May 13th, 2002)(
May 13th, 2002)
Test Drive One ... Well it was just going to be a drive around the farm. Nothing fancy, nothing difficult. Just stay on the roads and check out the transfer case, transmission and cooling system. That lasted about 15 minutes when temptation overcame logic. Three hours later, we had bent the front driveshaft. It was over 20 years old and marginal at best in the first place. The transfer case would only engage with several heavy size 11-1/2 boots. The rear fenders got a little bent. Overall it was a successful day.
Test Drive Two ... Flawless with the exception of a little overheating due to a shortage of coolant and a loose radiator cap. Three hours of absolute delight. The steering squeaks like hell on full lock and I don't know why.
Test Drive Three ... Attica with the Two Rivers Jeep Club. Follow me said The Dieken with his 99 TJ, ARB's front and rear, long arm Rubicon Express lift and 35" Boggers. And, I did just that. I had The Tanker in back of me with his highly modified YJ also with 35" Boggers. Where they went, the Flattie went. Six hours of orange and pink trails with absolutely no problems. Well, a small one if you count knocking off the Zerk fitting on the pitman arm. The coolant problem was fixed by topping up the coolant and adding a coolant overflow bottle. The rear fenders were rearranged a little bit more.
The steering still squeaks like hell and I don't know why. The front tires rub against
the springs on full lock. The power steering fluid is at the correct level. The
AGR pump is new and the belts or correctly tensioned. So if there is anyone out
there with a suggestion please e-mail me at madbrit@jeepingoffroad.com
and help me out.
As you can see from the photo I have added a few extras - click on Details... for all the scoop.
Test Drive Four ... Back to Attica with the boys from the Two Rivers Jeep Club. Yet another flawless performance. Well nearly flawless. The belts are still screaming and I have located the occasional metal to metal bangs. It is the pitman arm disagreeing with the drag link and the drag link grating against the track bar.
Please click on these pictures and let me if installing a
shorter Pitman arm will really screw up my steering. If I use a shorter pitman
arm I will eliminate the metal to metal contact. I could move the axle back but
that is a heck of a lot of work and it would shorten the wheel base which I
absolutely do not want.
Check this out - fixed!!!! John Toumbs moved the steering box forward a few
inches and what do know -- bloody perfect.
Next Page - Details
[The Start]
[First Parts]
[1979
CJ5] [The Frame]
[The Body]
[Body
meets Frame] [Toumbstone] [Extra
Seat Room] [Blocker and Tanker]
[Brakes
and Steering] [Test Drives]
[Details] [Incremental
Willys]
[Incremental Willys Part II]
[Incremental Willys Part III]
[She's getting old]
[Still the best damn
wheeler]
[Timeline]
[Specifications]