wildweaselmi

Waterford Hills Road Racing Track is a road course automobile racing facility located near Clarkston and Waterford, Michigan, USA http://www.waterfordhills.com/

Skill Level: Beginner https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hmnf/recreation/ohv/recarea/?recid=26209&actid=93

Looks like I'm overdue for an update. Jeep is still a work in progress. Ran out of funds and seeing how I have been buying everything new for the Jeep, it gets expensive. Ended up not rebuilding the AMC20 rear axle and instead buying a Dana44 wide track axle with Yukon Locker and new 3:54 gearing from Unlimited Offroad and also buying a widetrack rebuilt Dana30 front axle to replace the narrow track axles the 79 CJ came with. I already had a Dana30 front but it was a narrow track axle and I wanted the wider stance the Jeep's went to with the YJ's for stability. My future plans. I really want to put a Chevy v8 with a Dana 300 transfer case and an AX15 5spd Manila trans one day. I like what Novak offers but that's a ways down the road. For now, the 4spd manual on the 4.2L inline 6cyl will have to do (unless I blow it) The jeep runs great with a DUI HEI distributor, the motorcraft carb and an electric fan. (The body lift with the mechanical fan wasn't cooling the radiator) Also replaced the oil pump and screen just to be on the safe side. New Oil Pan and gasket. The mechanical clutch doesn't work because of the stupid body lift (angle is all off). So working on putting a hydraulic clutch in which makes more sense anyhow... More reliable. Downfall is the stock pedals won't work. The master clutch cylinder arm has nowhere to attach to. You are suppose to have pedals from 81-86 that had a 4cylinder since they came with a hydraulic clutch. Then it's an easy bolt in. On the prowl for pedals and I think I'm going to try YJ pedals if I don't find something soon. It's winter time and the hard top I have is in very bad condition and doesn't fit the jeep real good. It is hitting the rollbar. Ordered a new one from Rally Tops which was close to $1800 with shipping. I like the quality of there tops and satisfaction guaranteed. They say 2-3 weeks for delivery and I'm in it for a little less than 2k. Still need to fix the oil pressure gauge.. Pretty sure it's the sending unit since a new gauge doesn't work either. Need to bolt down the center console Need new seats to support the 5point harness Temp and fuel gauge doesn't work either but I have a new assembly to try. Items installed already MotorCraft 2100 JEEP Carb 258/4.2 Non-Smog 1.08 DUI HEI DISTRUBUTOR 258 6 CYL-BLUE Centech Wiring Harness (JP-78-83D) Rock Hard Rear Bumper with Lighted License Plate Mount Dana 44 with Yukon locker (3.54) Dana 30 added new WARN Hubs (3.54) 2.5" Skyjacker Suspension kit (springs, ubolts, shocks) New Waterpump New Mean Green Alternator (MG7127) New SOLENOID-STARTER MOTOR New Plugs New Autozone Clutch End Links, Extended Sway Bar (Quick Double Disconnect) 2"-2.5" Front, Skyjacker Moog D30 D44 Upper & Lower Ball Joints Cardone Brake Calipers 4181 - front TSM D44 Rear Calipers Pair - rear Electric Fan (since body lift throws the clutch belt driven fan off) do they work okay when mudding? Big worry of mine is overheating.. seems to happen often. Desires if budget allows: Seat Belts (I have the back seat to put in so whatever I do in the front, if they offer something for the back I'd like to get it so I can match) Finish installing Centech Wiring to include running wire to Rock Hard Bumper License Plate Mount on Spare Tire. Please check that all dash lights work. Install Taillights Install Wiper Motor, Windsheild, rubbers, etc. etc.. I have Glass for front window Install Mirrors (side and rearview) install Doors Install Hood Install Fenders Install Brakes including Emergency Brake and verify they work Install Front and Rear Driveshafts Verify Two Wheel & Four Wheel Drive works. Verify Heater / Defrost work Install Roll Bar Double-check work done with driveline is solid Install O SH*T Bar for passenger Future: I do plan on adding a winch on the front so if you are doing any electrical, please think of what I may need for the winch. I plan on putting in a radio in a center console of some sort (not sure it matters but wanted to keep you in the loop) Would like a hidden kill switch since its so easy to steal jeep's, I want to have a hidden kill switch somewhere Eventually figure out speakers and radio and New rims and 35" tires

