Bklyn.X

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
I have not run it yet either. We've walked it probably 5 times thinking about it. Same story, most of us are usually pretty tired by that point on 13 and think it's not worth it. One of these days I want to run it downhill and then do 13 backwards. Maybe next time we wheel together

I'm sure we wouldn't have to twist Keith's too hard either
 

Bklyn.X

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I've never gone "down" that trail but I'm sure it's still tough.

I've always been told by folks more hardcore than I ever hope to be that going down a trail is just "falling". Yeah, maybe in your buggy but that crap is still a challenge for me.

There's a Red off "J" that I "fell down" by mistake once following a guy that made a wrong turn that is supposed to be "up only". We got halfway before realizing our mistake and turned around. That crap was crazy.
Flirting with catastrophe, injury or death is just not my idea of a good time…I've only seen one group on it in all my years and they were stuck.

I've run "13" backwards...that crazy ledge you drop off of near the end is a different animal when you climb it. I broke both front CV's doing that back in the day. There's a video of it somewhere and you can hear them snap. The guy who made it put an "OH SNAP' graphic on it. I gotta see if I can find it.

If we run down it we should still walk it first. There really isn’t any place in it to turn around so we’d be kinda committed once we started.

Sounds like fun…
 

jsexton

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Lewis Center, OH
Yep yep yep. I’ve ran 13 backwards several times now. I actually prefer that direction. Such a great trail either direction, except when the Jeeple decide to make it a parking lot.
 

Bklyn.X

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Made it up "16" without stopping on 11-14-2020!

55358B71-6DD6-492E-BC8C-A2442622288B.jpeg
 

Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
Thanks brother. Yeah, it’s kind of a money pit but it’s fun. I’ve met some of my closest friends through it and learned a lot over the years
 

Bklyn.X

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Damn, haven't been to this thread since January! What a slacker...

On the recommendation of a guy on a different board (mtnbiker49) I purchased a Midland MXTTB MicroMobile® GMRS two-way radio. and hard wired it in the truck.

It was a great deal (no longer available). Radio. Mount with Hardware, Detachable Antenna with Magnetic Mount, Microphone, Microphone Holder, 12V Power Cord with Car Power Adapter and FREE LXT500 Walkies! $100!

Walkies are great outside of the truck but I wanted a mobile to go with my CB so while I’m in the truck I could talk to the more popular handheld FRS without having one bouncing around or hooked in some unreachable and/or cumbersome spot.

It fit nicely bolted on top of my little out of production Cobra 19Ultra III CB.

4264E9E7-7D9F-4E22-A753-D8E53E94B865.jpeg


I haven’t had it out on the trail yet but it seems to work okay around Brooklyn.
 

JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
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Glenside, PA
Damn, haven't been to this thread since January! What a slacker...

On the recommendation of a guy on a different board (mtnbiker49) I purchased a Midland MXTTB MicroMobile® GMRS two-way radio. and hard wired it in the truck.

It was a great deal (no longer available). Radio. Mount with Hardware, Detachable Antenna with Magnetic Mount, Microphone, Microphone Holder, 12V Power Cord with Car Power Adapter and FREE LXT500 Walkies! $100!

Walkies are great outside of the truck but I wanted a mobile to go with my CB so while I’m in the truck I could talk to the more popular handheld FRS without having one bouncing around or hooked in some unreachable and/or cumbersome spot.

It fit nicely bolted on top of my little out of production Cobra 19Ultra III CB.

4264E9E7-7D9F-4E22-A753-D8E53E94B865.jpeg


I haven’t had it out on the trail yet but it seems to work okay around Brooklyn.
We've switched to primarily gmrs. It's works really well in rausch and aoaa
 

Bklyn.X

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As some of you all ready know, I managed to scrape a hole in the bottom of my h233b and was leaking diff fluid on the last day of ECXC 2021.
My friend, Joe was able to patch it with RTV so I could add some fluid and get home.

It seems pointless to try and repair it so I picked up an unwheeled h233b out of an '04 from a local junkyard; $100, no "core charge". It was a bit rusty but seems to have never touched the ground while in a truck.
D32D41C5-7ACA-43AC-BC8E-4113BFDEAFF3.jpeg

I cleaned it up a bit with a wire wheel and sprayed with PB Blaster
B0B16088-B667-46A0-ABE1-D5357B34E0F7.jpeg

Then was able to pull the third member out without trouble...even saving all 10 of the now discontinued part# 38321-06J1A "Bolt-Final Drive" studs!
02A7C82D-FEAE-4872-B678-342DB37D41F8.jpeg

Though my current one has held up to my abuse for years my friend Dave wants to try reinforcing the bottom of the housing by welding a “diaper” made for a Toyota on it. Then we'll check the shape of my axles and maybe swap them (there is debate among my buddies as to whether they are somewhat twisted or not)...
Then I'll put my modified (5:13, ARB) 3rd member in and swap...
Anyways, that's the plan, thanks for looking.
 

