The Yellowtail Build

Not much to update but I have a Superior Super 88 kit on order for the rear and a TnT truss for the front, with coil buckets, spring mounts, HySteer trackbar mount and HD LCA mounts. A Synergy link mount will be burned on over the diff for the upper link so I can run a full sized JJ. Also have some Polk DB5251 component speakers coming for the Nalin mounts I won in a giveaway for the dash, and will move the Kicker KS525's to the overhead pods. Ordering 6 7/8" x 3/4" heims from Ruffstuff tomorrow during their 20% off sale for the steering.
 
You will love the tnt trust
 
baby hulk said:
You will love the tnt trust
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I hope so. It was a pretty penny but it is going to make for an easy swap, instead of guessing what brackets might fit on the short tube and having no room for housing truss and brackets. The truss and speakers have been at home for a while. I just haven't been there yet.
 
looks good man, im running the 44 in front to with a tnt truss but i made my own brackets thou.. it fit really well, lil trim but not bad..are you goin to run high steer on it? i went with high steer and ton steering.. had to engineer some tight sway bar mounts for the link around the steering for mine..im also running 37s too..
 
EVOLUTION said:
looks good man, im running the 44 in front to with a tnt truss but i made my own brackets thou.. it fit really well, lil trim but not bad..are you goin to run high steer on it? i went with high steer and ton steering.. had to engineer some tight sway bar mounts for the link around the steering for mine..im also running 37s too..
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Sorry to take so long to respond. I wish this forum gave me alerts for comms like the others do. Yes, high steer with heims. The kit comes with sway bar link mounts and gussets.
 
Finally home! Picked the Jeep up from the dealership in Salisbury. Dad had his in the shop and had gotten it back this morning, but had to drive my Jeep up to the dealership to pick his up, then drive to Raleigh and back to get me. A nice black lady asked if i'd trade her for her Chrysler. I laughed.
Anyways, finally get to open my goodies! The packaging on the first had me pretty mad at UPS. That is just awful.
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Anyways, here's the first. TnT Customs Wagoneer 44 truss/bracket kit. Already welded and even beefier than the rear truss. Has semi-adjustable coil pads, Hysteer offset track bar mount, and HD LCA mounts. May start grinding the axle for fitment tomorrow if I have time after the boat show.
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Other package was my Polk DB5251 Component system that will be replacing the Kickers in the dash. Hooked them up to my room stereo; they're not terribly bassy but they have very sharp highs which should go great with my subs.
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Got most of the brackets and drivers side cast cut off the Waggy 44. Hopefully will have time tomorrow to cut the pass spring perch off and grind it smooth, and maybe start welding on the truss next weekend after finishing the Artec truss on the 8.8.
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And we got this puppy today! '73 Jeepster Commando with a 304 V8, 400 Turbo trans, Dana 20 TC, Dana 30 front, Toyota rear, and no title, top or windshield! A true trail rig.
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I did a bunch of welding on the 8.8 last weekend. It's almost ready. I've made a deal with a friend to trade my 3.07 stock axles and a little cash for his 30 geared 4.10 with a LSD in it to run temporarily with the 8.8 until I can (afford) get the 8.8 and 44 regeared and get the truss welded onto the 44.

Between today and yesterday, I've ordered a RC MML, Brown Dog rubber bushings and Ruffstuff's crossmember mounting kit for my flat skid crossmember. Also called around for driveshaft quotes.

All this is to get the rig in shape or a run to Gulches on March 9th.
 
Call Dave at Oliver's for the driveshaft. 336-724-1021 he can have it ready in a day or two and it'll be right. He's located in Winston-Salem.

Also, maybe I missed it, but how are you going to deal with the different lug patterns between the waggy44 and the 8.8?
 
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Joe J. said:
Call Dave at Oliver's for the driveshaft. 336-724-1021 he can have it ready in a day or two and it'll be right. He's located in Winston-Salem.
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I'll check their prices. Carolina Driveline can have one delivered to my door in two days for $260.
Joe J. said:
Also, maybe I missed it, but how are you going to deal with the different lug patterns between the waggy44 and the 8.8?
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Ford hubs and Chevy small bearing spindles.
 
You can also use dodge hubs. They work with the jeep spindles. I have them on my tj to get a 5 lug pattern on it.
 
Just a copy/paste of what this week will hold:

This week will be a power move for me. This is my spring break and I will be spending pretty much the whole break in the garage getting the rig in shape for Gulches ORV on March 9th. Starting tonite, I have to install a 1 1/4" body lift, install a 1" MML, build and install a custom tranny crossmember (utilizing 2 frame poly bushings and a centered rubber bushing), cut and install a flat 1/4" skid, swap the front axle for a 4.10 30 with LSD I'm using temporarily, finish building and swap the 8.8 into the rear, have sliders built, weld steps onto them, then install them, install an SYE, and order and install a rear driveshaft.

