Tbars Project "X" begins

[Tbars4]

One these days I'll try to make it all the way through the 9.5 pages of this build thread.

..:scratch:..Where's your Avatar?

I've been away for work and got home to drive the X for a day and I must say, this new two cup holder I forgot that I had installed last weekend was a pleasant surprise to come home to..

..It's a snug fit with the aftermarket seats but seems like it was custom made for the application and the additional storage is a huge plus...Digging for change and what not in the old, really narrow and deep single pocket is no longer an issue...This is a keeper..:biggthump

..I put my phone in the little notch up front if I remember to but I need to figure out what else could better live in that little spot..:scratch:

 

[Tbars4]

..I haven't done much of anything to the X lately and it is starting to get a bit tired..

Tranny is slow at first start now so I'll look into that this summer..I have the manual transfer case out of the ranger for sale but will probably throw that in the X even though I've never had a problem with the electronic system other than short patience waiting to see if it is in 4wd or not.

If the tranny is going south I will look into an auto tranny swap..:scratch:

..It's time to get it ready for King of the Hammers and the drivers wheel bearings have a growl so I'm going to see if I can repack or I'll replace as needed plus it's that time of year to start looking for vacuum leaks and dry, cracked hoses..

Did I mention I scored some e-track?

..A guy I know was redoing his toy box and was tossing out 2-32" and one 5' piece of track..He also gave me 4 spring tie down clips, kind of a starter kit..I like freebies I can really use..:biggthump

I tossed this into the pile of stuff that needs to be installed on the trucks when I get free time..

..Here's a link to an e-track install..
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170657&highlight=etrack

 

[Tbars4]

..I just registered the X and she is now where a pretty new tag..

..The price actually went down this year to $81 and I didn't have to smog her..That means the Ranger will be due for a smog test this year..

 

[Tbars4]

..Hmmm..:scratch:..Move it over 1", a 100 bolts... this can be done..

 

[Tbars4]

..Just completed my first mod of the year and ready to head out of town..

 

[Stic-o]

Wow what a great Idea! Wonder where it came from!:JP:

 

[Tbars4]

..See post #962 ..:mattmoon:..:

 

[Brian1]

Looks good! Might want to bunjee cord the unused loops togther or they will rattle like crazy. I will be there shortly to inspect your work

 

[mounty71]

Or dip them in that plastidip stuff, like what's on the grips of tools. Those tracks look like they will be very useful, I might have to consider adding those in my truck.

 

[Tbars4]

..The tracks have come in handy and don't rattle at all as I have them tied dwn with stuff..

..At King of the Hammers last month I picked up 4 more tie down clamps from a vendor out there for $20 and then I scored a like new Viair tank,(2 gallon I think and missing the plugs) at the garage sale there for $40...That will come in handy when I finally get around to doing a OBA set up..

I've got another issue with the "Project X" that I'm now dealing with..

..It doesn't matter if I run my KKM filter or stock air filter set-up, I can't get the recommended 12,000 miles out of the filters..I clean them regular and replace them twice a year..

..I don't put more than 5-7,000 miles on the truck a year but I think the filters should look better than this when I get home from a local trip..

..Any recommendations on a good/better filter?

 

[gmanpaint]

Add a snorkel with a fine mesh screen, that will help the filter a bunch getting it higher up away from the wheels.

 

[Tbars4]

..Well..The X is parked for a while..

I got back from The Mint 400 on Sunday, added a really cool sticker to the X on Tuesday, and Tuesday night I heard some lite rattling going on in the motor or trans..I was so hoping this was only a loose heat shield..

I fired the X up yesterday and it is either a timing chain issue or a rod coming apart as the clunking is loud, internal, and has a definite affect on engine idle/running..

..My trucks always seem to get me home before they break, they just break down when I'm out of funds..

 

[Scott B.]

5.0

 

[Tbars4]

..I'm all for it...

..If you can bring the parts out with you and we can do it in your Dad's garage, It's on like Donkey Kong..:biggthump

 

[Tbars4]

..Oh...almost forgot the stickers I swapped..

..The ol' Slash X Ranch sticker has seen it's better days..



..But it's gotten replaced with a slighty better sticker..:biggthump

 

[FR-425]

..Well..The X is parked for a while..

I got back from The Mint 400 on Sunday, added a really cool sticker to the X on Tuesday, and Tuesday night I heard some lite rattling going on in the motor or trans..I was so hoping this was only a loose heat shield..

I fired the X up yesterday and it is either a timing chain issue or a rod coming apart as the clunking is loud, internal, and has a definite affect on engine idle/running..

Probably just one of your cameras bang'n around in the fan shroud!

 

[Nloln4l]

...this is what the passenger side looks like as the driverside looks about the same...

That is badass!

 

[Tbars4]

Thanks..

It's not as pretty anymore as the rattlecan has faded and it's about time to do it again but she still hittin' the trails..

 

[2TimingTom]

I've got another issue with the "Project X" that I'm now dealing with..

..It doesn't matter if I run my KKM filter or stock air filter set-up, I can't get the recommended 12,000 miles out of the filters..I clean them regular and replace them twice a year..

..I don't put more than 5-7,000 miles on the truck a year but I think the filters should look better than this when I get home from a local trip..

..Any recommendations on a good/better filter?

It's not the filter problem, it's the location of the intake problem. Get a snorkel and add a pre-cleaner to the top- or other pre cleaner methods like foam.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/5826-Safari-Snorkel-Pre-Cleaner

 

[Tbars4]

I appreciate your and Gmanpaint's thoughts, but living in the desert I don't buy into the snorkel being a better option insand and dirt over standard maintenance for a KKM or K&N filter..

A snorkel is great for elevating the intake air source and to avoid the intake of water in deep water crossings.

It's the nature of the beast out here (sand and Dirt so thick you can't see like fog) and where I travel..I can get a snorkel full of sand sitting parked and vehicle not running while my current configurations have more concealment from the dirt and are tested to run packed with dirt and to be cleaned and re-used repeatedly in the field.

If a snorkel was the answer then they would be run on the desert race vehicles here in the southwest instead of an open cone filter..just my .02

The sand and dirt are so common it don't even slow these guys down from eating their hot dogs in this recent picture as the wind is just starting..

..This is from a recent trip I took with my Ranger in which the Ranger windshield got totally sandblasted (pitted). This is a picture inside of my totally enclosed, imported tent from Australia. This is the sand under my sleeping bag that had gotten thru the finest of mesh I have on any of my tents in about three hours..

These filters get cleaned before, after, and on a lot of our trips during the trip (multiple times in powder dirt conditions) as they are designed for ease of frequent maintenance withe the most protection against the fine sand/dirt of the southwest..