Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Guess it has been quite a while since there has been a shop update. It’s amazing how busy we can get around here, but our momentum has increased a good bit. Joseph DeLeon from the Community Impact Newspaper has featured Krawltex in this month’s Cedar Park/Leander edition. If you have a residence in either of these cities, check your mail box this Friday! There is a full story on how we started, where we are now, and what we have cooked up for the future. As well as the print copy, you can view an online profile with video interview and a pictorial slide show of some current projects. This will also be live this Friday. As far as the daily grind goes, well… we are swamped as usual. Chris Cook returns on Monday to help strengthen our team in the fabrication side. Krawltex looks forward to welcoming him back!

Since our last update, a ton of projects have passed through these doors. Ted and Matt got the rebuilt Inchworm t-case back in to Ed’s FJcruiser. Somewhere along the way, a TRD supercharger ended up on top of that motor and she runs very well. Gerardo’s 05 Tacoma received a 6” Procomp lift as well as some 35” BFG’s. Alec’s Discovery has a new rear side window. Jason’s LJ has a brand new CV driveshaft and SYE kit, with a 4wd shifter that doesn’t bind. Eli’s monster YJ is back on the road courtesy of a PSC ultimate hydro assist kit with a new box, pump, Moog ball joints and new wheel bearings. The 12V sliders came back from powdercoat and now the exhaust has been reinstalled. The 5.3L and 4l60E are mocked in place of Mack’s CJ7. Eric and Andrew’s Dodge AAM front axle is trussed and ready to be linked in their Tahoe as soon as the passenger side frame rail is notched and plated to match its twin. Jared’s YJ now has a body lift to complement the suspension, and tuck his 35’s under the wheel wells.

On the repair side of things, there have been several Strand vans receiving tune ups, brakes, and hub bearings. Jack’s Grand Cherokee now has a cold AC system and new CV shafts. There are zero exhaust leaks on Dave’s Sidekick. JB’s Yaris and Sequoia have fresh oil. The brakes on Grady’s Cummins are no longer metal on metal.

In the evenings, Ted and I have been revamping his YJ for the Bryan MOROC event. We removed the rear tub, boat sided the frame rails, and built a trophy truck inspired Baja cage. Seats and fuel cell are mounted. The dash, wiring, steering column, front coil overs, links, and full hydro steering are still on the chopping block. We may not make the dead line.

Currently, Matt is finishing details on the 12v’s rear bumper for powder coat. Ted is also on the diesel suburban, finishing all of the interior gauge wiring. Jake should be arriving very soon, as well as the King reservoir shocks! JR’s CJ7 is getting a new fuel pump and fresh oil. Hal’s Suburban will have some new brakes. Al’s CJ5 comp buggy will get some front axle plating, rear tube work, and winch wiring. The Tahoe will be on its front suspension by the end of next week. Hopefully we’ll be able to have the Chevy drive train and cooling system mounted in the Jeep. Krawltex will link/coil over the full width axles and build the interior cage for Mack. And in three weeks, we will cage Patrick’s Rubicon.

And then there is also the class 7 race truck that might have a new home in Texas… but I don’t want to spill any more info until Ted and I test race it in the SNORE Dusty Times 250 this May.