Spring Build

Remember that small Jeep I was so excited to get three years ago? Remember all the plans I had throughout these two years of buying parts? Now, everything is being put together. A few weeks ago I finished putting together my ford 9 inch and now my jeep is in the garage being torn apart. It seems like everyone anxiously tries to get one final build or one final adjustment in before the start of the next year of rock crawling. I may not be just adjusting or tuning some small detail, but I am just like them building myself a Jeep to take on trips over the summer.













Overall the build started very slow with one small thing being done here or there  (whenever we got the chance). This last weekend is when it finally all came together, I pulled out my transfer case to replace with an aftermarket Atlas 4:1 for a lower set of gears and pulled out the transmission to replace the clutch. After I did that, I pulled out the front and rear end as well as the springs and shocks holding them in. The next day my dad and I put in a 1-inch body lift for the atlas to fit and added new shock mounts. Hopefully, this weekend we will get more done so when my dad is off next week we can finish putting mine together and start on my dad's. Spring is a crazy time for everyone preparing for the summer and finishing any projects they had over the winter.

4 Wheel Drive Truck fest and What I Have Been Working On

This year, just like last year, I went to the San Mateo 4 Wheel Parts Truck fest. I prefer to go to this truck fest because I can talk to the vendors about the parts I am looking for and negotiate to get the best possible deal. Last year I purchased a lot of parts; including springs, ARB air locker, and compressor. This year I did not actually need anything to build my Jeep but wanted to buy some accessories.

I ended up purchasing the tire carrier for the Warn rear bumper I purchased for very cheap. I also decided to buy a winch the day before the show, but I was unsure of what winch I should get. I searched through websites like Warn, that night and eventually decided I would look to get the VR8000, but then at the show I got the M8000 because I got a better deal for a better winch.

Besides these bigger items, I found a set of rock sliders for a great deal and my third member for my Ford 9 inch just got put together with an ARB locker set up for 31 spline axels. The goal is still to get both my Jeep and my Dad's put together before May, but that goal is starting to seem very unlikely.

Jeep Blog and Overview of Uncle's Jeep

This month have not been working on my jeep, or really doing much. A few days ago I got my license, but still have to work on my jeep before I can go on any off road trips. So far, I do not have any major trips planned soon, but my uncle really wants to go. He just got his Jeep back from 4 wheel parts and is dying to go try it out. He went all out; he put a 4-inch lift, an atlas, a G2 dana 60 in the rear and dana 44 in the front, and  37-inch tires on his two-door 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK.

Honestly, I am dying to get my Jeep built to go. I can not wait, but until then I am stuck waiting while I work on it in my free time. Recently I found this really cool post from The Jeep Blog called Prepping for Overland off-roading with the Jeep Wrangler. You guys should check it out if you are not too busy.




This blog is mainly talking about the "best" Jeep for off-roading, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Many people may think that the most modern vehicle is the best, which it is, but other Jeeps can still perform just as well. The part of this blog post I believe everyone should see is the 4 point checklist.

In this checklist, it goes over the essentials for an off-road adventure. You should always overpack on camping gear, like food, because you may break and have to spend the night or get lost. Someone you go with should have a map of the trail to avoid getting lost; and someone should carry an emergency kit, just in case. With these three most important things anyone can survive an adventure and have fun.

New Year, New Start

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great year, but now it is about the future, not reflecting on the past. Last year was a lot of fun; I got my permit and started to work on my jeep.I did not get as much done as I was hoping and did not go on as many trips this last year as I wanted. Hopefully, this year I will somewhat complete my jeep and get my driver's licence, so I can go on more trips and drive all the trails we will be going on. This year, since it is the time to make a new year resolution, I am going to make a to-do list.

1. Get my driver's
    licence
2. Finish my Ford 9
    inch build and my
    dad's 44 front-end
    build
3. Install my dad's
    front-end
4. Install all of my
    parts (including
    rear-end, dad's
    previous front-end,
    1 1/2 inch spring
    over lift, etc.)
5. Go to Shaver Lake
    area and go on
    many of the trails
    over there
6. Go to the rubicon
    and maybe Fordyce
7. Don't break
    anything on the
    Jeep the whole
    year







As a recap of the changes that happened this last year include, deciding to put in a 1 1/2 inch spring over lift, I got the Chromoly axels but have not put together the 9 inch, installed a custom roll cage, got everything I need to install the front and rear ends, and ended up getting a center consul and radio. Overall last year was everything I wanted, but this year is when everything is going to happen and I will have my completed Jeep.