Finally, my new Mastercraft Baja RS seats came in (ordered end of March) and I was able to install them this weekend. The install went as expected if you follow the video instructions on the Mastercraft website. I ordered the Dirtsport black fabric, lumbar support and pockets on the back of seats. The fold and tumble lever sits behind the seat belt and works well but can be a pain to get to. They are very, very comfortable.
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They are a tight fit when you have the Tuffy center console but the seats do move forward and back:
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rear view showing the seat pockets:
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I love the height of these seats but they do sit higher than the OEM versions, I had Buchanan Precision machine 1.5" seat risers which I removed and are now for sale:
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In early July I ran the Rubicon with Auburn Jeep Club which is always a good time. Saturday we avoid the traffic jams and head into Wentworth Springs, here is a quick video of my pal driving my TJ coming up the Springs:

 
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Finally, my new Mastercraft Baja RS seats came in (ordered end of March) and I was able to install them this weekend. The install went as expected if you follow the video instructions on the Mastercraft website. I ordered the Dirtsport black fabric, lumbar support and pockets on the back of seats. The fold and tumble lever sits behind the seat belt and works well but can be a pain to get to. They are very, very comfortable.
View attachment 353321

View attachment 353325

They are a tight fit when you have the Tuffy center console but the seats do move forward and back:
View attachment 353322

rear view showing the seat pockets:
View attachment 353323

I love the height of these seats but they do sit higher than the OEM versions, I had Buchanan Precision machine 1.5" seat risers which I removed and are now for sale:
View attachment 353324

In early July I ran the Rubicon with Auburn Jeep Club which is always a good time. Saturday we avoid the traffic jams and head into Wentworth Springs, here is a quick video of my pal driving my TJ coming up the Springs:

View attachment 353328

Very nice, I see you got the works options (seat heaters too?) I’ve been pretty happy with mine with exception to the recline lever on the passenger side that releases on its own sometimes. They offer a kit that relocates the fold and tumble lever to the front of the seat next to the slide adjust bar.

https://www.4wd.com/p/mastercraft-safety-seat-adapter-bracket-624204/_/R-GNNN-624204
1661252843180.png
 
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Very nice, I see you got the works options (seat heaters too?) I’ve been pretty happy with mine with exception to the recline lever on the passenger side that releases on its own sometimes. They offer a kit that relocates the fold and tumble lever to the front of the seat next to the slide adjust bar.

https://www.4wd.com/p/mastercraft-safety-seat-adapter-bracket-624204/_/R-GNNN-624204
View attachment 353339

that kit looks just like the adapter kit they sent me where the lever is installed (passenger seat) back outside corner of seat right where the seat belt retainer is located. Again, it works, just a bit of a pain to get to. I don't use the fold and tumble that much anyway since I rarely have the back seat installed...

...I elected not to get the seat heaters...
 
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This past weekend was spent on the Niagara Rim Trail since the Mosquito Fire closed down the Rubicon Trail and the smoke from the wildfires was too harsh on the Fordyce Trail. This is the first time I had run this trail and it was more fun than I thought it would be. Friday afternoon was spent exploring some of the forest roads in the area, this pic is just below Eagle Peak.

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We spent the night at a pal's cabin in Twain Harte Friday night instead of camping, woke up Saturday and drove to the trailhead. The trail has some technical spots, but nothing too dramatic. There are a few spots on the trail you can play around in.

Somewhere on Lion's Butt:
IMG_4836.JPG


I missed my line:

finally crawling out:

mini sluice:

all in all, a fun couple of days. I must say too, this was the first trip sitting in the MasterCraft seats and they were super comfortable, I am glad I made that purchase. Also, all of us now have GMRS radios and they were flawless...
 
This past weekend was spent on the Niagara Rim Trail since the Mosquito Fire closed down the Rubicon Trail and the smoke from the wildfires was too harsh on the Fordyce Trail. This is the first time I had run this trail and it was more fun than I thought it would be. Friday afternoon was spent exploring some of the forest roads in the area, this pic is just below Eagle Peak.

View attachment 360602

We spent the night at a pal's cabin in Twain Harte Friday night instead of camping, woke up Saturday and drove to the trailhead. The trail has some technical spots, but nothing too dramatic. There are a few spots on the trail you can play around in.

Somewhere on Lion's Butt:
View attachment 360603

I missed my line:

finally crawling out:

mini sluice:

all in all, a fun couple of days. I must say too, this was the first trip sitting in the MasterCraft seats and they were super comfortable, I am glad I made that purchase. Also, all of us now have GMRS radios and they were flawless...

Looks super fun! I love when guys post wheeling videos in build threads. I like seeing the builds in action! Nice job recovering on that line.
 
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On the way home from my last run in September, I started hearing a clunking sound in the drivetrain somewhere. I finally had a chance to pull the rear drive shaft and it went away. Here is the culprit:




Clearly, I didn't grease enough, I will order a new CV flange from Tom Woods mañana. I have a few winter projects planned and hope to complete all of them in the coming months. The problem I have is no garage so I have to plan around raindrops. Hopefully, by spring time, I will have raised body mounts burned in, which means I have to modify my Savvy cross member, retighten exhaust down pipes to manifold and install Savvy corner armor that has been sitting in my shop for 18mos.

