Summer is the worst time to go wheeling here. It is too hot! 110 plus daily in the desert. Things don't work very well in that heat, and tend to fail more often. Our last trips out to the desert are in Easter time. Fall is start of the season in so cal. There are some great places I want to check out in Nor Cal; but we have not make it wheeling up there yet as it takes a full day just to drive there.
The 44 is on! Took a better part of the day; but I did not have any voulenteers and was able to get it on myselft. I need cables off a 98 grand to set the parking brake up as the ends are different. My end for the 35 drums have a cylinder end that fits through a slot to lock in. The bracket on the 98 disks are more of a tab so I am guessing the end of the cables I need looks more like a loop. Do you know if a shop can just put new ends onto an existing cable? Mine are fine; just wont connect.
The 44 is up and running. When I put it on, I noticed that one of the wheels has the slightest bit of shim. Not a shim I can see when I tilt the wheel top to bottom; but a shim I can hear. Interestingly enough, there is no shim sight, motion, or sound when shimmimg side to side, only top to bottom. The other side does not have any shim at all. There is no sounds or increased vibrations I can hear/feel while driving it the few test miles I have taken it on so far. (Though the driveshaft has enought virbation to far out rival the exhaust; so I am not sure if there actually is any noices; that I just can not hear. I am going to put on a SYE and longer driveshaft soon. I plan to order the SYE this week and hit the junk yard for a front drive shaft for the rear as you noted. I also priced tom woods, and his combo kits for SYE kit and new drive shaft start at $350 for very nice kits. Since the SYE kit is $220+ most everywhere that is not a bad price for a new shaft and SYE kit. Our junk yards in so cal are not know to have "bargain deals"... unless you trek 150+ miles out into the desert to the little towns.
You noted the the classic car idea. I would love an old car of many types; and will have some later in life; but right now, I can only have one project car. Cherokee fits that bill.
We are also considering some other practical cars as the 3rd veihicle - older V8 Grand Cherokee - for price reasons and it could tow my jeep with little gear added. Newer (but used) grand cherokees, 4 dr jeeps, and commanders - as these could all tow; but we would only get one of these if my wide wants it to be her next car when her volvo goes. I don't really want one of those as my DD. They are also more expensive and may be ruled out for that reason. The 04-06 unlimited rubicon is my favorite on the list and the 2nd cheapest.
Smog restrictions are also really strickt out here on all veihicles post 75 which rules out all of the 80s cars that can be found cheap and cheap to fix, smog equipment make those veihicles no longer cheap to keep compliant. bummer.
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