Just sharing some pics and vids from MountainExplorer territory...

[mountainexplorer]

It's been a long time since I've been on here. Going through some of the posts I see alot of new names and some old familiar ones still. Anyways, figured I'd take the time to come back for a bit and share some pics from the past year, since it's seemed like its been a couple years since Ive really been on here.

My old 2wd crew cab Cab went onto a friends truck to become a shortbox crew cab.

"Herbie on Steroids" was born last fall (Bug on a '75 K5 frame)

This year Herbie graduated up to 3/4 ton axles and 44" Swampers and a 402 big block.

Later last fall, the Blazabbit was born (VW Rabbit pickup body on a '77 Blazer frame)

And this year got a Dana 60 and 44" Boggers.

Both VW's on 44's were used in a friend's wedding.

And sadly, the Blazabbit died a month after the wedding on the way to a parade. The only time any passengers were ever allowed to ride on it, and this happened. Luckily, no one was hurt or killed.

I bought a Dodge to tow with:

Used the heck out of it for 4 months until the tabs expired, and am now tearing it apart. Why? 12-valve Cummins+ 1981 Crew cab= my ultimate tow rig.


The 4x4 Mini-Van project is soon to be underway. (Yes, seriousely)

The Buick Electra and Pontiac Ventura 4x4 projects are in progress. The Ventura is going on a K5 frame.

My Jeep Wagoneer finally has a 60 front, and 70 rear, with 38" Boggers (still not done yet)

I put 44" Boggers on my Truck Blazer, 5.38 gears, and then more recently, a 496 Big Block to replace the 396, and a flamed nose clip.

Ive been breaking Dana 60 front end parts.

So my Big Crew Cab project is now getting 2.5 ton Rockwells. I obtained them last winter after selling, yes, actually selling, 5 Dana 60 fronts.
The current Dana 60 count is down to 22.

I converted my $500 1983 C10 2wd truck to a truck K30 on a 1-ton frame with Dana 60 front.

My FJ55 Landcruiser got torn apart to put Chevy 1-ton axles under it.

And I have decided to have a car crusher come up and haul away my 100+ junk cars and trucks in my field.

There's lots more but I dont wanna bore anyone who reads this far. Anyways, theres a bunch of pics, and here's some video. I guess I'll go back to browsing around and seeing whats new around the forums, even though I'm stuck still as a broke non-paying member.

VIDEOs:
Moyie Mud Bog Spring 2008: Shows my Orange K5, my Truck Blazer on 44's with the old 396 motor, and both VW's (The Blazabbit and Herbie on Steroids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru5jWZ-wOlI

Annual "Cabin Fever" trail run last spring. I took my stepside with a throw in motor, friends went with two K5's, the Blazabbit, and a rockcrawler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alloE-1GQxc

"Bouncy Suburban"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oa01BqBP6Q

Mix of video clips 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfdZBSWBYrg

Mix of video clips 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXW0iEEA3BM

Mix of video clips 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhttsUNhQQ4

Mud Days 2008 at my place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9dh14gmDGw

And a bunch more on youtube.

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

wow! what kinda buisness you in? you look like you have a good time makin crazy cross bred mudders! awesome stuff man, im almost certain this kinda stuff wouldnt ever bore any of us!

 

[lectric80]

I hope some of that old iron I see in that last pic didn't go to scrap. I really want a new project, and I may just be willing to run up and pick something out if the price is right.

 

[mountainexplorer]

Well, I'm the one with the standard "boring" 73-87 Chevy stuff... but others in the group of wheeling friends have been coming up with ideas. Ok, so the 4x4 Buick idea was mine, but it and a few of my other "projects" I'll never get to have become adopt-a-projects I've been letting friends assemble if I supply the parts (from parts rigs meaning no cost for me to speak of).

The 4x4 Buick concept is one (still not on a frame yet):
http://www.allanstrucks.50megs.com/images/buickconcept.jpg

The Ventura is another, as well as "Titanic", an International Travelall body going onto a Suburban frame on 44" swampers:
http://www.allanstrucks.50megs.com/cgi-bin/i/images/titanic.jpg

This video shows some of my projects:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNX2FEvdvfs

The Mini-Van is a friends idea, that started out as a joke when we rolled my 44" bogger next to it. It was his Dad's minivan that they used to drive him around as his health was ailing, and even he himself said it'd be cool to have the mini-van on big tires. He passed away last fall, and now it's gonna go ahead and be built on a Dodge frame and nicknamed "Noah's Ark", for his dad, Noah. Plus it's already got that wood grain on the side.

The two VW's are both different friend's independant ideas, which was pretty cool most of this year shwoing up to some of the events with not one, but two VW's on 44" tires that both started out as K5's.

They've all been relatively low budget home built rigs. Wayne has about $1000 into Herbie and $900 of that was the 44's.