I will get no sleep.
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I have:
Ruffstuff crossmember mount kit (poly bushings at frame)
Brown Dog Rubber bushing (center bushing)
2" OD .25" DOM (for center bushing sleeve)
1.25" OD .120" DOM for the crossmember
4'x8' 1/4" steel sheet (skids for 2 Jeeps)
RC 1" MML (wanted BD but not in the budget atm)
JKS 1.25" Body Lift
JB Conversions SSSYE
My trussed and almost finished 4.10 8.8

Sliders are being made by a friend of a friend.
AtoZ slider steps have been ordered and shipped.
4.10 30 is being picked up from a friend and installed later this week.
 
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Crossmember almost finished yesterday. Frameside tabs tacked on, tranny mount built, tube cut to size. All that's left is to weld the 3/8" tabs we made onto the tube, weld the tube ends to the frameside sleeves, weld everything that was tacked up, and bolt it in. Finishing tomorrow as well as the SYE and 8.8 install. Will be driving in FWD until my shaft comes in. Also ordered some cheap sliders from eautogrilles that I'll be welding AtoZ steps to. The guy that was going to build them can't get them done in time.
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The MML and BL was installed Friday night.
 
Finished crossmember (forgot to take a pic of the finished painted product)

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Finished welding and painting the 8.8. This was a primered pic. I like it better than the pic I took of it black.

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Got halfway through my SYE. My Tcase is in pieces across the shop.

I was given the keys to the shop so I'l be back tomorrow to get everything back in the rig, order a rear shaft and get brake lines run for the 8.8.
 
Been really slack about posting up. Too busy working.

Anyways, the 8.8 is done and installed. It came with 2 pass side calipers so I had to steal a drivers side from one of the other 8.8s lying around. The brakes actually work now. Had to torch off, grind down, and reweld the shock mounts so the shocks would actually fit in them.

The crossmember tilted the front of the engine down, forcing the fan into the crossmember, which made me overheat after going through a drivethru. We lowered the radiator about 1 1/4" and the fan sits pretty now.

Ordered a 1310/1330 long travel driveshaft from Carolina Driveline today. Apparently using a 1330 joint on the axle end requires long travel. No idea why but it wasn't much more.

I'll be coming home again this weekend to get some work done. Still need to build a flat skid, swap the front axle, get an adjustable track bar, and figure out a sway bar setup for the 8.8.
 
So, yeah, slack as always. Since I last posted here, I got the front 4.10 LSD 30 swapped in and got the rear shaft installed, after stripping the wrong expensive as shit bolts Ford sold me. Got some hex heads that fit perfectly from Lowes but I'll swap them (Grade 8.8) with some 12 point (Grade 12.9) correct bolts from Knowwhere2Jeep.

I took it wheeling this past weekend at the Uwharrie Spring OHV Jamboree with family and local forum guys. We ended up having a big crew. Videos:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vruXbA1Jeo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-kwV1ENXDg

On the way home I started having terrible vibes. Had to pull the rear shaft. I think it just needs greased. The CV joint is maxed out with my tucked driveline and the pinion is set as high as possible with fixed lowers.
 
Lets see, since this, I:
- Replaced the tranny...twice. (#2 lasted a week).
- Replaced a ton of parts (Windshield, Centering yoke, Axle u-joints, Water Pump, TPS, Power Steering line, lots of bolts, ect.)
- Bent tie rod and installed ZJ tie rod
- Installed 3" BDS front springs and Bilstein 5100's. Have 2" rears and Bilsteins waiting to go on.
- Installed Metalcloak Rockers
- Installed Walker Cat
- Installed Flat Skid
- Installed 12voltguy Custom Switch Panel, OTRATTW Custom Contura V Switches, Blue Sea Systems Fuse Block, 12voltguy In-Cab winch Harness, Sho-Me LED Flasher, and a bunch of wiring stuff
- Installed Crown Performance 3-4" Lift Braided Brake Line
- Painted Flares

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And dad bought a 2013 10A last year, which he has been modding since.

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Nice.. Hit me up if u need some help.
 
When trans #2 went out, I had just left work in Mooresville heading back to Concord. It went catastrophically, taking out all the gears except 1st. I limped it onto a side road and onto the shoulder. A farmer arrived on a golf cart and bitched me out for "being in his hay field" and claimed he would be taking my Jeep until I paid for damages. I explained the situation but he was hearing none of it and continued to be an ass. Understand that there was no hay here. My right tires were about 6 inches into a field with nothing but ankle high green grass. Called the cops, who were on my side but recommended moving it. Since I only had 1st, they blocked the highway and gave me a low speed escort to a nearby abandoned gas station, where <--- pic was taken. My good friend who sold me the trans gave me another (his last NV3550) free of charge. Installed that one myself, and it has been going strong ever since. You can see the "hay field" on the left side of the first road below. The only tall grass is in the ditch along the highway.

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(Notice the lack of driveline behind 8.8)

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Same here I'll def hit that post up on jp forum. When you going to get that 44 under the front
 
baby hulk said:
Same here I'll def hit that post up on jp forum. When you going to get that 44 under the front
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Hopefully this summer. Got to get back to work. It's mostly going to come down to money. The wheels alone cost $2100 so I'm going to have to determine what is essential to the build and what can be put off. I think I'll just squeak by with enough for the main stuff but I may have to wait until winter or next summer. Shit ain't cheap. Working on an itemized list so I can calculate a total price but I still need to play with a 4 link calculator to get DOM lengths and such.
 
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