Project "Mud Bandit" dedicated mud bogger

SPP YJ wrote:

After looking at the RC Specs I dont know why they waht a roof or gas tank protection.

With a full cage and seats and 5 points why a roof?

with a good fuel cell like the one you have why a fire wall around tank?

I know, it is a lot of excess work that i don't believe needs to be done but I think it is all in the name of safety and taking every precaution they can to make sure nowbody gets hurt with the higher speed and higher risk races.

roof to keep the hands inside the vehicle and prevent broken fingers or if there is a gas leak and a fire and fuel running on the ground burning at least there is a roof to protect you. fuel cells can develop leaks no matter how well they are constructed. could get a hole worn in the tank from it coming loose and slowly wearing a hole in it and suddenly there is no protection from a fire. really bites with all the extra work but got to be safe. After buying the used axle i can see how people think they are fabricators and really screw things up.

OK radiator is moved to the back of the jeep. It took some really creative tube bending to get it routed under the jeep. Didn't plan ahead and put a body lift on, that would have been too easy. I still need to pick up 4 pieces of 6" radiator hose to finish it up.

got pics? like to see your work

its coming, i was so tired yesterday and still sweating a storm from all the welding and wearing the welding suit to prevent any more burns that i just jumped in the pool with casey and called it a day.

remote battery kit came in today along with the windshield hinges. shame i can't work on it till i get back from the beach.

List to get running for the test run on the 23rd.
Install battery relocation kit
Install radiator and hose links and fill system
wire radiator thermostat controlls
install seat belt tabs
install bump stops
secure brake lines and bleed brakes
plug NP231 sending unit hole and fill with fluid
adjust steering and install cotter pins
fix rear u joint (misaligned on pin)
Wire fuel pump
wire temp guage
route spark plug wires from headers
install vents (axles, tranny, tcase, radiator overflow).
FIRE IT UP with fingers crossed.

One week. But I have faith

mounted the remote battery kit and rewired all the engine grounds and winch cables while i was at it. take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back with all the rewiring that needed done. Example there was a ground wire running from the front grill for the lights that went back to the valve cover bolt and then back to the fiberglass firewall and then down to the transmission mounting bolt.

Going to refocus my attention to making this a dedicated mud bogger. Was aiming towards rock racing since it would be a blast to open this thing up at Rausch but trying to make it a jack of all trades and master of none is senseless. Frees up a lot of time to make this thing run really well in the mud.

Rockn93YJ wrote:

Going to refocus my attention to making this a dedicated mud bogger. Was aiming towards rock racing since it would be a blast to open this thing up at Rausch but trying to make it a jack of all trades and master of none is senseless. Frees up a lot of time to make this thing run really well in the mud.

Good move. I'm sure that rock racing would be a blast but its would be super hard to be competative with guys and rigs that all they want to do is rock race. Plus the mud bog is close to the house.

It would be fun to do the rock race but expensive to build the jeep to that level to be competitive and a big investment for a couple of fun runs. I feel better having made that decision and it does free up a lot of time that i could spend wheeling.

Mud bogs:
Frog eye mud bog is under 10 miles.
Kingsdale Mud bog is about an hour.
Then there is Big Dogs.
Rausch Creek is starting one as well.

Install battery relocation kit - DONE
Install air relief valve for radiator hose - DONE
Install radiator and hose links - DONE
Install rear tow points - DONE
Pick up Full soft doors - DONE

install seat belt tabs - IN PROGRESS

wire radiator thermostat controlls
install bump stops
secure brake lines and bleed brakes
plug NP231 sending unit hole and fill with fluid
adjust steering and install cotter pins
fix rear u joint (misaligned on pin)
Wire fuel pump
wire temp guage
route spark plug wires from headers
install vents (axles, tranny, tcase, radiator overflow).

Getting closer good luck hope to see it Sunday morning.

I'll be up there for sure, not too sure it will be the CJ though. Oh yeah did I mention my ARB isn't working again. Blowing air out the axle vent so probably time for a seal replacement again. I'm starting to think about buying a spool.

Sorry guys but I have to say it ARB's suck

install seat belt tabs - DONE
Wire fuel pump - DONE
wire temp guage - DONE
wire radiator thermostat controlls - DONE
route spark plug wires from headers - DONE
install vents (axles, tranny, tcase, radiator overflow). - DONE


install bump stops
secure brake lines and bleed brakes
plug NP231 sending unit hole and fill with fluid
adjust steering and install cotter pins
fix rear u joint (misaligned on pin)
Replace starter/solenoid(bench test first)

picked up a new starter/solonoid today. Will try it out tomorrow again and hopefully have good news. bell housing cover was not a factor.

If you need a hand finishing stuff up saturday let me know.

I just might. Spent the evening trying to figure out this no start situation. tried charging the battery and turned the key, faster clicking. tried jump starting with another battery, fast clicking. tried grounding directly to the starter and touching the + cable to the terminal on the solenoid and just fast clicking. Not sure whats going on now. the new starter works with no load, i tested it before I put it in. Tomorrow it is going to the professionals and we'll see what they find.

Can you turn motor over by hand?

Does the starter need shimed at all you could try just loosing it a little and see if it cranks if it does you will need a shim not all that uncommon.

i thought of that too. loosened it up a little and tried it and clicking. then loosened it up more and clicking. I climbed under it to see whats going on and had aaron try to start it and it is turning the flywheel very slightly with each click but no start.

funny how big it is compared to the excursion.

sounds to me that the solenoid is not pushing the gear out all the way. when the gear is pushed out there is a electrical contact that makes up and puts power from the big term on starter to motor if that does not make up in solenoid the starter tries to spin from the small start wire and that dint work so well like trying to run a winch off of speaker wire.