Rigs from the Moyie Mud Bog we see every year are a big inspiration to be different. Rigs like a 6-wheel drive hearse, numerous car bodied 4x4's and other things.
Here's a page full of pics of some common and "unique" rigs from up there.
http://www.mudallica.50megs.com/moyie_spring_2008.html

 

[73redblaze]

this could possibly be the coolest thread i have ever subscribed to!

 

[mountainexplorer]

I'm just tired of having my place looking like a wrecking yard. Don't worry, I'm saving anything of value, and anything rare. But all the rusted out, dented up, banged up 73-87 Chevy stuff, and alot of the cars up there that are beyond restoring are all getting crushed in the next month I hope.

Till the crusher gets there, Ive got more and more of mine at other places I keep hauling up, and others people are wanting me to take from their property so that when the crusher comes, they can do it all at once.

Not to worry, if its getting crushed, it's pretty much beyond any value other than scrap metal.

 

[73redblaze]

wow your gonna make a fortune in scrap. if you want to get rid of stuff il pay the shipping if you dont mind putting it in a box.. maybe even a hansome tip

 

[mountainexplorer]

Haha, like I said, the stuff getting crushed isnt worth putting together. But you're welcome to come up and sift through the wreckage and take one of the scrap rigs home with you. The most complete is a Volare Station wagon. It still has a motor in it, kinda rare for anything in my field.

 

[lectric80]

Heck I would be happy with finding one straight, rust free tailgate from my K5. But, I thought I saw some round body early vintage stuff, that was what I worried about you scrapping. There are a few different years of vehicles I would be happy turning into street rods.

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

this could possibly be the coolest thread i have ever subscribed to!

x2! im lovin all the vids!

 

[thatK30guy]

Man, I envy you. I just got my second warning in less than a month for disabled vehicles on my property.

And yes, I live in town. Next place is out in the country.

 

[kgblazerfive]

Allen

Your alive defiantly looks like the projects have multiplied, but I'm not sure its really you, that selling Dana 60's has got me confused . Still have my old crew cab? Looks like you got another trailer, the old one finally give up the ghost?

Steel prices have been rather hight lately but are going down so get on the scrapping

 

[mountainexplorer]

Yeah... have got a few more "projects" added to the Fleet, including an FJ55 Landcruiser.

And yeah, I had to retire my old trailer. My brother forced me to borrow his money to buy one before my old trailer inflicted damage or harm to someone else on the road. Last fall I bought an 18 footer just to get by with. But it was only rated for 7000lbs. But it was a really nice one.

Then found a 20 foot trailer rated for 12,000lbs, and what sold me is it used 8-lug 16" rims. So I bought it for $1665.50 which was all the cash and change I had on me at the time.
The fenders are beat up, but I don't care.

Sadly, I have had to sell Dana 60's. I made a couple trips last winter to Portland/Seattle and sold one DRW 60 front for $900, one SRW 60 needing rebuilt for $800, 3 SRW 60 fronts at $1100 each. In turn I bought and came home with a pair of 5.38 geared Dana 60/14 bolt axles all rebuilt that cost me $1600, and a pair of Rockwell 2.5 ton axles with custom made 16.5x14 rims to fit the axles for $1500. More than I wanted to spend, but I figured I was generating the money from selling the 4.10 ratio 60's. Then this spring/summer I sold another 4.10 Dana 60, and two 4.56 ratio Dana 60's. My all time record is still only 25 dana 60 front ends at one time. Currently I'm at 22.

I dont have your old crew cab anymore, I ended up selling it. But have had several since then. My main tow rigs right now is between a '78 K30 crew cab:

And my faithful $300 GMC. I bought this truck for the 454 motor mainly, but it runs good and just keeps on going.

Anyways, yeah, you can tell I'm still overly full of pictures.

 

[kgblazerfive]

I'm up too owning three HP 60's not at the same time just three total

Glad to see that you are still hard at it.

 

[YZEATER]

great pics. always enjoy your stories. i've had up to 5 d60's at one time, only dream of hitting 20, i keep selling them off, to buy more stuff. wish i could find some big block engines, all we get is 350's, got 4 spares in the collection.

 

[bigbadchev84]

good to see you back allan, always like to read your stories, are you gonna stick around for awhile?

 

[blazin_blazer]

post 6, pic 5, the yellow sub and cc dually in front of it ...those 2 together would make a good project!

 

[mountainexplorer]

That yellow Suburban is cursed! Which is why my friend decided to let it just be crushed too. Not a straight body panel on it, and the "curse" was so bad the last he tried driving it, it was just one thing after another breaking or going wrong with it. The dually served its purpose with me, and is pretty rough, much rougher than it seems in person (also not a straight panel on it, and horribly rusted cab). So sadly, it's going to be scrap metal too. After I yank the 60 out of it.

 

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

well i know where to go for my future d60 and 14bff purchase! if i can hang on to my blazer long enough im gonna swap my 10bs for the real deal! also good to know that you live relatively close by!

 

[mtnman]

Man, I envy you. I just got my second warning in less than a month for disabled vehicles on my property.

And yes, I live in town. Next place is out in the country.

That doesn't guarantee no harassment - trust me, I know!