was ment to be beaten.

[KA9MOT]

Well...... Duh! LOL
That's why I do all my off roading slowly. It's easier on parts.

[thecarguy]

I dont like slow trails. Thats why they invented resivor shocks and long travel suspensions.

[KA9MOT]

Around here there is no such thing as a fast trail. Go too fast you end up in the lake, river or in the trees.

[KA9MOT]

When the lake freezes we can haul booty across that for miles. You can even get some air on the pressure ridges. Should just about be safe around Christmas.

[thecarguy]

eeeegad. I hate driving on ice. At my parents place in tahoe the street froze over completly. You actually had to drive one side up on the sidewalk because you had more traction in the snow than the ice coverd street.

I remember at my friends house we were driving down the street and went to stop at the intersection and slid through. There were no other cars but dang was that scary.

[thecarguy]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
Around here there is no such thing as a fast trail. Go too fast you end up in the lake, river or in the trees.

you spent some time in SBD. Im sure you know what the desert looks like. Its one big fast trail. My shop teacher took us on a trail and we went for about 300 miles @ 50-60MPH without seeing another person. The cali desert is practiacly endless.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by thecarguy
you spent some time in SBD. Im sure you know what the desert looks like. Its one big fast trail. My shop teacher took us on a trail and we went for about 300 miles @ 50-60MPH without seeing another person. The cali desert is practiacly endless.

Yeah, we used to make reference to all the bodies buried there.

[KA9MOT]

I tried to post some pics of the damage cause by my run in with the deer. No luck.

Here is a link (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad/closeencounters.msnw?albumlist=2)

I got a new sail panel (as LMC Truck calls it) it's white and rusty too and a different grill today. I painted the grill matte black as the chrome wasn't looking to hot and repainted the sail panel. I'll get them on tomorrow and post the pictures.

I still have to find a good bumper. I may have to buy one new.

As y'all can tell, I will not be updating the look. The wife said I can do that or buy the Gold Wing. I planned on doing both. Now my neighbor wants me to buy her 87 Jeep Cherokee for $600. It is in very good condition and I think I am going to say "Screw the bike". The Cherokee has 4 doors and I have been asking if she'd sell for a year. The other neighbor has a 89 full size Bronco that is rusty and needs a windshield. He wants $200. Decisions, decisions.

[Trader Ray]

Yea that is a rough one to decide on. Knowing how you like Bronco's. But if the Jeep is in good shape it may be the better deal in the long run. I would watch the T-case and also hope it is not the Quadratrac as those are the weaker ones. I had a Quadratrac that over heated when getting stuck and really having to get on it. Good luck to ya!

[vetteonr]

The damage wasn't as bad as I imagined beefy. Very fixable. Go with the jeep beefy, it's good to diversify! ;)

[82_camaro_owner]

how would i go about making my 74 into a 4x4

[KA9MOT]

Well, you have 2 choices.

1. Go out and source all the parts you'll need and swap 'em in (this may require substantial fabrication). The easiest and best way to do this is to procure a parts truck.

2. Procure a parts truck and swap your body to it.

Obviously, number two would be the easiest.

That is a very nice truck 82. I think I would leave it as it is (V8 would be nice) and go get a beater 4X4 that I would not have to worry about trashing out and terrorize the trails and any unsuspecting Chebbies I came upon. LOL :D

[82_camaro_owner]

oh a v8 is definate, maybe a couple v8's ;) LOL theres a feller a few miles from me that has one of those old international 4x4's he wants to sell but wont come up with a price, would that be a good one to go with?

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by 82_camaro_owner
oh a v8 is definate, maybe a couple v8's ;) LOL theres a feller a few miles from me that has one of those old international 4x4's he wants to sell but wont come up with a price, would that be a good one to go with?

The Scouts were awesome and have a very strong following. Parts availability can be a little low.

[82_camaro_owner]

i dont care about a following i just have this urge to pound some trails and see how deep i can go :D

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by 82_camaro_owner
i dont care about a following i just have this urge to pound some trails and see how deep i can go :D

OK I mentioned the following as if they were Junk not many people would like them. You know like the Yugo.

[82_camaro_owner]

eh, dosent matter if i atomize the thing the first trail i hit i just wanna get out there and start pounding earth

[thecarguy]

Its not worth all the work it takes to make somthing a 4x4. Working about 5 hours a day during the week and 12-15 hour days on the weekends it took my buddy and I about 7 months to make a 87 toyota a 4x4, about a year if you count the 5 months it took to get the motor and tranny in.

