|
|
Post by rsmith on Feb 24, 2006 21:15:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by m38jeepman on Feb 24, 2006 23:54:12 GMT -5
Thats a wide variety of projects. Looks like you do a good job with your restorations. I did not realize you restored cars before you started working on jeeps. Which has been your favorite? My motto is dont sell it, just park it in the yard to annoy the neighbors, and that is what I do, just ask Brad.
|
|
|
|
Post by slicklizzard on Feb 25, 2006 0:21:28 GMT -5
If it weren't for cars, you'd be a millionaire, Rob.
|
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Feb 25, 2006 1:06:39 GMT -5
I got bored with restoring 2wd vehicles. The more I started looking into 4 wheeling the more I it became a challenge to my mechanical skills. 4 wheel drive added a whole new dimension to consider. I was also tired of the shine factor - you build a hot car and park it in the garage scared to get a scratch on it. That is why I sold that red CJ5. I had spent so many hours restoring it that I couldn't bear to see it scratched. My focus now is more on the mechanical aspect rather than the "bling". With two children time for bling goes out the window. 4 wheeling also gives me the opportunity to meet great folks and take family camping trips that center around my hobby. One day I do plan to build a 2wd Hot Rod to burn the road up from one end of the country to the other, but for now I am sticking to the dirt roads.  That is funny my wife has made the same comment. I will have to say that most of those I sold on e-bay I either broke even or came out a little ahead. Of course that is not counting the labor hours.  |
|
|
|
Post by rccolacc on Feb 25, 2006 2:10:43 GMT -5
Wow that is a lot of vehicles. I'm jealous. I've only had 2 previous vehicles before my ZJ. I've been blessed (dad says not) and they've all been 4wd. Back in high school I had a 1988 Jeep XJ Cherokee Chief. We bought it used when I was in 10th grade and I've kept it ever since. Dad and I took it to 3 Jeep Jamborees and it even went to north Minnesota and back when I interviewed with Polaris-- all without cruise control or carpet and 31" mud-terrains. It was loud to drive in, but I loved it. It was fun in the mud.  As with all Jeeps, they take some work. After my lift and 31s the spider gears decided to let go in the Dana 35. I was in 4lo at the time and when the pieces of the spider gears jammed between the ring and pinion, the driveshaft twisted in half. It was quick and ugly, but impressive.   That Christmas Dad and I learned how to set-up gears and install and Detroit True-trac. Fun times. After my freshman year at MSU, the Jeep became to unreliable to drive to and from New Orleans (home). My dad traded me his vehicle and I drove his 1991 Ford Explorer 4x4. I liked it because it was a 5 speed with a V6, but it was pretty bad off-road. It's ground clearance was pretty low and the electricly engaged transfer case didn't always want to work. I did take it to north Minnesota when I worked at Polaris. The electric transfer case was nice for the icey roads and snow-- I just clicked it in whenever I started to slide, hah hah.  At the end of the co-op with Polaris, I bought my Sportsman 700 EFI. It counts as a rig right? I like risking it off-road more than a Jeep. If I roll it, it's not the end of the world...like it would be for a vehicle.  After 2 winters in Minnesota, the Explorer became unreliable as well. Mom convinced me to look at replacing it, so I went looking at Jeeps. I bought my dream ride- a ZJ 4x4 with a 5.2 V8. After fixing some AWD problems (my 231 swap saga), it's a real 4x4 now.  I take it out to Ridge Lakes every once in a while to have fun.  Not quite as many as Rob, but it's a start. Good memories. -RC |
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Feb 25, 2006 2:47:29 GMT -5
That driveshaft is awesome!!!!!!!  |
|
|
|
Post by rccolacc on Feb 25, 2006 3:05:28 GMT -5
That driveshaft is awesome!!!!!!! That's just what my parents said when I had to get the Jeep towed home. -RC |
|
|
|
Post by m38jeepman on Feb 25, 2006 22:50:18 GMT -5
I bet that sounded good! The jammed ring and pinion quickly found the weakest point in that driveshaft. Those must have been some pretty good u-joints
I agree with Rob, I am ready to work on something 4wd.
|
|
|
|
Post by Busted Knuckle Racing on Feb 26, 2006 9:01:44 GMT -5
Clint, if you start posting pictures of your rods and rigs you will use up all our bandwidth! |
|
|
|
Post by m38jeepman on Feb 26, 2006 12:33:56 GMT -5
Yeah, I need to get me one of those digital cameras. My dad and I do have a few projects. If I could only get some good help! Any volunteers?
|
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Feb 28, 2006 9:47:52 GMT -5
I forgot my most recent "past vehicle". It still hurts my heart to think it is gone. I guess it was the orange paint that made it really stick out. Peterson's even made the comment that the paint made it very photogenic.  I do miss it  I wish I had this motor that I have in the buggy in the Bronco. I haven't taken the buggy out enough yet to replace the feeling that I had for the Bronco. So let's really start planning on a trip soon. I need something to get my mind off of work and school. |
|
|
|
Post by rccolacc on Feb 28, 2006 16:24:33 GMT -5
I thought the Bronco turned into the buggy, Rob. I'm not good with keeping up with stuff, but I thought you blew the tranny in the Bronco and then you took apart the Bronco untill it became the buggy. Did you sell the Bronco? Where'd it go?
-RC
|
|
|
|
Post by rsmith on Feb 28, 2006 16:40:53 GMT -5
That was the original intent. However "evil" (jwp and muddawg95yj)voices convinced me to build a buggy - just kidding guys. I did have a choice in the matter. What I consider the Bronco with is the body and frame are probably somewhere in China in the form of scrap metal. The only things that survive the Bronco and made it to the buggy was the transfer case and axles. I don't feel right calling it a Bronco anymore. I have to let that memory die. If it still had the Bronco frame, I might still call it that.
|
|
|
|
Post by bcjeep on Feb 28, 2006 17:58:01 GMT -5
Rob, I know why the Bronco went the way it did.I remember on one of its last trips an almost stock Jeep Wrangler winching it and its ripped tire up a hill in Alabama.And didn't you just purchase a Jeep very similar??I have pictures if you can't remember.Just kidding(but I do have the pictures).I am going to try to get some of my past rigs up on the post too.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepchipjones on Feb 28, 2006 19:50:09 GMT -5
i kind of miss the bronco too but i havent seen the buggy in action yet, so i have much to look forward to 
|
|
