W.T.F.D.I.G.M.I - Turning my daily drive into a trail rig.

[Supazuk]

"measure once cuss twice".

I am stealing that and putting it on my shop wall lol

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[drewcnit]

So been a couple busy months, back in August my mother passed away and part of the busy-ness was dealing with her funeral, estate, and my grief.
Been out wheeling a few times in September and October - Windrock a couple times and most recently to SMORR and Kansas Rocks -

And now I'm rushing ahead to my next projects. If you'll notice in the pictures above at Windrock I had a spare on the rack and 37's on the Gladiator.
Moved up to a set of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT's in 40x13.5x17 for the SMORR trip, it's a surprising improvement over 37's. Always knew it would mean more clearance but it's a LOT.
Gladiator just feels right on 40s.

Again more of the rack missing and the loose wiring from my bed lights as I strip them off for now.
Getting the rack ready to go to powder coat for a professional finish along with a few other new Motobilt goodies -

The rack needs a good professional coating as my garage rattle can is already starting to flake and gather surface rust. New Jack Mount will be coated at the same time as well as the brackets for the cargo rack to replace the tire carrier -

The cargo rack is one of a few things that Motobilt sells already powder coated, so all that is needed there is the additional brackets to help it mount to the bobbed bed rack.

High Line Fenders going on in two weeks and I just put down the deposit for the next big change -

Tons are only planned for if I break the 44s, I have full faith in these 44s up to 40s. Especially adding in the upgrades before I go to 40s.
Or
If I hit the lotto and put a 426 in it, then it will also go to Tons to handle the weight and torque.

Well I didn't hit the lotto, but I did decide to go Tons...

Wheels have already shown up -

I've also got some extras on order to go with the setup -

And my next big DIY part of the project will be this -

 

[aFatBird]

Silly question, but that 14 bolt axle says JL rather than JT. I'm under the impression that JL amd JT rears are not interchangeable. Checking on ECGS they don't say they offer a 14 bolt for the JT rather just a D60 or D80.

 

[drewcnit]

Silly question, but that 14 bolt axle says JL rather than JT. I'm under the impression that JL amd JT rears are not interchangeable. Checking on ECGS they don't say they offer a 14 bolt for the JT rather just a D60 or D80.

That's correct, it does say JL but my shop confirmed it's a roller housing with no brackets. ECGS website even has this bullet point - 1/4" Plate Stock JL Brackets. Bolt-In Ready.

Since that housing and setup is the preferred one for street driven vehicles, they will weld on the Artec bracket kit for a JT -

The only thing not interchangeable about the rear axle of a JL and a JT are those bracket positions for the most part.

 

[aFatBird]

Ahh, now I know.
Also good to know they make tons for swaps. I'm mostly set on fusion but it's cool to see another kingpin option.
Please do a write up/review when you get some time with them.

 

[drewcnit]

Ahh, now I know.
Also good to know they make tons for swaps. I'm mostly set on fusion but it's cool to see another kingpin option.
Please do a write up/review when you get some time with them.

Definitely will write something up as I get time on them.

FYI- Fusion is repainted/rebranded ECGS for the most part...
Nothing wrong with them and I know folks that love them, but just FYI.

 

[drewcnit]

Well since last time I posted a few things have been done to continue the Motobilt armor and theme -
First was real sliders after my incident at SMORR -

So took the steps off and added Motobilt rocker armor and weld on sliders (look at that door and hinge clean up as well) -

Also done at the same time was the front fenders at least initial install, they've got to come back off for coating and final install in January when it's down for axles. Surface rust on my fenders right now because they've been in the elements. Can't wait to get them coated.

Also peaking in those pictures is the most recent addition, the gladius frame chop front bumper.
This thing is TIGHT, measure your winches twice... I had a Warn 9.5xp-s that I intended to install, but with how tight the winch mount area is and the offset larger motor on the side of the xp-s that plan had to change and we added a VR Evo 10-s instead, with some amber baja designs that are wired to my fog light button now.

When I mentioned tight... this is Driver side where the bumper meets the grille -

And Passenger side where baja design and winch meet -

Anti-Rock Mounts to the bottom of the bumper -

Still to come -
Armorlite Install
Then the Axles, with all the extras - driveshafts, wheels, steering. Will powder coat fender/bumper while it's down for that and have them re-installed.
Rocklights
That's everything that's ordered/planned for now.

Side note, made Prime Rib tonight -
Before -

After -

 

[drewcnit]

Did the Armorlite install the last two days as I've mentioned in the What did you do to..? thread.
All the pictures and full thoughts -
Taking it apart was easy enough..
I forgot to protect my seat side shields, oh well was extra careful.
It takes some bending and manipulation of the Armorlite to get it tucked under the trim well. Do it well though and it makes reinstall of all the hardware easier.
If I had done it straight through in one day, probably about 5-6 hours...
Seats were easier to reinstall rear bolts first, then front.

Used a Socket set box to prop up the seat while I worked...

 

[RubiNewbCB]

[/QUOTE]
Got an interesting trade offer for my take off OEM bed -

Back to tightening fasteners, tailgate is next!!
[/QUOTE]

Did the bed go away for said offer?

 

[aFatBird]

Got an interesting trade offer for my take off OEM bed -

Back to tightening fasteners, tailgate is next!!
[/QUOTE]

Did the bed go away for said offer?
[/QUOTE]
I'd take the trade, have a pew is more fun than just having something take up space

 

[drewcnit]

Did the bed go away for said offer?

I'd take the trade, have a pew is more fun than just having something take up space

Nope, I ended up selling it for cash. Wasn't in the market at the time for a precision rifle, wish now I had taken the trade though.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Nope, I ended up selling it for cash. Wasn't in the market at the time for a precision rifle, wish now I had taken the trade though.

Crazy how it all works out!

 

[drewcnit]

Well so last week I got her naked again -

Because some beef showed up at the shop -

Today she went back to the shop and I got this photo a little earlier -

She's got no legs! Actually I lie, if you zoom in you can see the front is already under her.

So close now, should have her back first of next week.

 

[ScottBeach]

8 lug hubs?

 

[drewcnit]

8 lug hubs?

Yep East Coast Gear Supply Axles - Kingpin D60 in the front, 14 Bolt in the rear.

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