Gambling Armada - The Castaway

I've still got the Castaway......

Needed to move it yesterday and the battery went flat from sitting idle for so long (several months)

I found this swag in the center console console, so I wanted to post it:

It's future under my ownership is uncertain.  It's expensive to insure ($154/ month just for liability) so it sits waiting on me to decide what to do.  I hinted at selling it to SingleSlammer, but for some reason, I hesitated.  Maybe I just want to play with it some more before letting it go.  

I still keep bench building a stripped down Armada Kart for Challenge purposes in my head.  Also it'd be fun to go 'wheelin with the kids again.

Time will tell 

I've been planning a 'wheelin trip with a couple of co-workers to Redbird SRA for this Saturday.  In preparation I ordered a few new rear shocks to correct the terrible rear-end wobble type bounce when we would go over bumps at speed.  At about 70 mph when going over a dip on the interstate the rear and would bounce all over.  So:

(note new door installed )

Ordered new shocks of course, thinking I blew them out when we jumped it:

Passenger side installed first:

It was surprisingly easy to install.  Then we moved over to the Driver's side:

After removing the wheel, noticed this little hole in the upper control arm:

Hmmmm, better investigate further:

Completely windowed out in the circled area:

I think I discovered the source of the "tail wag, bounce and sway"  The control arm must have been flexing all over the place.  Absolutely STUNNED this didn't colapse when we jumped it. 

Of course a new control arm is now on order and the trip is delayed.

Sucks about the rust, but for the price who can complain? Glad you're throwing a cheap control arm at it and not just scrapping it.

I gotta say - this has got to the be the coolest experience for the kiddos at an age when they're easily influenced. What a great dad; these are memories they will never forget. 

Better the control arm rusting out than the frame!  Glad you caught that before it failed all the way

In reply to nsogiba :

Thanks.  I'm trying to be a good Dad and provide some of the things I wanted as a kid.  

My Father would occasionally take us to the Muddy River Run.  It was a local Hot Rod get together and show.  But we never did anything except spectate. 

Check out the Jaaaag thread to see some of the other adventures I took my daughter and then sons on.  Gotta make memories before it's too late.

Indy - Guy said:

In reply to nsogiba :

Thanks.  I'm trying to be a good Dad and provide some of the things I wanted as a kid.  

My Father would occasionally take us to the Muddy River Run.  It was a local Hot Rod get together and show.  But we never did anything except spectate. 

Check out the Jaaaag thread to see some of the other adventures I took my daughter and then sons on.  Gotta make memories before it's too late.

I've seen that thread and it's one of the reasons I follow this forum. The V8 Blower Era is underappreciated for sure. Keep it up dad, can't wait to see more shenanigans.

Ironically I have a Jaaaaaaaag thread too! My kiddos like it too - but they're just 2 and 4. Turbo 6.0 LS in an old '84 S3. 

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/my-little-bit-of-everything-thread-v8-content-insi/174980/page3/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvyClHPzIaA

In reply to nsogiba :

Oh, yeah. I've followed your LS swap on the Jaaaag.  Sorry I didn't get association with your user name.  I'm a visual guy, and remember members mostly by their Avatar pics.  Blanks are more difficult for me to associate.  Perhaps you could add one?

Gave the Castaway some lovin' today.

Failed Power Steering Pump replaced:

Then I decided to install the used light I purchased last winter:

Had to trim some of the bent bumper off and pull / beat the fender into place 

 I also added 5hp today:

Edit: 

I think I'm going to come back at it with the sawz-all and cut the passenger side up to match and then trim that bit on the Driver side straight up.

Here's the idea:

Subaru guys do this to great effect. Somehow they always look right too. 
Just in case you wanted some inspiration 

Finally had some help last night to get the Driver's side upper control arm replaced:

(Notice TWO jack stands )

popped the upper ball joint loose:

I fought the control arm mounting bolts for a while trying to get leverage  on them.

So I cut the arm in half:

Once it was loose, an Engineering fail was revealed: (no way to remove the bolt):

That only left me with one option:

Trigger Warning:

Okay, here's where I have to tell those of you who live in a southern salt free area to turn away from the screen:  What you're about to see will nauseate you:

Slid in a temporary bolt to let us roll it out of the shop, will have to source a new correct length bolt and install it later.

Woah.  That is one crusty control arm!!  Good thing you found that this was and not when it just gave out on you.  I, too, am amazed that it didn't collapse when you jumped it.  I guess they've done a really good job of over-engineering the part.

Edit:  yes, my son spent too many years growing up watching Frieburger.

The threat of rain tonight resulted in a change of plans, so we pulled the front of this junk into the garage for a trim.

Add a little grinding to knock off the edges:

What do you think? 🤔 

Nothing builds character like using a death wheel while barefoot. You guys should trim the rest of the plastic wheel liner under the headlights for that pre-runner look! 

In reply to nsogiba :

We did give it a bit of a trim from the first picture to the last.  Now we're nearly down to some of the structural stuff (including a headlight mount tab).

I sourced a replacement bolt today after work:

Can install it from this direction, no problem.  Wish the factory had done that.

Shock installed.

Tires back on  and test drive reveals it's all good 👍.  Just need new wiper blades and we're ready for wheeling this Saturday with two other Rigs.

Indy - Guy said:

.....

Tires back on  and test drive reveals it's all good 👍. ....

Well, Poop !

I spoke too soon.  After posting the statement above, Indy-Kid #2 and I went for an extended drive.  While stopping for a gas refill, we smelled something burning:  Left rear wheel  was VERY hot.  We limped it home and by then it was smoking.  Sigh.  Brake must be sticking / dragging.  I'll investigate tomorrow after work.

What could it be? 

Everyone loves pics, so here he is driving the Castaway for the first time.

'builds' like this is why i'm here

those era Nissans are underappreciated

solid trucks

In reply to wyndscreen :

Hey, thanks.  I'm just an ordinary guy playing with cheap junk, and bringing my kids along to enjoy the ride.

Re: Armada.  Yep.  I'm thoroughly surprised and impressed with this thing.  I've been kinda thinking about buying a nicer example some day.

Re: brake overheating:  I drove it for several trips tonight after work and I shocked.  It seems to be just fine.  Zero additional heat in the problem wheel ( compared to the other wheels)

The only thing I did was cycle the parking brake ( thinking maybe that might have been dragging).

I went ahead and changed the oil for the first time since owning it ( it was more than 5k miles OVER Due).  

Documenting the mileage when it was changed.

Also got new wiper blades installed.  Now all that's left to do is pack up tools and a picnic lunch and we're ready to head out Saturday morning.

The chrome was too much.

So I hit it with some cheapo black spray paint.

Ahhhh.  Much better.

Teaser

I love everything about this thread!  

Okay i love the matching sides bumper cuts. That thing looks hella agressive!

The Crew:

We had a total of Eight people in the Castaway.