Time to bump this again. The years just keep going by faster and faster.
Mods:
It was a big year in modifications for me. This was primarily driven by a baby being on the way. Parts that had sat in the garage waiting for install were finally made a priority.
-6L80E swap. This was a big swap that I have been wanting to do for a long time, I had the transmission sitting in the garage for 2 years, I think. As with any install, it never goes as easy as you think it will. I couldn't remember if I had a shallow or deep bearing input and ordered the wrong one, so I lost time on that, wiring in the tap shift took more time than expected but got it done! I also am glad that this got me to buy HPTuners so I can further advance my knowledge.
-3 link rear swap. This was a tough one. Sometimes I would go wheeling and say to myself the need to link the rear suspension is apparent and it has to happen immediately and other times I said holy shit, these leaf springs kick ass. They do kick ass but I think the past year or two I was limping along old, tired, worn out leafs, with off the shelf bilstein shocks and I was ready to bring it to the next level. In the end I did it and really hope to test it in 2024. I am sure I will have tweaks to do but I am hoping that this brings me to the next level. This also involved moving my evap crap and building a new bumper.
-Bigger radiator from ECP. My CSF was leaking. I don't think you can have too much cooling and fitting an ECP radiator with a regular fan clutch is hard so it was a good challenge and required lots of cutting but got it done.
-oil pan/trans skid. I cant believe I have dodged this bullet for 9 years since the SAS. I have hit the trans pan and oil pan but luckily never hurt it but I finally have them protected.
-trackbar/drag link redo. This was to get a bigger track bar because I bent my 1.5in diameter track bar. This required lots of work to make it fit, like notching the diff cover. In the end I have more steering angle capability for the drag link and a stronger track bar.
-Chromoly front shafts w/ Yukon Super Joints. I broke a couple spicer d60 u joints at this point and this needed to happen.
-Front sway bar redo. I redid my front sway bar setup so it is more viable long term.
-Installed car seat and fixed my AC that had a bad compressor.
Carnage:
-Broken U joint (again)
-Rear Ring and Pinion. I don't think I posted about this one in the build thread but when starting my 3 link I took out my 3rd member to transfer to a new housing and I saw 2 chipped teeth, upon further inspection the R&P failed due to a failed carrier bearing. The carrier bearing was from the 1950s and it had a ton of play. Looking at the load bolt the carrier was able to deflect not away from the pinion but at an angle as well. I had spare 3rds and a R&P so I got a new (used) one in.
-Anti wrap bar. I am shocked it lasted as long as it did. I had a design flaw in this. I had it welded to the axle tube but also to 1/8in steel, way too small for an anti wrap bar. It broke, but had one hell of a life.
Wheeling:
It was a light year of wheeling for me due to all the modifications this year.
-Rubicon
-Sand Hollow
-Did a weekend rockcrawling locally in the owyhees
-Did a weekend snow wheeling/rock crawling in the owyhees
-snow wheeling at high elevation in Idaho
On top of all the wrenching I did on my own rig, I helped a friend in socal wrench on their willys and TJ, helped a friend do injectors on his duramax, and basically rebuilt the entire suspension and steering on my brother in laws Jeep JK so between that and my own projects I didn't wheel much.
2024 goals:
My goal for 2024 is to go wheeling. I have wheeled A TON the past 3 years. I put off a lot projects so I can just wheel as much as I could so 2023 was project overload. So my goal is to get back to wheeling, push the limits and make the hummer do shit it couldn't do before now that it is linked. I do need to add a rear sway bar, id like to get that done before year end but it may sit in a box for the rest of 2023 while I take care of a baby that should be here any day now. I want to figure out the 4low speedo issue on the 6l80e. I think I know how, I just need to do it, really other than that, that's about it.
Cheers to 2023 and new beginnings in 2024.