Arizona Land Cruiser Club Association

It all started out with the following vehicles

Bob Kessler FJ80(lead)
Dave Gore with Tom Devereux Riding. FJ60
Jeremy Muir and Kim Hager (FJ4Runner)
Rob and Chris Jaynes FJ40
Marcel Clement YES his FJ40
Randal Mills and Mike Messer FJ40
Ron Drwinga 4Runner( Sandcat)
Randy Drwinga LX450
Richard Drwinga 4Runner
Joe Chott FJ80
Craig Tellez with Kyle and Chase. CJ7 Jeep
Troy Toy truck

We all met at the restaurant for 8 am and left for the air down spot. Left there about 9:15 all eager to go.
I was a little nervous since I had not have time to test my rig off road, only on the street and little at that.
We got to the crown King turn off and the wash board was the worst I have ever seen.
We got to the first obstacle and I kept spinning out even with the rear and front lockers on. Craig tells me only my rear wheels are turning. Ok time to figure out how this new twin stick works. Pulled one lever and wow the front engages and no tire spin.
We kept going and I sundenly had this ridiculously loud grinding noise every time I went downhill and touched the breaks. So I figured the transfer case was not totatlly engaging. I got a lot of advise over and over again. No one seemed to believe I could actually pull a stick back and try it in neutral and try it in park.
Craig even tried yelling the same things over again to me in a loud pissed off voice. NO go still would not stop the grinding. When going up hill no problems.
Continued to axle hill did that one.
We all got through Randy had a hard time getting up one section, till we stacked a few good rocks under one area and off he went.
Then we get the radio call Dave has a whole in his transfer case.
He stuck a piece of wood in it and we got to the lunch place.
Bob and team pulls out my huge cooking stove and Rob had his little barbeque going.
We cooked chicken, burgers and had beans and green chili, potato salad.
With cheese and all sorts of dips and chips.
Meanwhile Dave tried some of this new epoxy putty, you work together and just apply it to the spot.
He did, but was reluctant that it would work. Others had seen or used this stuff before and were stating it was good stuff. Dave never trusts me.
As everyone was eating I had everyone sign a release form and fill in membership forms for new people.
I forgot to take out the hats and shirts.
Took membership dues from several people.
Dave then found a second hole and patched that one.
At that point Randal realized the trail would take us out 40 miles on the other side of Wickenburg and he has a trailer queen so it does not do well on long highway drives.
My rig was grinding and Dave had possible leaking issues.
So Randal, Dave and Craig decided to head back and keep each other company.
On the way back Craig breaks a shackle. He had a spare so we radioed Dave and Randal we would make repairs and meet them on top of the hills.
Well one hour later we met them at the top.
From there nothing exiting happened. Dave’s patch held and from what he told me is still doing well 5 days after the fix.
Once I got home and had time to look at my rig I found out the body was slightly rubbing the stick shift for low to hi.
It actually was not engaging totally so a big bump going downhill would push it out of gear.
But then I checked the customer exhaust pipe that passed pretty close to the front drive shaft.
Holly Crap it was totally beat up to hell.
That was the really loud grinding sound I heard. It knocked 2 bolts out of the drive shaft.
So I went back to the muffler guy and he said I can not believe you have that much travel in the front drive shaft. So he pushed it a bit more forward but it down to a 2 ¼ inch to cross over the oil pan and left me a little room to put a hear shield. I found this heat shield that will allow air to pass between it and the pipe. That way it will not crystallize your metal exhaust.
He also told me to put at least one more inch on my bump stops.
So I will lose some upward travel but it is better than taking out the exhaust system.
So I think I have the bugs ironed out.

Trail report by Marcel Clement - 75 FJ40