Alright y'all.
Today marked a significant milestone in this build. I got to drive it to and from work for the first time.
I've driven it around the neighborhood, but never long or fast enough to get a real feel for it's manners.
I have been working on this truck for over 5 years now, so this was a pretty awesome day for me.
Inital notes are it performed better than expected, but still have some kinks to work out. For those interested I made some notes, mainly for my reference as I go to work on some of this stuff.
-Temps stayed right at 190 the whole way to and from work.
-Idle was pretty good. I could get it a bit smoother though. I need to raise the float and back the curb idle screw off.
- I think one of these Facebook marketplace mud tires has some severe runout. It bounces you around until about 30 MPH.
-Didn't want to catch 3rd every time, it would just grind, but it would if I shifted firmly but not forcefully. I think I just need to lengthen the shifter linkage an inch or so. ( I was monkeying around with them as I was getting stuck in reverse and 1st. Fixed that, but now 3rd is out of alignment)
- Brakes work great. They will put you through the windshield they are so touchy lol.
- I also added power steering so I could get a drop pitman arm and hopefully correct my turning radius after lift. That works good. I can turn it with one finger and it's a factory Eaton Pump with Saginaw box.
-Closed knuckle Dana 44 combined with the mud tires doesn't turn worth a rip. I had to do a 3 point turn on road because I couldn't cut hard enough, and take a different way in to avoid the tight turns in the down town area. My buddy has an open knuckle passenger side drop out of a Cherokee or something that he said I could have. I think that needs to get done if this thing is going to be a road driver.
-Actually tracks fairly straight for what it is. Didn't have any issues with it wandering all over the road.
- Need to clean clean oil and grime off the back of the block and manifold. Whatever is all over it smells like burning chewing tobacco.
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1968 J3500 - 1985 CJ7 - 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Liter Limited - 2006 Grand Cherokee Limited
Rhino USA Brand Success Manager
South East Offroad Activist