neohic

Just wrote my letter of resignation and I think I'm already over it. I've been working in education at a technical college for the last seven years and it's been time to move on for the last couple years now. Things have gotten sour in my department, the students just aren't what they were, and I'm tired of cleaning up after those who either don't care about what they're doing or why they're in school. I really should've done this over last summer when it would've been convenient for the rest of the world, but this really isn't about them though, is it? This is about keeping my sanity and leaving when it makes the most sense to do so for me at this point. What's next? Before I started at the college, I worked in fabrication and repair. I loved it! The problem came in that it was a small shop and I was working for the boss and the boss's son... and I was never right regardless of who I listened to. Then I changed gears to work in the same welding department that I was a student of in 2005. Fast forward to now and I'm just barely happy enough to be moving back into the working side of my industry. Working for a small shop?... never again... too many family drama. Working for the state?... never again.. too much bureaucracy. For now, I'm just a welder on a shop floor building bridges. I think I'm looking forward to it?... the jury still out. For now I think I'm more happy about just taking care of myself and giving my wife a much needed break from listening to my nightly complaints. Anyhow... I digress. You could just about check the scoreboard on how well I am with change, but lately I don't think I can get enough of it.

I'd like to add fabricator/welder for Alexandria Aircraft, Bellanca along with plenty of on the side metal work.Time to update soon... I've given up on trying to mold the next generation of welders as a teacher. Just can't do it anymore and I'm tired of being responsible for those who really don't care to be there. So I had a weld test and interview at a local shop that builds bridges and completely knocked it out of the park. Looks like I'm going back into the private sector! Not overly crazy about it, but the shop is all of a quarter mile from our house and it's just too easy to move into this job. On the plus side, the company also has a plant outside of Denver. No welding, but it could make for an easy transfer for something temporary in the future. I'm just a welder again and I'm only responsible for me... and I'm okay with that.

... and done. Not crazy about the underside of the hood, but they were really only intended to cover some ugly cuts.

Sleeved, plug, and seam welded.

Started on this little project today. The whole way along, I really wasn't crazy about how it was turning out. I kept plugging along though... you know, hoping for things to turn around. What was really bugging me about it is that the lines just weren't quite right for a buggy. Mainly the main hoop behind the seats is what wasn't really doing it for me. The lines in the rear was what fixed everything, in my eyes anyhow. Still not the typical lines of a buggy though. Maybe they are? I don't know... I think it's more go-cart or race car than buggy. Anyhow... Did you notice?... the main hoop has a seem in it. I won't tell if you don't. :oops: Besides that, I'm really diggin' the look though. Really took on a new look today. Need to pick up some more material though. That's 40' minus a few feet of mistakes.

Donkey http://comancheclub.com/topic/28245-donkeys-daily-99-mj/ http://comancheclub.com/topic/32832-truck-u-and-a-comanche/

Found another quick project today. Didn't really need it, but... meh...

Okay... so I needed something to occupy my time this morning. This thing got beat up! A chain and my floor jack straightened it up well enough. Before... After... Just like brand new again! :laughin: Then it found a home in the shed for the winter.

Met up with a great group of Jeeps in Appleton. These guys are real Appleton veterans that really know the place! I've never been around in the depths of the park like where we got into yesterday. It's a fun little park!... but the trails need to be better marked and it's usually overrun with ATVs going the wrong way down one ways and rutting up OHV only trails. The Ape kept up just fine with the group for the most part. I was the little guy for most of the day on my little 33s among real rigs... you know the type... trailered. I probably kept up longer than I should've on a few trails. No real carnage to report, but the gas tank skid was earning its keep for sure! Before winter really hits, I'd like to take it down so it doesn't get filled with road crap. That'll give me a chance to give it a good once over and straighten out what I can. The rear bumper was dragging over everything, as usual, and the sliders got a few new scrapes as well. As for the rest of the group, there was a punctured tire on one rig and ignition problems on another. Really neat Jeeps though! The black two door had just about a whole steel yard of tube and plate stacked on it, and it was riding on Toyota axles. The green Jeep was... um... maybe a YJ tub at one point? The Comanche started off life as an '87 long box. Doc is a member here but there's no build thread. The Jeep was built years ago and really hasn't changed as far as I know. This thing really performs! XJ wheel base, tractor link control arms front/rear, and nothing more than what it needs to do what it does... when it's running right, anyhow. Towards the end of the day, a couple more guys showed up to run the south end of the park. Couple XJs on 31s but that's all you really need to have a well enough time in Appleton. The sun was starting to fall behind the trees and that intermittent ignition problem in the MJ finally decided that it had enough. Ape to the rescue! Pulled him off the trail, across the park, and up onto the trailer. All in all, it was a good day on the trail.

