TAD orders to Quantico VA

[CutterN55]

Headin out on the 19th. will be there attending the "Career Course" at the SNCO Acadamy until early June. Will be dragging the waggy behind a buddy's F150 and splittin' gas. Gonna try to do the Auto to Man tranny swap while I'm up there. 7 1/2 weeks away from the wife and kiddos and I can get some stuff done and I can keep busy and stay out of the bars. Anybody around who knows what the hell they are doing is welcome to come to the base hobby shop and point and laugh. I'll have a whole Jeep full of heavy crap and about half a clue to what's what.

[five16]

Congrats!

I was stationed at HMX-1 from 93-96. I remember there being a nice "base" shop over by OCS, behing an old gym (accross the chop/along the Potomac). They borrowed out and had every tool you could think of including full vehicle lifts. I remember it being free because I spent a lot of time there keeping my "base" car running. It's been about a year since I last visited and I don't know if its still there.

I also remember offroading down "7-rivers road" (just outside the back gate where SNCO's did their field exercises). There were also some great trails past the ranges between Lunga and TBS.

Lots of fun and good people in that area. Stay away from Drinking too much in Q-town. There are always some good and creative wrench turners hanging around the shop that I'm sure can help. Good Luck!!

[CutterN55]

Thought about going to the X a few years ago, came to P-cola instead. Quite a few of the guys I came up with are over there now. I'm a 53 guy.

[h8pavmt]

Enjoy your trip to the wonderful Northern Va area! Stay on base as much as possible to avoid our lousy traffic!

There isn't much left in the way of wheeling areas on or near the base anymore. The base tightened up access to all of the neat areas after 9-11.

Check out one of the area clubs when you get into town. Northern Virginia Jeepers Association (www.novajeepers.net (http://www.novajeepers.net)). We have quite a few meet&greets and events that will allow you to meet up with fellow Jeepers in the area. There aren't that many club members with FSJs, but there are some of us.

We're holding a Show and Shine on May 14th in Manassas - only about 25 miles from the base if you are interested in meeting some fellow Jeepers and seeing a whole mess of Jeeps!

[CutterN55]

Enjoy your trip to the wonderful Northern Va area! Stay on base as much as possible to avoid our lousy traffic!

There isn't much left in the way of wheeling areas on or near the base anymore. The base tightened up access to all of the neat areas after 9-11.

Check out one of the area clubs when you get into town. Northern Virginia Jeepers Association (www.novajeepers.net (http://www.novajeepers.net)). We have quite a few meet&greets and events that will allow you to meet up with fellow Jeepers in the area. There aren't that many club members with FSJs, but there are some of us.

We're holding a Show and Shine on May 14th in Manassas - only about 25 miles from the base if you are interested in meeting some fellow Jeepers and seeing a whole mess of Jeeps!

Will do so long as I can get my manual tranny installed.

[five16]

Thought about going to the X a few years ago, came to P-cola instead. Quite a few of the guys I came up with are over there now. I'm a 53 guy.

Roger that. I was an MP but the 53's were always my favorite. After I got in I had regrets not going Avi. I remember some fantastic flights through West Virginia on the 53's, I can still taste the hydraulic fluid... Semper Fi!

[CutterN55]

Hittin the road here in a bit. I just about blew a gasket getting that tranny/t-case combo loaded in the back of my Jeep. It was a little heavier than I remember.:eek:

[CutterN55]

Enjoy your trip to the wonderful Northern Va area! Stay on base as much as possible to avoid our lousy traffic!

There isn't much left in the way of wheeling areas on or near the base anymore. The base tightened up access to all of the neat areas after 9-11.

Check out one of the area clubs when you get into town. Northern Virginia Jeepers Association (www.novajeepers.net (http://www.novajeepers.net)). We have quite a few meet&greets and events that will allow you to meet up with fellow Jeepers in the area. There aren't that many club members with FSJs, but there are some of us.

We're holding a Show and Shine on May 14th in Manassas - only about 25 miles from the base if you are interested in meeting some fellow Jeepers and seeing a whole mess of Jeeps!

I'm down, if I can get this pig put together in time.

[CutterN55]

Started my trans swap at the hobby shop if anybody wants to come point and laugh.

[kiharaikido]

Semper Fi boys. I'm a 46/60 guy. HMX from 1998-2001. Good luck with the tranny swap. Wish I were closer, I'd come lend a hand.

[CutterN55]

^^^could use ya' this crap is heavy!

[kiharaikido]

How is it going?

[CutterN55]

Just an extra hand to hold stuff would while i wrench would help a lot. It's slow. I'm doing pretty good for doing this the first time on my own but it's not as fast as I would like. Have to have it done by this weekend because I'll need to drive it once I tow it back to FL.

Any good Driveshaft shops here local?

[kiharaikido]

Sorry brother, I can't help you with that. There is bound to be a good shop close, but I don't know where.

[kiharaikido]

How did you make out?

[CutterN55]

Still not finished up, but it's towable. A lot of the tools at the hobby shop are pretty hammered. Couldn't get the cross member holes drilled with their crappy bits. I got two on each side and called it good. Will finish the job at home and have a guy I know do the shafts for me.

I have to get the linkage figured out and I have to put the top back on the trans and bend the stick. I want to get the carpet out of there and bed-line the floor while I'm at it. I think it would be a good time to do the floor since the carpet is pulled in the front to get to the trans access panel.. The cargo area is already lined.

I leave here Thursday.