Tonights the night this thing gets done. The list is getting smaller and smaller cause of a few great guys. I just wanna say thanks for the help I've been getting. Ill be finishing it up tonight. Its got two things that need to be dabbed and the rest is small stuff, but still VERY important. If you plan on coming over tonight let me know. Ill WILL be burning up the midnight oil. My neighbors have been so kind not one complaint, hate mail, dog poop in a bag, or cop visit yet.

Had fun for the little time I was able to stop by for last night.

...well except for the stench that kept wafting from Mike's hole. I did not enjoy that.

That's the real reason I'm not coming over to help tonight. My nose still burns.

I can stop by the house tonight Matt.
Geoff assures me that things are getting scratched off the list, but I couldn't tell you at this point what they are, I don't remember fully what we've done. The seats may be mounted on the roof and the tires inside out.

sweathog wrote:Had fun for the little time I was able to stop by for last night.

...well except for the stench that kept wafting from Mike's hole. I did not enjoy that.

That's the real reason I'm not coming over to help tonight. My nose still burns.

Its like CO all over again. Nothing like being motion sick and Mike non stop fart...

Skatchkins wrote:I can stop by the house tonight Matt.

I'd rather you didn't. If you have any left, load them up in the parker pumper.

sweathog wrote:I'd rather you didn't. If you have any left, load them up in the parker pumper.

Oh please, God, NO!

and just to put a period on the end of this thread...

Here was the before picture:




Here are the after pictures:

Nice sticker work, Mike. :-)




Just as an update, this was what killed us at KOH:




Also, as an update on the build thread...

The damage to the #4511 was actually minimal, aside from the rear axle issue. You guys sure built us a strong car! There were a couple of new rattles, I pulled the winch since it had fried, the Contour camera was definately dead, and I still haven't repaired the sidewall of the flat... but that was about it!

I traded Geoff back his seats and am running the Beard seats once again.
The rig is at LetzRoll Offroad being upgraded to a 14 bolt.
I'm replacing the upper ball joint we couldn't find a part for duing the overnight build, but it held up during the race.
Regearing is still a discussion... 5.13's may be happening, but it depends on budget right now.

All in all the buggy is in great shape and getting ready for the Dirt Riot next month. Can't wait!

I'm looking forward to us all doing the Hammers again. It's shaping up to be even more epic. EMC 2013 is going to kick butt. Entry fees are paid, paperwork is getting signatures (at the Christmas party), and the 2013 build is about to begin.

So much less to do this year than last! I am trying to avoid the all night sessions 2 days before the race this year. Major changes since the 2012 EMC has been the rear axle (D60 to 14b), switching to a 4 speed Atlas, and getting true 37" tires. Pretty happy about that. After the last race, Andrew also upgraded and corrected some issues with my steering, brakes, and hydro assist to beef it up and correct worn out parts. As my Sensei Ryan Miller keeps saying "Lighter equals Faster" so the next iteration of the #4511 will include the following (in addition to common sense component checks):

Remove the stock A/C components taking up space and adding weight
Pull the stock dash, strip anything heavy and extra, replace with buggy dash
Re-wire and install 12Volt Guys switch panel
Update safety elements to ensure compliance with updated rules
Replace stock radiator
Rear bumper modification
Tool and parts storage modification
Replace the header (exhaust leak)
Add race radio
Add actual GPS unit
Lose 30 lbs before February (at 210 right now)
Find additional ways to reduce overall weight of the rig

As an aside, I have also picked up a GoPro2 and plan on getting another. We have a good change to really upgrade video this year. Having a race radio will also help with communication between pits.


Let the "re-build" begin! This weekend is dash pull prep, Thanksgiving weekend is new dash and electrical!

Here is how she looks as of today:

Awesome! I cant wait! If you realy want to lose the weight and are serious about it let me know. I will be happy to meet you on a sat and or Sun to do a short run or even a long walk.

