|
Custom front bumper |
|
Clevis in the front reciever |
|
After the 94 SR5 was sold, the search was on for a less perfect replacement. It had to be able to haul more than 2 people comfortably. That left most of the Toyota trucks out of the equation. 4 Runners fit the bill, but were hard to find. After a little searching the 89 Jeep YJ was found. The swamper ssrs were there. The lift was there with the stickers still on the leaf springs. It ran well and seemed to be the perfect ready-made wheeler. We made arrangments to bring it home. When I ran out of gas with the gauge saying 1/2 full, I knew something was screwy. Turns out that the gas tank was colapsed, probably due to a previous exaust system being too close. The tank and sender were replaced. Soon it began to stall for no reason. Out of the blue, it would shut down and not restart. The original carb was replaced with a Webber. Still the stalling. After much research, I found the "Nutter Bypass" basicly the Jeep has a computer that controls the spark based on what the carb is doing. These things often go haywire and cause the problems we were having. The bypass goes around the computer, thus eliminating the problem. After that, no more stalls. It still ran like crap, so a new coil and GM distributor were added. Finally it runs OK. Not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was.
On the trail the Jeep is everything a Jeep promises to be. Balanced, nimble, and loads of fun. The articulation was sub par, so a set of lift shackles were installed. The Swampers dig at the mud like a crazed cat. The top down experience is something you can't reallly get in a Toy. It cost a whole lot more money, but it is a Jeep so it's worth more money. Why I don't know, but that's the way it is. The recently installed rear locker promises to make this thing near unstopable. And, guess what, the fdront locker is sitting in a box. Watch out!!!!!!!
