No secrets, I promise. I never heard of indexing front axles before getting on this board. Unless you have a spool, it makes no sense to even try and index the axles. Soon as you drive it and turn, your wheels and axles will rotate at different speeds and mess up any indexing you may have started with. And there are no keyways on the axle splines either so there is no need/reason to index front axles - far as I figger. But it might be easier to reinstall the pig if you have the pass side tire off. Turning the axle to align the splines and seat the pig would be easier. I'm a big fan of front lockers in a trail rig. If it's street driven hubs are nice to save wear and tear. For $300 and less than a day's work a lockrite is the way to go if you don't have tons of power to rip it up. I also prefer a Detroit for the rear, since it's under power all the time. I've seen lockrites wear out in the rear pretty quickly on daily drivers.

I've seen jeeps that weigh 1000 less than me not able to make it up hills w/ just a rear locker. Hills I've been able to do easily w/ only a front locker on my old D28/7.5. One is better than none, but 2 is BEST!! Yeah - RTV is pretty good stuff. It don't leak but it takes some effort to break thru it and clean it off for the reinstall.

I must say Jack, I admire what you're doing with all that swappage to get Green ready for the trip. I'd never be able to do that with work and going to San Diego w/ the GF next week.

 

Hey Jack,
Jr Must not drive too bad I saw you 2 headed north as I was headed south on the interstate at about 2:30-3:00 this afternoon. I was coming from Newton. Honked and waved but you either didn't see me or ignored me :-)

 

Man Jr. was making some loud rattles by that time. The noise is most likely why you noticed me. Sorry I didn't see you. That was Jr.'s last drive for a while. The tranny is ready to drop out. Green's last drive as a std. shift should be tomorrow.

 

I like to put stuff back the way it was before I started to mess with it. The passangers side front axle shaft on the TTb is two peice. There is an inner and an outer u-joint. I mark one cap on each to index the shaft the way it was before I started to mess with it.

 

Seems we will have to agree that we disagree on this one. To me you would need to use the same or type vehicle and the same driver to do a comparrison. I have always told folks that I need at least one locker to keep up with my friend Larry with a stock truck and open differentials. He is that good. Maybe you aren't giving your yourself the proper credit. Maybe you were that much better than the heep guy.

 

Around here wheeling with lighter heeps most of the time my handicap seems to be weight. Some of the rock here is quite sticky (sandstone) but some is also pretty slick. Volcanic tuff is very friable and slippery. You can easily make tons of dust and "churn & burn" it off with spinning tires and make grooves in it. Walking up it or on a sideslope will send you down the hill if you're not careful. Even fully locked with all 4 tires spinning isn't enough sometimes. Although my MTRs seem to grab better on tuff than my BFG MTs did. Tuff is solidified, layered ash that erodes and turns to dust pretty easily, as opposed to actual black lava, which is not good to drive on unless you like buying lots of tires.

 

I think being Ford owners makes us all better than heep owners! :0))

 

Got the new water pump in. Ran it over an hour and it seems to have stopped the trickling leak. I was gonna change the upper hose (lower is new) but the one they gave me doesn't fit. Right part # but made in Mexico. Too small dia and it wouldn't hook up w/out a kink so I stuck the old but good one back on. Also changed oil in the GF's '05 Cherokee. Man that thing is as low as my Mustang!! Had to use ramps to get under that thing! Tomorrow maybe the tcase oil seal (GF thought my joke about the "oil seal" being made in Valdez, AK was funny). Also tons of other odds & ends to get done B4 the trip.

How is your wrenchin going Jack?

 

Tranny is ready to drop out of Jr. John picked up Green today. I was able to pull the seats and carpet so the tunnel cover plates and shifters can be switched. Correct fan shroud should arrive in a few days. Rear locker is on the way. First day we have with no chance of rain I will go through the shed and look for the other brackets for the winch mount.

 

Let me know if you need anything? Did you want me to put a light coat of Primer to protect wear we cut the fenders, and small pieces. Till we decide when we'll paint the rest. I have a small can of primer handy.

 

No need to go to any trouble. Rust Bullet will go over rust. Thought we were going to sand blast them anyway. Rust Bullet has a 2 year shelf life. So there is no big rush.

When ever you feel the need to paint some thing let me know. I'll bring the rear hatch up and the hood and front vallance and you can have at it. I can even get Jr. over. It's just on the other side of town from your place.

Do you need any help getting a truck ready for Tuttle? I think John wants to work on Green alone. You ready for a tail gate?

 

Bring anything at any time that is conveinent for you I have the room. Tailgate anytime you are coming by, or if we are meeting for supper somewhere tomorrow.

I can't work on the truck until after easter. Then My goal is to have the lift kit, and both of those axles by May 19th. Maybe a couple fenders - I ordered a hot wrench today, should be here in 9 days. Should make the wok go a little easier. :-)

 

No word on tomorrow night yet.

I'll see about getting a bag of sand tomorrow. The accelerant will be here wednesday.

I like my idea of attaching the corner of YA2 to the tree and backing up till things clear. Then put what axles you want under it and go.

 

Already started cutting the bolts off the bumper, It should fall off any day now. Need to change out the radiator support, and will put yard arts axles under it... then yep that's how it will make its maiden voyage.

 

Ken can't get the time off for HITR so as of now I'm the only one coming from NM. I'll be off the board from Wed morning till Sun night, unless somehow I get time and a computer to use when we're in CA later this week. Sure wish I could have more time to get ready next weekend but at least all the time consuming, important stuff is done. PHEW!!