LOL! Just had to get your attention...

I just watched the DVD of the 2004 Ultimate Adventure(I borrowed it from Zig;)) and at the end, at the Iron Range, you were shown with the t-case shifter in your hand and both driveshafts slipped out when the crossmember got smacked...

I just had this happen to the Goblin last week(although not quite as bad). I still had some spline engagement, I didn't drop the shafts, but the t-case lever was shoved up through the floor and the t-case cross member now has a couple more inches of clearance under it.

Anyway, while I'm working on the new project truck's bare frame, I am trying to reinforce it in strategic locations, like strengthening the strut towers, plating the body mounts, tree-bar-ing the rear lower control arm mounts and adding extra support to the rear upper Y link cross member. As well as adding skidplating and trussing the front suspension mounts/crossmembers. It would appear that the t-case crossmember needs some type of strengthening as well. Have you done anything to yours to avoid it from happening again or had you even bothered? Just wondering...

 It was great watching the vid, it looked like you guys had a blast!

DIGGER, ya, not the topic but I have a question for you about tires.   You used to run the tsl 31x9.5 swampers on your silver rig.  what was your opinion on these tires?  i wanna stay narrow and aggresive and these are the only things i can find and pricing is better than i'd have expected.  any input or opinions would be great!  Thanks - B

I did fix that problem. I put a piece of 1 3/4 inch DOM between the frame rails in front of where the crossmember was and made t case and trans mounts off of that. Id take a pic and post it but I forgot my camera at my sisters house this weekend.

Mike

[off topic] that video did no justice to mikes place[/off topic]

[off topic] that video did no justice to mikes place[/off topic]

Especially this year. Between the spring erosion and all the traffic the hills are really getting out of control. We had several hills that only had one or 2 rigs actually make it to the top!

BTW, Not really sure if its off topic...the subject is Hey, Hagen!

Mike

Hey Hagen 

Do you have a list of all of the modifications you have made to your Tracker to get it where it is?

HEY HAGEN!!!!!!

I did not want any thing, just saying HEY form Sunny Florida 

Zig

bzzr2, I liked them a lot(the swampers) and would go with them again. I would still be running them on Silver if my friend hadn't really needed them to keep up with the Goblin... LOL! With them being narrower, I was able to fit them on with only a 2" body lift and 1-1/2" coil spacers using 15x8" rims with 3-3/4" back spacing. If I had to do it over again, I would use either 15x7" rims with 3-3/4" backspacing, or even samurai wagon wheels with these tires, along with possibly wheel spacers if needed... The 15x8" wheels were a little too wide and had too much bead edge exposed...

Mike, thanks for the info about the crossmember fix. Do you think the new mount is strong enough to support the whole truck should a similar situation arise again?

thanks digger, nice to know you liked them enough to go with them again, that says enough for sure!  if my body lift ever gets shipped i'll be able to get some of those swampers on!  i plan on using my stock zr2 rims which are 6in wide and i have no idea what the backspacing is, i know they're gonna rub the frame a little, my 30's already do...  i've learned to not lock out steering is all.

cheers, b

Mike, thanks for the info about the crossmember fix. Do you think the new mount is strong enough to support the whole truck should a similar situation arise again?

Thats the plan I guess only time will tell if it works or was a good idea.

Mike