Crusty looking leftovers

[mxracer919]

Wanted to be able to document the process. Have been acquiring parts for some time and pretty much have everything. Bought this 81 as a basket case minus the axles and drivetrain back in December 2015. Put it out behind dads shop and figured I would get around to it. Fast forward to last October it had sat long enough. It had grown a tree through the engine compartment. Freed it up and rolled a set of cj width Dana 44’s under it that I had been sitting on. Then bought it over to my shop to get it out of the weather to put on standby to start assembly.

My goal has been to keep the Jeep somewhat sleeper-ish. Crusty looking beat up Jeep with a modern drivetrain that is capable off-road but something that I can drive to Colorado.

Picked up a 5.3/4l60/Dana 300 from a buddy last fall. Have a 4:1 Dana 300 that I plan on putting in but the case is cracked on it. If time allows I will switch the guts over but I know I’m going to be scrambling trying to get all the loose ends tied up. The 44’s are set up SOA with the front being a waggy that has been narrowed having 4.56’s and a lockright and the rear is a scout 44 with 4.56’s, detroit, and disc brakes. Both front and rear have chromoly shafts.....also have a set of ctm joints leftover from a previous rig. Problem is rear is wider than front still so that needs addressed. Have a 86 cj rear I planned on switching everything over to, but will probably throw a set of spacers on it for the time being to get me going. Goal is to spend as little money as possible, like I said before I pretty much have everything but know will be stuff I’m forgetting.

 

[mxracer919]

Have been wanting to get it put together, and with the National scramble coming up I figured now was a good as time as any.......nothing like a 4 week build, I work best with a deadline! We started our summer off with a trip to Disney world as soon as school was out for summer. I shipped my harness and computer off to get it thinned down and tuned just before we left for vacation which was about 2.5 weeks ago. Should have it back hopefully this week, that’s the one thing that can hold me up. I rolled the Jeep into the shop last weekend to get everything set that way when the harness shows up all I have to do is wire it up to be ready.

I knew I had to do some work to the two front body mounts so pulled the tub off (which it was just setting on the frame anyways) to get it outside to clean it up before going back with anything. Once outside I knew more about repairs being needed. Both the front passenger side and the second body mount someone had attempted to repair with 3/16 that was booger welded on. Along with the front driver side mount has been partially welded but still had a gaping hole and the second mount had stress cracks. The third passenger mount was needing attention as well. Pulled tub back inside and broke out the plasma cutter and cutoff wheel. Robbed the replacement portions off a parts tub I had out at my dads place.

Steam cleaned the frame up then rolled back inside. Jeep had been sitting on skyjacker springs, but earlier this spring I had bought a fairly new set of spring off a local that linked his Jeep. They are the rubicon express spring over setup. From a yj, have a set of cj/yj front conversion shackles that I had set back. The springs are supposed to be 1” of lift and the shackles appear to be 1” as well. I don’t really want the Jeep to sit too high, but it’s kinda looking like it’s headed that direction. Have a set of 35’s set aside for it, but might have room for more....but don’t want to push the limits of the axles.

Set the drivetrain after getting the frame back up on its legs. Had a set of Novak mounts I bought off another buddy. Was eyeballing the stock crossmember and I am just going to build a simple tubular crossmember for now. Had one bushing setup leftover from my crawler, have another on the way. Should be able to wrap it up this week when it delivers.

That pretty well catches me up. I need to run out to my parts pile tomorrow and round up the brake lines, fuel tank, and some more hardware.

 

[sdsupilot]

Looking good. Are you going to run a skid plate under the trans/transfer case crossmember?

4 weeks is ambitious, but I’m sure you will get it done. If not I know you have a few others!

 

[mxracer919]

Looking good. Are you going to run a skid plate under the trans/transfer case crossmember?

4 weeks is ambitious, but I’m sure you will get it done. If not I know you have a few others!

