3B Project

[81 CJ5]

I went to Catahoula this past weekend. 

Day 1: I arrived at the park and started my last pre trip inspection. There was no oil showing on the dipstick so in went 5 quarts of 10w-30, topped off the tank, and aired down. I started down the main road to the east side of the property and saw a couple of XJs and some people watching me come down the road so I stopped and asked for directions. One of them jumped in and I followed another guy (on his Honda SxS around the main road. After giving me the tour, we went back to their camp and I decided to venture out on my own until they were ready for the night ride.

I ended up going down the hill at Head'em Up. I lost traction and slid off into the washout. Once at the bottom I looked around trying to figure out the best way to get out. I couldn't make the ditch and tried to make my own bypass but there was a lack of traction and diff clearance. I took a couple of runs at the hill I went down and kept sliding off into the washout.





I took another stab at the hill and when I slid in the washout I kept my foot on the floor. The tach was bouncing around 4500 last time I glanced at it. That ended up being a pattern the entire weekend. Notice the smoke still wafting through the air. I probably killed every mosquito in the area.



There wasn't much to the night ride.

[81 CJ5]

Day 2: I woke up at 6 and headed down to the crew's camping area, they cooked breakfast, and I got to meet Allan. He had a modified XJ with a Ford HP D44 with RCV axles, locker, 5.13's, Ford 9" rear with a strange engineering 3rd member and spool, AX-15, and some other goodies. After breakfast, everyone followed Allan around the park. First, he went through the ditch at Head'em Off then we headed through the creek to my first hill climb.



Hopefully, you don't mind the commentary on these videos and you can see them. If not, I'll try to download and reupload them. Before this climb, they had their doubts on the 3b's capability and so did I. The engine is woefully underpowered even in 2 low. By the time I'd get up a hill it'd be ready to stall out. After making the climb the group did a walkaround of the 3b and seemed more interested in it than before.  

Here is the beginning of this climb.





We then headed toward Baby Steps.



The entrance to Baby Steps. This is the easy part. They didn't expect me to make it through the first half.



Halfway up the climb. I couldn't "crawl" this trail. I failed to at the entrance so skinny pedal it was.






Here is the hard part of Baby Steps. This hill is fairly steep and it has two stumps sticking up that will grab you. I promise the pictures don't do this terrain justice.






After I broke Allan had to pull/winch me up the rest of the trail until his winch gave out at the end and we waited for a skid steer to pull both of us up the hill.



Soon after this last picture, the XJ slid into a rut hard and it popped the left rear tire bead which slowed down the recovery. Allan's winch almost got us up the hill but it got too hot and melted something.



The park owner showed up and pulled us out with his skid steer and we started on trail repairs.



The 1310 joints on the rear driveshaft from Tom Wood don't accept standard 1310 caps and the cross had been damaged so I had to drive to the camp in front wheel drive. I got some body damage. The lip of the tub was folded out and there is a small dent.




Allan gave me a spicer 1310 joint and he had some used u joint straps. One was bent but it looked better than my old ones.





I'm still waiting for some videos to be uploaded but I'll go ahead and post what pictures I have.  

Day 2: After lunch, Allan fixed his winch and I got the u joint swapped out and we went back out. Since the 3b had no nickname Joe decided to call it Old Smokey.






This is Rolling Rock. The trail lives up to its name. It's a steep hill climb and it's part of a race that is held here. Allan started heading up it and a large rock got stuck under the XJ so they had to back down to the entrance and start again but another rock kicked up and he went sideways. He got out of the XJ and it started to roll sideways and his ankle was pinned between the rocker and a large rock. The parking brake cable broke. He did more maneuvering and ended up on this large rock. A slight breeze would've flipped it over. We got the kids out of the back and winched the rock out from under the tire and we went back to camp to figure out the extent of Allan's injuries.




Random picture I took.



We left Allan at the camp and I followed Joe while Blake tagged along in someone's XJ. Well, the XJ overheated and couldn't make the top of the hill and I wasn't backing down the hill so I made my own line. On the first try, the saplings I ran over got me hung up and I lost traction so I backed down and gave it another shot. I hugged that small tree to the left and came out on two wheels. They said that was some crazy stuff and talked about that the rest of the afternoon. I went back up the hill again after we got the XJ back down. Made it in 2nd gear barely.

[fun in dirt [Veteran Member]]

Sounds like an adventure for sure!

[Brake Weight [Veteran Member]]

Looks like fun.

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Awesome write-up! Thank you!

[81 CJ5]

Started wiring the winch this afternoon. I hope to finish by this weekend and test it out. 



I'll have to get used to this look. The round bar is part of an old Meyer snow plow mount. I've had the thought of building a plow for moving dirt around. 

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Not a bad idea. I've often considered putting a mower deck under the FM.

[81 CJ5]

Finished for now. The parts store didn't have the switch I wanted so I picked up a knife switch for now. I sprayed all the connections with CRC terminal protectant hoping to keep corrosion down and liquid tape to seal off the crimps. I need to order a set of boots to cover the wire lugs and it will be done after that.



A 3 wire extension cord was perfect for wiring the controls. It had already been cut in the past so no loss there. The main power wire is fused and it goes to this kill switch so the buttons are only energized when it's flipped up. The led light lets me know it's hot. The only momentary switches at the part store were these chintzy buttons. They'll make do for now.




I wanted a pto winch but this will have to suffice. It's fairly fast with no weight. In the future, I'd like to pick up a synthetic rope to replace this rusty old cable. Didn't plan to add a winch so soon but apparently, I can't drive and need one.

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Those are good old winches.

[81 CJ5]

Last weekend's trip to Catahoula. I broke the passenger d30 axle, lost the rear shaft, and the ball joints pulled out of the passenger side axle. My winch cable snapped too but the winch did great.






Allen and Jessie showed up and I started to follow them around and the trails. I had to bypass most of the hill climbs and then I had carburetor issues but I made it back to the truck and cleaned the carb again and all was fine. I went ahead and removed the windshield because I planned on doing things that would knock out the glass.




This is where I decided to grenade my axle and rear driveshaft. I had just made it down the first part of the tunnel and I needed more gas so I was turning around to go get some. I kept sliding into the washout and on my last run, things broke. I almost tore off my top hitting a small pine tree at the bottom of the hill. Getting me out took two winches because both of them weren't up to the task. I winched myself up halfway and this guy in 4 runner decided to try and snatch me with my winch cable still attached and that's when it snapped. Time for synthetic rope.





The ol girl still drove up the trailer with one tire power. I probably shouldn't beat on it too hard. The right side of the tub split at the seam and is about ready to fall off. A few more trees and dirt hills and there won't be much tub left. I sheared off the transfercase bushing mount bolt. The passenger locking hub flange is loose and there's possibly something broke in there. The power steering pump is probably dead too.