Prime

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Denver Adjacent
100 isn't bad for an entire axle. Sound like you've got a reasonable replacement. I'm amazed you managed to blow the housing though. I abused the shiat out of my 233 and it was always solid.
 

Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
I've never seen or even heard of this happening. I did have one of those differential skids from 4X4Parts.com back in the day but kept ripping it off, losing the hardware and bending the crap out of it on the trail. It lasted about a year before I couldn't get it back into shape and on the truck. I scrapped it and was told by a few folks that I didn't need it. I continued to abuse my poor, unprotected 233 and it finally wore through.
 

Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
Beat the crap out of my tie-rod in May running trails with Dennis;

FE638144-C7A4-47D7-9F6F-BC22BCF58738.jpeg


My Tie-Rod was pushed up against the diff cover and I turned it over so I could continue to drive it.

I tried to straighten it out with a bottle jack:

81D98F61-67DE-4CFD-B728-05EC6C6A9F4A.jpeg


Ya can't straighten 1/4" wall DOM tube like dat ya idiot...

Anyways I hit something else later on in the day that kinda straightened out the toe enough to drive home and to wheel ECXC in July where I beat on it some more...
I needed to double up on the jam nuts to keep the heims from backing out.

Anyways, I ordered a replacement from Ruff Stuff Specialties and Dave from Bandit4X4 welded it up for me (thanks Dave). Swapped it in on Labor Day.

06B3EEE6-157E-463E-8324-62A583F943E7.jpeg


594AA54A-728D-4E66-9C04-9778AD43A601.jpeg
 

Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
...Though my current one has held up to my abuse for years my friend Dave wants to try reinforcing the bottom of the housing by welding a “diaper” made for a Toyota on it. Then we'll check the shape of my axles and maybe swap them (there is debate among my buddies as to whether they are somewhat twisted or not)...
Then I'll put my modified (5:13, ARB) 3rd member in and swap...
So I brought the junkyard h233b to Dave at Bandit4x4 this past weekend.

88E089F5-FAD0-409B-BD0E-7751B13DCD75.jpeg


He welded a "Toyota diaper" he modified to fit:

A880BDA4-2F77-4F08-902B-AD57E4E62161.jpeg


and a 3/16 plate he fabricated out stock he had laying around his shop to the housing.

4AF13950-EAF0-4FA1-BDE1-57A54A78F2F2.jpeg


636C5E49-477E-413F-94DE-9EF5A3B56DD4.jpeg


Then we swapped the housing into my truck replacing my beat to crap one.

Here's my trashed h233b with the RTV yanked off:

A6C53CF2-85C3-4002-AADA-20952EB77559.jpeg


You can see the crack on the bottom. Notice that the drain has been "rock welded" smooth... :oops:

Modified one under the truck:

9148F024-57CA-4AB3-A708-9322525A01D0.jpeg


Looks pretty beefy. Thanks Dave! beer1
 

Prime

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Denver Adjacent
So I brought the junkyard h233b to Dave at Bandit4x4 this past weekend.

88E089F5-FAD0-409B-BD0E-7751B13DCD75.jpeg


He welded a "Toyota diaper" he modified to fit:

A880BDA4-2F77-4F08-902B-AD57E4E62161.jpeg


and a 3/16 plate he fabricated out stock he had laying around his shop to the housing.

4AF13950-EAF0-4FA1-BDE1-57A54A78F2F2.jpeg


636C5E49-477E-413F-94DE-9EF5A3B56DD4.jpeg


Then we swapped the housing into my truck replacing my beat to crap one.

Here's my trashed h233b with the RTV yanked off:

A6C53CF2-85C3-4002-AADA-20952EB77559.jpeg


You can see the crack on the bottom. Notice that the drain has been "rock welded" smooth... :oops:

Modified one under the truck:

9148F024-57CA-4AB3-A708-9322525A01D0.jpeg


Looks pretty beefy. Thanks Dave! beer1
Dude. That's badass.
 

