5th annual FSJ East Coast Invasion - Uwharrie, June 19-22

[Bluegill]

More pics -
Here is where Dan flopped:

http://usera.imagecave.com/pdatcuk/IMG_5784_resize.JPG

Here is my steering box breakage (shown from passenger side, it looked much worse from the other side):

http://usera.imagecave.com/pdatcuk/IMG_5861_resize.JPG

More pics:
ECI 2008 pictures by cajun_lad - Photobucket
08 ECI pictures by jwillettgn - Photobucket
2008 ECI pictures by bowtieman55 - Photobucket

And here's my "scarecrow" mugshot :icon_lol:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/bowtieman55/2008%20ECI/101_2183.jpg

[Want2Wheel]

That looks bad. What do you need to do to fix it?

[Bluegill]

It is currently "temporarily" fixed with a donor upper bolt (Dan's dad Doug thought of everything - his spare nut/bolt/washer collection saved mine & 3 other Jeeps) and washers reinforcing the lower mount. Not the safest in the world, but it did get me home (5.5hr drive on NC hwys & I-40). The root cause of the breakage is lack of high steer, my dropped pitman arm puts the TRE on the drag link against my leaf spring when turned all the way to the left. When it broke, I had the wheels cut all the way to the left & the driver side front drooped & then stuffed real fast - the weak link in the whole system was exposed (already had installed new TRE's) - the stock upper 3/8" bolt gave out. I didn't realize what happened at first, thought I had popped the front diff cover on a rock (done it before - felt the same way), and when I cut the steering wheel to the right - the box lower mounting bolts bent the frame mount. Used a log chain & winch to pull the box back to the frame after getting the broken bolt out, then Doug came to the rescue with another bolt, but the bent lower mount was too mangled to use "as is". Limped it back to camp, removed the box, beat the tar out of the lower mount to try & flatten it, got some large thick washers from Doug, reinforced the lower mount, reinstalled the box - and drove it home. My box is NOT the stock FSJ one, the PO of my Chief installed a tight ratio variable force box from a '98 4x4 S-10 on it - much better feel & turning power than the original box.

For the permanent fix - first I will finish my high steer. In the pic you may notice it already has the arms on, but they are too short (TR hits the springs just from potholes on the street). Gotta get 1" spacers & 4" studs from www.partsmike.com and install them, then I can install the HS tie rod that's in my garage & the stock pitman arm. Second, cut off the bent lower mount (stock 1/8" thick crap) & replace it with 1/4" thick plate. Third, install the steering frame brace I already have (bolts to the pass side frame rail). Then....bring on the rocks :icon_twisted:

[houdini]

Wow...carnage! Sorry about the steering box. Jeep looks good though!....Nice stance (on the jeep)!

[Bluegill]

Thanks Brian. Finally got a wheeling pic of my SJ, I know there are a few more (saw the flashes), just not sure who took them - but here's one that Doug took. I had just climbed the second ledge on Daniel & was headed for the next one IIRC.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/100_3068.jpg

Here's more pics from the whole weekend:
ECI 2008 pictures by phatmax95 - Photobucket
ECI 2008 pictures by dskolb - Photobucket
2008 eci pictures by headhonchoj10 - Photobucket

[Bluegill]

It's a little wide, but Tyler "fo'chopped" 4 pics into a nice panoramic row shot:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/phatmax95/Full%20Size%20Jeep%20Albums/ECI%202008/grouppan2thumb.jpg


Quite a few folks came, but didn't bring their FSJs.

[BroncoMike]

That stinks about all the carnage. The guy that rolled just needs to go ahead and cut the top off and put a cage on'r. I like the buggy to the left.

[houdini]

Thanks Brian. Finally got a wheeling pic of my SJ, I know there are a few more (saw the flashes), just not sure who took them - but here's one that Doug took. I had just climbed the second ledge on Daniel & was headed for the next one IIRC.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/100_3068.jpg

Here's more pics from the whole weekend:
http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k266/phatmax95/Full%20Size%20Jeep%20Albums/ECI%202008/
http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/
http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc237/headhonchoj10/2008%20eci/


Nice picture! Was this your first time to URE? (IIRC) Did you think the trip to URE was worth the drive? Like the trails?

[Bluegill]

Was this your first time to URE?

Yep, it was my first ride there. I will definitely be back for next year's event, mainly because of the fellowship. We have several better trails around here (upper east TN), but Uwharrie ain't bad. ;) From what I understand, there isn't much to choose from around the URE area, and those OHV trails are nice considering that. If you camp in the USFS, you can wheel your heart out very easily - and $30 for a yearly pass is VERY cheap, only thing better would be no charge.

For a rig like my FSJ (open/welded on 36" with lots of flex) the trails are pretty easy when dry - wet would be a totally different story. I idled through every trail except Daniel, the boulders on Rocky Mount, Kodak, and a little of Dickie Bell & Dutch John. In my TJ (open/open on 33") it would be more challenging. Other than the dust, the only thing that got on my nerves were the 50 million runoff berms on the trails. :icon_lol:

I did get a "UF" sticker at the outpost that my FSJ has on its tailgate now. :kewl:

Brian, if you're ever up this way, we can take you on Bumpus Cove (USFS free trails) - just as fun but not as dusty (Surfersami & 99NCXJ didn't get to see the rock garden). Then a little ways north of us is Harlan, which has trails you can break ANY rig on.

Mike - as for all the carnage, the saying goes; "If you ain't broke it, then you ain't wheeling it hard enough." :D

[99NCXJ]

glad you liked ure. its not bad for us being only about 1.5hr away. I can't wait to go back to bumpus though. Now i'm locked front and rear so maybe i can do the stair steps in reverse next time ;) I'd also like to check out the rock garden.

[Bluegill]

Some videos of Dan at the ECI -

ECI 2008 :: yjeeponkodak.flv video by dskolb - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid143.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/yjeeponkodak.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid143@@AMEPARAM@@143@ @AMEPARAM@@r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/yjeeponkodak
ECI 2008 :: yjeeperondaniel.flv video by dskolb - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid143.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/yjeeperondaniel.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid143@@AMEPARAM@@1 43@@AMEPARAM@@r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/yjeeperondaniel
ECI 2008 :: jyeeperbreakinaxleonkodak.flv video by dskolb - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid143.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid143.photobucket.com/albums/r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/jyeeperbreakinaxleonkodak.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid143@@A MEPARAM@@143@@AMEPARAM@@r130/dskolb/ECI%202008/jyeeperbreakinaxleonkodak
(btw, his GW is SOA + 3" BL on 36" TSL radials)

The voice you hear in the second video saying "Rear shaft" is Chris (black & white choptop Chero) - his stock D60 broke on the way up, wearing 36" military Goodyears! :icon_eek: The 3rd video is where Dan broke a rear D44 shaft, tires rubbing on the fenders didn't help.