M.T.Hands Posted December 29, 2024 Share Posted December 29, 2024 it is amazing what a little bit of wear will do to clutch function, at times I love Hydraulic TO bearings, other times I cuss them, The older Hotrods I fooled with really made me hate z bars/bellcranks and heavy clutch/pressure plate combos, and then a compound fracture in my left leg made auto's the clear choice, I enjoy a manual in just about anything the hydraulics have made that tolerable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted December 29, 2024 Author Share Posted December 29, 2024 This definitely has a heavy clutch feel but I’m fortunate enough that, of my two bad knees, my right knee is the worse of pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.T.Hands Posted December 29, 2024 Share Posted December 29, 2024 13 hours ago, neohic said: This definitely has a heavy clutch feel but I’m fortunate enough that, of my two bad knees, my right knee is the worse of pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted June 7, 2025 Author Share Posted June 7, 2025 Time to shed some winter weight. I didn’t take any in-process pictures but I’m sure you can connect the dots. It’s raincoat still fits too, so that’s good. Might need to get serious about a YJ spring swap too. All (important) fluids got changed today and I found three of the four shackle mounts have some level of cracks. The springs are clapped out along with every bushing being cracked and gone. Pretty sure the tires living at 20 psi is more suspension than the suspension is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted June 8, 2025 Author Share Posted June 8, 2025 Time to get back to the transmission. It still has a rattle since I did the swap and I’m pretty sure I didn’t do it any favors using whiz-bang Royal Purple gear oil. Do your stuff, gooey magic sauce! It got a quart of Lucas and three quarts of 80/90 dinosaur juice. First impressions are pretty good. I’m also certain that these things belong to others things in the transmission. It’s quiet?… er?… maybe? Still need to make suspension decisions. Probably fix what’s there in the mean time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted August 11, 2025 Author Share Posted August 11, 2025 I’ve got this constant list of projects for this thing that every once in a while I actually pick a line item that mechanically benefits the Jeep. Most recent pick was finally putting a fan shroud on it. Could’ve sworn I had one around. Oh! There it is! This sign is aluminum and a pretty good size. It took a bit to strip off the paint, but a DA with 80 and 120 grit made for a nice finish. I left about an inch all the way around the fan for clearance and made the shroud in two pieces. The main piece drops down from the top (with the upper hose off) and then lower section goes up from the bottom. The airflow difference is awesome! The CJ has never over heated on me… knock on wood. The temp gauge has read up to around 210° when toodlin’ around on a hot day, although I’ve never put a different gauge on it. Interested to see what kind of difference there might be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted August 12, 2025 Share Posted August 12, 2025 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted September 14, 2025 Author Share Posted September 14, 2025 Didn’t hardly pay to take the top off this year. Really didn’t drive it much this summer. I welded shut 26 holes in the rear fender well tops before the top went back on… completely forgot about the cracks in the suspension mounts until the shop was cleaned up. Getting to be sweater weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvagedcircuit Posted September 15, 2025 Share Posted September 15, 2025 Nice Lookin Fan Shroud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted September 15, 2025 Author Share Posted September 15, 2025 24 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said: Nice Lookin Fan Shroud Haven’t even driven it since to know if made any difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted November 28, 2025 Author Share Posted November 28, 2025 Small update… maybe a bit of a blog? “Side quest”. I haven’t spent much time in this little CJ this year. The top came off… it sat… then the top went back on. Currently, I’m waiting for some wheeling friends and, while I’m not taking the CJ where we’re going, I’m still excited to have it out. These are a group of dudes that I really don’t know and I’m sure they’re expecting to see me waiting in my Eliminator. It’s always fun to meet new people and see them experience things that seem ordinary to me but brand new to them. Perhaps maybe a bit of showing off?… probably. These are Jeep people though. Albeit BIG Jeep people riding on tons and 40”+ tires. I’ll try and take some pictures while I’m out today. Won’t be much for CJ content, but it’s arguably part of this thread being I took the CJ over to the guy’s shop where I’m getting picked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted November 29, 2025 Author Share Posted November 29, 2025 So… the “wheeling day” turned into a flat tire on the trailer, then getting pulled over before leaving town for not having brake lights, and then turned into trouble shooting wiring issues for the next five and a half hours. The rigs looked great!… but there were no rocks to be had. After most of the day in the shade on a cold day working through wiring, we got things figured. Why not start something else?! We dragged this into my buddies shop to see what it’ll take to get it to run… for reasons. Guess what?! We didn’t!! We both called it a day with tails heavy between legs. All in all, what a great day of playing trucks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted November 29, 2025 Share Posted November 29, 2025 That 4x4 Kodiak crew cab is sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted November 29, 2025 Author Share Posted November 29, 2025 1 hour ago, 89 MJ said: That 4x4 Kodiak crew cab is sweet! It’d be even better if it shifts into gear! My buddy texted me about an hour ago saying he’s stuck at his shop because it wasn’t moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Welp… finally that time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 time to go play in the snow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted