How to junk your XJ in 48 hours.....

[CRASH]

Well, I officially finished off my rig on Fordyce this weekend. Wifey and I made it all the way to mile 10 or so, and it was no picnic getting there. I think we went farther than anyone has gone thus far. The winch hills, which are usually paved over, were truly winch hills. On winch hill two, I landed sort of funny while trying to throttle up an undercut face, and on impact, the motor mount(s) broke and pushed the alterantor into the frame, cracking it's case. It was making horrendous noises, and the voltage was showing low. I was afraid I was on battery only, so I played Ivan Stewart, and tried to make it out the top side before I ran out of juice. This was at mile 8.0 or so.

The snow got deep around mile 9.0, and I soft rolled my junk into a tree trying to get past a snow drift at mile 9.5. We turned around, because there was no getting through that way, and headed for the bypass to Fordyce Lake. Got stopped by snow that way as well. Headed back for the entrance.

Made good time all the way back to winch hill #1, where I took a nice solid hit on the rear bumper that finally cracked my rear hatch in two, ejecting the glass, but not shattering it. After strapping it together so it would hold, we continued on.

Made it back to the first water crossing yesterday at about 6:00 pm, and the water was AWN. Gulped a tiny bit of water, but kept it running until we crossed. The motor started running like crap, and there was a bit of water in the oil, but I just wanted to get it to the highway at this point. Well, coming down driveline hill, I broke the steering gear in two, and pulled what was left of it off of the frame. It still had pressure, and wasn't leaking badly, so I used the winch cable to hold it to the frame. Limped it back to the highway and called AAA (thank God for 100 mile tow service).

Anyway, my junk is truly junk, and there is no good way that I can see to repair the frame, it is oficially done. Not sure about the motor yet, but I have a feeling that the main bearings are junkified, and need changing.

I'll be starting to switch all the good stuff (whats left of it) over to the new rig in a couple of weeks. We did have a fine time, though, and the trail was the toughest I've ever seen it, with creeks running down the winch hills, and soupy mud everywhere else.

CRASH

[CRASH]

Pics shortly, but it's nothing pretty!

CRASH

[2MUD-IN]

HOLY CRAP!

Can't wait to do that trail next week :).

Who's coming with me?

[Gary E]

Ouch! Sorry it went down like that, poor old Red, at least she let go doing what she loves :D Can't wait for the pics. So if you start doing the switcharoo in 2 weeks whens it gonna be ready to wheel? Let me know when you get started on it I will donate some hours to the phoenix project :D

[SeanP]

Wow. Were you with anybody else? How did Mrs. Crash tolerate all this carnage? Time for a J20 steering box and a whole lot of frame reinforcement. Let me know when the work weekend is, Marni and I will be glad to come up.

SeanP

[CRASH]

Mrs. Crash was laughing her ass off most of the time, and she was only truly worried when we were debating driving it home on the highway.

How's the little grunion?

CRASH

[XJJPR]

Time for whole lot of frame reinforcement.

Crash,

You'll beable to check out what Jes is getting from UPS on tuesday or Wednesday. I'm sure he'll ask you to install it.

mark
orgs mfg

[JnJ]

So, where there anyother rigs on the trail with you?

[CRASH]

I met up with a couple of Toyota's from a local club on the way out. It was just wifey and I for the majority of the weekend.

Mark, I'll have to check out Jes's new part in a couple of weeks.....

CRASH

[FarmerMatt]

I'm calling CPS (Cherokee Protective Services) on you. This is just flat out blantant abuse & now you're building another to do the same? Are you going to have anything to run the con later this month?

Matt

[CRASH]

The funny part is, my frame WAS reinforced. It looks like the rearmost mounting tab on the steering gear broke first, and it was all downhill from there. One of the bolts actually pulled through the frame, leaving a ragged hole.

CRASH

[Scott Mac.]

I'll be you had a heck of lot more fun, than if you used dynamite.

That's the way a built Jeep should end it's life.

[CRASH]

Matt,

I won't be ready for the 'Con, but I'll make Swamp later in the summer. I'm sending my motor down for machine work next week, that will be my limiting factor, everything else is fairly easy to switch over.

CRASH..... Registered Cherokee Abuser

[Stoney]

CRASH shoulds brought me along my rig could pulled u all the way through! MY RIG IS HARDCORE!!!!!!!:D

stoney

[Beezil]

you did all that driving on a busted alternator???

damn, talk about seat-of-da-pants........

[CRASH]

Beez, it was fully Ivan Stewart. We were throttling up stuff in 4th gear low range that I would normally have run in first or second. I figured I had limited life on the battery, so I tried to minimize my hiking distance. As it turned out, the alternator, even in it's semi-destroyed shape, was charging every once in a while. The funny thing was, the only time it was charging was when I cooled it off in water crossings, the longer it was dry the hotter it ran, and the voltage would drop off.

The throttle action may have played a part in the steering gear issues.

I still can't believe I didn't break a wheel or cut multiple tires. It was insanity.

CRASH

[CRASH]

Finally, some pics.

Up winch hill #1 (the only one that was dry.)

http://home.off-road.com/~xjs/temp/winch%20hill%201.JPG

Uhhhhh......right.......that's like, bad, um-kay....

http://home.off-road.com/~xjs/temp/glass%20out.JPG

And the end result, after I popped the button on the hatch when I got home.....

http://home.off-road.com/~xjs/temp/hosed%20hatch.JPG

I'll get some steering pics tomorrow, after i figure out how to move the pitman arm a bit out of the way.

CRASH

[2MUD-IN]

WOW, great carnage pics. Glad I wasn't counting on you for the Rubicon this next week ;)

I've GOT TO do that trail when I'm out there. I've pulled some information, but I need to review it, and see if it gives directions to the trail head.