I will eventually, but for now just going to keep it simple. I’m bringing my cj7 to wheel at smorr. I imagine I will add to the crossmember for it to resemble what I built on my 7.

 

[mxracer919]

Went and picked some fruit last night. Have had this restored scrambled chassis for a couple of years under a tarp behind dads shop. It WAS pretty much ready for a tub, but I pulled the new fuel tank and brake lines off it.

 

[Jeeperdd]

That looks cool, nice build!

 

[mxracer919]

Started routing fuel lines. Kinda finished the crossmember up too.

 

[CJ7Pilot]

I like the way that crossmember turned out!

I know it's been mentioned here before, but what size tubing did you use for the mount ends?

I have some leftover (new) spring bushings that I'd like to use to make crossmember mounts like that.

 

[mxracer919]

I bought them from Barnes 4x4.

http://www.barnes4wd.com/Crossmember-Mounting-Set_p_112.html

 

[sdsupilot]

Crossmember looks great, how did you bend it? Are you routing the feed and return fuel lines on the same side as the exhaust?

 

[mxracer919]

Crossmember looks great, how did you bend it? Are you routing the feed and return fuel lines on the same side as the exhaust?

Thanks! I have a Jd2 model 4 tubing bender air/hydraulic. Picked it up used a couple of years ago. Would have opted for the model 32, but couldn’t pass up a deal as good as it was. It’s beefy......like overly beefy, haha!

Yeah, seems to be the best way to route it. Exhaust can’t really route down passenger side with the front driveshaft, and would be awkward to cross over from passenger side to bring fuel lines to drive side of motor to tie into the fuel rail. There is plenty of room though. Set up the first cj I swapped that way and haven’t had any issue. Using nylon braded AN hose.

 

[mxracer919]

Rolled the chassis on the trailer last night and took it to work with my to plumb it in down time yesterday. Have everything plumbed, hope to set the body on it today or tomorrow.

 

[FLCJ8]

Rolled the chassis on the trailer last night and took it to work with my to plumb it in down time yesterday. Have everything plumbed, hope to set the body on it today or tomorrow.

Nice!
I remember those days... until one of our Captains burned himself working on his boat.
The City/Department put an end to personal projects.

 

[mxracer919]

Nice!
I remember those days... until one of our Captains burned himself working on his boat.
The City/Department put an end to personal projects.

Yeah, it’s definitly a nice perk. From talking to other guys from different departments it seems to be a rarity.

 

[mxracer919]

New CHIEFWAHO rear crossmember welded on, installed the new body bushings I had (not sure where they came from but not crazy about the red part, but can tolerate it for the fact that I don’t have any out of pocket on them). Body and frame are reunited!

 

[CHIEFWAHO]

Sweet!

 

[mxracer919]

Had somewhat productive day. Set the body on and all bolted down. Installed he steering box and trying to figure out what geometry will work best. The guy I bought the axle off of had it set up already with high steer and rod ends for steering. The rubicon express springs are thicker than what he was running so everything rubs.

Plumbed the tranny cooler after setting the grill and radiator. Installed pedals and brake booster/mc. Used some of the factory gas pedal stuff along with the new lokar cable I bought to get the DBC all hooked up. Have the harness roughed in as well.

At this point I’m starting to get nervous that the harness hasn’t showed up. I’m sure I have a few late nights coming up, but I’m thinking that’s the only thing that can hold me up.

 

[Jeeperdd]

So are you still planning on making it to nationals with this beast?

 

[mxracer919]

That’s my intent.......haha!

 

[mxracer919]

Well, bad news. Spoke with Wayne from 150tunes and he is currently still working on harnesses recevend 4/20. Which is a whole month before he received mine. Doesn’t look promising at this point. Considered pulling the harness out of the cj7 that I did a few years ago but don’t really want to create more work for myself. Guess I need to unload the scrap metal out of the back of my white scrambler and show it some love so I don’t get shunned at nationals for bringing my cj7.