Quarter Million Mile Build - The Mule

Success!! Finally.

I ground down the bolt close to flat with the arm, then took a cone shaped dremel attachment and made a indent in the tie rod bolt so the puller bolt would seat tight. Not sure what the difference was this time, maybe hitting it multiple times using a brass drift broke the rust seal, but after five or six turns it popped right off. I made a loud exclamation, my wife smiled at me probably due to being excited that she wouldn't have to hear me bitch about it any more.

 

We're back on the road breaking in the new gears. Definitely more pep, in 3rd around 30mph. Two weeks until the Rubicon!

List off shit to do:

Install OBA
Hook up lockers
Wire OBA and lockers
Grind off old front bumper
Install new bumper
Install winch
Install IFS PS mount and PS box
Install high steer
Hopefully get some sliders burned in

Long list and as always it comes down to the wire. Such is the procrastination life!

Some pics of the reassembled front.

 

Just wondering why you installed the old steering now instead of doing the hi-steer while the rig was down, wouldn't have had to mess with that old arm/tie rod. Regardless it's looking good, doing more than I have to mine lately. Aside from making mounts for my beard seats I haven't been too productive haha.

 

I don't have a welder right now so I have to drive it to Eric's shop to get the mount in I did use liberal amounts of anti seize on the cone washers for the knuckle arms so hopefully I can smack it with a drift and have them pop right off, reuse the shims and plop the new ones on. That should be cool right?

 

Should be, do you have the knuckle tension measuring springy tool deal? That'll make sure the shims are correct.

 

My brother bought me a fish filet kit back in the day that has a fish scale in it

 

This weekend I finished installing OBA, lockers hooked up, and electrical all done. Then I moved on to pulling out all the old steering components and cleaning up the frame rail. Just need to cut the old bracket off the inside frame and I'll be ready to install the new mount. Also installed the new knuckle arms. Turtle power!

 

You should do this.
http://www.reno4x4.com/showthread.php/85232-Testing-the-waters-22re-w56-dual-cases

 

Dual cases are on the horizon, I'll probably hit him up, thanks for the link.

How's life my friend?

 

Hey buddy, life has been pretty good. Had a little girl a few months ago, and we've decided northern Nevada is the place to be. We're ditching this joint in about a month. Not quite Reno, but we'll be close.

 

Back to Elko?

 

Congratulations!!!

I'm thinking there is a cross NV v2 trip in our future.

 

Thanks! We'll be in Fallon this go round. Opportunity to be closer to family, we couldn't pass up. V2 is a great idea.

 

Just realized I've had the mule for a little over two years now. Happy birthday little buddy

Finished up prepping the frame for the high steer. Cut off all the old shit from the frame, drilled the 3/4" holes for the PS mount, and flapped the frame. Ready for burn. So close to a shakedown run!

 

Hell yeah, it's so much better!
I just picked up an 87 4Runner body and frame, for free, now I can play around with cutting out the rear wheel-wells where they rust on a body that isn't the one I'm driving around already

 

Nice! How'd you score that?

 

Looking Good and Congrats

 

Buddy was parting it out and said he was taking it to scrap. I was like woah woah woah!