We are impressed how well a little article in the local newspaper can do for business. Thanks again to Joseph and Community Impact! Chris Cook joined us again on Monday. It is amazing how one person can help the morale, output, and quality of a shop. We are very glad to have him back on the Krawltex team!

Krawltex got a few new toys. Jeremy came up with a "walkie" style Forklift. 4 steel I-beam rack systems are coming in on Saturday so we can keep DOM tubing and various plate steel in stock for the customers' projects. The shop got a second 10K Challenger truck lift on Tuesday. In addition to those upgrades, we purchased two Miller 252 digital 220V MIG welders and a Miller Dynasty 200 TIG welder. Let the fabrication continue!

It has been a zoo around here. Ed's Cruiser received a TRD supercharger a couple weeks ago. This week we installed a Roger Brown 1.25 body lift and have reworked the bumper mounts on the Fab Fours pieces to relocate them up. We are in the works of getting URD's smaller pulley, fuel management system, 7th injector, 02 simulaters, Doug Thorley long tube headers, hand building an exhaust, and reworking the factory cross members to run a completely flat belly pan from the motor back to the rear suspension.

Matt and Ted have been plumbing on board air, fuel/brake lines, and wiring on the 12V. Chris' tube work looks great on the freshly powder coated front bumper. She should be buttoned up today or mid tomorrow, just in time for Jake's arrival.

I boxed the front truss on Al's D60 for the CJ buggy, as well as tied the rear cage in to the frame and cleaned up some rear tube work. Ted wired in a dual pole switch to operate the front winch inside the cab. Matt swapped in an 8.8 on Matt Jonson's TJ. Tomorrow he will replace the leaking pinion and rear main seals. Chris is also in the process of stripping the rear D60, rebuilding the brakes and wheel bearings in preparation of the link suspension on Matt's 5.3L CJ7 project.

The shop ranger that has been in the works received some Glassworks front fenders, bent I-beams, and some Krawltex built long travel radius arms with 1 1/4" heims. As soon as the diesel sells... 35's, rear glass and possibly front coil overs in place of those Eibach coil springs.

A slew of Strand vans have been in here. We have done everything from minor brake and fluid changes to a transmission swap and complete AC system over haul. It's great to have some line work in the monthly schedule! Now if I can only convince them to do a long travel suspension upgrade on their cargo vans...

It has also been a week of leveling kits. Landon's suburban and Kevin's 2010 Dodge now sit 2" taller. Eric's TJ has a rear drive shaft and working AC. Stephen's WJ knuckles are reamed and ready for a 1 ton steering. JR's CJ7 has a new fuel pump and runs like a top after its tune up. Dave's sidekick has a working throttle cable and an exhaust system that doesn't leak. Grady's brakes actually stop his 2500 diesel.

On the books for the next few weeks... linking the front and rear of Mack's CJ7, as well as a full interior cage and 5.3L/4L60/241 swap, AW4 auto swaps in Chris' TJ and possibly Patrick's new Jeep, finishing the SAS in Eric and Andrew's Tahoe, a bunch of prep and repair work on Bomshell 5099 for the June Odessa 250 race, and along with the future engine upgrades to Ed's FJcruiser will be a full interior cage with satellite internet/phone/lights/communication equipment and a dash mounted Ipad.

I almost forgot to re-mention that Ted and I are driving Long Beach Racers Class7SX next weekend in the SNORE Dusty Times 250 race. If it performs well and we like the truck, it's coming back to Texas and living at Krawltex under Bombshell Racing!

Here is the link to our Community Impact Newspaper article. Many thanks to Joseph Deleon for featuring us!


http://impactnews.com/leander-cedar-park/107-business-profiles/7884-krawltex-motorsports-cedar-park

Guess it has been quite a while since there has been a shop update. It’s amazing how busy we can get around here, but our momentum has increased a good bit. Joseph DeLeon from the Community Impact Newspaper has featured Krawltex in this month’s Cedar Park/Leander edition. If you have a residence in either of these cities, check your mail box this Friday! There is a full story on how we started, where we are now, and what we have cooked up for the future. As well as the print copy, you can view an online profile with video interview and a pictorial slide show of some current projects. This will also be live this Friday. As far as the daily grind goes, well… we are swamped as usual. Chris Cook returns on Monday to help strengthen our team in the fabrication side. Krawltex looks forward to welcoming him back!

Since our last update, a ton of projects have passed through these doors. Ted and Matt got the rebuilt Inchworm t-case back in to Ed’s FJcruiser. Somewhere along the way, a TRD supercharger ended up on top of that motor and she runs very well. Gerardo’s 05 Tacoma received a 6” Procomp lift as well as some 35” BFG’s. Alec’s Discovery has a new rear side window. Jason’s LJ has a brand new CV driveshaft and SYE kit, with a 4wd shifter that doesn’t bind. Eli’s monster YJ is back on the road courtesy of a PSC ultimate hydro assist kit with a new box, pump, Moog ball joints and new wheel bearings. The 12V sliders came back from powdercoat and now the exhaust has been reinstalled. The 5.3L and 4l60E are mocked in place of Mack’s CJ7. Eric and Andrew’s Dodge AAM front axle is trussed and ready to be linked in their Tahoe as soon as the passenger side frame rail is notched and plated to match its twin. Jared’s YJ now has a body lift to complement the suspension, and tuck his 35’s under the wheel wells.

On the repair side of things, there have been several Strand vans receiving tune ups, brakes, and hub bearings. Jack’s Grand Cherokee now has a cold AC system and new CV shafts. There are zero exhaust leaks on Dave’s Sidekick. JB’s Yaris and Sequoia have fresh oil. The brakes on Grady’s Cummins are no longer metal on metal.

In the evenings, Ted and I have been revamping his YJ for the Bryan MOROC event. We removed the rear tub, boat sided the frame rails, and built a trophy truck inspired Baja cage. Seats and fuel cell are mounted. The dash, wiring, steering column, front coil overs, links, and full hydro steering are still on the chopping block. We may not make the dead line.

Currently, Matt is finishing details on the 12v’s rear bumper for powder coat. Ted is also on the diesel suburban, finishing all of the interior gauge wiring. Jake should be arriving very soon, as well as the King reservoir shocks! JR’s CJ7 is getting a new fuel pump and fresh oil. Hal’s Suburban will have some new brakes. Al’s CJ5 comp buggy will get some front axle plating, rear tube work, and winch wiring. The Tahoe will be on its front suspension by the end of next week. Hopefully we’ll be able to have the Chevy drive train and cooling system mounted in the Jeep. Krawltex will link/coil over the full width axles and build the interior cage for Mack. And in three weeks, we will cage Patrick’s Rubicon.

And then there is also the class 7 race truck that might have a new home in Texas… but I don’t want to spill any more info until Ted and I test race it in the SNORE Dusty Times 250 this May.