[82_camaro_owner]

so pretty much its a pain in the arse but its something i could do if i got bored, got cash, and a donor, kewl thanks man

[KA9MOT]

I managed to get most of the damage repaired today. It all put back together and looks pretty good if you were to ask me.

Pics of repair (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad/closeencounters.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=28)

Still needs a new bumper. And paint.

[82_camaro_owner]

you got lucky, normally theres a lot more then just some trim damage when you smack a deer

[danny]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
I managed to get most of the damage repaired today. It all put back together and looks pretty good if you were to ask me.

Pics of repair (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad/closeencounters.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=28)

Still needs a new bumper. And paint.

looks pretty good in the picture-i think you give the term "huntin' rig" a new meaning :)

[Trader Ray]

That did go back together fast as well. Good work beefy. Go Twin's!

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by 82_camaro_owner
you got lucky, normally theres a lot more then just some trim damage when you smack a deer

There was allot more then trim damage. Radiator support, radiator, head light and headlight bucket. That was tough to pound out. It lookes good on the outside but if you look past the grill you'll see a mess.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
That did go back together fast as well. Good work beefy. Go Twin's!

Origionally posted by Danny
looks pretty good in the picture-i think you give the term "huntin' rig" a new meaning

Thanks guys!

What about the Twins? Did they do something good? I must have missed something. Other then MotorSports, sports isn't my bag.

[Trader Ray]

off topic I know but since they said the Twins would be history, they have played excellent ball and are running for the wild card to the playoffs for the world series. I wont go off topic again I am sorry. ;)

[Trader Ray]

We all have our favorite cars or are lucky enough to own them and probally visit forums for them. I have found a site that caters to Trackers and have read 95% great reviews about the complete vehicle including the 4X4 capabilities. There is the reputation of the engines and trans and tranfer case that is good news to me. Granted I need some more aggresive tires for any real playing. :)

[vetteonr]

I hear Hugh Hefner really roots for the twins! LOL ;)

[Trader Ray]

Good ole' Hugh. What a life he has lived!

[danny]

Originally posted by vetteonr
I hear Hugh Hefner really roots for the twins! LOL ;)

me too! lol :D

[vetteonr]

....is that "root" for or "wish" for danny? ;)

[danny]

what's the difference-lol-:D

[vetteonr]

Well. I think "wish" for indicates you've never had them. "Root" for means you'd like them again.

[danny]

too technical-no diff, lol:)

[thecarguy]

Went wheeling today. Real 4wd mud, rocks, and trails wheeling, not wide open flying theorugh an endless deset. It was actually a blast. The day was short as it was late in the afternoon. There was a hill that had a pretty steep grade to it and several fords and chevys couldent make it up. Apparently there was a $100 prize to the first person to make it up and several jeeps and land rovers also had not made it. There are two lines up this hill, both are very tech and tricky, one requires more skill, the other a really built rig as it was much slicker. I took the easier but rockie trail as im not to good of a crawler but I know my rig is built (4130 cold rolled cromolly is waaaay over built for a skid plate LOL). I took it and at the same time so did a jeep on the other. We both made it. Everyone decided that we should switch lines to find the winner. I was scared, I am not a goot crawler/trails type guy. I pinned it and started up the hill. Got through a mud patch, some deep ruts from people spinning 44" swampers, some rocks, dirt, more rocks then a really steep part to the end. I got the the last rock section and the other guy had already made it to the top. In haste I pinned it and broke my front right cv axle. I was done. It came stock with traction controll so slipping is not a problem but when that front wheel lost the axle it went haywire and applied all the brakes instead of the faster moving wheels because of the open diff up front. We splits it $50 $50 BTW.

And automatic hubs are bit(h. The dang thing was whipping around the whole drive home. It had broke the joint at the diff so when the wheel moved so did the axle. We stopped at a mc donalds and pulled the whole thing out.

[danny]

congrats on the tie(win) too bad the repair is more than the winnings.

[Trader Ray]

Yes, congrats on the winnings! It sounds like a great way to spend the afternoon. I enjoy mudding and trailing and could spend the weekend out on some trails.

