This is a dual stick setup on the D300 I am planning on putting in the postal. I should have done a "before" shot, but I was so into my welding that I didn't bother. One of these was a stock CJ-5 and one was some unknown D300 shifter. The "inner" one was about 3" wider than it is now and the outer one was about 6" longer. Now they fit together real closely with just enough clearance for the knobs.
(1-28-05) THE WRECK!!! This attempts to show what happened. The idiot pulled out right in front of me and the only reason that I didn't go through her driver's window was that I had just enough time to swerve partway into the two-way turn lane before impact.
(1-29-05) The aftermath of the wreck: The Postal after the wreck at the Jeep dealer for the insurance estimate... looking at that front tire just makes me hurt.
Ouch, this tire hit and rode over the front left corner of the car that pulled out in front of me.
Kinda hard to tell, but the center pin on this sprin is sheared off and the axle scooted back a bit along the spring.
Front right shackle hanger pulled away from the frame. Luckily it didn't damage the rare right-hand-drive steering box.
The spring also bent a good deal on the right side.
The shock is pushed at a slight angle.
The steering stabilizer took a shot and spun in the bracket in addition to denting to crap.
Overall front end shot.
The bumper bent a little on the right side
Straight-on shot.
(2-26-05) What's the first thing you do after finally getting your Jeep back from two different shops after having a wreck? Why fit the "new" front bumper and winch of course!
This is the "before" picture. The Jeep looks pretty normal from this side. You can just tell that the right front tire isn't quite where it should be.
Removing the front axle... the teardown begins!
(3-19-05) The new front Dana 44: This is before I broke it down to start the rebuild. It will get a Detroit locker and 4.56 gears.
Beefy stock Wagonner steering. This is from a 78 narrow-trac Waggy.
(3-27-05) Removed taillights: This is what was under the taillights and this is why I wanted to go with the Crusher Corners and LEDs. When I took a grinder to this, I found a lot of Bondo so the sheet metal is actually a lot worse than this looks.
The other side. Note where the lower hinge is for the rear door. I have to notch the corner armor out to allow this to be remounted...
The front right spring removed from the Jeep after the accident (duh). That's probably never going to work right again....
(6-27-05) Poison Spyder Customs Crusher Corners and Rocker Knockers: This is an angle with the corner in there too... I LOVE THEM! (even if I did have to break two body bolts off to get to this point...)
Unpainted, but mounted
I still need to notch the back edge of this one so I can reattach the rear door hinge...
The tailgate's not attached yet, but I want to get it mounted for this year...
Rocker slid into the body mounts, THE NASTY RUST HOLE IS GONE!!!!!!!!
(7-19-05) New Vanco brake booster! This is the old setup: note the space between the hood support rod and the booster. The duct tape is just there to support the end for when I pull the bolts out.
A leverage thing on the stock booster, rather complicated looking.
That same part of the new booster, one rod going straight in, very simple.
The new booster mounted up. Note the nice big bend I had to put in the support rod to clear the massive booster. For some reason, the resevoir positions are swapped, so the rear line is now too short, I'll have to get an extension and then it will be ready to go.
(7-20-05) Body lift and rocker final install: A series showing the condition of my body mount holes in the frame... this is before I cleaned them up with a wire brush and hit them with a shot of Rustoleum. One more way I'm lucky with this Jeep, they're in really good shape overall (and I only broke two bolts off in removing the stock mounts!!!)