Well, it's only 10 weeks until KOH, so I figured I'd better get busy! LOL

First up, started walking/running with Ivan and Bob on Saturdays, then with just Ivan during the week. Bob started me off slow and we walked 1.5 miles and ran 1 mile. I'm hurting, but it's all good. I'm happy to have started that process...

... the other think I started this weekend was my dash.

Here are the "before" pictures I'll be using once I'm done and want to compare:










There are a lot of really good write ups online for removing a TJ dash. I followed the write for removing the heater core from Stu at Stu-Offroad. Here's part 1. Here's part 2.


Let the games begin:







Note to any future custom cage guys... if you ever plan on removing the dash, relocate the screwing holding the dash to the sides of the Jeep. You can't reach them with tube in the way. I knew I wasn't going to be putting mine back in or sell it (since I had already cut on it), so I ended up cutting much of it way in sections.

with the dash out of the way, you could really see the rats nest of wires from what Troy did and what we did in getting ready for KOH last year.




Taking out the heater core was a PITA. There are five nuts from the engine bay side, but there are really six. One of those suckers is a "double nut" (one holding on the vent drain, and after you remove that, you still have another nut to remove.) I easily spent the most of my time on this part of it out of everything. I had to have the freon collected professionally before I could disconnect the AC lines going to the evaporator. The first one was fine, but the second one was anything but a "quick connect". I also connected the two heater hose lines together and bypassed the heater core since I won't have heat or A/C on the buggy.




nice pile of scrap and parts when done...




While I had it torn down, I filled holes, put on plating for the firewall where the heater core went, and painted the rear firewall. It's pretty in your face right now, but once the seats are back in and everything, it'll be a nice accent. The center console and the buggy dash will also be red, so this ties the theme front to rear. I'll also have the racing stripe from the hood carried into the cab from the dash. Just because it's strong and fast doesn't mean it can't look good too. LOL







I cleaned out a lot of unused wires, removed the line locks and all their wiring, and isolated the wires I would still be using. I also power washed the cab and then used a spray on bed-liner to protect the metal and dampen the sound.













It's still bright since it's freshly painted, but the color will tone down to that of the hood once dry. The main thing I'm happy with on this photo is the ARB locker panel I built into the center console. I cut away the one that was in the existing dash and fashioned it so that it looked like it was fabbed into the center console. I'll have the ARB compressor, front lockers, and the Parker Pumper switch installed there when I put it back together.




The whole purpose of this mod is to reduce overall weight of the rig, combined with eliminating some switch issues we had while racing this year (winch switch stuck and burned up the winch, line locks flipped and toasted the right rear brakes, intermittent gauge issues, etc...). I'll be installing a switch panel from 12 Volt Guys along with aftermarket gauges with the new dash. Overall, the buggy lost over 100 lbs from the dash and heater elements combined with removing the front windshield frame. I like the looks, but since I'm serious about losing weight on the buggy, it had to go too...

Here's the time lapse video of phase 1, the entire deconstruction process. Can't wait for phase 2!!!

http://youtu.be/y8Lp2HHAGNM

Nice work Alan! What is the plan for the new dash? Flat panel aluminum?

sweathog wrote:Nice work Alan! What is the plan for the new dash? Flat panel aluminum?

Yes. It will be similar to this one in layout, depth, and height (with about a 1/2 as wide switch panel and only 3 gauges below - oil, volts, and temp - with the radio stuff to the right of that switch panel before the grab handle for the co-driver so either one of us can reach it while strapped in)



but with the angle of this one terminating at the roll cage bar exactly like this:




The Lowrance GPS will be mounted on the co-driver grab handle (similar to where we had it last year with Jimmy's tablet) and I'll also mount the race radio and my CB connection into the dash as well for trail runs.

I have something special I need to get with Geoff about on the cover for the shifters, but it will basically just be a cover for the auto shifter.

I'm digging all your time lapse videos

Awesome job Alan. Please call if you need an extra set of hands. I live close.:rolleyes:

Pics of the new tires on the jeep yet?

The Plan:

Very nice Alan. Need some whole saws. I have a couple and a jig saw if you need it.