Crunchy Taco? - 1st gen on 35s BS

Picked up a used taillight off of eBay

 

Took the truck out again today. I really like driving it but it still needs some more TLC, apparently. The exhaust leak has gotten really gnarly and I can't ignore it anymore. I also got a CEL at altitude again. I haven't pulled the code but I suspect it's the same one for the MAF.

 

The PO did that but I'm pretty certain they are just PVC pipe caps.

 

@Jamesboy2233 search for "ISR mod"

 

Nope, my truck doesn't have cruise at all so that space was empty.

 

I am busy trying to get some house projects wrapped up before winter and am contemplating dropping the truck off at a shop to have them deal with the exhaust leak and steering pull. I'm annoyed with it right now but I want to go to Moab in November

 

Spent most of today in the garge and got a bunch of random stuff done before a trail run tomorrow.

Swapped back to the good set of 31s since winter is just about here and having tread is nice. For winter wheeling.



Played around with a 35, looks pretty good. Tubbing will be necessary





My CB antenna used to be mounted on the toolbox, which I was never fond of. I welded a tab to the bed to mount it and got it installed after some paint.





My muffler was rattling so I replaced it with a Flowtech raptor. I also went with a turn down and got rid of the pipe coming out behind the tire. I won't miss dragging it on rocks.



I also capped off the open ends on the bumper to give it a more finished look.



While I was rolling around under there I greased the rear u joint and the driveshaft and I didn't hear the random ping and clunk that I was getting on my test drive. Greasing the driveshaft must have been long over due

 

Because they were full of water?


I heard the ping a few more times today, unfortunately.

I ended up turning around from the wheeling trip early because the KM2s turned into ice skates. After sliding about 50 yards backwards down a hill that everyone else was able to drive straight up and failing it repeatedly I turned around to avoid getting myself in more trouble.


I am really digging the new exhaust setup. It has a nice tone and is audible under acceleration but isn't annoyingly loud while cruising. Not sure if the last muffler didn't have enough backpressure but with this setup it seems like I have a bit more power at low-mid RPM without sacrificing anything at higher RPMs

 

Not gonna lie, I am still disappointed about turning around. I am EXTREMELY disappointed in how KM2s perform on hard packed snow, especially when others didn't even skip a beat with Cooper STT/KM2/BFG ATs

 

I tried to tune my new antenna setup with a SWR meter @Winkle99 lent me and I was getting infinite SWR on channel 1 and 40 dispite being able to receive and transmit at at least short distances. I investigated further and it looks like my antenna stud needs to be replaced and I should also add a ground strap.

I also have a buddy who is an experienced fabricator and 4x4 builder and have been picking his brain... I thought that this was a funny exchange

 

garlic bread

 

Today I pulled the rear third to give it a little love


Gears looked good, they have some wear but no chipped teeth or cracks.


Found a scrap piece of that Colorado 1/4" steel that would do the job nicely.







I need to get it all put back together if I want to make the group run on Saturday

 

I reinatalled my aux fuse box and tried to wire up the light bar last night. I ran a positive wire from the fuse box to the lightbar and tried to use the switched ground in the passenger headlight plug (I'm running a relay harness so it's unused) to trigger it when the high beams are on. That works but I think I'm going to scratch that idea and just run a switch because when the high beams are off the lighbar is still getting a connection through the plug and has a very faint glow.

Low beams only



High beams



High beams with light bar

 

Yeuhp. Kind of funky but the high/low beams are both powered and the one which is actually on is determined by the switched ground

 

There is an illumination wire for the clock too. Even if you don't have one the plug is behind the panel under the ignition

 

Teaser, more pictures to come

 

Sub’d!

 

So last week I went to Moab for thanksgiving. The lower quality photos I stole from FB (Thanks Anna )


Day 1: Gemini Bridges and Lost Canyon





















Sam!

























@Stig flexing those tactical Crocs

















Hiked up to Corona arch on the way back




Doubled back to the start of Gemini near sunset chasing light but didn't catch it.

 

ughh... mad jealous... I actually just started planning my next trip out there at the end of April or beginning of May.