Hope all y'all had a nice Thanksgiving!
 
Hopefully, by spring time, I will have raised body mounts burned in, which means I have to modify my Savvy cross member, retighten exhaust down pipes to manifold and install Savvy corner armor that has been sitting in my shop for 18mos.

That is the worst feeling in the world. I'm in the same boat! :rolleyes:
 
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That is the worst feeling in the world. I'm in the same boat! :rolleyes:
install Savvy corner armor that has been sitting in my shop for 18mos.

I hear all that! I was going through some old emails, and I've been accumulating parts for my auto swap for 10 months or so...Picked up the Transmission in Feb 22 and I'm just now getting around to doing some installation work. Shameful.
 
I hear all that! I was going through some old emails, and I've been accumulating parts for my auto swap for 10 months or so...Picked up the Transmission in Feb 22 and I'm just now getting around to doing some installation work. Shameful.

It's been that long since you got the trans !? I feel like you told me a few weeks ago. .. Man where does the time go?
 
On the way home from my last run in September, I started hearing a clunking sound in the drivetrain somewhere. I finally had a chance to pull the rear drive shaft and it went away. Here is the culprit:


View attachment 379952

Clearly, I didn't grease enough, I will order a new CV flange from Tom Woods mañana. I have a few winter projects planned and hope to complete all of them in the coming months. The problem I have is no garage so I have to plan around raindrops. Hopefully, by spring time, I will have raised body mounts burned in, which means I have to modify my Savvy cross member, retighten exhaust down pipes to manifold and install Savvy corner armor that has been sitting in my shop for 18mos.

Hope all y'all had a nice Thanksgiving!

I don't miss those days of working outside. Now I won't even start on how long I've had some of my parts sitting in my garage.
 
Rear driveshaft has been rebuilt. I ended up talking with @Shawn at Tom Wood's explaining my issue, and, after quizzing me a little more, we determined that not only was the centering ball messed up, so was the post it sits on that is welded to the rear half of drive shaft. So, I sent my rear d/s in and had them go through it and re-balance it, all for no cost to me, other than the parts I needed. I tip my hat to @Shawn at Tom Wood's and his staff, all top notch, A-1, quality parts and service.

I was also finally able to re-tighten the exhaust down pipes (15mm nut) which were loose, PITA by the way. All is good there. Next up, raised body mounts after modifying my Savvy X-member, then, hopefully, Savvy corner armor. I hope to begin once duck season is over.

IMG_5395.jpg


I wish all y'all a very, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bee safe...
 
Rear driveshaft has been rebuilt. I ended up talking with @Shawn at Tom Wood's explaining my issue, and, after quizzing me a little more, we determined that not only was the centering ball messed up, so was the post it sits on that is welded to the rear half of drive shaft. So, I sent my rear d/s in and had them go through it and re-balance it, all for no cost to me, other than the parts I needed. I tip my hat to @Shawn at Tom Wood's and his staff, all top notch, A-1, quality parts and service.

I was also finally able to re-tighten the exhaust down pipes (15mm nut) which were loose, PITA by the way. All is good there. Next up, raised body mounts after modifying my Savvy X-member, then, hopefully, Savvy corner armor. I hope to begin once duck season is over.

View attachment 386553

I wish all y'all a very, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Bee safe...

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and good luck with the ducks Mike!
 
On my way to my duck club yesterday, stopped at a left turn signal and my Jeep dies. A fellow Jeeper helps me push my Jeep into the parking lot. No start, no warning. I get the dreaded P0320 code, crankshaft position sensor. It's dumping rain. Fortunately, I was across the street from an O'Reilly's. Unfortunately, all they had was their MasterPro brand. Beggars can't be choosers. I ended up changing the damn thing in the pouring rain which was one, big PITA. I came home and just ordered the Mopar one as a backup.

This minor setback got me thinking and I have questions.

Why do these sensors go out? I am guessing old age more as my TJ is now 19y/o with 97K miles on it.
If old age, what other sensors, if any, do you carry with you in case one fails?
what other sensors should I start gathering as preventative maintenance ? I just ordered new NGK?NTK O2 sensors since mine are original.

any others to consider?
 
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Why do these sensors go out?

Unlike what most people think, electronic stuff doesn't work forever. While some items have a long life time, Most companies that produce this stuff only guarantees it to work for X number of years, depending on design complexity and operating conditions. While some parts will work well over the mean operating life time, it's not a given and should not be taken for granted. Circuit reliability degrades over time and individual device-->circuit-->product aging is a BIG field of study in the semiconductor industry.

While auto sensors are not as complex as a microprocessor, the same rules of physics apply to both.
 
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Unlike what most people think, electronic stuff doesn't work forever. While some items have a long life time, Most companies that produce this stuff only guarantees it to work for X number of years, depending on design complexity and operating conditions. While some parts will work well over the mean operating life time, it's not a given and should not be taken for granted. Circuit reliability degrades over time and individual device-->circuit-->product aging is a BIG field of study in the semiconductor industry.

While auto sensors are not as complex as a microprocessor, the same rules of physics apply to both.

I figured as much, nice to hear your professional input. I just wish that damn sensor gave me a warning!
 
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Ive got a spare coil, spare CPS and an ARB pressure switch. I should try to find another CAM sensor
 
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