Rear crossmember #?

This is pretty much it. Yah its a close call on the receiver hitch and the pintle but I hope in the future the receiver will prove useful and I think it will mostly as an toilet seat support.
My personal favorite are the D-rings set in the gussets. It wasnt part of the plan it just turned out that way.
What do you guys think?

Queen Valley Run 12-6-08

Our first trip to Queen Valley as a club. The plan was to meet at the Queen Valley turn off at 9:00 am. Meeting at the designated time went better than we all thought and the last stragglers showed up around 9:30. The turn off is paved, the pavement leads to the hidden old folks community of Queen Valley. Well we did not head in that direction. We followed the pavement til a right turn onto dirt also known as Hewitt station rd. A little ways in we stopped to unload Nique's truck, add brake fluid to Blaine's truck, install Jeff's passenger side slider, load Kerry's spare into Nique's truck and synchronize radio channels. Then we were off, til we arrive at comet peak and started down the other side. I received a call on the radio that the sheriff we past at comet peak had noticed Nique's lack of visible license plate. It was decided to load Nique's truck back up and tow it to the beginning of the forest roads. After the short delay we lined back up and drove a little further. Our next turn was North towards Rogers trough, we crossed Queen Creek wash just after the turn. On the other side of QC wash where everyone parks approx. 4.81 miles in, Nique unloaded his truck for the second time. Passed this spot and still North the road turns into FR172 which is made clear by the sign just after the cattle guard. Another 1.7 miles and you take a sharp right and head back South for a jog and then East ending up in the wash of Hewitt canyon of which parts are the original Hewitt canyon rd. We drove passed a favorite camping and evening out spot that we named "moms birthday spot" (another long post to explain that one). We head North up the wash which heads in a North Easterly direction the rest of the trail as you can see on the map below. This was an easy trail ride due to the sand filling in the rocky areas that were so prominent years ago. Hewitt canyon is very attractive year round. This LDW run was the first time most of us had a way of communicating as we drove, we all had or borrowed a hand held radio and we enjoyed the scenic guide over the radio telling stories and naming of events that happened on parts of the trail in years passed. Not stories from the wild west, but from the countless scout outings that have taken place in this area, or maybe they weren't stories but minor hints of the past that had me thinking of my childhood and the experiences we shared there. 2.57 miles from moms b-day spot is the resting place of an old Studebaker pickup which is unseen from the bed of the wash, also near this spot is what we call the crack and it served as our playground and pretty much wet the pallet for most and satisfied others desire for difficult terrain navigation. 4.72 miles from moms b-day spot we stopped for lunch in Cotton Wood Canyon, appropriately named due to the cool shade at our lunch spot provided by aged Cotton wood trees. After lunch the end of the trail came too quick for most of us but just in time for others who needed to be home. We stopped where the wash crosses FR172 and had our first ever off road gift exchange which was kind of awkward but fun. Here every one split up. Blaine was running low on brake fluid so He, Dad, and JT took off. I headed up the road while Billy, Jeff, Nique, and Kerry checked out a possible alternative exit which after a walk up it proved to be too difficult for the moment. The trip home went good with no one left behind and everyone safe. Thank you LDW club members for coming.

Good Guys Car Show 11-18-08

This Bronco was selling for $22,000.00
All the best rigs were the half built ones.
This rig used a vintage WWII components, the fuel tank was two jerry cans.
This couple was serious about there rig, they even dressed the part.
Just another classic.

Here is the map of our Hackberry creek run. I enjoy going over maps like watching t.v. but more.

$30 worth of steel

Its starting to take shape. The new tubing is 1/8 inch 2x3. Its not to heavy but strong now with this I wont have to add a bumper so in a way I'm keeping it light. My goal is an "Improved"(its a matter of opinion) Cj with factor looks.
This plate welded on here was a factory pieceit ties the A shaped rails to the rear crossmember. Here I have trimmed the ends at the same angle as the factory rear crossmember.
The project is moving along, I can tell you that I was not planning on diving this deep, but its working out really good.

Rear crossmember

Good by old
After evaluating the situation I decided to dive in and rebuild the whole rear cross member


rear of frame sans cross member50 year old spring hangers, still good for another fifty. That is my goal, to build this rig to last another 50 years but this time on some pretty tough trails and maybe some long crazy vintage style overlanding trips.

Frame Repairs

I'm not sure if i make things harder than they should be but in my mind I'm doing it right. To repair a crack I get my trusty bottle jack out and jack up the frame in such a way the causes the gap to close. Then I get my grinder and groove out the crack. Sometimes I have to beat it with a hammer to get everything to line up. Then after its cleaned I weld it up. All the cracks are welded up now and after I finish the rear crossmember I will fish plate the frame.