[Goatman]

Man, while I was sure missing you at BOTW, now I'm glad you weren't ready to go. You would definitely have killed the poor thing for good on those trails. :D

Now, are you going to give the thing a proper burial, or just unceremoniously have it hauled off to the scrap yard? ;)

Sounds like you had a good time........a real wheeling adventure. Now, get your butt in gear so you don't miss Swamp. :)

[CRASH]

I'll be cutting it up with the torch and doing failure analysis of various problem areas. I'm hoping to add to the knowledge pool, and prevent future failures.

CRASH

[Rev Den]

Looks like you need a hatch......I got one..hint hint. Plate mount already on it, wiper, defog....and its even red.

Rev

[EricsXJ]

This is just insane! :eek: Good job making it back to the highway. So - it was a broken motor mount that ultamatly did you in, right? I've been hearing a lot about motor mounts lately. Was this a stock one? And do you think if you had an aftermarket one in place before the run would it not have broke?

Gotta love those fiberglass hatches! ;) :rolleyes:

PS - who the heck is Ivan Stewart????

[CRASH]

As in Ivan Stewart, off-road racing legend?

And no, it was the steering gear hanging from the frame by only the winch cable that did me in. The alternator issue probably would have gotten me home.

http://www.off-road.com/4x4web/features/1997/11b/titlephoto.jpg

[EricsXJ]

Originally posted by CRASH

...The throttle action may have played a part in the steering gear issues... When I read this I was just thinking that had the motor mount not broke, the alternator would not have been damaged and you wouldn't be going heavy throttle. You know - one event leading to another. Sometimes a big problem is started by a seemingly minor and isignificant event that goes overlooked. Not saying thats what happened here (I imagine a motor mount breaking is far from "minor"). I guess its still speculation on whether or not your foot really had anything to do with the steering failure. Maybe the steering box would have gone anyways?

[Gary E]

for the record, how did the MM break, the rubber part just went totally bye bye or did the steel loop break?

[CRASH]

Gary,

The rubber went south on both sides at exactly the same moment, when I impacted the bumper on it's end cap. The alternator then went into the large bumper mount bolt.

Yes, the alternator issue precipitated the rest of the breakage, but the frame rail at the steering gear would probably have gone bad soon anyway.

CRASH

[basalt51]

I picked my MT/Rs up from Ivan in person for $125 each. I bought them on ebay and didn't know who I was meeting until I got there. :worship: Stewert and Stewert Racing - duh! :/ Guy on the phone even said Ivan would meet me there :dunno:

2Mud-In - You may want to get a hold of the book "4wheelers Guide: Trails of the Tahoe National Forest" by William C Teie. Published by Deer Valley Press, Rescue, California. It has directions to Fordyce as well as a description of the trail. It also has many other trails in the area, though you sound like you have limited time.

[Lupine]

Hey Eric -

Crazy thing is, Crash only had lead foot until we ran into the Yota dudes after the winch hill that he broke the alternator on. He had had steering issues prior to the alternator breakage, however. Not quite sure, the whole trip is a little...foggy.

Basalt, we live in Foresthill, and know TNF fairly well, although we appreciate the info. Our biggest problem was misjudging the snowmelt. The last part of the trail was considerably snowbound, and so was the trail that led to Fordyce Lake, which was an even greater surprise due to its lower altitude. However, despite all of the mishaps, I had an excellent, excellent time. I'm EXTREMELY bummed that we hosed Ol' Red this early in the season, as I was really looking forward to the 'Con trip, but will light a fire under Crash's derierre to get the transfer completed.

Sean, the offer of help is much appreciated. The three of you can stop by anytime, even if it's just for happy hour. And this time, I won't give you the finger, I promise.

[FarmerMatt]

Are you still alive??? I thought you fell off the face of the earth or Andy had locked you in a closet or something. We're going to miss seeing you guys on the Con.

Matt

[Lupine]

Lupine <--- out of the closet.

: P

Farmer, we'll miss all y'all too. I was REALLY looking forward to going this year, and the little trip to Fordyce wasn't enough to satisfy my 4wheelin' craving. I was even going to behave like a lady, and keep my opinions regarding politics and Southern Californians to myself. :rolleyes: Anyway, do me a fave and hit me backchannel. You've heard Crash's version of our troublesome sojourn; I'd love to give you my own.

LOL
Lu

[Lupine]

Whooooops...Bas, sorry about that. This is what happens when you cook your brain in Fordyce over the weekend. Just saw that you were responding to 2Mud.:confused1

[Gary E]

C'mon Lupine we all want to hear your version:D We are all thinking Ol Red is just fine and Andy is just scared to go head to head with 2mud-in and really just wants to go to a Gray Davis fundraiser on June 21st.

[Paul S]

Wow Andy, it was only about 6 weeks ago that you told me about 'project XJ elimination', I didn't think that even you could complete it that fast. Very cool, in a bad sorta way.
Paul

[2MUD-IN]

Thanks for the informatoin...I'll see if I can get a copy of it before I leave on Friday.

[Phil]

This thread makes me so happy to be going to Moab in a couple weeks!

[Jes]

Now, are you going to give the thing a proper burial, or just unceremoniously have it hauled off to the scrap yard? ;)




Memories...
http://www.urfracing.com/images/XJinaFordA.jpg

[Letterman]

Great Pull from the Past! Thanks Phil!

[SeansXJ]

Anymore pics?

[Jes]

Anymore pics?

Of what? :dunno:

[SeansXJ]

Of what? :dunno:

The trip.....

[Jes]

The trip, from over five years ago?
I think if he had anymore pics he would have posted them by now. ;)