KrawlTex

A solid month since a post... I'm getting worse and worse. Guess that means we are busy, and boy have we been. Rico Garcia has been a great addition to the team. We would be even deeper in our two week wait to get new customer work in if it wasn't for this Wyo-tech graduate joining the team when he did!

We reorganized the shop after Tony's buggy was completed in October. Mack's CJ7 finally got the 5.3L, 4L60E, and NP241 dropped in his Jeep, with a 3 link coilover suspension and King shocks underneath it. We will be finishing it up in the next few weeks. Ed's FJcruiser got some flush mount skids out of 3/16" 6061 aluminum. We cut the factory transmission crossmember out and built one flush with the bottom of the frame. After cutting skid plates that flow from the bottom of his fab fours bumper to the gas tank, Chris TIG welded the pieces together as well as counter sunk all of the mounting bolts with allen head flat hardware.

John's 1966 FJ45 is getting a custom safari rack inspired by the rigs in Africa, used for hunting. After a 4 year frame off restoration at Wimberly Fourwheel Drive, this vintage Yota came straight to our shop for tube work. Look for pics very soon. Another vintage truck at the shop is Mark LaRue's (of LaRue Tactical), M715 Kaiser truck. We are leveling the rear suspension and sourcing some longer brake lines for him.

Steve's CJ7 has gotten linked front and rear with full hydro. It's getting some finishing touches before it leaves the shop this week. Speaking of ongoing sagas, Jake's 12V suburban is getting the final tweaks before it goes to Colorado indefinitely... new injectors, upgraded injector pump and turbo, national front leaves, reworked shock mounts, and a few little odds and ends.

Mike's Excursion is evolving in to an urban assault vehicle. After a complete exterior rhino lining, we have installed a larger Garret turbo, 5" exhaust, and intake. It is receiving a 6" Skyjacker lift, 35" Toyo MT's on black aluminum wheels, and zombie killer bumpers front and rear... swingout and ladder included.

We finally finished Chris' AW4 swap in his TJ. Now we know every possible combo for doing this swap and the advantages/pitfalls of certain donor transmissions and harnesses. Boy, was that confusing! Speaking of TJ's with AW4 swaps, we are regearing Patrick's with 5.13 gears and ARB's. It is also getting a slight wheelbase stretch and a aluminum "stretch" fuel cell. Mark's TJ will be in here later in the week for 4.56 gears and Eli's monster wrangler awaits a warrantied OX locker.

Krawltex is also doing some cage work for Don Rucker automotive from Lakeway. The first is an interior sport cage in an 89 Bronco. The second will be adding to a CJ7 cage. Speaking of cage work, we are scheduled to do some more on a Scout and another CJ5 at the end of the month.

Hopefully we will find enough time to tear down the race truck this winter for next year's adventures... and finish Chris and Ted's buggies to add some ultra four competition in the EDR series.