Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[Wildman]

I guess I better get you a copy my schedule so you'll know what weekends I have off. In case you need an extra set of hands working on the Jeep or MH, also because I don't want to miss the shake down run!

As been talked about before now that it's winter here my options are going to be Reiter most likely (assuming I get it running before April) so that is what I'm shooting for. Not really enthused about towing the Jeep over the pass but I don't see any other options if I want to play before spring.

As for the motorhome I've got to recover some funds so I can get the parts I need to fix it.

 

[Wildman]

@PNW_LJ you'd asked how big the STaK's is...

Here it is tucked up under the Jeep.

It's hard to get some good shots of it but here it is.

Here's the spec's on it

 

[reddvltj]

As been talked about before now that it's winter here my options are going to be Reiter most likely (assuming I get it running before April) so that is what I'm shooting for. Not really enthused about towing the Jeep over the pass but I don't see any other options if I want to play before spring.

As for the motorhome I've got to recover some funds so I can get the parts I need to fix it.

I could do a good portion of Reiter on 32s. I need to find a 30' Gooseneck.. Then we could load both Jeeps on one trailer!!

 

[mudmaster]

Dec15- Apr 1 all the good trails are closed to wheel vehicles so it'll have to wait until next year now. But when the trails open back up in April if it's been a good winter they can be a LOT of fun... But you can't have an aversion to MUD....

I believe Reiter and Walker are open all year. I KNOW Elbe is.............

 

[Wildman]

I believe Reiter and Walker are open all year. I KNOW Elbe is.............

For westside area's isn't Evans Creek the only one that closes for a short time in the winter? They have opened up two roads over here that used to be closed in the winter to wheeled traffic so people can do some snow wheeling.

Edit: from what Crash says it can be hard to get into the parking area at Reiter when there is snow on the road.

 

[Wildman]

A beautiful day in Seattle.. yesterday was foggy.

 

[P man]

A beautiful day in Seattle.. yesterday was foggy.

View attachment 482129

View attachment 482130

It's beautiful from afar

 

[RINC]

It's beautiful from afar

I have been there more often than I like.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

I was there like 3-4 times and it was always dreary and overcast. We went there last time for 3 days and on the last morning the sun came out with clear skies and we were in awe. We had no idea all that scenery was around us all those times.

 

[mudmaster]

For westside area's isn't Evans Creek the only one that closes for a short time in the winter? They have opened up two roads over here that used to be closed in the winter to wheeled traffic so people can do some snow wheeling.

Edit: from what Crash says it can be hard to get into the parking area at Reiter when there is snow on the road.

Yes, Evans is the only one that I know of that closes.

Mike would know about Reiter!

 

[Apparition]

Any updates from the machine shop?

 

[Wildman]

Any updates from the machine shop?

I'm not ready to go into what is going on yet. I.ve got to call them back today and talk to them again since they were supposed to call me back yesterday and didn't. Let's just leave it at the whole situation is FUCKED UP....

Yes, Evans is the only one that I know of that closes.

Do you know what the closure dates are?

Mike would know about Reiter!

Yes he would. He's done a LOT to keep Reiter open and making improvements.

 

[mudmaster]

Do you know what the closure dates are?

December 15. I can't remember when it reopens, I think May....

 

[Wildman]

December 15. I can't remember when it reopens, I think May....

I think the last time I was at Evans Creek would have been around 2000 or 2001 & it was when I had my CJ5.

 

[mudmaster]

I think the last time I was at Evans Creek would have been around 2000 or 2001 & it was when I had my CJ5.

View attachment 482319

I haven't been there in a while, never with the LJ.

 

[Wildman]

Not really sure I even want to go into this right now.... My options for a machine shop are pretty limited so going some place else isn't an option. Get that out of the way FIRST....