[danny]

well a friend of mine has offered me a deal i can't refuse, i wrote some time ago about a 4x4 project we call the tonka toy-an '86 jimmy that we did a v8 conversion on. well i wound up with it and will take posession this weekend, oh the other jimmy is still on the back burner until i get the time to finish-i will post pictures when i can.

[KA9MOT]

Cool! Wanna come play?

[danny]

i'd love to if i could find the time-all work and no play-well you know

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
all work and no play-well you know

For me it is all play and little work. Been that way for a little over a year and I'm learning to like it.

[danny]

i am a confirmed workaholic and can't imagine not working, although i'd like to try it. :)

[KA9MOT]

Hey Danny, since your the Chebby Guru around here and we are talking about playing, I have a question for ya. My buddy and I went out to play today and his S-10 Blazer would not shift into 4X4. We crawled underneath and found a vacuum line that had been "smooshed" flat. We ran back into town, got some vacuum line and replaced it and he shifted into 4X4. Are these transfer cases vacuum controlled? If so, what a crappy setup that is. It is better then Ford's electronic shift motor but I would think a manual shift like mine would be better.

By the way, this guys Blazer used to be a Illinois State Police Patrol car and the 4.3 Liter in this thing runs very strong. He would smoke me in a drag race and we both know it. It doesn't have the ground clearance to be a threat on the trail though as he learned today. I had to pull him off, out or loose 4 times today.

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
i am a confirmed workaholic and can't imagine not working, although i'd like to try it. :)

It's not as easy as one would think. But like I said, I am getting used to it. I just wish I had taken more time for my family before I got sick. But then again, we never had money problems before this either. Goes both ways and I have been threatening my wife and my doctor that I would soon be going back to work. That really makes my wife angry. LOL :D

[danny]

the transfer cases are not vacuum controlled, the shifter on the transfer case has a vacuum controller(attached) to transfer the vacuum to the pod on the fenderwell that pulls a cable that "locks in" the front differential

[danny]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
I have been threatening my wife and my doctor that I would soon be going back to work. That really makes my wife angry. LOL :D

lol it's good to keep them on their toes :)

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
the transfer cases are not vacuum controlled, the shifter on the transfer case has a vacuum controller(attached) to transfer the vacuum to the pod on the fenderwell that pulls a cable that "locks in" the front differential

Ahhhh.......I get it........I think. Why would it not shift into 4X4 then?

[danny]

does this have a shifter or a button?

[KA9MOT]

Shifter.

[danny]

the transfer case was probably locked in it just wouldn't turn the front axle as it(front differential) was not locked in.

[KA9MOT]

I just thought of another angle. Glen isn't too bright and I am the one who got it to go into 4X4. Maybe he didn't know how. He uses way to much foot feed on the trail too. Kept trying to run me over.
Come to think of it, most of my friends aren't to bright.

Jeez.....what does that say about me?

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
the transfer case was probably locked in it just wouldn't turn the front axle as it(front differential) was not locked in.

So, there is no automatic/manual hub then? That sounds like a good setup. A stronger setup? Maybe I'll have to invite him over tomorrow so I can get under there and have a look.

[danny]

some people get a little too anxious while four bying and get themselves into trouble-all too often they get stuck by having too much right foot-lol

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
some people get a little too anxious while four bying and get themselves into trouble-all too often they get stuck by having too much right foot-lol

Done that myself. LOL :D

I like the guys who charge up the sandpile, cant see what is on the other side, so they slam on the brakes at the top and high center themselves.

[danny]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
So, there is no automatic/manual hub then? That sounds like a good setup. A stronger setup? Maybe I'll have to invite him over tomorrow so I can get under there and have a look.

the lock in is in the differential and not the hubs so there is no getting out and locking up-convenient-good setup

[danny]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
Done that myself. LOL :D

I like the guys who charge up the sandpile, cant see what is on the other side, so they slam on the brakes at the top and high center themselves.

makes for great entertainment doesn't it?

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
makes for great entertainment doesn't it?

The best. LOL :D

[danny]

kind of like seeing someone hit their funny bone-it's funny when someone else does it, not so when it happens to us, lol, :)

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by danny
good setup

Sounds like a very good setup. I wish mine had such a setup. I wonder how Chebby managed to steal that idea from Ford? LOL :D

I shouldn't say that. Have to give credit where credit is due. Chevy does have some good ideas.

