Project VXOverLand

[Thelgord]

To mount an antenna here takes someone who is very brave, or very stupid. This is what I get for my lack of planning. Granted, I love the location. The fit is in perfection (3mm gap from mount to taillight). To get it done? A nightmare.

Ok, I’m being a little melodramatic. But it is very difficult to do. First, the top bolt must be shortened so that is just a bit shorter than the bottom bolt. Next, the plastic liner for the bolt cannot be used. Yeah, the one that keeps the metal that carriers the transmission from touching any other metal? Can’t use it. It’s to thick. You will need to make one that is much much thinner. I used a drinking straw from a sports bottle and electrical tape. You will also need skinny fingers. Seriously. The nut for the top bolt is almost to thick to fit.

After 6 hours of fighting (yes, Vixen demanded blood), and working though each of the challenges as they presented themselves, it is done, and it is nearly perfect.

I get a lot of antenna wobble from the spring so I may take that off. And while the radio is wired up, and the antenna is tuned, I still need to actually mount the radio. Just two more screws, but I still need to do it.

[89Vette]

That's a pretty good spot. I gotta admit I didn't think people even used CBs any more. I guess it's still about the only method to OPENLY communicate on the open road though.

Plus, I worked with a guy that's president of the shortwave radio club in Lawrence KS. So I SHOULD know people are still using "over-the-air" communications.

[Thelgord]

Hahaha now that’s funny

Seriously though, I use it when traveling long distance and most jeeps on the trail have at least 2 in any group you find. I haven’t decided on handheld or vehicle mount for the GMRS/FRS setup yet.

[89Vette]

Hahaha now that’s funny

Seriously though, I use it when traveling long distance and most jeeps on the trail have at least 2 in any group you find. I haven’t decided on handheld or vehicle mount for the GMRS/FRS setup yet.

Good idea.... Come back Rock-Reticulator...got your back...Wait! Whaaaaa Look out for the GIANT BOULDER!!!!

Or....

HEY! Little Big Rocker.... Am I the only one that left my beer cooler back in the hotel room?

[Thelgord]

That’s a big ten four ... although I did find a free cooler back there!

[Thelgord]

Ok, I have to cut myself off from buying stuff for a while. I still have to finish the driver window (realign the track). Replace the passenger window motor. Install my Curt Hitch. Install trailer wiring. Finish the mounting of my CB. And now? Now I made the mistake of going to Harbor Freight. I got the BadLands 12,000 pound winch for $200 on a close out sale. I also picked up the mount plate so I can use it to build my winch mount/crash bumper.

No more buying stuff until I get all of this installed! LOL!

[edit]
Almost forgot about the external tire carrier that I got to put on the rear door. Still need proper hardware and another 16” rim.
[/edit]

[Thelgord]

Spent yesterday doing a lot of the non-exciting stuff, cleaning up more of the electrical work. I have found more than few wires that run to ground (a simple screw through the floor) than I don't know what to do with. Well, I do, I remove them. I should have said I have no idea what the intent of the wire was. I remove the screws, patch the wholes ot prevent rust, toss the wire out. They are not connected to anything, they are just there.

I also just discovered that the cruise control doesn’t work. So that will need to be diagnosed as well.

And finally I think I may have a broken top radiator mount/clip/whatever thing. So there is that.

[ipd]

hope you treated the area around where you drilled for the antenna, so that it won't rust with rain.

[Thelgord]

Of course

[sm0ke3T1947]

Looks real good. Great spot for the CB antenna.

[Thelgord]

I have spent the better part of a month just enjoying the VX. Yeah I know, not much work getting done, but it is just so much fun to drive. Toady, the ABS light came on. Damn it...

[89Vette]

I assume you've seen the thread/links to the ebay rebuilder? .... if it's the controller vs a wheel sensor. Good news is I've seen wheel sensors coming down. They used to be something stupid like $400 or more each. Maybe it was $600? IDK. Now I think they are getting down in the $100-$200 range?

FWIW, I've run w/o working ABS for nearly 5yrs now. Now so scary when I grew up with a generation of cars that never had it.

[Thelgord]

No, I actually haven’t seen that thread yet. The issue is recent enough I havn’t started to diagnose it yet. It seems to come and go, so I am thinking most likely a sensor, but I really wont know until I start to dig into it. Thanks for the info!

[89Vette]

See if these threads help....

http://www.vehicross.info/showthread...S+brake+module

http://www.vehicross.info/showthread...S+brake+module

http://www.vehicross.info/showthread...S+brake+module

[Thelgord]

Took off my old crash bumper today:







I created two frame mounts, mostly. My drill took a dump so I had to stop to get a new one. I also have a “universal” winch plate from harbor freight. Tomorrow I will complete the mounts and then I need to find a way to get the winch plate to the mounts.