Gary Lewis

I agree - nice way to end the trip. Much more my speed, although still more than I could do. But I didn't see if or how you got up at 6:30. And I agree that Dale's rig is quite capable. It seems to crawl up things easily and has a lot of articulation. Nice trip and documentation.

"And that's why I didn't want to do it." Yes, for sure! Those guys have what I'd call "trail buggys" and rashes are to be expected. In fact, if it doesn't have some then maybe you aren't trying hard enough. But that's not what I have in Big Blue. So I don't want to attempt things that will get him those rashes. But I do like watching to see what others can do and what kind of equipment it takes to do it. However, it isn't just equipment. I think I'd have backed off after going flying like Wade did. Instead he went right back at it.

Installment: Lower Bearing Today I almost got the new DRB lower bearing installed. ALMOST. Initially it didn't want to even start on the end of the shaft. As best I can measure the bearing is .998" ID and at the bottom end the shaft measures 1.003". I could feel a bit of a lip on one side so I filed and then sanded the end of the shaft down until I got the bearing to start - and then it stuck. I tried driving it on, gently, but it wasn't going any farther. So I tried pull it off, and instead the whole outer shaft came out with it. (There's an inner shaft that comes down part way and an outer shaft that slips over the inner shaft and sticks out the bottom of the steering column.) Once it was out I chucked it in the lathe, marked it with bluing, and then gently checked it out. As you can see below the shaft flared out on the end, but only on one side. I wound up taking .005" off to get the bearing to slide on nicely. Then came the job of slipping the outer shaft over the inner shaft while you can't see anything. After a few tries it finally went in, but I was very happy I'd pulled them apart when I had the steering column out a couple of years ago and lubed them. Otherwise it might not have gone so well. Last came the job of installing the three retaining screws. I got two of them in but ran out of time on the third one, so that's tomorrow's first task. Then I'll install the Borgeson shaft and see if I can get the Blue Top box in.

I had a gentleman by the name of William Calder ask me if I could help him ID a set of mirrors he has. They look like Ford's rounded E5TZ-A Type 9's to me but I thought I'd get y'alls input:

Wonderful! Can you pull the metering rod up a bit to give a bit more fuel?

Gary, remember this suggestion? Was a GREAT idea! Hope you had a nice trip with Janey! Sorry about my silence, I am very busy at office this fall... Soon I'll find some time to complete Big Brother's Big Tour post with pictures of our road to home, from Skiatook. Everything went well, absolutely no issue, was a fabulous trip. USA is a so nice country, nice people, nice landscapes, our heads full of wonderful memories! Jeff! I've been thinking I needed to email you and see what happened. Glad to see that you two made it home with no problems! As for the map, there sure is a lot of gray still showing. But you are right, there are soooooo many memories associated with your trip. So VERY glad you two came to the show. It was so wonderful to meet you. And I can't wait to see "the rest of the story."

Yep, I've done that on Big Blue. Makes a difference.

Nice clean truck. And it has had a ton of work done on it. Even if he gets the $15K he's asking he is going to take a bath on it. But someone is going to get a truck that is ready to go.

That's a fiddly operation. But you are getting soooo close, so take your time and do it right.

Looking good, Frank!

Next up is the lower steering column bearing. There are 3 sheetmetal screws with 1/4" heads that hold it in the bottom of the steering column, and it is a lot easier to get it out if you take all 3 out first. DAHIK. But once the screws are out the bearing came out fairly easily. And the new bearing, as well as the Blue Top box, just came in so here's a comparison. Which would you prefer?

Next Installment: Lower Steering Shaft If you are replacing the lower steering column bearing, which I think is a good idea, then you'll need to pull the lower shaft. That's the one that connects the steering column with the steering box. I have the vaunted Borgeson shaft, which may be why it was fairly hard to get off the steering column. And on Big Blue there's not much room at all given the hydroboost lines, the EFI wiring, etc. So it was a chore. In fact, it slid down the steering column shaft about 1" and got stuck and no amount of prying or tapping was making it move. So I ultimately put a ratchet strap from the top u-joint of the lower shaft to the bottom of the radiator support and put a lot of pressure on it. Then I went back to tapping with a brass drift and it finally came off, a little bit at a time. When I got it off I discovered one source of the slop I've had: And, by the way, what I should have said in the video is that I've not had the u-joint off the shaft, but I have had the shaft itself off. And I should have noticed then the slop then. So I marked where that long set screw hit the flat of the shaft and drilled it 17/64", which is the tap drill size for 5/16-18 as that's what the set screws are. Then I slipped the u-joint on and tapped through it to ensure the threads are indexed correctly. Then I ran the set screw in until it bottomed on the inside of the opposite flat and cinched it down. No more movement.

You are now on the map. And, by the way, you are close enough to come to the show next Sept.

Welcome! Glad you joined. And I'm sure those who have experience with the 4.9L, but I'm guessing the problem is with the EGR plate - or maybe the lack thereof. Where's home? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you with a city/state or zip. Who knows, you may be around the corner from an expert?

Yep. Inflation.

Kevin - Thanks for joining. However, you missed my email asking you to introduce yourself in the New Members Start Here folder before posting elsewhere. We ask that because we have our guidelines posted in that folder and want you to have had every chance to see them since we hold everyone to them. So please assure me you've read them before we go further.

And I do see the tire difference on Alan's Jeep. But I'm not sure "Now swap tires and do it again" would be very scientific. No way to reproduce the line - although I'm sure that was said in jest. But I'm not sure he'd make it with smaller tires.

Well, the Rocky Road video is now working. Dunno what the problem was. And I agree with you, it is rocky but not a road! But I'm not sure I agree "to aim your diff at the rocks to move them out of the way."

That video says it is private and I can't see it - other than the thumbnail, which does look interesting but not too scary.

I agree, I wouldn't have tried to turn around there. But he made it w/o too much fuss, so it made for an interesting video. As did keeping the camera level and letting us see the lean back and forth. However, I think I could do that trail.

I also think it will. But what are you going to do about the front? You can't use 4wd with two different ratios. And on the vacuum line question, which I'd missed, I buy bulk vacuum line from the local parts store. But I don't remember what size. I cut into the line I'm replacing and determine the size by slipping a drill bit in.

Wow, some of those Jeeps make it look easy. No overhang and lots of ground clearance as well as travel seems to help a lot. But others of you were hitting and that makes it hard to get over things like that ledge. The noises had me wincing - not winching. (But there's no shame in winching given how hard that was.) And statements like "Just a bit more commitment" had me laughing. But y'all seem to work together well and everyone gets up in his own way.

How much room do you need for an intercooler? The grille on Big Blue has been trimmed on the back side to provide more clearance, but maybe not enough for what you need?

Having built it I don't want to tear it up. And, I'm not the most "out there" person. I like being reasonably safe and it takes others to coax me into doing risky things.