good-times-rollin: Wile E

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Wile E

Gopher Flats
Moab, UT

Pearl, our 2013 JK, has been an awesome jeep.

Moab Rim...October 2016

All the modifications we have made to her have allowed us to successfully do some really hard obstacles on some difficult trails. Not one time (knock on wood) has she faltered or spent time in the shop for repairs.

Last October, we decided it was time to give Pearl a rest and invest in a jeep we could take out and enjoy without having to worry about breaking our only means of transportation.

We found a 1988 YJ a friend had for sale and so the adventure began.

Work began at M4O (Moab 4X4 Outpost) before we left for the winter. Below is our Dana 60 front axle being fitted with a M4O truss.

New King coilover shocks being installed.

And then, new Nitto 40" trail grappler tires were installed.

M4O installed PSC hydraulic steering...

and checked out all the running lights.

We headed out to run Hell's Revenge but discovered significant oil leaks at the trail head. It took major will power to use good judgement and return Wile E back to M4O where we left it with Steve Nance and his crew to give the YJ a good going over during the winter. Note the tire stickers didn't even get worn off.

So when we returned to Moab in mid March, we found Wile E ready to hit the trail with a re-built head & valve train assembly, M4O doors and a brand new freshly painted hood.

Here we are bringing Wile E. through the gate at Gopher Flats for the first time !

We've run the north side of Fins n' Things once, backward (south to north) Steelbender twice, and the Steelbender Loop once. All those trails are close to home...just in case. We've made several trips to town (at my request 'cause I'm loving it) and and in-between had Wile E back to M4O to change out rear coilerover springs and add bump stops, extend the exhaust pipe, and tweak the Teraflex transfer case linkage.

Our first pictures of Wile E on trail...thanks Dee !