Monday at 02:37 PM Author Share Posted Monday at 02:37 PM Arguably CJ content, but only because I drove it over to my buddy’s shop. These guys get it. Unfortunately, the Toyota guy screwed up his knee and my Cherokee buddy drove his truck out of the thick of the trail. I got behind the wheel of (what’s left of) the XJ and followed along. Felt like old times! I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted Monday at 05:01 PM Share Posted Monday at 05:01 PM 2 hours ago, neohic said: I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… I don’t need a dedicated wheeler… Alright, I may be one who encourages bad ideas, but here are my thoughts on the matter. You drive a CJ on 33s(?) with a 4.0, a stick, and rock sliders. You've even said its not a super nice tub. Seems to me like you do not need a dedicated wheeler, but maybe its worth adding lockers to your CJ and using that? Personally, I have more fun going up obstacles in vehicles that people don't think are capable enough to go up that obstacle. Now your CJ wouldn't be able to do some of the super hard trails that are in these pics, but how often do these guys wheel on those trails? I don't think its worth building a dedicated wheeler to only go a few times a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted Monday at 05:30 PM Author Share Posted Monday at 05:30 PM 1 minute ago, 89 MJ said: Alright, I may be one who encourages bad ideas, but here are my thoughts on the matter. You drive a CJ on 33s(?) with a 4.0, a stick, and rock sliders. You've even said its not a super nice tub. Seems to me like you do not need a dedicated wheeler, but maybe its worth adding lockers to your CJ and using that? Personally, I have more fun going up obstacles in vehicles that people don't think are capable enough to go up that obstacle. Now your CJ wouldn't be able to do some of the super hard trails that are in these pics, but how often do these guys wheel on those trails? I don't think its worth building a dedicated wheeler to only go a few times a year. I've got a "CJ to Moab" list in my phone that I cross things off from time to time. Everything you mentioned is on the list to do and I don't think any of it would affect the day-to-day. I used to wheel with a guy that his TJ was equipped very similar to the direction I've been going with my CJ: limited slip in the rear, locker in the front, 33s, manual transmission. Someday I'll get everything crossed off that list. By a dedicated wheeler, I mean something that could keep up with the "big tire" crowd... 40s and up. These guys hit trails like Independence and Patriot in Penrose, CO along with Carnage Canyon outside of Buena Vista, CO commonly. I've had a build in mind for years that would've left off from my old XJ, but it would mean adding not just a wheeler, but a tow vehicle and trailer also. Would it be fun?... HECK, YEAH!!! I really miss challenging myself and my vehicles into bigger and bigger obstacles. This little CJ has been a nice little mountain goat that can get a little rad at times in place of that dedicated wheeler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted Monday at 05:54 PM Share Posted Monday at 05:54 PM 20 minutes ago, neohic said: By a dedicated wheeler, I mean something that could keep up with the "big tire" crowd... 40s and up. These guys hit trails like Independence and Patriot in Penrose, CO along with Carnage Canyon outside of Buena Vista, CO commonly. I've had a build in mind for years that would've left off from my old XJ, but it would mean adding not just a wheeler, but a tow vehicle and trailer also. Would it be fun?... HECK, YEAH!!! I really miss challenging myself and my vehicles into bigger and bigger obstacles. This little CJ has been a nice little mountain goat that can get a little rad at times in place of that dedicated wheeler. I agree completely, it would be a blast to have a hardcore, dedicated wheeling vehicle. You bring up a good point with the tow vehicle and trailer, that’s even more stuff to maintain. The other problem with a wheeler is the fact it’s probably going to spend a good portion of time needing repairs between rides. I’ve never done any of the crawling in AZ or Colorado, all of my wheeling has been back in WI, so maybe my logic is flawed, but I haven’t seen an obstacle that hasn’t been able to be conquered by a vehicle on 33s-35s. I know you have a lot larger rocks by you though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf Posted Monday at 06:59 PM Share Posted Monday at 06:59 PM 1 hour ago, 89 MJ said: I agree completely, it would be a blast to have a hardcore, dedicated wheeling vehicle. You bring up a good point with the tow vehicle and trailer, that’s even more stuff to maintain. The other problem with a wheeler is the fact it’s probably going to spend a good portion of time needing repairs between rides. I’ve never done any of the crawling in AZ or Colorado, all of my wheeling has been back in WI, so maybe my logic is flawed, but I haven’t seen an obstacle that hasn’t been able to be conquered by a vehicle on 33s-35s. I know you have a lot larger rocks by you though. As someone who has hit the trails around you in WI as well as out here in CO and UT, there is no comparison. If I was still living in Iowa, I wouldn't want anything over 35s. You just don't need it out that way. But that's a big part of why I moved to CO. The trails are bigger and more fun when you have a bigger Jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchamakalit Posted Monday at 11:28 PM Share Posted Monday at 11:28 PM 4 hours ago, derf said: As someone who has hit the trails around you in WI as well as out here in CO and UT, there is no comparison. If I was still living in Iowa, I wouldn't want anything over 35s. You just don't need it out that way. But that's a big part of why I moved to CO. The trails are bigger and more fun when I have a bigger Jeep. FIFY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted Tuesday at 12:28 AM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 12:28 AM 6 hours ago, neohic said: I’ve got a "CJ to Moab" list… On that note, I was invited by my new wheeling buddies to Easter Jeep Safari. It’d be a last minute decision for a bunch of reasons, but we’ll see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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