Bklyn.X

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Ha ha, not the oldest OG but old. I lost my original screen name (Bklyn.X) and post count on that board when it crashed a number of years ago. I seldom get a response but still post about events there under "Tom".
That place used to be very entertaining although a bit intimidating back in the old days. Folks would get flamed mercilessly for the slightest mistake or stupidity. Not for the weak that’s for sure. I’m pretty sure they are the reason for all the “no flaming” rules on all of today’s boards including this one. Pretty funny.
 
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diabetiXtwo

Test Drive
Location
New Jersey
Ha ha, not the oldest OG but old. I lost my original screen name (Bklyn.X) and post count on that board when it crashed a number of years ago. I seldom get a response but still post about events there under "Tom".
That place used to be very entertaining although a bit intimidating back in the old days. Folks would get flamed mercilessly for the slightest mistake or stupidity. Not for the weak that’s for sure. I’m pretty they are the reason for all the “no flaming” rules on all of today’s boards including this one. Pretty funny.

Indeed I had been lambasted on there a few times. Also had some good friends that would help me with the truck whenever needed as I was young and broke. I just bought a copy of my exact truck a few weeks ago and have been working on it in the garage. I was Ebeauchea on XOC. I'm on there now as biggee72 but never post obviously. This xterra world has changed drastically since 2006ish or whenever I sold it. Nice to see a familiar name! I'm in NJ so I'm down to wheel with you guys as soon as I get some stuff done to the X.
 

Bklyn.X

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Sorry I didn’t get right back to you on this. What can I say, I'm a self absorbed POS.

Anyways, check the “Mid-Atlantic” section of the Regional Forums HERE, the Nexterra section HERE or the ECXC section HERE. I normally post something in those section if I’m heading out to Rausch or AOAA and it an “open” run.

If you have an Xterra here in the northeast, you should really try and attend ECXC. It’s great.

Speaking of me being a self absorbed POS let’s get this thread back on track and talk about my egg crate:

I hate magnetic mount antennas for a number of reasons that date back to my early CB days so I replaced the one that came with my Midland MICROMOBILE®GMRS two-way radio with their MXTA25 3dB gain "Ghost" antenna.

57C3AD4C-C8A1-4D4C-BDA2E68C7B5801B4.jpeg


Looks cool, supposed to double the signal output, only 3.5 inches tall, according to Midland, can take a hit and seems to work okay here in Brooklyn

I used Midlands Universal Lip Mount. It has an UHF connection that unscrews so it fit through a small hole in the firewall without me having to splice anything or worry about the length of the cable in relation to tuning the MF’r.

A couple of guys on instagram give me some negative feedback on it so I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake but we'll see. I have handhelds and the CB so won't get stuck without communication...not that I talk much on the trail besides the occasional "hold up guys, I’m stuck/broke/etc"

For a guy that finds the banter normally heard while wheeling kinda annoying I sure put a lot of effort in these kind of things. :rolleyes:
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
Sorry I didn’t get right back to you on this. What can I say, I'm a self absorbed POS.

Anyways, check the “Mid-Atlantic” section of the Regional Forums HERE, the Nexterra section HERE or the ECXC section HERE. I normally post something in those section if I’m heading out to Rausch or AOAA and it an “open” run.

If you have an Xterra here in the northeast, you should really try and attend ECXC. It’s great.

Speaking of me being a self absorbed POS let’s get this thread back on track and talk about my egg crate:

I hate magnetic mount antennas for a number of reasons that date back to my early CB days so I replaced the one that came with my Midland MICROMOBILE®GMRS two-way radio with their MXTA25 3dB gain "Ghost" antenna.

57C3AD4C-C8A1-4D4C-BDA2E68C7B5801B4.jpeg


Looks cool, supposed to double the signal output, only 3.5 inches tall, according to Midland, can take a hit and seems to work okay here in Brooklyn

I used Midlands Universal Lip Mount. It has an UHF connection that unscrews so it fit through a small hole in the firewall without me having to splice anything or worry about the length of the cable in relation to tuning the MF’r.

A couple of guys on instagram give me some negative feedback on it so I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake but we'll see. I have handhelds and the CB so won't get stuck without communication...not that I talk much on the trail besides the occasional "hold up guys, I’m stuck/broke/etc"

For a guy that finds the banter normally heard while wheeling kinda annoying I sure put a lot of effort in these kind of things. :rolleyes:
Let me know your thoughts
I'm looking for a good 3db antenna.
 

Bklyn.X

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I'm still have not use this antenna enough to form any opinion.

So let me update those of you crazy enough to still be interested in my silliness.

Last month I started having electrical problems. The truck would shudder, the dash lights would flutter and then the truck would die.

