I guess I should've called this a build thread. :o
..On to the next project. As anyone with a SXS knows, it's tough to keep the dust from boiling up from the rear of the machine. The crews are even worse, especially for the rear passengers. There's really only a couple ways to "cure" this, and I use that word loosely....you can refrain from putting in a full front windshield and try to stay out of bad weather, or install some form of rear windshield. When I purchased this thing, I wanted the best for up front...something that wouldn't scratch when wiping it off or break when driving thru mesquite thickets.  I chose a factory glass full flip up windshield that also has a stop, when about 6", open that reduces the low pressure inside, keeping most dust out at speeds up to 25mph.
This is fine and dandy for those rainless 75* days when just putting around the desert.....but I have an elk hunt coming up in late November at 6500-7000ft elevation.
To end this novel : I decided to build a rear dust screen instead of buying one (next time I might just buy one).
...started off with an old aluminum business sign and started cutting it to fit the lower part of the cab, behind the front of the bed (where most of the dust enters)


...trial fitment and contoured edges...forgot about the recently fabbed mudflaps also in this pic (NOTE to Polaris; these should have forward mudflaps from the factory!!!). I got tired of cleaning out a mud caked fuel tank.

the hole in the center is an air breather for the belt drive system.

Ordered some new shoes, sight unseen. They turned out to be smaller than advertised, and smaller than the originals. The crew is long and low to start with, so I was quite disappointed with the purchase.......

It would be easier to use the pump that's in the trans, officially known as the "hoot" method. Take the lines off of the radiator, put hoses on them, put one in an empty bucket (the pressure/outlet!...usually the lower one on the radiator), the other in a bucket full of new fluid. Not only does this way get all of the old fluid out, it gently flushes it.
Other option would be to just put the outlet in a bucket, start it, let run a couple-to-a-few seconds, add same amount of new thru dipstick, and repeat. First way is better so you won't run the pump dry.
...and then there's the most common way. Drop the pan and filter so you get the most fluid out, and go every 30k with a drain and refill, and every other time do the filter/pan drop. This is the way I do it because usually I see people going 80k+ before they bring it in for service. If I were to flush those cars, putting that much new trans fluid in all at once (think very high detergent) it could potentially cause issues (that I of course would be blamed for), breaking down varnish and build up in solenoids, valves and whatever else.

Decided to build my own spare tire mount. Just wanted something different.
Had some scrap 1" rigid conduit and a bender....slicing, dicing, and welding is all it took.

JOKER, hmm, sounds familiar.




...oh yeah, JJ! welcome to the bestest site in the world!

Yuuummmmy.

Welcome!

Did you add any heat shielding where you trimmed for the muffler? Looks like composite of some type.

Maybe turbo the bikes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Yes, I added some matting, but only for when the bed is tilted up. Every time I tilted the bed to show someone the outcome, and the muffler was hot, it melted plastic onto the muffler. :(

Don, I was reading up on a gator forum, and from what I gathered, there isn't a whole lot in the way of gator performance parts out there. Now, I guess there is a Power Commander 5 (like what I used) for it, but not for a turbo setup. To tune it correctly, it needs to use a pressure (map) sensor, that came with my version. With the one made for the gator, you would have to add a sensor to the analog input (not difficult), input the sensor's
range, and build your own fuel maps (Power commander doesn't list a turbo gator map and I couldn't locate one anywhere on the web). As far as the clutch goes, after today, I would say the new clutch made the most difference out of the mods done.
Turbo specs: 95-99 Mitsubishi eclipse or 95-98 eagle talon factory turbos.
                   Garrett T25
                   60 trim
                   405cfm
the dimensions Tyeler gave me (off of a turbo rebuilder's site) did not match mine.
His dimensions  were:
                   1.66"/42 mm inlet
                   2.14/54.4mm outlet
...I used 2" boots on both the inlet (from air cleaner) and outlet (to throttle body)

Here is one of a couple listed on fleebay right now:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-99-mitsubishi-eclipse-garrett-t25-turbo-/251668822310

HAHAHA the Navy guys are just disappointed about the cursing :-X I have self control

We'll see about that! ;D
...and I don't think it's Navy specific when it comes to cursing.

nice

Here's the wastegate pod:


...and a couple during reassembly:

Next was taping off and plugging holes on the turbo itself. It received a beadblast treatment, making it as happy as my wife at a day spa.


...then a healthy coat (actually 4) of urethane. While I was at it, all of the spots on the ranger that where welded upon, received the same.
The turbo was then assembled. Note to self: mark everything next time. :(


The inlet pipe, which wraps around a section of frame, was wrapped with high temp header wrap, then tied off with stainless straps.

After running the ranger for a couple weeks, allowing the Autotune to do it's job, I was completely impressed with the outcome. Smooth and very driveable. Next, I loaded up 4 of my buddies plus myself, and took to the desert with 100* ambient temp. No overheating (although we haven't tried the mountains yet), plenty of power, and she even spins BOTH rear tires (in dirt). That may not sound like much, but it would never do that, even with just myself in the vehicle....not even around a corner!
So, with testing and tuning complete, I felt it was time for some paint and powder coating. Here's a pic of all of the pieces laid out, and marked with the different colors I thought I would like them coated.....until I received the price quote.


I decided to smooth out the compressor housing before coating:

Awesome to say the least.

Hey Mike, how's it goin out there?
Welcome to the site!!

That's a cool link. I especially like the pneumatic ones!

You guys do realize what kind of truck that is, right? (it's a dodge)...or was there a different "beauty" in the pic somewhere? :pokeintheface     hahahaha

I'm not in to tundras....but...that was an awesome setup, and I bet you enjoyed it!

Definitely. By the time I found him, I was burnt out....I was extremely happy to see my brother drive up in that thing.

Tall Fescue Dominance !!!

First time I ever saw a truck needing to be winched downhill...

hahahhahhahahahah

Post up your Elk, Deer, Hog, or any other split toed animal.
Here's my most recent, taken last year. It's a young muley, not a trophy by any means, but tasty none the less.
Taken close to the Mexican border, rolling grasslands w/mesquite draws (where a guy can glass for several miles).
Weapon: .300 weatherby mag
Ammo: 180gr barnes ttsx
Distance: 620yds.

OW, you think Don has even had his in 4wd? seriously? :)

I second the motion. He's a good guy for sure, and I also have had the pleasure of dealing(s) with him.

We had a slack day at the shop and this was the result. Malibu didn't fair so well.
I had Tyeler mount his go-pro to the car, but it went dead not long into the mayhem. The video has cell phones spliced in, so it isn't that great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pac0euVwHDo