Somehow after they had called and found the valve springs that I needed those new parts weren't ordered. So my heads have just been sitting at the machine shop...
I had to call them back this morning and talk them again since they never called back. And then even more BAD new... I guess the heads have two totally different valve jobs on them and even if I hadn't needed these new springs it was a good thing I had them in there being gone thru.
So HUGE lesson learned... When purchasing heads you always buy bare heads/head in the I-6 configuration and have your local machine shop set them up correctly for you.
So since I know Hughes Engine is SLOW AS heck my guys is they won't see the new valve springs until after Christmas. Now I have my fingers crossed that since they are a vendor that Hughes Engines "MIGHT" ship stuff faster to them but I sure as FUCK ain't gunna hold my breath. Now if the machine shop had done their job or at least asked me if I preferred to order the springs I might have my heads back by now. So I'm sitting here trying not to be pissed off or depressed... I can't rush this and things will happen as they should...


FUCK.....

 

[mudmaster]

What a shit show

 

[Apparition]

Not really sure I even want to go into this right now.... My options for a machine shop are pretty limited so going some place else isn't an option. Get that out of the way FIRST....

Somehow after they had called and found the valve springs that I needed those new parts weren't ordered. So my heads have just been sitting at the machine shop...
I had to call them back this morning and talk them again since they never called back. And then even more BAD new... I guess the heads have two totally different valve jobs on them and even if I hadn't needed these new springs it was a good thing I had them in there being gone thru.
So HUGE lesson learned... When purchasing heads you always buy bare heads/head in the I-6 configuration and have your local machine shop set them up correctly for you.
So since I know Hughes Engine is SLOW AS heck my guys is they won't see the new valve springs until after Christmas. Now I have my fingers crossed that since they are a vendor that Hughes Engines "MIGHT" ship stuff faster to them but I sure as FUCK ain't gunna hold my breath. Now if the machine shop had done their job or at least asked me if I preferred to order the springs I might have my heads back by now. So I'm sitting here trying not to be pissed off or depressed... I can't rush this and things will happen as they should...


FUCK.....

Damn

 

[PNW_LJ]

Not really sure I even want to go into this right now.... My options for a machine shop are pretty limited so going some place else isn't an option. Get that out of the way FIRST....

Somehow after they had called and found the valve springs that I needed those new parts weren't ordered. So my heads have just been sitting at the machine shop...
I had to call them back this morning and talk them again since they never called back. And then even more BAD new... I guess the heads have two totally different valve jobs on them and even if I hadn't needed these new springs it was a good thing I had them in there being gone thru.
So HUGE lesson learned... When purchasing heads you always buy bare heads/head in the I-6 configuration and have your local machine shop set them up correctly for you.
So since I know Hughes Engine is SLOW AS heck my guys is they won't see the new valve springs until after Christmas. Now I have my fingers crossed that since they are a vendor that Hughes Engines "MIGHT" ship stuff faster to them but I sure as FUCK ain't gunna hold my breath. Now if the machine shop had done their job or at least asked me if I preferred to order the springs I might have my heads back by now. So I'm sitting here trying not to be pissed off or depressed... I can't rush this and things will happen as they should...


FUCK.....

We had a guy take 3 DAMN YEARS to install lockers/gears on one of our projects, so I completely understand how you feel.


Does the Jeep need anything else, that you can work on right now?

 

[Wildman]

What a shit show

Yep you summed it up right there... Between the TOTALLY screwed up head then to have this machine shop not doing what they should....

It will be really interesting to see how the engine runs once all this crap is fix correctly. I really hope all this could be contributing to my issues.


And what SUCKS more is that the machine shop I know of in the Seattle area is the same one that built this stroker engine the first time. But they had assembled it for the PO and when they did they'd installed a flex plate and harmonic balancer with weights onto the stroker crank which is internally balanced. So I wouldn't trust them to do any work for me.

My next bigger city is Spokane which is 3 hours the other direction and I have no idea of any machine shops in that direction.

We had a guy take 3 DAMN YEARS to install lockers/gears on one of our projects, so I completely understand how you feel.


Does the Jeep need anything else, that you can work on right now?

I've got a lot of little work I can do like getting all my lights wired and stuff like that. I just wanted to hear my engine running again. Fuck it was last year a few days before Christmas when I first started the engine. Thought I'd be DONE by now.