Bad alternator? That’s what I thought so I changed it.

Happened again. Lose alternator wire? Yes, so I rewired it.

Happened again. Loose ignition/isolator wire? Yes, so I rewired it.

Happened again!

8400062A-B934-4F6B-A026-2B914CED2DB0.jpeg


Not many things as embarrassing as having your “hard-core off-road truck” flat bedded off a city street…

I bypassed the isolator wiring the alternator to the starting battery so I could drive her until I could swap out the old isolator and hope that would solve the problem.

Why on earth would you need a duel battery set up?

The simple answer is ya don’t!

However, back in the day I used to tailgate a lot with my truck and decided to install one so that I didn't kill my starting battery running the radio while BBQing in the parking lot…and I ain’t pulling that shiat out now! I’m too stubborn (stupid).

Anyways, back in 2016 I purchased a NOCO IGD140HP 140 Amp Battery Isolator for my duel battery set up.

81+mc-HQ4HL._AC_SX679_.jpg


A friend recommended it and then helped install it.

NOCO+IGD140HP.jpg


A beautiful job.

Even though the NOCO has worked fine for the past five plus years at this point it seems to me that disconnecting my alternator from the starting battery and having it run through a switchable device is a mistake.

I bought a WirthCo 1213.1241 20092 Battery Doctor 125 Amp/150 Amp Battery Isolator.

81msuQ3BxKL._AC_SY879_.jpg


It has no ignition/isolator wire. You just wire the starting battery to it, ground it and wire it to your second battery.

It’s in:

537E92D9-FC1E-4E25-83AB-4FF0D7BF76A9.jpeg


I haven’t got stuck yet, so far so good. Keep your fingers crossed for me yo!

In the meantime:

Rausch 5/22/2021:

E78A6CA5-9480-43A5-831C-B0A44E71D45C.jpeg


Wheeeee....


SFDN48.jpg


I know, masturbation. I can't seem to help it...
 

Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
Not a "big mod" but as some of you know, I drive to and from the trail.

It's been a bit of a trial unbolting and then zip tying the anti-sway links out of the way as part of the "trail prep" in the mornings before a run. I decided to give Ruff Stuff's "sway bar quick disconnect pin kit" a try.
I got a couple of 1/2" bore rod end bearings on Amazon (1/2-20 female, 1 LH, 1 RH) as the ones that came with my links are studded.

Went on the truck easily enough;

83763DA2-833D-43E4-B6D1-14E0165C680B.jpeg

814A0393-F4BC-44D7-850D-655F68F8B849.jpeg


We'll see how they work out. I hope I don't bash the pins on a rock the first time out...
 

Bklyn.X

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I’ve planned to "Spring Over Axle" (SOA) my trucks rear ever since the SAS (a few years now). I bought a Ruff Stuff R1029 Perch Kit back when I figured this was my path and they had a sale. Besides providing a "perch" for the spring pack this kit will allow me to move the axle if the need arises (37's?).

To complete the SOA properly I need to replace the OEM slip yoke/one piece drive shaft with a Bandit4x4 TX-10 Slip Yoke Eliminator ("SYE" converts your rear slip yoke to a "Companion Flange") and two piece drive shaft. Through Dave/Bandit4x4 I had a double-cardan 1330 custom drive shaft built by Mr Driveshaft in Farmingdale, NJ (same that built my front DS).

TX-10+Front+CV+Flange+Yoke.JPG

FAADF373-F0F7-4A2B-AEA8-B7781BD177D1.jpeg


I also needed new shock mounts since my slightly modified "Darlington U B Skidderz" will not work with the flip.

This is not an easy or inexpensive task, lucky for me I've got help and guidance (Dave/Bandit4x4) and the $ saved up.

The TX-10 SYE Flange requires cutting or grinding off the case hardening of the transfer case rear output shaft, drilling and tapping it. This is accomplished by removing the OEM driveshaft, unlocking you manual front hubs (doesn't work with the OEM auto hubs), putting the truck in the lowest gear (4low for me), cutting/grinding/drilling as the output shafts turns so that everything is even and centered. Then ya "tap" it and you're good! Lots o fun!

D14B37CC-C6F9-44B5-9D36-C140D19CFEA1.jpeg


9FDCC919-41C8-4BC4-990B-77FB447729C6.jpeg


The silliness continues because after piecing together a 63" Chevy 1/2-ton spring swap Dave decided to “Link” a 14 bolt under his truck and convince me to buy what he was going to use and he'd do the install.

