Monday, March 22, 2010

Last week was such a whirlwind, I didn't have time to update the blog. Ted made some head way on the Tahoe SAS. After realizing we needed some different heims, we went ahead and ordered frame and link brackets from Ruff Stuff. They should be here mid week and work can resume. For the links to clear the frame and have a decent ride height, a front axle crossmember with triangulated upper links will be in order. It also looks like it will sit about 8" taller than stock. This means the add a leaf and block in the rear will not be quite enough to level the truck out. More than likely, the Tahoe will be getting a rear shackle flip.

Ted also built some sliders and is in the process of tying the cage in to the frame on Jason Hall's stretched early Bronco. After some foot plates are fabricated, the body will be clearanced and some extra supports will be tied in. Patrick's Runicon was in here for a leaking front diff seal and an auto skid plate modification.Looks like there is also another Strand van to knock out maintenance work. Ted should be here soon to help with the EB, the Strand van, and have the race car in tow.

Matt tackled the hydro assist on Eli's YJ, a budget boost and body lift on Paul's TJ, and a clutch on Nicholas' Rubicon last week. I focussed on book keeping, office duties, shipping out the t-case back to Inchworm, ordering materials, and reworking the front bumper on Jake's 12V.

This week we will be very busy at the shop. The Community Impact Newspaper for Cedar Park and Leander will be here tomorrow. If you get a chance, check out their website and newspaper for a full write up on the shop. There should be pics, video, and a story about Krawltex on the web shortly. On Wednesday I will be meeting with Ed about the possibility of a new class 7 desert race team through the shop. Preliminary discussions point towards a Ranger or Tacoma campaign in the Best in the Desert Series.

Later on Wednesday, I will be meeting with the autotech instructor at Vista Ridge highschool. We will be exploring the opportunity to bring in their advanced class on a weekend and teaching their best students about roll cage design. Krawltex looks forward to showing the future fabricators our class 5 buggy, as well as giving some hands on experience tube bending and notching a family cage on Marc's TJ.

Beyond that, we need to prep the class 5 for the Sweetwater race this weekend. Krawltex will be closed on Friday so we can tech and prerun the car. It has been a long time coming, with the front suspension down since October. In the mean time, we will be finishing Jason's cage work, doing a throwout bearing and possibly clutch in my Superduty, road testing Eli's YJ, fixing a Strand van, pulling every thing together for the AW4 swap in Chris' TJ, working on the Tahoe SAS, finishing out the 12V bumpers for powder coat, waiting for the rear King shocks and t-case on Ed's FJ cruiser, and possibly starting on the 5.3L, cage and full width conversion on Mack's CJ7.