[danny]

you know all the automakers have their moments-lol :)

[carsandcycles]

Originally posted by danny
you know all the automakers have their moments-lol :)
Yeah, even AMC had the AMX.

[danny]

Originally posted by carsandcycles
Yeah, even AMC had the AMX.

and ford had the edsel-lol-:)

[Trader Ray]

Do you remember the comercials that asked that question? Our police dept had one with a 360 or a 390 that was flat out fast. You could be a block away and hear when they started it to get after someone. Ugliest car out there but man that rumbled like it had a big block in it. This was way back in the 70's and they also had a 4x4 Chevy van for checking out the rail areas in town.

[danny]

don't forget the ambassador, pacer, hornet and gremlin-i think amc had the market cornered on ugly cars

[thecarguy]

too much right foot? I burried myself up to the frame in a 2wd once at a sand dune. Not fun.

[KA9MOT]

I heard about an old homestead that was abandoned in the 1920's. Used to be an old road back there, now it is a track. Nobody goes back there but ATVs and hunters on ATVs.
I loaded the wife, kid and dog up and we went looking for it.
13.1 miles off the dirt road and we found it. It was an awesome day, the trail was in pretty decent shape with only a few mudholes and several tight spots (broke my right mirror bracket).
I got some good pictures too which I'll be posting to 4X4 and Off Road (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad/shoebox.msnw) in a couple of minutes.

It was a wonderful fall day.

http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0009.JPG

[thecarguy]

oh boy do I have fun drooling over trophy trucks. Porter Race Cars is one of about 3 or 4 shops out there building trophy trucks Robby Gordon being one of the others (interesting little story, If you want a robby gordon trophy truck not only will you pay upwards of $200K but you will wait a very long time as robby builds them himself in his off time). These are the winston cup cars of the desert. Wheel travel measured in feet, HP in the 850 neighborhood, 100 mph over whoops and through turns in the dez, and lighting systems that give you your own piece of sunlight at night.

Porter Race Cars Shop Tour (http://www.desertrides.com/photo/porter_tour01.htm)

Porter Race Cars Website (http://www.porterracecars.com/home.htm)

[thecarguy]

http://www.robbygordonoffroad.com/cgi-bin/ImageFolio31/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=Events/Glamis_2002&image=glamis_2002_018.jpg&img=&tt=

this here is robbys TT jumping the doubles down in glamis (san diego area of so cal), its about a 200 foot jump, usually the high powerd trucks like TT's get about 25 feet high.

[vetteonr]

Originally posted by Beefy's Bronco
I heard about an old homestead that was abandoned in the 1920's. Used to be an old road back there, now it is a track. Nobody goes back there but ATVs and hunters on ATVs.
I loaded the wife, kid and dog up and we went looking for it.
13.1 miles off the dirt road and we found it. It was an awesome day, the trail was in pretty decent shape with only a few mudholes and several tight spots (broke my right mirror bracket).
I got some good pictures too which I'll be posting to 4X4 and Off Road (http://groups.msn.com/4X4andOffRoad/shoebox.msnw) in a couple of minutes.

It was a wonderful fall day.

http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0009.JPG Can someone say "Green Acres"?

[KA9MOT]

Hey vetteonr, where ya been? Green Acres!

[vetteonr]

I took a little vacation last week. Golf outing with the fellers. Great time, great weather.

[danny]

enjoy it while you can :)

[vetteonr]

Sometimes you just have to go where the weather is good. ;)

[danny]

isn't that the truth-lol-it was blistering hot and now it's raining(cooled off considerably).

[Trader Ray]

My Aunt emailed me last night and they have already got their first snow and was expecting more last night, she lives in Glen Rock, Wyoming.

[vetteonr]

We went to Tennessee this year. We usually go to Northern Michigan (Boyne Country) but the weather can be a gamble this time of year. It looks like we'll be heading south every September from now on. Very nice!

[Trader Ray]

Yea, just yesterday was a tank top day out side. Late winters and early springs are nice here. :cool:

[KA9MOT]

Originally posted by s10 blazer
My Aunt emailed me last night and they have already got their first snow and was expecting more last night, she lives in Glen Rock, Wyoming.

We got some snow yesterday and some last night too. LOL Not enough to amount to anything but 1st snow of the season. Personally, I love the stuff.

http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0003.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/beefybronco/IMG_0001.JPG