I have always helped my dad where he needed help rebuilding his classic cars. Did I pay attention to what was happening? Not really. I was always busy day dreaming about cute girls and driving. So given that, its surprising I thought I could tackle a rebuild of a 1979 Jeep CJ7 from the ground up. Well I am still attempting this rebuild and this is my comical story to many of you more experienced. This started off like anything else. My cute girlfriend mentioned how she wanted a Jeep and it stirred up those memories of when I had my 85 CJ7 and my 91 Wrangler and I started missing them and then that turned into a desire and a eventually a must have. So I searched craigslist and found this non-running 1979 Jeep CJ7 for $1495. I know, I paid way to much for it but I was in love, with a dream this was going to be an easy fix to get me behind the steering wheel of a Jeep again. After I touched my toes while handing the previous owner $1495 for this adventure we loaded it up and headed home. First thing on my plan was to take it apart and find what we needed to do and prioritize (due to cost). So I put together a First Year plan and Next Year plan to come up with some sort of plan First year plans.. get the L6 running before snow fall this year in event we have the horrible Michigan winter we had last year. Replace the Carpeting with the Bedrug Carpeting ($190) BRCYJ76F Since its missing a rear bumper, add a M.O.R.E rear bumper with Tire Carrier ($1200) JRB700CJ Future plans Choice of getting body work done or just buy a new Aluminum Body Tub ($4030) 5030 plus a Dash Panel with cutouts ($135) 5150 Depending how bad the frame is, new frame ($1800) CJ7 76 79 but what a job. If we go this route, we would just get the frame then the body tub ($4030) and suspension kit ($1050) and start building the basics. Maybe even through some dana 44 axles with electric lockers and disk brakes in there so we can start running brake lines, fuel lines, electrical lines... Suspension, kinda leaning towards the ProComp 4" suspension lift ($1050) with a dropped pitman arm ($97) and a transfer case lowering kit ($46). This replaces the worn leaf springs and worn out shocks. The next day I felt I had to get the Jeep something new on it so it might look better so on September 25, 2014 I ordered $36.99 - BATTERY TRAY KIT BLK CJ $36.99 - TAILGATE HINGE PAIR BLACK 76+ CJ7 $41.99 - AUTOMETER 100PSI OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT $ 7.99 - Oil Filter Of course that should of been enough to start with... you know, the basics but nope had to go one step further $799.99 - ROCKHARD REAR BUMPER/TIRE CARRIER FOR 76-06 It obviously needed a couple of other items to replace the 2x4's holding the body up in the back so I also ordered $127.00 - 1 INCH POLY BODYLIFT-BLACK 76-79 CJ5&7 KJ04503BK <--these are back ordered $100.00 - BODY MOUNT CHANNELS-6 PCS FOR 76-86 CJ BDMNTS 6 Now the credit card is melting from over use, decided to evaluate the floor situation and it turned out that it had no floor boards front drivers side or passenger side or rear seating area where they put a metal piece to cover up all the rust holes and did a horrible job welding it in. Wasn't sure what to do when I'm I have nothing for welding and not a metal fabricater anyhow. Well I did what anyone else would of done in my shoes, looked for answers on Google and found the answer. A new MD Juan Jeep Steel body from Quadratec. November 3rd, 2014 my dad and best friend Terry came over and helped me cut the body off the old frame to get it ready for the new body when it arrives. We found it easier to cut it into four pieces to make it easier to carry. Oh yea, I may have gotten a bit crazy with the saws all and cut through some of the cross members on the frame. Whoops, my bad. My cute girlfriend and I start cleaning the frame and axles to try and get some of the heavy rust off. We are using wire brushes, some sort of chemical that made me about pass out after using it for awhile and a lot of elbow grease and then it happened. I could see a crack and pressed on it and it collapsed and after tapping on it with a hammer slightly 12" of metal on the side dropped out. After closer inspection, the frame is rotted from the inside out. No sense of spending all this money installing a new body, new fenders, new windshield on an old frame. It's like getting a boob job on a someone who is stuck in a wheel chair. Yea, you look good but what can you do. I found holes in the frame! The amount of crap that came out of the frame was crazy. Also during this frame cleanup process I found why they had 2x4's holding up the back. My guess is they either had too much weight on a hitch (maybe one of those storage bins on a hitch mount), either way, they had too much weight on the back (probably rusted frame) and it took the back part of the frame off. Here you can see some pictures of there attempt to repair it. So next to order a frame. I was looking at the TDK (Throttle Down Kustoms) CJ Hybrid frame that supports a CJ body but the suspension of a TJ so coil suspension which will provide a much nicer ride. Of course its $2500 + $800 for shipping and handling and its a major job. Since I have no idea what I'm doing and after talking the TDK owner (Jeremy). He brought up alot of good points, mainly the one where its very very expensive (you have to buy new axels (supporting those coil over springs) and a new suspension kit for a TJ is also a bit pricey. Alot goes on when you move to that suspension. Yes it would be awesome but I probably won't ever do the extreme rock crawling that would facilitate such an awesome/expensive suspension. Yea, I know I may regret not just doing it but its a money thing at this point. I ordered a new TDK CJ7 wide-track frame with shock towers so I can use my narrow track axles but can switch to a wide track axle later if I want. Also the frame is going to come with the YJ shackel reversal so I can use YJ springs for a softer ride. On the left you can see it as it arrived (minus the frame that was holding everything in place. On the right is after I sprayed the inside with Eastwood Undercoating spray and apply por-15 black paint. 2 weeks before it shows up. ($2105 for frame + $515 shipping) I wanted it to be galvanized but the place Jeremy from TDK sends the frames to get galvanized is shut down for upgrades until beginning of 2015... oh well, if I did decide to get it done there are a whole two choices in Michigan Galvanizers Inc 12600 Arnold, Redford, MI 48239 (313) 535-2600 National Galvanizing 1500 Telb St, Monroe, MI 48162 (734) 243-1882 Then while laying in bed I ordered a skyjacker softride suspension kit and new motor mounts. Once Credit Card Santa delivers all these goodies I can then begin swapping everything over from the old frame. To prep I'm going to start loosening everything up since everything is so rusted up, it takes longer than normal. FILE ATTACH MANUAL There was much time spent on trying to figure out what axles did I get with this CJ7. I thought the rear was an AMC 20 (which I heard is REALLY REALLY bad because its a 2 piece very breakable design). I was correct, it was a AMC 20 I found some solutions to fix the two piece AMC20 axle to make it more robust $350 Omix-ADA 16530.20 AXLE KT 1-PC NT A20 16530.20 - 7071K OR $361 Yukon Gear & Axle YCJS [21393] So I'm off to Unlimited Offroad to rebuilt my front axle and do one of these repairs on my rear axle.