170F800F-59F7-40A3-8875-CEBB11FF807F.jpeg


Why the F swap the spring pack? It's a common swap among Toyota guys that comes right up when you Google search "63" Chevy 1/2-ton spring swap". Basically way more flexi than my built-up pack with a softer ride and durable as f.

Anyways, the springs cost $150 plus $250 to get rebuilt. With around $200 for a R1064 swap kit that includes “Frenched” Hangers figure $600 more than I was planning to spend.

Tears in a bucket, mother F it. Why do I keep throwing money at this thing? I cannot explain it….

Anyways, swapping the springs requires dropping the gas tank, cutting the OEM hangers, "frenching" in the new front ones. lining up the rear axle in the new pack, figuring out the rear shackles, welding it all in. Holy F!

5D1E0851-CE9F-4582-91DE-E56AA07F7576.jpeg


That's my story, I'll post more pics when it's all in, cleaned up and painted.
 
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Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
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Those new hangers look waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than the stock ones. The fact that it's only 2 leafs blows me away. Should flex awesome!
 

Bklyn.X

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Here’s more Bklyn.X silliness for you:

I noticed my d44 front diff was leaking. Most likely a result of continuously smacking it against rocks and boulders while off roading (bad driving :rolleyes: ). I’m too embarrassed to post a picture of it so you’re not getin’ one. Instead here’s a pic of the housing after I took the cover off and hid it from site:

9DA85657-93E1-43B9-8F04-9ED5AE106CA9.jpeg


I decided to replace the beat-to-shiat cover with a new one instead of just taking the beat up one off, cleaning it and putting it back on with fresh RTV. I also decided to try a LubeLocker Gasket instead of my typical incompetent “Jackson Pollock” looking RTV mess.

C33A6758-D95E-4949-A07B-7BEAAFE09C5E.jpeg


Not being satisfied doing this simple job in a normally short and uneventful manner I cross-threaded one of the cover bolts during installation. This ufcked up one of the receiving holes in the housing. Although I did not put a wrench on the bolt, just hand tightening, it ufcked it up enough that I couldn’t get a new bolt to start correctly even after taking the cover off.

I must admit with the vision of replacing my entire d44 with its custom welded perches running through my brain I was near tears.

I used a pick to try to chase the zanged threads with little success.

I measured the bolt, 5/16-18, and headed over to Lowe’s with a prayer and found a proper sized IRWIN Hanson 2-Pack SAE Tap and Drill Set. Even though I didn’t need the drill bit for $8 WTF.

This tap has IRWIN’s “exclusive self-aligning feature, ensures a straight thread every time”. Oh yeah, we’ll see about that.

Not for nothing it worked great! It caught the inside threads and “chased” the whole thing beautifully without cutting anything new/different. :D

D034F0F7-586E-4AA8-A44A-C0A54C280F8C.jpeg


4E2F16BE-DE5C-480F-B786-0335F0790C10.jpeg


Saved! I highly recommend! :D

The rest of the job went easily.

AA226A1E-B85D-4B53-ACD7-7A53FD258DF2.jpeg


No leaks so far. Opps, I just realized my F'd up cover is in the pic ^. How embarrassing. :confused:

Thanks for looking.
 
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Bklyn.X

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Brooklyn, NY
So if want to waste some time with more of my shameless self promotion you can start by looking back in this thread a few years and you'll find a post about my bent control arms and the fix.

I still have not learned to drive so I'm thinking "more armor" rather education.

I got a pair of Universal Tube Reinforcements from Ruff Stuff Specialties and my friend Dave stitch welded them on for me!

IMG_1183.jpeg


IMG_1186.jpeg


IMG_1191.jpeg


I also added a "Hardhat" from Rock Hard 4X4 to my front diff.

IMG_1173_001.jpeg


We'll see how they hold up to my abuse.:rolleyes:
Thanks for looking!
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
So if want to waste some time with more of my shameless self promotion you can start by looking back in this thread a few years and you'll find a post about my bent control arms and the fix.

I still have not learned to drive so I'm thinking "more armor" rather education.

I got a pair of Universal Tube Reinforcements from Ruff Stuff Specialties and my friend Dave stitch welded them on for me!

IMG_1183.jpeg


IMG_1186.jpeg


IMG_1191.jpeg


I also added a "Hardhat" from Rock Hard 4X4 to my front diff.

IMG_1173_001.jpeg


We'll see how they hold up to my abuse.:rolleyes:
Thanks for looking!
Love the shiat you do. Thank you for keeping that beast on the trails.
 
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