Hmm... One last wheeling trip for the year. Pictures to follow.

Where's the personalized license plate? :hmm:

Who's in? ... so majestic.

You know what people love around here? Pictures. The more the merrier! Have a look around at some of the best how-to threads around here... go ahead, I'll wait... and what will you find? Pictures. I like to think I'm guilty of it too. Sure, you can get done with a project quickly when you're not spending half your time taking pictures, but what's the fun in that?! PEOPLE LOVE PICTURES!!! Fortunately, this month's member has one hell of a build thread. November's MJOTM goes to... Image Not Found YEAR/MODEL ● 1988 Comanche Pioneer ENGINE/PERFORMANCE ● 4.0 from 1999 XJ. Mostly normal maintenance & OEM replacement parts. New header and stainless exhaust. DRIVETRAIN ● Entire drivetrain from a 1999 XJ (AX-15, NP231, Chrysler 8.25) COOLING ● Radiator and cooling setup from the 1999 XJ donor. Thinking about trying the FFD aluminum radiator, triple electric fan and shroud setup. ELECTRICAL/IGNITION ● Stock 99' XJ SUSPENSION/STEERING ● Flipped the perches on the chrysler 8.25 and used the Hell Creek 3in lift kit (MT leafs, Springs and RC) INTERIOR ● Swapped the 99' XJ interior into the MJ (dash, seat rails, seats). POR-15. Fat Mat Sound deadener. BRAKES ● Stock 99' XJ LIGHTING ● Stock 99' XJ EXTERIOR ● Removed about 25 years of dings and dents. Prepped & painted the body/underbody. POR-15. Rescue Green. Nates offroad rear bumper. Rhinolined bed. Downey SST bed cover. WHEELS/TIRES ● Just finished restoring the original wheels. Hope to have tires mounted soon. Currently running 31" Michelin LTX M/S on 5 spoke XJ wheels. MISCELLANEOUS ● New headliner (Steve, SMS headliner). Hurst AX-15 short shifter. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found FULL BUILD THREAD HERE Remember That One Time?... Tell Us Your Best MJ Story ● Countless random compliments at every stop sign, red light or gas station. CC is Awesome!... Why Do You Think So? ● Backdraft, Rymanrph, Shelbyluvv, 87Warrior, and countless others who have done great write-ups made this an easy swap. Especially this thread http://comancheclub....97-swap-how-to/ ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Wow!... just wow! Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of a '97+ swap, but this one is perfect! All the interior upgrades and amenities without the generational exterior change. Bravo, sir! Beautiful truck and congratulations! Enjoy your month. -Ben This post has been promoted to an article

:laughin: Surprisingly, no!

Off to a new home.

Kind of a step forward today... kind of. The car got moved back into my shop for winter and I couldn't help but feel a little "meh" about how the fuel tank ended up. I just hated the patches! So... Fresh and new! Yes... yes... I know it would've been way easier to order up a new tank and make it work, but then I'd still have to cut it up and make it fit. This way I could make it exactly how wanted, keep the seems mostly clean, add some more capacity, and have yet another piece of the puzzle that started as a pile of steel. Made the most of the space I had. Fuel cap for future reference. Bent around the arm on the stock fuel float so I've got full sweep out of it. What's kind of funny about the filler neck is that this whole project started off with scrapping a rusty fuel tank from an old lawn mower. I cut the top off of it and whittled it down to just the fill hole. And then everything got put back together again... again. Started going through my box of parts and the windshield wiper motor was right on top. Scratch another item off the list for mock up!

My brother had a '90 YJ when we were in high school and I've got a friend who also has a '90. I actually like the leaf springs! Sure it rides a little rough and it bounces all over the road... that just adds to the charm! Makes it feel more like a Jeep.

I see good things on the horizon. :popcorn:

I use the dryer sheets for keeping mice away... and keeps everything smelling fresh. :idea:

What ever happened with this truck(s), Brent?

When it comes to square feet, my property has more garage than living space. :D

Nope.

Washed... fuel stabilizer... batteries disconnected... dryer sheets under and behind the seats, on the floors, and around the outside of the engine bay/trunk... car covers washed and on... clean tarps for the bulk of the dust... Sweet dreams you two.