BMW Motorcycle Owners of America The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (BMW MOA) is a motorcycle club for owners and admirers of BMW motorcycles. As of 2008, it had 39,700 members. BMW MOA was founded in 1972 in Chicago by five enthusiasts. The club is based in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. It publishes a monthly magazine, BMW Owners News and an annual Anonymous book to assist touring riders in difficulty. Though founded in the United States, BMW MOA has members across the world. Since 1973 the club has held an annual rally in the United States and once in Canada.

Harley Owners Group The Harley Owners Group (HOG) is a sponsored community marketing club, operated by Harley-Davidson for enthusiasts of that brand's motorcycles. The HOG is "the grandaddy of all community-building efforts," serving to promote not just a consumer product, but a lifestyle. The HOG has also served to open new revenue streams for the company, with the production of tie-in merchandise offered to club members, numbering over one million strong,[1] making it the largest factory-sponsored riding club in the world.[2] The Harley-Davidson community was the prototype for the ethnographic term subculture of consumption, defined as "a distinctive subgroup of society that self-selects on the basis of a shared commitment to a particular product class, brand, or consumption activity

Gold Wing Road Riders Association (http://www.gwrra.org/) Gold Wing Road Riders Association [GWRRA], founded in 1977, is recognized as the world's largest single-marquee motorcycle association in the world. GWRRA provides safety, technical, and educational services to its Members world-wide.

Woodward Dream Cruise 2017 Still crazy as ever. Very very packed from bumper to bumper with a whole wide range of vehicles. You have the typical what you expect classic cars To the bit crazier vehicles (how much motor can I put in the smallest space) An then you get the art on wheels. Always something to catch your eye as they drive one way then they turn around and drive the other way and then turn around again It's worth going. Tons of fun but if you aren't a patient person, you may not want to go since you'll be stuck in traffic for hours.

