Rubicon today

[budojeepr]

Off to run the Rubicon Trail starting today. Going with a couple fellers with Land Cruisers, so >>knock on wood<< it looks like my tow strap will get a lot of use. :D

Pics starting Thursday...

Brad
http://www.4x4trailhunters.com/my4x4/vehicle.php?id=54&vid=48

[MAPit]

good luck hope you have fun

[budojeepr]

Oh, yes. It's always fun.

I broke a shackle hanger - pulled the bolts clean out of the frame. We wore out a compressor (not a York) trying to drill the holes out with a masonry bit. Got it "wallered" out some, then used a file to make a couple flutes in a grade 8 7/16 bolt, which I used to tap out the holes. We had some 7/16 coarse thread bolts and red Loctite, so it held the rest of the run.

Later that same day I broke a spring pin on the right rear spring pack and the Jeep dropped a leaf right on the trail. We filed the points off a 3/8 bolt and used it for a spring pin. That held up for the rest of the run.

Then a fuel pump connector started to wear, which made for a nice troubleshooting session because sometimes it would work and other times not.

One of the Land Cruisers I was with broke a Birfield joint (luckily he had a spare with him). Then he broke a spring shackle which we replaced with some flat stock another guy had along. We had to burn the holes for the spring and shackle hangers with a torch since our compressors were done for. Then the same guy broke a front spring pin. However, we didn't have any 5/16 bolts long enough (3/8 was too big), so we begged a spring pin off of a feller from Pirate 4x4 named Cruzilla (thanks, man!).

Then on the way home on I-80 in Sacramento the same cruiser sheared off all 6 lug studs on the driver side front. Why they didn't give way on the canyon twisties between Cool and Auburn, I don't know, but I'm glad. That guy would have been toast. As it was, he had to spend the night in Sac waiting for Les Schwab to open in order to make repairs.

Pics here: http://tinyurl.com/mjqq89

[fulsizjeep]

Looks like Hella Fun! :thumbsup: :drivin:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/106_3990.jpg

[budojeepr]

More pictures from one of the guys:

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee58/fj40Storm/

[budojeepr]

Not too awesome, but fun nonetheless.

1. The stock Land Cruiser climbs along a rocky ledge (http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/?action=view&current=106_3992.flv). What made this interesting is that if you slide at all your driver's side is going to paint the rocks.

2. The stock Land Cruiser drops down into the Big Sluice (http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/?action=view&current=106_4009.flv). Check out the "awesome" articulation!

3. My J-4000 straddles a notch (http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/?action=view&current=106_4011.flv). The only line I thought possible for my full-size without sustaining body damage.

4. We climb a steep rocky section (http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/?action=view&current=106_4026.flv) leading up to Cadillac Hill. The guy holding the camera was trying to give an idea of how steep it was. Not too easy to do. Cameras just don't do it justice!

5. Using an oxyacetylene torch to burn holes in some flat steel stock (http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z176/budojeepr/Rubicon%202009%20June%2027%20-%20July%201/?action=view&current=106_4040.flv) to replace a busted shackle.