A Short History of Progress – Harvey’s Wrangler

[yeti]

Essy to take off and give it a straighten up with a hammer

[00falcon]

Essy to take off and give it a straighten up with a hammer

Cheers yeti.
She's all straight now... ish.
how sealed does it need to be...?

Moving on.
UHF Radio installed - TX3100
Here's hoping a lo-gain antenna was the right idea...

my dash install isn't as tidy as Crash's... but hey



Plus, im sick of her looking broken because of flat tires, so tubes next week..
who ever said go tubeless...? leaking beads have been a right pain...

[00falcon]

Well, i have taken the plunge, and splashed out on the kit needed for a Rear Disc Brake Conversion...

This should be cheaper than fixing my drums... with the added bonus that they will actually work...



I need the Jeep working for the next few weekends, so will start the install after that...

[yeti]

ya gonna love that conversion....

[00falcon]

Well... it continues...

Re the Disc Brake Conversion.
The instructions i was following were referencing BA Falcon rear disc brakes...
after much fussing, i can only assume it is meant to BA Station Wagon, as the BA Sedans have independent rear suspension...

anyway, i have all the needed parts from an AU Falcons rear... (Solid rear)
i did need to get a few parts milled... but hey...
Gonna crack it next weekend... hopefully...

7 weeks ago, while on patrol at woodhill, i bent my front right Lower Control Arm Bracket.
Had that repaired.
But on patrol this weekend just been, i bent my left LCA Bracket...
and i was trying to drive gently because of this...

So, it would seem my next upgrade dicision has been made...
Heavy Duty LCA Brackets...
http://www.quadratec.com/products/56015_200.htm
or i truss the stock brackets... (or both)

Has anyone else had to tackle this problem...?

[yeti]

bend em mend them ......get the new ones ,,,,cant remember where I got mine but done em when done the longer arms....

had to run a grinder around centre of replacment when I put new ones one mine...... EA ones....

[00falcon]

After too many months with the parts sitting on the floor, i started my Disc Brake Conversion.

Off with the old...




On with the new

[TJ]

Looks great. Is it functional now?

[00falcon]

Not quite.
Just need 5 longer wheel studs.
The ones I got, must have been from a BA, as the are too small...
Tomorrow, or at worst next Saturday I'll get to pressure her up...
But hopefully only an hour left...

[TJ]

Why 5? Are you only doing one side?

[00falcon]

i asked for 10 x EA Falcon wheel studs from the parts shop... but i think i got 5 x EA and 5 x BA.
the BA ones don't fit...

Long story short, i ended up getting new studs today.

Both sides are done, brake lines on...
just need to bleed them, and set up the handbrake cable...

Fingers crossed...

[TJ]

Great work. Should be relatively simple from here on. What sort of hand brake are you planning to use.

[00falcon]

Sticking with the Falcon Drum Brakes that are built in to the disk... but with XJ Cables...

[TJ]

That's a very similar set up to factory disk brakes on 2004+ TJs.

[00falcon]

Well, all is good... ish...
The brakes are in, and working well, for the short travels i have done.
the foot brake feel a lot more sturdy (it might be all in my head, but im sticking with it).
and... the handbrake finally holds...
The true test will be when i get her in the runny stuff....

but the only issue i have, is that the handbrake leaver comes all the way up... full travel.
it is all adjusted about as far as it can be adjusted...
my feeling is that the designed cable travel of the Jeep Handbrake doesn't match the designed cable travel of the Falcon handbrake.
as i understand, there is an offset cam on the handbrake leaver, providing the ratio.
my question is, if this is the case, can this be adjusted simply... or is it a fixed unit...

But im open to any and all suggestions...

Cheers

[00falcon]

Well, the new brakes work a treat... on and off road...

The handbrake cables needs proper crimps on the ends.
The one's i had done first time round weren't in the correct position.
so i added adjustments with some wire crimps...
they worked well, with the 'delicate' application of the handbrake while on the hard stuff.
but, one crank of the handbrake at woodhill Sunday, and they gave up the ghost.

But i know what to do now, and i have to say, i am more than happy with the new brakes...

[00falcon]

Well, i finally got around to bracing my control arm brackets.
Finger crossed, but they look like they should do the trick

From this...


To this

[00falcon]

Shiny new thing make everything all better....

I know its the wrong time to be buying thing from the states... but hay...

I now have my Tom Woods Drive Shaft and TeraFlex SuperShort SYE.

Just trying to decide on the pro's and con's of removing the Tranfer case, vs trying to install it in place...

Who else has done this... and which way did you do it....

[TJ]

Leave it in, much easier to do.

http://www.offroadexpress.kiwi/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=9701&start=150

[00falcon]

Got My TeraFlex 'Super Short Slip Yolk Eliminator' and Tom Woods Drive Shaft in...

I removed the Transfer Case as opposed to doing in place...
If anybody asks, i will 100% say remove the transfer case...

Rotated my pinion up to (at a guess) a couple of degrees below the Drive Shaft...
As good a guess that you can have using a phone as an angle finder...


Have been for a test drive around the block, and all seams smooth and in order...
No drive shaft vibrations... as much as you can tell on the Silverstones...

Will hit the motorway and get her up to 100km tonight

[00falcon]

Finally got a Bikini Top.
Only arrived from the states last night

Hmm. cant take here for a drive just yet tho, as i knotted my double-cardon joint on my front drive shaft doing the Wires track over the weekend...
Parts already ordered

Great track
5 Jeeps - 6 Hours for the full loop

[TJ]

Take the front driveshaft off and drive.

[00falcon]

Yeah, in mean she's gonna have to come out any way...

[00falcon]

Got my Front Drive Shaft back together...
wasnt really that hard...



Also made a cargo tray to sit above the tonneau cover.
somewhere to keep the muddy shit...
Works perfectly, just have to find a way to store and access the spade now...
the hi-lift is under the cover, but still quickly accessable

[00falcon]

She was getting a little hot on the last outting...

So, New Thermostat, New Viscous Clutch Fan and New Radiator Cap...

Oh, and while at it, i thought i'd best clean the radiator...

[yeti]

like the tray idea when I have the bikini lid on ...easy to store stuff.....jeeps looking good

[00falcon]

Another good weekend in the Jeep.
and best of all, the temperature was perfect...

who'd a thought a bit of mud in the radiator would cause temp issues... duh

The tray worked perfectly.
everything stayed put, and was easy to access...

[00falcon]

An NZ Jeep Club video from the long weekend.

[00falcon]

I think it might be time so some steel fenders, what with all the F'in trees getting in the way...

however, just a quick straighten for now

[mudsurfv6]

looks like a fun track.