At some moment in your life you were introduced to the world of offroad and if you were like me, you fell in love with it. The challenges, the obstacles and tackling a course that looks impossible to the untrained eye. Something so peaceful when exploring areas not many could get to or want to. Here at Gear Crushers off-roading is just one of the many passions we have and we want to provide an area that everyone from anywhere in the world can contribute. The easiest is to create a club and add blogs, galleries, forums (aka topics), events and it's all free at the moment. We do ask for donations but they are to help keep the site up (which honestly we are going to do anyhow) and also donations go towards sharetrails.org to help protect our right to offroad on designated trails and also donations towards treadlightly.org

Need to check this out

When you get a new RV for the first time or just getting back into RV camping, its hard to know everything you need. Below is a base list of things you may need and could be used as a baseline when you are packing. Feel free to add items in the comments to keep building the list. RV Essentials: Surge protector Electrical adapters (50amp to 30amp AND/OR 110v to 50amp) Toilet chemicals Sewer kit RV-friendly toilet paper (if you use your home toilet paper it will cause some serious black tank issues that just isn't worth it) Water pressure regulator Drinking water hose (you may want two or a longer one since some parks put there water supply in very weird locations which can be far) Leveling blocks (used when the ground is really really not level you can drive a side of your RV on these to help even it up some) Tire pressure gauge (be careful of anything electronic since you don't always use it, when you need it you will want it to just work instead of hunting for batteries) Extension cords (can be expensive for a 50amp cord but totally worth it when its hot out and you want to use your A/C units) Wheel chocks (attached a link to the most common and most highly rated by a ton on Amazon for wheel chocks) Shovel Electrical and duct tape Extra cotter pins Extra motor oil and transmission fluid Flashlight Battery jumper cables Emergency road kit Fire extinguisher Large zip close bag for documents, including license, registration, reservations, etc. Kitchen and cooking supplies: Water bottles Cutting board Utensils/cutting knives Can opener Tongs and skewers Dish soap Camping griddle and pie iron Bowls, plates and cups Paper towels Garbage bags Plastic wrap Zip close bags Potholders Dish towels Napkins Measuring Cups Measuring Spoons Skillets (we prefer cast iron skillets) Disinfecting wipes Matches and lighter Food storage container Cooler Coffee Maker Coffee Filters Coffee Grinder Food staples: Batter mixes Vegetables and fruits Butter or margarine Cereal Condiments, including mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, etc. Grill meats, like hot dogs, burgers, brats, etc. Drink mix packets Eggs S’more ingredients Freeze dried meals Salt, pepper, herbs and spices Bread Baking items, including flour, cornmeal, sugar, etc. Canned foods Peanut butter and jelly Snacks, including crackers, chips, pretzels, etc. Cooking spray or oil Soups Coffee Clothing and bedroom items: Hat Rain gear Shoes, including sneakers, hiking boots, sandals, etc. Bathing suit Sweatshirts and jackets Socks Underwear Pants and shorts Short and long sleeve t-shirts Clothes hangers Alarm clock Sewing kit Towels Sheets and blankets Pillows Personal items and toiletries: Phone chargers Cash and credit cards Reservation confirmations First-aid kit Sunscreen Bug spray Batteries Watch Medications and prescriptions Glasses or contact lenses Sunglasses Travel map and campground directory Soap Shampoo and conditioner Brush and comb Toothbrush Toothpaste Floss Deodorant Hair ties Lotion Makeup Razor Shaving gel Nail clippers Camping and outdoor fun gear: Camera Wood Camping chairs Hammock Frisbee Fishing gear, including rods, tackle, license, etc. Sports equipment, including football, basketball, baseball, mitt, etc. Bicycles, scooters Yard games, including corn hole, horseshoes, hula-hoops, etc. Binoculars Books and magazines (rain day) Playing cards (rain day) Board games (rain day) Puzzles (rain day) Movies (rain day) Radio Headphones Notepad or journal Laptop Saw or hatchet Flotation devices Guitar Again for you experienced RV Campers, what is missing from the list that should get added to help those that like to follow lists.

Prepping for my drive to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes this weekend with some buddies. I still have a trans leak (seems like its coming from the kick down cable but not positive). I checked the trans pan bolts and they are tightened to 12 ft lbs of torque like they should. Its currently got a cork gasket (which may get swapped for one of those nice FelPro gaskets) I just did my first oil change (put in 5w30 Royal Purple.. took 5qts) and used an AC Delco pf1218 oil filter. All joints I saw got some grease so ready to go.