Earlier in the winter I finally got the Jeep running and stored the neon. Well as expected the very first time my buddies and I go to the offroad park the Jeep broke. The trans and transfer case are completely shot and will require a rebuild and/replacements. Its all good however, my friend works are a Jeep dealership and will rebuild my trans for $200 plus parts and I have a spare transfer case from the parts jeep.
It could have been a LOT worse. My friend Justin (Dodge Ram) Hydrolocked his hemi and bent 3 con rods and the crank! Oh and the worst part? His warranty was the 3 year 36,000 mile sort and the truck was at 38,000 miles. He learned not to go through puddles that fast. But all is well now. His dad works for Chrysler and a new engine was sourced for a VERY good price.
Finished Jeep engine.
And this is when everything went VERY VERY wrong.
In puddle plug removal.
So after limping the jeep home and getting the Ram towed I put the jeep in storage and bought snow tires for the neon and raised it a few inches. I got new 195/60/15 Hankook IPikes with my works snow tire allowance (at Discount Tire if you live far enough from your store you get a allowance on snow tires. The only down side is you have to give them back in the spring). Ive had Dunlop M3s, Birdgestone Blizzaks, and Hankook Ice Bears and I have to say that the IPikes surpasses them in overall grip in the cold stuff for the money. Highly recommended!
But of course tires and a higher ride height is not really a full transition to Winter Assault Mode. So I bought lights, a lot of them! Hella 500 series with 130W yellow star bulbs (outer fog) and 130W driving (inner 2). With a custom light bar.
Then Joe, Jimmy, and I decided to go to Stony Metro Park to take some pictures of nature....yeah right. It quickly turned into a car shoot. We decided Jimmy takes better photos then us and should promptly be shoved into the trunk of both cars for pictures.
The mini really doesn't like to go sideways. The traction control can be turned off but the stability control cant.
And of course I have to do my signature "Rockford" move.
Now on to the Vids.
Loud engine knock. Dont mind the talking. And who knew a bent crank and 3 con rods would throw a code?
Entering "Lake Michigan". Normally thats filled with water and mud. Its been known to swallow trucks with 44's.
Now lets see if I can get out the same way I got in...
The Sport Trac pulling out the Ram. The Fords transfercase is stuck in 2HI. We left the hood up so no rocks would crack the windshield.
So all and all a good few days. All in the day in the life of a few idiots.