Hackberry Creek Trail

We actually got out of town at a decent time this trip and were able to set up camp in the day light which the Jesse &Amanda baker family has not been able to do in a long time maybe even never (one major reason ii will be building the ultimate camping trailer soon). We camped at Oak Flats camp ground which is a bit dusty but the weather has always been nice. Not sure if Oak Flats would be to enjoyable in the rain though.
Well Dinner was provided by Dad and cooked by Mom who didn't show but spent the day preparing the wonderful stew that was sent with Dad. We sat around the camp fire and discussed the popular and not so popular opinions for the up coming election and propositions. The next morning we partook of a great pancake, bacon, egg breakfast (just reminiscing and writing this makes me feel like I should load up and head out there right now). After that we cleaned up camp and took care of the cooking equipment.
Before we hit the trail we messed around in a rocky spot(mini Moab) behind camp. This was beneficial to me because I had been kind of nervous about hitting the trail with the Montero which from my experience sometimes looses traction due to a major lack in wheel travel in the most inconsiderable rut you could imagine, But after this trial run I had gained a feel of what I was in for and now I was anticipating a challenge. Camp was left behind in an dry cloud of dust as we all formed a convoy behind Jeff who led us in the wrong direction then followed us in the right direction until we hit a fork on the old highway. Jeff took the lead and we cruised down the old highway till we turned on to dirt and drove past and a few drill rigs. After those active drill rigs there were a few old drilling sites past even on the considerably difficult parts of the trail. we climbed until we reached the brim of a Bermuda grass covered valley. At the top there is a choice of roads down. My new confidence urged me to choose the more difficult of the two. When I hit the dirt I put my Vehicles in four. I feel it improves every aspect of handling(not three point turns though) Less hopping on washboard better braking and I just generally try to use it since its available. Reaching the next switch back down was no hard task especially with our Montero in low range. The floor of the valley is reached with the completion of the famous but not as famous switch backs. Dad had been to this valley before to work on a Ranchers Crawler but he used other switch backs just to the east of ours. Once reaching the valley The trails turns into a wash or some consider the beginning of the trail to be the wash.
The was was great and it provided new opportunities to break in my Wheeling with an Automatic Skills. Jeff required no spotters maybe because he had been there, I required four sometimes five, Billy needed none but had one Because that's what we do and the Dad/Blaine team didn't even wait for the spotters to realize what was going on.
The trail was diffidently challenging especially when we came to the obstacle we did not pass. The obstacle wasn't just a steep hill but a rocky hill not just any rocky hill but one strew with basket ball sized rocks, loose rock mind you. Jeff tried, he was sure he would make it up he had before with ease. This trip had a different outcome. Dad tried next but only managed to get him self wheels off. Both rigs needed to be yanked off in the end. I cant even begin to describe the frustration we all felt after our defeat(this is where real overlanding skills come in to play). We had been bouncing around for a few hours already and our babies were getting tired and our wives frustrated (they say the pioneers sang as they walked but I bet most of the time it was with clenched teeth). Now it was time to get the map and GPS out and find a way around. We figured out where we were thanks to the GPS but we also figured out that the routes around our dilemma were not any easier. We learned real fast to face the facts, our best route was to go back the way we came. The trip back was fast and I only needed spotting at one obstacle (thanks Billy). We arrived at eh switch backs we started at over looking the valley. By this time the only vehicles I could see were Billy behind me and then Dad behind him. I headed up the route I came(this is when i finally figured out the foot on break and use it like a clutch trick for automatics). Billy followed and Dad slowed up, he decided to head up the switch backs to the east that he had been on so long ago but now were unmaintained and apparently a little washed out. Billy and I were in a hurry to get back to camp and pack up, needless to say we did not wait to see the outcome of Dads jot.
At camp we met the others and chatted about the trail(there wasn't much packing to do since Bliane and Ryan took care of our tent, Thank you guys). Then came the call that Billy received on his cell phone, it was Dads phone but Niques voice. He said they had laid the Jeep over and needed help, Billy asked if any one was hurt and he said no. Nique told us there was a road that crosses over to there switch backs from the ones we used. so we loaded all our recovery gear in Jeffs and Billys Jeeps and went to the rescue. It took about 3 hours to get the jeep back on the road. Jeffs jeep could not drag the Willys up the hill so it was necessary to get it to move under its own power which ended up to be an field mechanics story all in its own, to keep it short, oil bath air filter. Next thing we knew we were on our way home, Montero and Willys on the trailer Billy missing a flare and Jeff dreaming about fab shops. Other blogs to visit: http://outdoorandoffroad.blogspot.com/ - http://billysprojectoffroad.blogspot.com/ - http://azjeffsoutdooradventures.blogspot.com/ - http://bhbaker.blogspot.com/

Body off

The whole thing is more clean now I sprayed some degreaser on it a pressure washed it with hot water.
Do you see the rebar extension welded into the over drive linkage. Apparently they did not have a kit to install overdrive with a T-98 transmission. This works so I wont mess with it. The T-98 is longer than the T-90 and to make it fit Willys made a castiron adapter for both front and back of the tranny.
I wwant to reroute the exhaust to cross under the bell housing to the passenger side and out the back.I am never short on good help, Thank you Blaine & Carsyn

Pulling the body off part 2

We only had to use the torch once, most of the bolts broke.
We lifted the bod up and over the steering rod, then slid the body over onto the forks.

Why do I like the concept of Overlanding?

• Getting to the destination is going to be rough, but unless you have a job to do when you get there or a pot of gold waiting for you its all about how you got there.
• More stories and more fun is had getting there.(like last May we were snowed out and never made our destination so all we have is the journey to talk about and the night we spent in our truck on the side of the highway waitng for the storm to end)
• Overlanding starts When you go to walmart to get your supplies the night before and ends when you pull into you drive way with trail damage, sweet pictures and stories for your blog.
  
• More challenging trails make the Journey in my opinion. Challenging Obstacles that your rig can't get through just mean you better know the area to get around or know the road back.

So what do you think of my new lay out. I like it cause its not so busy and you see what you want to see.

pulling the body offf part one

PARABOLIC SPRINGS

As I mentioned in the post about the Defender/Santana/Iveco they all use parabolic springs I have even noticed that the new Volvo Semis use them on the front. These are my dream springs. they are available for YJ'S but not CJ'S.

MAZATZAL MOUNTAINS 9-27-08

The mountains are just north of four peaks. The HWY 87 to the west and the HWY 188 to the east. Roosevelt lake is also to the east.
We enjoyed a nice dusting of rain.


Its a nice drive up one side and down the other, road does not require 4x4 unfortunantley but this area needed to be explored. There is a medium rated trail a little to the north that what we will hit up soon.