Adondo's Max II

[Adondo]

Did some more last night. Now, the GPS power and bracket's installed. I also added a cigarette lighter for charging the phone, spotlight, whatever. There's a blue lighted no smoking plug-in just to keep the socket clean. The GPS's 5 volt regulator cigar lighter plug is under the dash, with wires soldered onto the connector and heat-shrinked. That and the cigarette socket are off with the key, so no dead battery.

The two black things by the ammeter are the winch in/out buttons. The Garmin is in speedometer mode.


Panned back a bit, GPS in map mode. The Garmin clicks in/out of the bracket in seconds, so it's easy to steal one from the Jeep or car. I might just get another NUVI 1300 and leave it there, they're only about 40 bucks on eBay. I run screws through the suction cup bracket. I've done the same thing with both the Jeep and Chrysler 300 because the suction cups always let go at inopportune times. They're part of the dash when screwed down solid!


Here's some photos for garretttpe. The exhaust was done by whomever had it before, even before the guy I bought it from. It looks like the normal Briggs manifold, then it's capped and the muffler's inlet weld-tapped into the side of it.






And, a shot of the Vanguard with its rebuilt carb. I have to mention here that the choke cable was plastic crap, and I bought a new one. It was 6' long and not enough, so I installed it down on the left side in a vertical space next to the seat. It works good there as long as it doesn't get stepped on. I forgot to get a photo of it. That's why there's no choke knob on the dash anymore.

[garretttpe]

Awesome Job
I have a 2000 Max II. would you be able to take pictures of your exhaust as that is exactly what I want to do with mine
Thanks for any info

Larry

[Adondo]

Someone else with a bench like mine .............full of crap

I seem to work better like that

Oh you think it looks bad with the carb there? You should see it now, after building the new dashboard. Tonight, I'm cleaning it up before doing ANYTHING else!

[Adondo]

Did some work over the weekend. Sunday wasn't too bad of a day weather wise, so I took it out to test the carb rebuild and new dash. It runs great, starts easy, and IDLES now.

There's a place about 15 minutes away from the house, with big sand dunes. What used to be 5,000 acres (or more) has been reduced to maybe 100 acres with endless housing development. (This place is like Las Vegas Jr. - spreading out in every direction) There's also an irrigation pond at one end, so it's good for testing without driving a half hour to get there and unload. It still cracks me up with news stories about people's new houses with cracking Sheetrock and driveway concrete. I'm always yelling at the TV screen "It's because you built those cheap cracker boxes on top of sand dunes, you MORONS!!"

I thought it might be good on sand, but I had NO IDEA how good. I nosed up to a 75 foot tall dune to "see how far she'd go up" and it just climbed to the top with no problems. My mind was blown - I've been playing in sand for decades, and the norm is "balls to the wall" to climb a steep dune. I noticed afterwards that a Jeep (or some 4x4) and a motorcycle left several inch deep tracks. The 6x6 barely puts anything into the surface, mainly the chevron bars stripes on otherwise undisturbed sand. WOW! It was about as dry as sand can get, All day Saturday was 40 MPH continuous with gusts into the 60's. The news was full of blown away roofs and the like, so it dried the sand probably to over a foot deep. That test was worst case for dry and loose sand to say the least.

I played in the sand for about an hour, then hit the mud too. There's a 2 foot deep waterway that feeds the pond, and with the pudding mud on both sides, I'd be afraid to take my well equipped Jeep through it. Not a problem with the Max, and I stayed nice and clean too. But, you'all here know about that stuff. I'm still finding out what she'll do.

Here's the back end with a backup light added. I also got rid of those lousy clearance lights and put "pillow-block" style taillights.


The new dashboard. Tonight, I'll add my Garmin GPS bracket and power. Both the Jeep and car have the same units, so I can just rob one for the 6x6 when needed. The original key switch was stripped out and semi worn out, so I used one I had laying around. The red light's an on indicator, the white button is for a future horn. (Might wanna beep at something once in a while) The switch in the center is a start/run/stop switch. (Spring loaded) The other four are running lights, upper driving lights, (Soon to be an LED bar) backup lights, and I-don't-know-what yet.


I also removed the floor pan, inspected and lubed the chains, and because of an O.C.D. moment, adjusted the left steering lever. It was about 3/4" off from the right lever, so now they're even-steven.

[rodp]

Someone else with a bench like mine .............full of crap

I seem to work better like that

[Adondo]

I decided to start a new thread so I can post photos etc. of bringing my new toy back to 100% again.

Last night, I yanked the carb. Having to work the throttle to keep it running just AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

Please pardon the crappy cellphone photos. I have Canon pro gear, so there isn't any excuse. (The phone was in my pocket, and I was too busy cleaning things up)

The carb removed, grease and grime mostly gone.


The Vanguard carb.


And another view.


It idles nice now. I forgot to buy a new fuel filter, and it's good for about two run-ups before starving out, so a new filter ASAP. There's still a tinge of varnish stink in the shop when I walk in. Stupid bad gas can sure cause grief.

Coming soon, a new dashboard, maybe even tonight or this weekend if I get in the mood. (The weather's going to be crap anyway, so why not redo the dash?) Consider this photo to be the "before" as the new one will have matching switches, volt gauge and hours meter.