Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

You old guys done making fun?


Anyways, big thanks to Ray today for helping me start in on the mid skid project. Was going pretty smooth, until we found a bit of an oversight on my behalf. With where I positioned the Ruff Stuff brackets, there was not enough room for the 2x2 tubing. Of course we realized this after we had the other piece cut perfect and tacked. Oh well, need to pick up some 1x2 and start over.

 

Are those mounts for a custom crossmember?

 

Yes, we were most of the way into the custom crossmember using 2x2" .25 wall.


i.e. it wouldn't bend.

 

Looks good Brett it will work out just remember to make sure you get a good size wall. And if you need help cutting the angles just shoot me a text. If I'm available I will if not I'm pretty sure you can borrow the saw for a day or two. Just hit me up.

 

Ooooh custom mid skid project?

 

Where is this?

 

Thanks Ray. We'll see if I get anywhere this week.

Yessir. Tip #1: don't place the mounts directly in line with the flange on the exhaust. Tip #2: a 48" piece of steel is not enough to go from the IFS skid past that flange on the exahust.

Alpine loop. San Juans. There may or may not be a trip happening there this summer

 

I wanna go!!

 

Made some progress on the mid skid yesterday.

Played around on a loading ramp yesterday and determined I need to follow your advice and go buy some nylon lock nuts for the shackles. At full droop without the shocks, I could stand on the tire and get a little more droop out of it, because it's binding in the shackle. So, I'll go pickup those nylocks and tighten them up and loosen a half turn or so.

 

Looks good Brett. I guess now I can move forward with my jack stands now that you don't need that longer piece of 2x2 anymore. Im glad it worked out for ya.

 

You relocate them shocks yet?

 

Nope. Haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

Clutch is en route. Looks like installation will be attempted Saturday thanks to @teamhypoxia and his garage. Never done a clutch before, so hoping everything goes smoothly. Got worried when Brian said my clutch 'might make it through Moab.' Been meaning to do it for a while anyways, it's long overdue being as far as I know I'm on the original at 243K.

 

Do either one of you have a transmission jack?
Makes the job much easier, let me know if you need one, I have one to loan out.

 

what clutch did u go with? make sure u throw a rear main seal in.... I would hate to do that on the ground, f that

 

Thanks for inspiring confidence Jace.... I'll look into the rear main seal though.

Got an Aisin. After getting several opinions, I didn't think there was a point to getting a heavier clutch being I'm undergeared and will have to slip it regardless. Sticking with OEM.

Edit: my truck doesn't leak or burn a drop of oil in between changes. You really think it's worth it to change?

 

My friend with the 2nd gen did his in a weekend, before the lift, by himself. Didn't even tell me he was changing it or I would have watched. I think most can do it in a few hours.

 

LOL, nah not tryin to discourage. You do know someone who works on these for a living for a very reasonable price

Id just try to get the truck as high as possible on jack stands. and by all means get a trans jack. itll save your ass. But yes anytime the trans is out, always replace the rear main.